Pet Gazette

Ok, so when you see a kitten, or even a grown cat, and immediately think it’s the one for you, you pay the necessary fee to the breeder or store owner, and you take it home thinking it’s going to be with you for the remainder of its life.  Unfortunately this isn’t always the case!

Cats, unlike dogs, are not big on blind loyalty.  Cats live life on their own terms.  Like teenagers they except to come and go as they please without being questioned or having restrictions placed upon them.  Some of them also have their own ideas about where they should live – and that may not ncessarily be in your home!

When cats are out and about in the neighbourhood they encounter other people.  They spend time observing what the neighbours are doing.  They often snack at friendly homes where they are welcomed.  On these visits they occasionally decide that this other home is far more suitable and will increase the time they spend there – until you start to wonder where your cat is most of the day.  Eventually there will come a time when he rarely comes home at all!  If your cat has some kind of identity tag on him, the neighbour will probably contact you to let you know where the cat spending his time, or perhaps even trying returning him to you – but if the cat’s mind is set on moving in with your neighbour you may as well pack his belongings and let him go!  

Cats have a will of their own, and once they choose you, they’ll be loyal and friendly – but don’t expect that just because you chose the cat as a kitten, that it will stay forever.  If you want that kind of loyalty, you’d be better off choosing a dog!

Ear mites in cats are not a rare health care problems. Treating ear mites has become a relatively easy experience now that veterinarians can prescribe safe and effective medications that do not require applications every day for weeks.

Caused by a little mite called Otodectes cynotis, the mites generally live along the surface of the ear canal, but can also be found on other areas of the body or in the environment. These mites can, but seldom do, infest humans. They can lead to serious ear difficulties in cats and dogs if not treated.

LIFE CYCLE 

The ear mite life cycle, which takes about twenty-one days from egg to adult, entails going through four different stages.

Stage 1: The Eggs

Female ear mites usually lay about 5 eggs daily during their entire adult life. Deposited on the surface lining of the ear canal, the eggs hatch within 4 days.

Stage 2: The Larvae

Once hatched from the eggs, the larvae feed for 4 days then rest for 24 hours as they molt into the nymphal phase.

Stage 3: The NymphsHeck

Two stages of nymphs are recognized. Each feeds for 3 to 5 days and then rests and then molts to the next stage.

Stage 4: The Adults

Just barely visible to the naked eye, the adult ear mite appears white in color and feeds off the epithelial debris in the cat's ear. 

SIGNS OF EAR MITES IN CATS

• Head shaking
• Scratching the ears (there may be sores around the ears as a result of scratching)
• Reddish-brown to black discharge (crusts and cerumen) in the ears that resemble coffee grounds
• Sometimes there seem to be no observable signs of ear mites

A diagnosis of ear mites by the veterinarian is usually made by one of the following methods:

• Direct visualization of the mites with an otoscope
• Microscopic examination of the ear discharge

TREATMENT:

There are a number of medications used to treat ear mites in cats. Your veterinarian will prescribe an effective product.

Demodectic Mange

Demodectic mange is caused by Demodex canis, a tiny mite that cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope. This mange strikes puppies from three to 12 months old.

The demodex mite is commonly present in the pores of puppy skin and usually does not cause symptoms, and it not at all certain what causes them to activate. The mites can produce a substance that lowers the dog's resistance to them and make use of an opportunity to multiply. This mange may correct itself within three months or may require treatment.

Cheyletiella mange

Cheyletiella mange is also known as walking dandruff. It affects puppies and is caused by a large reddish mite that can be seen under a magnifying glass. This mange is identified by the dandruff dusting that occurs over the dog's head, neck, and back.

Walking dandruff is highly contagious but short-lived. It causes mild itching. The mite that causes the mange dies a short time after leaving the host.

Sarcoptic mange

Sarcoptic mange, also known as scabies, is caused by a microscopic mite. The female mite causes the characteristic intense itching as they burrow under the skin to lay their eggs. The eggs hatch in a few days, develop into adults, and begin laying their own eggs in less than three weeks.

Dogs with scabies dig and bite at themselves with great ferocity. Their skin reacts with oozing sores, and secondary infection may set in, requiring treatment with an antibiotic in addition to treatment for the mites. Unfortunately, the sarcoptic mange mite can be difficult to find in skin scrapings, and unless the veterinarian parts the hair and carefully examines the bare skin for the characteristic pin-point bite marks, diagnosis is difficult. Furthermore, the presence of a secondary skin infection can hamper the search for the mite bite marks.

Sarcoptic mange is contagious to canines and humans. If the dogs share sleeping places or if the infected dog sleeps on beds or furniture, everyone will begin scratching. It is not unheard of for the family dog to infest the kids, the kids to infest their playmates, and the playmates to infest their pets and parents with scabies. Fortunately scabies in humans is self-limiting, that is the mite can burrow under the skin and cause itching, but cannot complete its life cycle on humans and dies within a few weeks.

Treatment

Veterinarians now use Ivermectin in two doses, two weeks apart, to kill the mites. They may also prescribe steroids for short-term use to relieve the itching until the mites begin to die off and give the dog some relief. Itching usually begins to subside within a few days of the first dose of Ivermectin.

Canine skin damaged by sarcoptic mange and secondary skin infections can take weeks or months to recover, depending on the scope of the problems. Frequent medicated baths may be necessary to soothe irritated skin.

Mange damage can mimic that caused by other skin conditions, including autoimmune diseases, bacterial infections secondary to flea allergies, and contact dermatitis, making it impossible for the pet owner to diagnose with any success. If your dog suffers from irritated, itchy skin, make an appointment with the veterinarian. Early diagnosis of any of these problems will give you a head start on a cure and will be less uncomfortable for the dog and your wallet.

Shorthaired cats use their rough tongues to groom their coat, longhaired cats can't always groom their coats themselves. Longhairs should be groomed, starting as a kitten, from 10 to 30 minutes a day. If not brushed or combed daily their coats becomes matted.

Special combs and brushes can be found at pet stores. Another plus of daily grooming is the fact that shedding of the coat will be reduced considerably. Daily combing because you will notice the amount of fleas on your animal during the grooming can reduce flea infestation as well as reduces the amount of hairballs your cat's digestive tract has to contend with.

Cats usually shed their coat in cycles brought on by the length of daylight. If a cat is exposed to natural light only, he will shed in the spring and the fall. Other things that can cause a cat to shed its coat are fleas, an allergy, ringworm, or diet deficiencies. If an unusual amount of shedding is noticed, consult your veterinarian.

Bathing your cat is a big no-no. If you scare your cat by trying to bathe her you can get severely hurt.

The following list of cat breeds contains the most common known breeds and is not a complete of ALL existing cat breeds.

Longhair and semi-longhair Cats

American Bobtail, Asian Semi-longhair, Balinese, Birman, British Longhair, Chantilly/Tiffany cat,  Himalayan, Javanese, Maine Coon, Nebelung, Norwegian Forest Cat, Oriental Longhair, Persian, Ragdoll, Siberian, Turkish Van, Turkish Angora, York Chocolate cat

Shorthair Cats

Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Australian Mist, Bombay, British Shorthair, Burmese, Burmilla, California Spangled Cat, Chartreux, Colorpoint Shorthair, Egyptian Mau, European Shorthair, Exotic, Havana Brown, Korat, Ocicat, Oriental Shorthair, Russian Blue, Siamese, Singapura, Snowshoe, Sokoke, Somali, Tonkinese

Breeds based on mutations Cats

American Bobtail, American Curl, American Wirehair, Cornish Rex, Cymric, Devon Rex, German Rex, Japanese Bobtail, LaPerm, Manx, Munchkin, Ojos Azules, Peterbald, Pixie-bob, Selkirk Rex, Scottish Fold, Sphynx

Breeds from crosses with wild feral Cats

Bengal, Chausie, Cheetoh, Savannah, Serengeti, Toyger

Dogs communicate through body language and energy. The leader of the pack is always filled with a calm and assertive energy. Pack leaders never project nervousness, panic, or tension. In other words, the pack leader is a calm and assertive presence that gives balance to the pack. He controls everything and leaves nothing open to debate or discussion. He will also not say thank you for waiting or following.

The gender of the pack leader is irrelevant and not an issue. Both males and females can be equal pack leaders.

People make the mistake by treating dogs like humans. Every species has its own psychology if we understand its psychology we can control the behavior because we know how to relate to them.

Newborn puppies have to find a place or status within the pack. They do not get a name like we do, because personality is something humans create and only exists in our world. In the animal world there are two roles - the leader and the follower.

Dogs are animal first, then a breed second. For instance:  people think all Labradors Act a certain way. A Labrador Is just the breed; a cultural background in the doggy world.

A mixed breed can develop the same negative side effects as a Labrador. Don’t focus on the breed, but instead, focus on the behavior. The breed is about the skills or the looks of the dog. Underneath those coats they are all just dogs.

Of course there are physical differences between breeds. A Husky can travel for miles and miles a day and is not well suited to live in an urban apartment. If you already have a frustrated Husky, his physical energy will only intensify the unbalanced behavior.

This is why it is important to allow every dog the opportunity to work out his physical energy. Take him for a walk or bike ride every day to exercise his body and his mind. Include him in your life.

Many cat owners think to put a collar on their cat, especially in the summer when a flea collars helps to keep your kitty free from unwanted pests, but they don’t think to buy some form of ID so that if the cat wanders off, it can be identified and brought back to them.

Reasons to provide ID for your cat include:

- Cat wandering off.  Most cats have a good sense of direction and can get home again.  However, well meaning people see a “stray” cat and often adopt it by feeding and providing a bed.  A cat that has a collar and tag is obviously not a stray and so anyone finding a strange cat in their garden should phone the contact number and let you know where the cat is.

- If your cat is in an accident, you’ll be informed immediately so that you can get the cat to a veterinary as soon as possible.

- If your cat is somewhere it shouldn’t be and gets rounded up by the RSPCA, they will contact you and keep the cat safe until you collect it.

There are a few ways of putting some form of identification on your cat:

- Buy a simple barrel type of ID that has a paper strip inside for you to write your contact information on it.

- Buy a disk that can be engraved with your cat’s name and your contact information.

- Have your cat electronically tagged by a veterinary with an implant – this is the most intrusive and expensive route, but it’s also the one surest not to get lost!

If your cat is an indoors only cat, an ID tag isn’t that important – although if it does manage to get out, it’s more at risk of getting lost than an outdoors savvy cat!  An outdoors cat should always have the protection of some form of ID so that it’s quickly and easily identified as your cat should a problem arise.