Pet Gazette

Most common reasons for declawing a cat are:

1. The protection of children in the household from getting scratched.
2. The protection of other pets in the household.
3. The protection of furniture, doors, curtains, etc.
4. It's a condition of the rental agreement (believe it or not!)

Reasons to support an Anti-decaling Law in the United States:

1. To declaw a cat is painful, inhumane, cruel, and considered a mutilation and amputation.
2. To declaw a cat deprives him of his most important defense mechanism and leaves him vulnerable to attack.
3. To declaw a cat means that he might develop other negative behavior issues such as biting or using everything but the litter box to eliminate himself.
4. To declaw a cat means the deprivation of the stretching and pulling exercise that is needed to develop strong muscles.
5. To declaw a cat means to deprive the cat of her stalking ability. A cat is meant to walk on her toes and will suffer tendon damage and arthritis in the long run!
6. To declaw a cat means to put the cat through the phantom pains. Yes, cats have those too and often turn neurotic.
7. To declaw a cat deprives the cat of the ability to scratch herself.

The treatment for cats with mild diarrhea (if they are not dehydrated or show other symptoms) is as follows:

First add a teaspoon of plain yogurt to your cat's food or let her lick it off the spoon. If that has not helped the diarrhea within 24 hours, go on to the next step.

Withhold food for 24 hours. Then feed a bland diet such as boiled rice with cooked lean hamburger or chicken, cottage cheese or yogurt. Use mall feedings a few times a day for two or three days.

If your cat still has diarrhea after 3 days, it is strongly recommended that you consult a veterinary. While most cases of temporary diarrhea are a simple case of a “bug”, in some cases it is the sign of a serious underlying cause and a visit to the vet can save your cat’s life.

Adopting a cat can be a minefield or it can be a very rewarding experience for both the cat and the owner. Cats are placed in shelters for a huge amount of reasons. Sometimes the reason is innocuous the owner has died or they are moving and cannot take the cat with them. Other times the cat does not fit in with a life>Before you consider bringing in an animal from a shelter into your home it can be important to ask what sort of evaluation of the animal the shelter is providing. It is helpful if you have an evaluation of the cat’s prior behaviour, as well as a screening for diseases such as feline leukaemia virus. Sometimes the shelter can only offer an assessment of the animal’s behaviour with them because they have no other information.

It can be a very rewarding experience saving a cat from the threat of being put down, but it is not a decision to take lightly.  It is important that the cat meet as many family members as possible before the adoption and that you have the opportunity to evaluate the cat’s behaviour away from other animals as well As with them.  Also, be aware that the behaviour the animal is exhibiting is not normal they may be missing a home, or be frightened. Not all animals in shelter are placed there because they have behavioural problems.

Certainly if you are buying the animal from a shelter because it is the cheaper option you should also consider that the real cost of keeping any pet is high, it is not just food, but toys, medical care, boarding fees and many other costs. There are so many animals that are without homes it can be an option to be considered if you want a new cat or even kitten.

Feline leukemia virus

If your cat or kitten has contact with other cats or kittens then you should be aware of the symptoms of the feline leukemia virus. Modern research is that the disease may lead to cancer at the very least it is highly contagious, and caught from blood, urine, tears, feces or saliva.  It is however only a problem for carts it is not possible for humans to catch it, although it can be passed onto kittens even before they are born. 

Once a cat has the disease then the virus replicates in the tonsils and then spreads to the rest of the body through the bloodstream. Unfortunately, that is not the end of it as it continues to replicate in the intestines, bone marrow and the lymph nodes.

Some of the symptoms

Ø     Lack of pink or red color in the gums caused by anaemia 

Ø     Weight loss

Ø     Recurring illnesses

Ø     Persistent illness

Ø     Lethargy, fever, diarrhea

Ø     Difficulty in breathing

Ø     The whites of the eyes may become yellow.

The prognosis does vary amongst cats. Two thirds of cats develop immunity to the disease and they will live a normal life. Other cats develop a partial immunity in the sense that part of the time they are fine as if they have developed immunity, and at other times, the virus reoccurs. This can happen when they are taking medication that suppresses the immune system. At the other end of the spectrum, some cats cannot develop any immunity at all and they do not overcome the symptoms. Approximately fifty percent of these cats will die as a direct result of the disease within a few years.

Given that cats can spread this disease by grooming prevention is better than cure. There is a vaccination against the disease, but if your cat socializes or lives with other cats the food and water bowls can be washed in bleach and so can the cat litter trays. An ounce of bleach in every two pints of water is sufficient. The floor around the feeding and toilet areas should also be washed down with a bleach solution.

Cats are known for being clean animals and this isn’t just confined to how they are constantly washing themselves, but also to the environment in which they live.  If you own a cat, there are some basic hygiene rules that you need to keep in mind when caring for the areas in which your feline friend lives and sleeps.

1. Keep your cat’s bedding clean.  Check when you first launder it that the cat isn’t allergic to any detergent that you use, and then make sure that you wash any blankets every few weeks – more frequently in the summer and absolutely anytime you’ve had to de-flea your cat.  Once you’ve washed them, it doesn’t hurt to spray a little flea spray on the underside where the cat won’t lick, but don’t overdo it or the cat will decide to sleep elsewhere!

2.  Food and water should be always kept fresh.  Never leave food lying around in the open air where it’s a target for flies.  If your cat doesn’t eat it all, cover it and place in the fridge and offer it later in the day.  Water should be always available – especially in the summer when it’s hotter – and should be renewed at least twice during the day.

3.  Kitty’s litter tray is probably the place where your cat is the most particular over it being clean.  There are very few cats that will use a dirty litter box – this is their toilet and like humans, they are particular about where they go when they need to go!  Litter boxes should be cleaned at least once a day if you have the kind of litter that becomes solid when wet and other kinds of litter need to be replaced as advised on the packaging. Any poop should be lifted out immediately you notice it.

Cats don’t usually smell, but if you don’t pay attention to their environment, you will find that your home does take on a “cat smell” that others may notice.  As long as you keep the cat’s areas clean and fresh, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Domestic pets are often loved and cherished and the decision to end an animals suffering is one of the hardest decisions many pet owners have to face. In fact is it is in some cases so traumatic that some owners refuse to face it again and deny themselves the pleasure of a pet.

However many people do not know how this procedure is carried out or what options they have. For instance, some vets will perform it in the dogs home. Knowing what the options are may help you make the decision whether or not to be there. It is comforting for some pet owners to hold their animal whilst it is happening and most vets are sympathetic to this wish.

The procedure

If the animal is conscious they often have a mild sedative first so they are not aware of what is about to happen. Many vets give an indwelling catheter so that the euthanasia solution acts very fast. The solution itself is often a barbiturate usually a general anaesthetic. However it is stronger than normal not only does it cause a loss of consciousness it has to be strong enough to have cause a suppression of breathing and a slowing of cardiac functions. It is important to remember that the pet is never aware of this process. When people watch it occur, it is not always obvious that the pet has ceased to breathe and often the vet has to listen with a stethoscope. It is reported that some animals have a last gasp but it must be stressed that this is a muscular contraction and not an expression of any feeling.

If you choose to watch the process and be with your pet in the lasts moments you will be amazed at how quickly it happens. You may not even be aware of it until the pet’s muscles relax totally in death and it defecates and urinates. This is normal and no different to humans. Some animals twitch afterwards but this is also a normal release of chemicals in the nerve endings. The animal is not aware of a biological process.

Don’t forget it is not the vets favourite job to put down animals either and it is always done with the least available trauma to animals. Not everyone can be with his or her animal but for some it is the final dignity that they can give to their pet.

Not all cats adjust well to being domesticated the cat is subject to a variety of factors that result in emotional distress, and their resulting behaviour can demonstrate this. These behaviours are not abnormal at least they are not for cats, but their owners can find them distressing. Some behaviour is not abnormal but is difficult for owners to accept.

Emotional causes can be the addition of a new family member, a child or a new spouse. This can make a cat become exceedingly territorial and it will mark its territory with urine or it will defecate outside the cat litter tray. Some cats will even react to a change of furniture in the house.

Another cat habit is to claw the furniture either the drapes or the sofa, they appear to have a natural desire to rake objects. This is a distinct behavioural need in cats, and it does stem from several reasons, it is partly territorial a desire to mark out their territory. Cats also do this to clean and also sharpen their claws. Often cats can be trained to use a scratching post.  If this does not work then the claws can be surgical removed but of course, many cat lovers find this idea abhorrent and prefer to put up with the scratching.

Cats love social licking and it normally themselves or other cats but they can demonstrate this behaviour to other humans as well. Sometimes cats can suck your fingers or use a cushion or a small loose furnishing to suck. Strange as this may sound, it is often the cat’s way of regressing to kitten like tendencies. It is often found in cats that were malnourished as a kitten either because they simply were not fed the correct food for their nutritional needs or because in some cases they were weaned too early. If this was the case some cats will display compulsive cleaning or grooming habits to the point where they harm themselves.

Pica is a hunger for nonnutritive substance it may be a symptom of the need for roughage in the diet or of feline leukemia or other health problems. As with the dog, excessive eating and drinking is frequently associated with endocrine diseases such as diabetes and thyroid dysfunction.

Active and healthy cats often race through the house as though they were demented. These occur in either the evening or morning and result from the cat's rhythm of actively hunting around dawn and dusk. It is not uncommon for cats to retain this innate behaviour when domesticated, although many owners think that the cat is deranged. In the domestic environment, this normal, instinctive behaviour often still occurs, to the consternation of some owners who fear that their cat may have rabies, a brain tumour, or an unstable personality.

Changes in animals' behaviour should not be dismissed since there may be an underlying physical cause. Nevertheless, abnormal behaviour in animals often does have a nonphysical, psychological, or emotional origin, which should always be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of the ailments of domestic animals.

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.

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.