Saturday February 4, 2012

SimplyCats May 2010 Mewsletter:

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Hello and welcome to our May 2010 Mewsletter!

By producing this Mewsletter we can reach and help so many more people to understand and care for their cats. This will go out to our cat loving clients at SimplyCats Veterinary Clinic and also to our clients who have signed up on our Cat Behavior Web Site. We apologise for the American spelling but 80% of the clients on this site are from overseas.

We hope to mail all SimplyCats subscribers monthly. Remember this mailing is totally free and you can un-subscribe at any time, using the link on the top of the page or at the end of this Mewsletter..

Please feel free to browse our website where you will be able to view our special offers. www.simplycats.net

The idea is to select a number of articles each month that we think our subscribers will be interested in and have a direct link to how your cat thinks and his / her wellbeing. We sincerely believe the most important aspect of living in harmony with your cat is understanding how he or she thinks. You have to get inside your cats mind. This was the real passion behind creating our Cat Behaviour Guide and SimplyCats.

"A cat is a lion in a jungle of small bushes "

-Indian Proverb

.Being cat vets, feline behavior and cat medicine is an area of continuous interest to both of us and has a massive influence on the well being of cats and the humans owned by cats ;-). This is even more important when your beloved cat is ill or sick.

Knowing about cat behavior has been the centre point of the design of our cat only veterinary practice for example CAT ONLY, NO DOGS, all kept quiet and calm with places to hide in most of the hospitalisation cages. Also very careful use and selection of disinfectants etc. so as not to disturb the cats incredible sense of smell. Remember all these facts when you are trying to make your home cat friendly, though, do remember cats can get on fine with dogs once carefully introduced.

Feline Asthma

Feline chronic small airway disease comprises a spectrum of conditions involving the small airways (bronchioles) within the lungs. The condition is also known as chronic bronchitis, allergic airway disease, allergic bronchitis and asthma.

Some cases bear similarities to asthma in humans, hence it is frequently known as 'feline asthma', however the majority of cases are not proven to have an allergic cause. Inhalation of irritants such as pollens, cigarette smoke, dust and household cleaning sprays is sometimes implicated.

The airways respond to an irritant by contraction of the bronchial smooth muscle in order to prevent the irritant from moving deeper into the lung, production of mucus to trap the irritant and initiation of a cough to expel the irritant. Contraction of the smooth muscle, mucus production and airway inflammation all contribute to narrowing of the airways which results in difficulty breathing.

Can any cats develop the condition?   

Cats of any age, breed or sex can develop chronic airway disease, however young to middle aged cats are most frequently affected. Siamese cats appear to be particularly predisposed.

What clinical signs do cats show?

Signs vary from chronic coughing and/or wheezing to the development of sudden onset laboured breathing without any prior clinical signs. An increase in respiratory rate (>30-40 breaths per minute) or effort (particularly expiratory effort) may also be noticed. Symptoms may come and go or may be so mild that they go unnoticed by owners for some time.

How is it diagnosed?

Other diseases such as bacterial infections, foreign bodies, heart disease, airway parasites and lung cancer can present with similar clinical signs and therefore these all need to be eliminated before a diagnosis of chronic small airway disease can be made.

X-rays of the chest are required and usually demonstrate evidence of thickening of the bronchial (small airways) walls and air trapping within the airways. Air trapping occurs because when the airways have constricted, inspired air cannot be exhaled. The lungs therefore appear larger than normal on X-rays, as they are over-inflated. The diaphragm may seem flattened due to this over-inflation. Not all cats however will have these changes; X-rays can appear normal.

Another diagnostic technique that can be useful is bronchoscopy. This is a technique whereby a fibreoptic endoscope is passed into the airways to enable direct visualisation of the airways. Excessive mucus, and roughening and reddening of the airways may be seen in cats with chronic airway disease, although again the gross appearance can be normal in some cats. Very small endoscopes are required to examine the airways of cats and therefore this procedure is most frequently carried out at specialist institutions.

Airway washes (bronchoalveolar lavage) can also be collected and examined under a microscope for the presence of inflammatory cells, bacteria and cancer cells. These washes can also be cultured to assess whether bacteria are present within the lungs. Lots of inflammatory cells are usually evident in washes taken from cats with chronic small airway disease.

 How is small airway disease treated?  

1. Anti-inflammatories

Reducing the inflammation within the airways is the most important part of treatment. Corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatories that are used to achieve this. This treatment can be administered in different ways:

•  Systemically - in the form of tablets (eg, prednisolone) or injections (eg, dexamethasone)

In the past corticosteroid tablets or injections have been used to treat the condition. However, treatment is required for life and long-term treatment with these drugs can result in side effects such as increases in appetite and thirst, weight gain, diabetes mellitus, and thin fragile skin.

 •  Inhalational (eg, fluticasone)

More recently inhalational steroids have been used for treatment, with the big advantage that the drug is delivered directly to the lungs where it is required, but is not absorbed into the body therefore avoiding side effects with long-term use.

2. Bronchodilators

Drugs to help dilate the airways are usually used in conjunction with corticosteroids. These can also be given in the form of oral or injectable medication (eg, terbutaline) or by inhalational treatment (salbutamol).

3. Mucolytics

In some cats excessive production of mucus can be a problem. Adding a mucolytic powder (eg, bromhexine) to the food can help in these cases.

4. Reducing exposure to irritants

Some actions can be taken in the home to reduce the severity of the signs, namely avoidance of smoking and the use of household sprays around the cat. Using a low dust type of litter may also help.

The feline inhaler 

A special 'spacer' has been designed for the delivery of inhalational drugs to cats (for more details see www.aerokat.com ). One end of the spacer is made to fit the inhaler, whilst a facemask is attached to the other end. One to two puffs are administered into the spacer chamber and then the cat's face is held in the facemask for 7 - 10 seconds. This is usually performed twice daily. Cats tolerate the procedure surprisingly well and with the majority of cats it is easier than administering tablets.

What is the prognosis?

The prognosis for this condition depends on the severity of the disease and on the time delay before treatment is initiated. Whilst the majority of cats respond well to treatment, acute severe attacks can prove fatal if treatment is not initiated promptly. In addition, if the condition is chronic and treatment has been delayed, irreversible fibrotic changes within the airways can occur.

SimplyCats Open Day on 8th May 2010

We are holding an Open Day on Saturday 8th May 2010 at 1pm to raise funds for our local branch of Cats Protection.

If you don't know how to find us, please visit the website, click here for directions and a map.

Everyone is welcome - the more the merrier. Bring your friends and family and join us on 8th May, starting at 1pm.

The practice will be open for you to look around and see what a cat only veterinary clinic really looks like behind the scenes.

We will be on hand for you to ask plenty of questions. There will be lots to see and do at the practice.

Gift bags, guided tour of the practice, tombola, cake stall, kids activities and more...

Pencil the 8th May in your diary and we look forward to seeing you then.

More details to follow so keep checking our website regularly!


We will be holding a raffle at the Open Day to raise funds for our local branch of Cats Protection.

Prizes to include:

• SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap

• Gift Voucher from Meeru Spa & Beauty

• Swarovski crystal shell

• Chocolates

• Bottles of wine

• Plus many more still to be confirmed

Cat Breeds: - The Birman

The Birman cat, also called the Sacred Cat of Burma, is distinguished by its silky long hair, deep blue eyes and pure white feet. Legend claims that a white long-haired temple cat called Sinh came to the aid of a Buddhist priest who was being killed by robbers. When the cat jumped onto the priest’s body to guard him, the priest’s soul passed into the cat. As this happened, Sinh’s white coat was shaded with gold reflected from the temple statue and the feet remained white where they touched the priest’s body. The cat’s face, ears, legs and tail took on the color of the earth and its amber eyes turned deep blue. The modern history of the Birman is almost as shrouded in mystery as the legend. What is known is that about 1919, two Birman cats were shipped to France by temple priests. The male died during the journey but the pregnant female survived and the Birman breed was established in Europe. The French recognized the Birman as a separate breed in 1925 but by the end of World War II the breed was almost extinct. Careful breeding and out-crossings re-established the breed and the Birman was recognized in Britain in 1966 and in the US by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1967.

Characteristics

The Birman is a medium-sized color pointed cat with long silky hair and white feet. This strikingly handsome breed with colored points (face, legs, and tail) and sapphire blue eyes is still relatively uncommon. The body is long and fairly heavily boned and Birmans weigh between 8 and 12 pounds. The head is broad and rounded with a medium-sized Roman shaped nose. The ears are medium-sized and the medium to large sized eyes are almost round in shape and a deep blue in color. The coat is medium-long, abundant and silky in texture. There is a ruff around the neck which is fuller on males, and the medium-length tail is full and bushy. Fur on the stomach can be wavy or curly.

Temperament

Birmans can be quiet and unobtrusive when you are busy but active and playful when you are ready to play. Birmans are intelligent and bond strongly with their people. They can be curious and can get underfoot at times but are generally docile lap cats who love human companionship. This cat is very quiet and gentle and not aggressive. Birmans are not very talkative and talk in a quiet voice when they remind you that it is dinner time. This is not an outdoor cat.

Cat scratching problems

Some cats may tear chair arms with their claws, scratch patches of wallpaper off the wall or shred stair carpets. Most cats do not cause this type of damage, so why do others feel the need to behave like this in our homes?

Scratching has several functions, one of the most important being keeping a cat's hunting weapons sharp. Scratching also leaves scent marks in a territory - secretions of watery sweat from between the cat's pads leave a scent message on top of the physical marks. Cats usually scratch outside, choosing trees or posts - wood is just the right texture to allow claws to dig in and be drawn down, pulling off the old claw sheath to reveal the sharp point of the new one. If you look at a regular scratching place you will find these pieces of sheath embedded in the surface.

Why do cats scratch inside our homes as well as outdoors?

There could be several reasons. Finding why the cat is scratching will help you to decide on a solution.

Exercising the claws and sharpening the points

Indoor cats with no access to outside will still need to perform this natural behaviour. If nothing suitable is provided, they will find something in the house that has an appropriate surface.

Habit or enjoyment

Some cats may have got into the habit of sharpening their claws indoors. Others enjoy the texture of carpets or furniture coverings and the shape of furniture may make it inviting as a scratch point. Some cats seem to enjoy the act of scratching and it can sometimes be a precursor to, or part of, excited play.

Boredom/curiosity

A fascination with the wallpaper may occur after a loose piece encourages play, or an accidental grab at the wall results in an exciting game of paper removal with the bonus of chasing all the little pieces that fall off. It may have an additional benefit in that owners suddenly start to take notice and give the cat attention, albeit angry attention.

Communication with other cats

Some cats will scratch more when in the presence of other cats. Just what they are trying to convey is not well understood, but this type of scratching may be done as a display and to leave a scent mark to communicate with other cats in the vicinity.

Increasing their feeling of security

When cats feel vulnerable, they will try to rub their own scent on prominent places in a room so that they feel more secure. While they may not resort to spraying (using urine as a scent mark), they may use the scents produced by scratching to do this instead. If the cat is trying to increase its feeling of security, many surfaces may be scratched, particularly those in strategic places such as edges of chairs nearest to doorways.

What can you do?

Don't blame the cat

First of all, realise that the cat is not doing this out of spite or in an attempt to cause destruction on purpose.

Provide a scratching post

It is important to provide an outlet for claw sharpening in the form of a scratch post if your cat is an indoor cat or has got into the habit of sharpening its claws inside the house. Place the post in front of the damaged area. Gently wipe the cat's paws down the post to leave some scent on it and show the cat what to do. Do this several times when the post is new. If you catch your cat in the act of scratching elsewhere, carry it to the post and encourage it to scratch there instead.

Providing enough exercise

If curiosity or the satisfaction of clawing soft furnishing is encouraging the cat to use that area you will need to give it another outlet for its energies. Try playing with your cat more often, little and often throughout the day, providing toys which offer an outlet for its hunting abilities. If your cat attacks the wallpaper, you can try changing the type of paper you use (cats seem to prefer paper which has a raised texture) or painting the area instead. Don't encourage the cat by giving it attention when it is scratching.

Improve security

Where scratching occurs at many sites it can be a form of marking behaviour and a sign that the cat may be feeling insecure. The solution will rely on identifying the cause of this stress or insecurity. Possible causes are other cats coming into the house, conflict between resident cats, changes within the household, and fear of something outside. You may be able to help your cat feel more confident by:

• Closing the cat flap and letting the cat in and out yourself or fitting a selective type which keeps strange cats out.
• Looking carefully at relationships between cats - providing some resting places high up to let the cat relax while still being able to watch what is going on will improve security.
• Restricting your cat's access within the house and concentrating on making it feel secure in one or two rooms.
• Using your cat's own scent to make it feel more secure. Cats use their cheek glands to mark their territory and the presence of these scents will make them feel relaxed. You can help spread scent. Take a soft cloth and wipe it around the cat's face. Dab the cloth around the room where you have seen your cat rubbing and where it scratches. (There are also manufactured scents available that work in the same way - ask your vet for details.)
• Never punish the cat. This will make it feel even more insecure. You should be viewed as a source of security by your cat, rather than as an additional threat.

Nervous cats are likely to find any new challenge threatening. When we re-decorate our homes or replace the furniture, we inadvertently remove all the cat's scents, which have made it feel secure. We then replace them with strong smelling carpets, suites, paint, etc, which can be quite disturbing to a scent-orientated cat. When re-decorating, it may be worth keeping the cat out of the new room for a while until the new smells have mingled with other familiar smells in the house and helping your cat to replace its scent using the above methods.

We now have an online shop

You can now purchase food and toys from our online shop - just click on the link below !

http://www.simplycats.net/simplycats-online-store

An excerpt from our Cat First Aid book

Fainting

Fainting rarely occurs in cats but is more likely to occur in flatter faced breeds such as Persians. Fainting occurs when the brain has a temporary deficit of oxygen or sugar. Coughing fits, low blood glucose and heart disease can all cause fainting. When a cat faints he will start by being weak and uncoordinated, collapse into unconsciousness and recover within minutes. Ensure the tongue is pulled forward to maintain an open airway, check for signs of shock and keep your cat quiet for at least one hour following the faint. Record when and where the faint happened and seek veterinary advice if there are recurrent episodes.

We are now on Facebook and Twitter

Click here to view our Facebook page and click here to view our Twitter page.

Please feel free to contribute photos and comments to either page.

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Weightwatchers - dubby's diet - continued !

Caroline, one of the receptionists at SimplyCats has three cats. Two are an ideal weight but one called Sandy - nicknamed Dubby - (that's the word chubby in disguise) weighed in on the 6th May 2009 an (un)impressive 8.85kg (19.4 pounds).

Nearly one year on, Dubby is still focusing heavily on his food - he seems mesmerised by his food bowl, even when it is empty, and cries for more. He will sit by the back door for a while, then gently 'ease' himself through the cat flap. His next move is to prowl around the base of the bird table, clearing up any crumbs, sweet or savoury - he then goes to the toilet and eases himself back through the cat flap and the whole cycle starts again!

He was weighed on the 20th April and had lost 30grammes. Not a lot, but going in the right direction. The next attempt is to try a 'Satiety Support' by Royal Canin diet food in pre-measured pouches. No room for error there - we'll keep you up to date in the next edition!

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Further information

For further information on any behavioural problems please see our e-book 'Purrfect Cat Behavior'. This book is normally sold however we are providing it free to SimplyCats clients and Mewsletter recipients.

Paul and Sarah MRCVS

www.simplycats.net

www.purrfectcatbehavior.com

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The end...

It is very difficult to know how much to put into a newsletter but for the next edition we will discuss the topic of mouth problems, show you more from our new book on Cat First Aid and discuss more aspects of feline behaviour.

Be creative, live long, be happy and follow your own path.

...And the emperor said "Let the party begin!"

Paul and Sarah M's RCVS

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