Thursday May 17, 2012

SimplyCats February 2010 Mewsletter:

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Hello and welcome to our February 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 clients at SimplyCats 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.

"After scolding one's cat one looks into its face and is seized by the ugly suspicion that it understood every word.
And has filed it for reference."

-Charlotte Gray

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.

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Feline Heart Disease

Heart disease is increasingly common in cats probably because their average life expectancy has increased due to improved veterinary care. Some heart defects may be present from birth (congenital heart defects) but only show symptoms as the cat gets older. Other diseases develop later in life as a result of the effects of ageing or damage to the heart. The most common heart disease which develops later in life is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

How does the heart work?

The cat's heart, like that of humans, is a muscular pump with four separate chambers. The right side of the heart sends blood to the lungs where it picks up oxygen. The left side receives blood from the lungs and pumps it around the rest of the body. The chambers are separated from one another by a series of valves that ensure that blood can only flow in the right direction around the heart.

What causes heart disease?

Heart disease may affect any area of the heart:

Heart valves
The valves within the heart may fail to develop properly, eg mitral dysplasia, or may degenerate as a result of ageing (endocardiosis). Specific infections can affect the heart valves (endocarditis). Abnormal valves allow leakage of blood between heart chambers even when they are closed. When valves leak abnormal blood flow can be detected when listening to the heart (a murmur) and on ultrasound.

Heart muscle
In general terms the heart muscle may be either too thick or too thin. If the muscle is too thin the heart is unable to contract properly and if the muscle is thick the heart cannot relax and therefore does not fill with blood between contractions. In either case the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood out.

Electrical conduction
Abnormal electrical conduction affects the rate and rhythm of the heart. Electrical abnormalities can be caused by disease outside the heart. If the heart beats too quickly there is not enough time for it to fill properly between beats and so it pumps less blood with each beat. If the heart beats too slowly there are not enough pulses to supply enough blood to the body. Chaotic rhythms occur where contractions of different parts of the heart are not synchronised and so pulse volume is reduced.

Pericardium
The pericardium is a strong sac that surrounds and supports the heart. Changes to the pericardium usually result in constriction of the heart, preventing it from filling properly between contractions. The right side of the heart (because it has thinner walls) is usually more easily compressed than the left. Diseases of the pericardium are very rare in cats.

Kittens can be born with heart defects (congenital heart problems) because the heart does not develop normally. The most common problems are leaky valves and holes inside the heart that allow blood to flow in abnormal directions. Heart disease in older cats is usually caused by changes in the heart muscle.

Many of the effects of heart disease are similar to those changes that occur naturally as your cat gets older - poor appetite, low energy levels with reduced activity and longer rest periods. Your cat's tongue or gums may turn bluish red as a result of oxygen starvation. There are lots of signs that can be associated with heart disease. If the heart starts to fail fluid may build up in the lungs or in the chest making it difficult for your cat to breathe. Sometimes the first sign of heart disease in cats are 'fainting fits' or seizures (fits). Panting, weight loss, restlessness, coughing, fainting and swelling of parts of the body because of water retention are signs of very severe heart disease and are not normally seen until the disease is advanced.

Heart disease can be associated with increased blood pressure (hypertension) that may cause blood vessels to burst. If the blood vessels in the eye are affected your cat may go blind. If the heart is not working properly the blood may start to clot inside the heart fragments of clot can break off and escape into the circulation where they may cause a blockage in one of the blood vessels. If the clot blocks the vessel taking blood to the hind legs it may cause sudden paralysis. This condition is very painful and cats may be found lying outside, unable to walk and very distressed. These signs are frequently misinterpreted as being the result of a traffic accident. If your cat is found like this it needs emergency veterinary treatment.

What are the common heart diseases?

The most common forms of heart disease in adult cats are those affecting the muscle of the heart itself (cardiomyopathy).

Cardiomyopathy - what is it?

Cardiomyopathy literally means disease of the heart muscle (cardio = heart and myopathy = muscle disease). There are 2 basic forms of the disease (although lots of variations of these are also recognised). The most common form of cardiomyopathy is HCM, in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick which prevents the heart from working properly and reduces the amount of blood flowing through it. Another form of cardiomyopathy is DCM that is caused by stretching of the heart muscle. This is often seen in cats whose diet contains insufficient amounts of a chemical called taurine. However, DCM is much less common now because pet food manufacturers add extra taurine to their cat foods.

What causes HCM?

When any muscle has to work harder it becomes bigger (why else do we work out at the gym?) and the heart muscle is no exception. This expansion is called hypertrophy. Some relatively common diseases of cats force the heart muscle to work harder. Older cats with diseases of the thyroid gland or kidneys may develop HCM because of high blood pressure. The disease is much more common in some breeds, eg Persians, which suggests that it may be inherited in some cases. It is inherited in Maine Coons, and American shorthair cats. If there is an underlying cause the condition is called secondary HCM. However, HCM can also occur in otherwise healthy cats and where there is no apparent cause and this is termed idiopathic or primary HCM. As the heart muscle becomes thicker the chambers within the heart get smaller and so can hold a smaller volume of blood. Although the heart contracts quite strongly it can only pump a small volume of blood into the circulation. The thickened heart muscle cannot relax properly and so between contractions the chambers do not expand and fill with blood. HCM usually affects the whole heart, but in some cases one part of the wall is affected more severely than the rest. The thickened heart muscle requires a lot of energy and oxygen but often its blood supply is poor. If the heart muscle is starved of oxygen some of the cells may die and form a small scarred area. This scar may cause irritation and the development of abnormal heartbeats.

What causes DCM?

In this disease the heart muscle becomes stretched causing the heart to swell (like a balloon filled with water). DCM was once more common in cats and research showed that many cases were due to a dietary deficiency of taurine. Taurine is an essential amino acid only found in meat protein. Since this discovery cat foods have been supplemented with taurine and the disease has virtually disappeared in cats. In DCM the contractions of the heart muscle become very weak so blood is not pumped around the body effectively.

What are the signs of heart disease?

The truth is - you may not know your cat has heart problems until it is too late! Cats are usually good at concealing ill health and there may be no evidence of any problems until the condition is very advanced. There are lots of signs that can be associated with heart disease. If the heart starts to fail fluid may build up in the lungs or in the chest making it difficult for your cat to breathe. Collapse and reluctance to exercise (poor blood supply to the brain and muscles) can be caused by the heart not working properly or fluid build up in the chest.

Often the first signs noticed by an owner do not appear to be related to heart disease, eg blindness or problems with the back legs. Because of the abnormal blood flow within the heart the blood may start to clot within the heart chambers. Pieces of these clots may break off at any time and pass out into the circulation (emboli). These emboli are carried in the blood until they reach the smaller blood vessels where they become lodged, causing an obstruction - often in the blood vessels supplying the back legs (causing paralysis); or in the brain (causing neurological signs). Heart disease can be associated with increased blood pressure (hypertension) that may cause blood vessels to burst. If the blood vessels in the eye are affected your cat may go blind.

How do vets diagnose cardiomyopathy?

A thorough examination of your cat will often be enough to tell your vet that it has heart disease. When listening with a stethoscope your vet might hear changes in the heart sounds (a 'heart murmur') or an abnormal heart rhythm. Your vet may be able to see other changes in your cat's appearance that suggest that heart disease is present. X-rays will usually be needed to see if the heart is enlarged or abnormally shaped. However, since most of the enlargement of the muscle walls occurs inside the heart in HCM, the external appearance of the heart shadow may not change much. Secondary changes associated with heart failure may also be present, eg fluid in the chest or belly. The best way to diagnose cardiomyopathy is with ultrasound. Ultrasound scans allow your vet to measure the heart muscle to see if it is too thick or has become stretched. An electrocardiogram (ECG) records the electrical activity when the heart beats, and in cardiomyopathy the heart may have an abnormal or irregular beat which can be seen on the ECG. Diagnosis of cardiomyopathy should be followed by investigation to search for underlying causes. If your cat has HCM its blood pressure should be measured (to detect hypertension) and routine screening tests performed. Thyroid hormone assays are essential to screen for an overactive thyroid gland.

Can cardiomyopathy be treated?

If your vet is able to identify an underlying cause of the problem and this can be treated then your cay may make a full recovery. Cats with an overactive thyroid often have HCM but this will resolve if the thyroid problem is treated. If your cat had DCM caused by taurine deficiency then taurine supplements will allow the heart muscle to recover. In these cases your cat will need to be treated for heart disease initially but can eventually come off medication as the heart recovers. Sadly, in most cases, no underlying disease is discovered (or if it is there is no treatment). If the heart disease is recognised early enough long-term medication and other measures can slow the disease down but they will not stop it completely. It may help to change your cat's lifestyle to eliminate stress (although most cats lead pretty stress-free lives already). Long-term treatment for heart failure includes controlling exercise and administering oral diuretics and ACE inhibitors to reduce fluid build up in the lungs. In HCM the heart rate is usually very fast and slowing the heart rate allows the heart muscle more time to relax and fill with blood (and reduces oxygen requirement). The drugs most often used to slow the heart are beta-blockers (propanolol or atenolol). Calcium channel blockers (diltiazem) are also sometimes used although the extent of their benefits has been questioned. In DCM the main problem is that the heart muscle is not contracting properly so drugs can be given to increase the strength of contractions. If abnormal heart rhythms are present drugs can be given to correct these. There is much debate on the best way of preventing blood clots and emboli in cats with cardiomyopathy. Most vets treat all animals with cardiomyopathy with a low daily dose of aspirin. Aspirin reduces the risk of blood clots forming but if the clot is already present aspirin treatment will not do much to dissolve it. Cats do not tolerate human medications very well and often need much lower doses than your would expect. Never give medication to your cat unless specifically instructed to do so by your vet. Kidney function, and other blood tests should be performed regularly in patients receiving treatment.

How long will my cat live?

It is difficult to predict how long your cat will live if it has heart disease or how good its quality of life will be. A lot depends on how far the disease has progressed. On average it is likely that your cat will survive for about six months after diagnosis but the time may vary between a few weeks and several years. Some animals with HCM die suddenly (probably as a result of developing severe cardiac rhythm disturbances or significant emboli). Prognosis in cats with DCM is also poor and most only survive for a few months.

Congenital Heart Defects

Bringing a new kitten into the family is an exciting time and should a time of great joy. It can be particularly distressing to find that your new arrival has a problem. It is important that you get your new kitten checked over by your vet so that any obvious problems can be identified before you become too attached to it.

What is a congenital disease?

Congenital defects are caused by abnormal development of the foetus and disease is present from the time that the animal is born. However, although the disease is present from birth, signs may not be noticed until later in life. Congenital defects can occur in any part of the body and the heart is no exception. The heart is a complicated structure and as it develops there are many things that can go wrong.

Why has my pet got heart disease?

As many as 1 in 100 cats have a congenital heart problem. No-one knows why the heart develops abnormally in some animals. It is probably usually the result of a combination of environmental conditions and genetic factors. Some diseases are more common in particular breeds and so it is likely that they are partly passed from parents to offspring. For this reason animals with congenital diseases should not be allowed to breed.

What are the signs of heart disease?

If defects are severe then signs can be marked, but in some cases you may not ever know that there is something wrong with your pet. Often one of the first signs of a heart defect is a heart murmur detected by a vet during routine examination. When you buy a new kitten you should take them to your vet so that your vet can check them over. Your vet should listen to their heart and will be able to tell if a murmur is present. However there are some diseases that cause no signs in the early stages. If heart disease progresses then an animal with a congenital condition can go on to develop heart failure. This may occur relatively quickly within the first few weeks of months of life if the defect is serious. However in many cases no signs are shown until the animal reaches adulthood.

What heart diseases are common?

There are a number of congenital heart diseases and some of these more commonly affect some breeds of cat than others. The diseases are caused by abnormal development of the blood vessels (abnormal connections or narrowing), the valves or as a result of abnormal connection between different parts of the heart (hole in the heart). In cats the most common form of congenital heart disease is a 'hole in the heart' (which is rare in dogs). Sometimes there is abnormal development of the valves between the various chambers of the heart. Other defects include PDA (patent ductus arteriosus) where there is a communication between blood supply into and out of the heart; narrowing of the large blood vessel taking blood away from the heart to the body (aortic stenosis). Male cats are more likely to have a congenital heart disease than females.

How do vets diagnose heart defects?

If your vet detects a heart murmur on examination they will need to do further tests in order to find out what is causing the problem. X-rays might help but ultrasound will be needed to find out exactly what is wrong with the heart. Your vet may need to refer your pet to a vet who specialises in heart disease for detailed examination. This will allow the best treatment plan to be formulated.

Can congenital heart disease be treated?

Unfortunately the long-term outlook for animals with severe congenital heart disease is usually not good. The only cure for heart defects is surgical correction and this is rarely performed in cats. In some cases animals have no problems with their disease and can live with the condition. If animals develop heart failure then this can be managed with drugs to control signs.

Will my pet get better?

If your pet can have surgery to correct their heart defect they will probably need to be sent to a specialist surgeon. However recovery from the operation is usually rapid and they may be back to normal in a week or two. Unfortunately if there is no surgical option for your pet then they may need drug treatment for the rest of their life. It can be very distressing to watch a young animal suffer with heart disease and, if there is no treatment for your pet, you should discuss with your vet whether euthanasia might be the kindest option.
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Grub the Kitten finds his new home

Grub the Kitten is now called Maximus/Max/Maxie/Maximillien plus No/Stop It/Bad!

His new Mummy writes:

"Before I got him I think my friends had described him as 'in the universe of cats he is the most gorgeous' and they are right. I reckon he is the smartest, most handsome kitten I have ever had (that makes me feel at bit bad about my last cat whom I adored - luckily they are both very different so there are no comparisons). I am totally smitten by him as is everyone who meets him. He so loves visitors plus all the attention and adoration he receives from them.

He is such a sociable little guy, both with visitors and when its just us two he follows me around, playing, or sleeps on my lap. We are all fascinated by his fab colouring. He is totally fearless will have ago at getting on, up, under anything and everything. He is eating well and he uses his litter tray he only had 2 'accidents' when he first arrived.

Initially we were all allowing him to play rough with our hands and allowing him to climb up our legs etc but since a week ago last Saturday I decided to get tougher on that, as he is getting bigger and stronger these play activities now leave bite marks and scratches, he is doing pretty well on the training and is learning though occasionally gets over excited with me, hence the 'No/Stop It/Bad' names! some friends are really soft and he just makes a beeline for them. I have asked them to be firmer as on the whole 'NO' works fine with him but a couple of them tell him off in such a gentle fashion am sure he thinks its praise!"

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Nervous and aggressive cats

When you take on a new cat or kitten it may be quiet and wary for the first few days or even the first few weeks until it gets used to you and its new environment. However, some cats remain very fearful despite a gentle welcome and time to settle in. This can cause their owners great anxiety because they feel the cat is not happy. The cat may run and hide as soon as someone comes into the house or if there is a sudden noise or from common everyday sounds such as the television. Many such cats spend a great deal of their time under the bed or on top of the wardrobe, hiding from the world. A nervous or frightened cat can make a very disappointing pet, especially if the household which has adopted it is a busy and noisy one. They will probably see little of the cat until the children have gone to bed and the adults have settled down quietly in front of the TV in the evening.

There can be several causes of nervousness in cats:

• Genetics: like people, some cats seem to be naturally more fearful than others.

• Bad experiences: the cat may have previously had a frightening experience. Its natural survival mechanisms make it generally fearful in anticipation of it happening again.

• Lack of experience at a crucial time in its development: Kittens which meet people and other animals and which are exposed to the general hubbub of life by the time they are eight weeks old will take almost anything in their stride and deal with it as a normal part of life. This is the making of a confident cat. Eight weeks seems to be a very crucial cut-off point for the kitten. If it has not had these very early experiences it will find life with humans very difficult to cope with. Take for example the feral kitten (one born to a cat living wild) which does not have contact with people in these early weeks. It will behave like a wild animal and handling or confinement will cause acute fear. Although some people persevere with older feral kittens, it requires a great deal of time and patience to get them to respond and this lack of early experience is usually very difficult, if not sometimes impossible, to get over.

Hence, knowing a cat's background can make a difference in determining whether you can help it or not. However, for many cat owners this is an unknown as they have no idea what happened to their cat before they took it on. They have to try to tackle the problem anyway. It is not something which can be solved overnight, if at all. It takes patience and time.

Consider the cat which hides under the bed at the slightest noise or activity within the house. It has removed itself from what it sees as a life-threatening situation and feels a flood of relief. This feeling is very strong and reinforces the fleeing behaviour - after all, the cat has saved its life. As a solitary species the cat has no pack to back it up if things go wrong - if threatened its best chance of survival is to run away and hide, staying very quiet until the danger has passed. Owners must be able to offer something even more rewarding than this feeling of safety and relief that the cat feels on following its instincts if they want to stop it running. This can be very difficult.

The cat needs to learn that there is nothing threatening in the situation it is running from. It can be very useful to obtain an indoor crate or kittening pen for the cat's re-education. Place it in the corner of the room and cover with a blanket so that the cat can see out of the front but the sides are covered and the cat feels somewhat protected. Put the cat in the pen first of all during a quiet period so that it can get used to it and relax. It will probably like the feeling of protection the pen provides. Feed favourite treats in the pen and provide a litter tray. Let the cat view all the normal household goings-on from its safe haven and gradually add more 'action' to its repertoire.

When the cat seems relaxed, ask a friend to visit. Normally the cat would run away when the door bell rings, but now it has to watch and listen, albeit from the safety of its pen. You want the cat to realise that the threats it perceived are not going to materialise. Ask your guest to feed the cat through the cage with a special tidbit and offer lots of praise and soothing talk. You can then graduate to having the cat in the room without the pen and inviting visitors in (again pre-briefed so they to behave quietly and prevent startling the cat). As the cat learns that everything is not a threat and that the rewards of staying around are indeed worth overcoming its fear for, you are gaining success.

Never lose your temper or try to force it too quickly - this will just reinforce the cat's previous fears. If the cat progresses, even slowly, you are likely to be dealing with an animal which is overcoming a fear rather than one which has missed out during its socialising period as a kitten. Build on your successes gradually. Remember that cats feel safe in high places so when you progress to letting the cat out in the room with you, provide it with a high perch where it can sit in safety and watch the world go by beneath. Use warmth, affection and food as rewards for being with you.

Aggressive cats

There are many different types of aggression exhibited by animals, and cats are no exception. We are happy to accept many forms of aggression as normal behaviour - such as our own cat chasing a strange cat out of the garden or a female cat with kittens pushing away intruders. We even accept cats which scratch or bite us, provided we feel that they have been provoked enough to retaliate! Aggression towards people is not a common problem in cats and even when it does occur it seldom causes serious injury.

Pain

If your cat suddenly becomes aggressive when stroked and he has never exhibited such behaviour before, it may be that he is in pain or feeling unwell and doesn't want to be touched. If you think this is the case then an immediate visit to the vet is called for.

Grabbing the hand which strokes

One of the most common 'aggression' problems is known as 'petting and biting syndrome' and indeed it is as it says - when you start to stroke your cat it turns around and bites you or attacks your hand, grabbing your wrist with its front feet and kicking you with its back feet. Some cats only attack in this way if their tummy is being tickled, others only need to be stroked on the head before they retaliate.

Think of the cat sitting on your lap and being stroked - it has to be very relaxed and trusting to put itself in this position - like a kitten being groomed by its mother. For some cats this is just a little too dangerous - they relax and then suddenly feel vulnerable. With conflicting feelings of security and fear, they react with defensive aggression and grab the hand which is stroking them. They then usually jump off our laps and sit and groom to calm themselves.

Accepting stroking is a learned response rather than a natural adult behaviour and some cats may just be more naturally reactive than others. They may calm down as they get older, as young cats (like children) may be easily excited. Others may have missed out on human attention at that vital time in their social development before eight weeks old and find it impossible to accept physical attention.

You need to try and help your cat to feel more secure with physical attention. Sit quietly with the cat when you won't be interrupted and keep everything very calm. Keep interactions very short and stop before the cat reacts. Try not to provoke a reaction - stop stroking when you notice twitching or backwards-facing ears, dilated pupils or sudden tensing. Reward the cat with food and praise for behaving in a relaxed way. Never punish the cat - this will only reinforce the idea that you are a threatening person.

Pent-up energies

Very occasionally cats go beyond reactive aggression and into proactive aggression, attacking their owners as they walk past or preventing them gaining access to certain parts of the house. Quite often the problems occur in indoor cats and may be a form of redirected aggression. Cats watch birds or other cats through the window and become excited. However, they have no way of getting rid of the pent up energy or frustration. If their owner happens to be walking past, the movement triggers them into the hunting or defensive aggression mode and they attack. School teachers are aware how noisy and fidgety children become if they are unable to go out at lunchtime because of bad weather - they need to let off steam before they can concentrate again. Likewise scientists have noticed that captive tigers, which are made to work for their food by putting it at the top of a pole which they have to climb, will actually leave the food at the base of the pole for some time before they eat it. They think that this is because the tiger needs to settle down before it eats - the surge of adrenalin and response to the energy surge needed to reach the top of the pole 'charges' the cat up. Perhaps these aggressive 'problems' in cats have similar motivations. Owners of such cats may want to try and help them use up some of that energy and allow them to fulfil their hunting repertoire - especially if they are indoor only cats. This can be done by providing new toys and objects to climb in and play on, by playing hunting games with toys on the end of string and by teaching the cat that it has to find its food around the house rather than just presenting it in a bowl.

Playing too hard

Many kittens and young cats will get overexcited when they are playing and attack hands and feet. When kittens are very small owners may even encourage this because they find it amusing. However, as the kitten grows stronger and its teeth bigger, it can become very painful. If it becomes a problem you need to remove any attention immediately from the kitten when it bites so you are not rewarding the behaviour. Walk away and leave it alone. Give attention when the kitten is behaving as you want it to. If you want to play games use one of the fishing-rod type toys which allow you to keep hands and feet at a safe distance from those flashing teeth and claws. Give the kitten lots to play with so that it uses up its energy where you want it, not on you!

Aggression in hand-reared kittens

Aggression can also be a problem in some hand-reared animals (not just cats either) if their behaviours are interrupted or frustrated. It is thought that this is because although we can feed and then wean the kittens nutritionally, we do not know how to wean the kittens behaviourally. Just as our children must learn to do as they are told, to be able to cope when they cannot get their own way and to fit in with our social rules, queens will teach their kittens the feline equivalent. Much of this learning is to do with dealing with forced change - as the mother's milk dries up and the kittens demand more, she diverts their attention onto prey. In making the switch successfully they learn to be adaptable and to deal with the frustration. Many hand-reared kittens do not learn this vital lesson in life and react aggressively to frustration. Again the solution is to reward the behaviour you want with attention and food and to ignore or prevent situations when aggression comes into play.

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

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An excerpt from our Cat First Aid book

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is a common condition, often caused by diet changes or allergy but also infection, malabsorption problems, metabolic problems or tumours. Immediate veterinary attention should be sought if the diarrhoea is:

Bloody
Explosive
Accompanied by vomit
Causing dehydration
In a kitten
Making the cat depressed or weak

If the diarrhoea has been present for more than two days see a vet within 24 hours. Phone for advice if your cat is on antibiotic treatment.

If your cat is otherwise normal:

Remove food for 12 hours but allow plenty of drinking water.
Give a kaolin mixture such as Kaogel (one teaspoon per 5kg cat weight) three times a day. DO NOT give milk of magnesia, which looks similar as this is poisonous to cats.
If diarrhoea persists for more than 24 hours or blood is present, seek veterinary advice.
After 12 hours fasting give your cat a small amount of cooked white fish or chicken. Continue small amounts little and often
over next 3-5 days as long as your cat’s faeces is returning to normal. If there is no improvement, consult a vet. If you change your cat’s diet it is important to do it gradually so as not to upset the gut bacteria and cause diarrhoea. Probiotics may be useful when changing a cat’s diet.

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).

Dubby's January weigh-in was again a successful one. Despite stealing 8 out of a pack of 10 raw chipolata sausages he was 8.56kg. He was put on the scales again just to make sure we hadn't read the display wrong!! Well done dubby!!

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A SimplyCats 'Cats and Coffee' evening at Caffe Nero in Durham

On Tuesday 16th February 2010 between 6.30pm and 8.00pm we are holding an informal 'Cats and Coffee' evening for our clients and cat loving friends at Caffe Nero, located at 34 Silver Street, Durham City DH1 3RD (opposite Marks & Spencer).

The evening will consist of a cat behaviour talk lasting approximately 30 mins followed by a question and answer session and chance to talk about your own cats and share experiences, good or bad with other like-minded people over a coffee.

Please feel free to come along on the night. Places are limited so if at all possible could you e-mail caroline.pallister@simplycats.net in order to help us confirm catering numbers for the buffet.

Lost and found cats useful link:

http://www.mymoggy.com

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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 kidney disease, 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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