Dog Flea and Tick treatments kill cats

Flea and tick treatments containing Permethrin are poisonous to cats. Although labeled as dog-only products and labeled as toxic to cats, spot-on permethrins have caused 166 reported deaths in cats in the last 2 years in Australia.
Brands of dog spot-ons that caused cat fatalities include Bayer Advantix, Exelpet Fea (and Tick) Liquidator, Troy Ease-on, Purina Total care Flea Eliminator Line-On and Duogard Line-On. These are safe to use on dogs but even the smallest amount can be fatal to cats.
Cats have become very ill after grooming their canine housemates. Even rubbing up against a dog who has had a recent permethrin application has made cats ill. One cat was intoxicated by a brush shared with the recently treated family dog.
In a recent Australian survey owners reported that they did not notice the warning on the permethrin spot-on packet or that the vendor of the product did not draw it to their attention. Some had lost the packet with the warning on it or mixed up the dog and cat pipettes. Others used one dog pipette to treat many cats or used the end of the dog’s pipette in an attempt to save money.
Protect your cat from permethrin poisoning by only buying cat products for your cat, always reading the label, and keeping dogs and cats separated for 24 hours after the dogs have been treated with a permethrin product.

Missing Russian Prince

A local motel owner phoned us recently about a Russian Blue who had turned up on his doorstep. The cat’s owner had stayed at the motel a few days before and the cat, a true Russian prince, had taken leave overnight.
Although the owner had searched everywhere the cat had not returned before she had to travel on. She left her phone number but the motel owner had tried it repeatedly without result and was left with the cat.
Nikolai arrived at the surgery with his collar and name, most indignant that his lift had left without him. The collar had no address or phone number on it and we couldn’t find a microchip with our scanner. The phone number the motel owner had been given was disconnected by this time and we presumed that the woman must have been in the process of moving.
Nikolai is a handsome fellow. One of nurses fell head over heels in love with him and couldn’t bear the thought of such a prince being banished to a lowly cat shelter. She offered to take him home until the owner returned to claim him.
Only 2% of lost cats ever find their way back home from shelters. Most lack tags or microchip identification.
When your cat is microchipped the microchip number and your phone number/s are linked on a national register as well as on the local pet register. If he wanders or is lost then a vet or shelter can easily scan for the microchip and get in touch with you. If your cat tolerates collars, a tag with your phone details allows anyone who finds him to contact you.
We microchipped Nikolai in case he decided to inspect his kingdom again and he is happily waiting for his original owner to return.

Tara's makeover

Tara had a problem with her long hair - she just couldn't keep it tidy, and she certainly wouldn't let her family fiddle with her pride and joy. Today she called it quits and allowed the nurses at Hall Vet Surgery to clip all those matts and knots right off. Her vet decided a general anaesthetic was the kindest way for the nurses to do a thorough and neat job without upsetting Tara so she spent the day in hospital for her makeover. In a few weeks she will have a respectable coat again and meanwhile she can enjoy summer a little more.
Tara's thickly matted coat this morning

The new cool Tara this afternoon

Nick the great Siamese Warrior

Nick, my sister’s Siamese, asked me to confirm the goodness of raw rabbit for cats’ teeth and condition.  He lives in country NSW and often brings home feral rabbit (thousands are currently swarming the farm) to supplement the meagre offerings of his staff.

Nick’s favourite stashing place for rabbits and other treasures is under my niece’s bed.  One morning my niece woke up to a crash and snapped on the light in time to see Nick disappearing under the bed with a 6 foot long brown snake hooked to his ear.  After some commotion Nick emerged with his usual elegance leaving the snake writhing under the bed for the staff to clean up.

The family were left in a quandary.  Should they rush him to the vet or not?  In the end they did but the snake must have pushed his fangs through the ear and wasted the venom on the ground because Nick didn’t develop any signs of snake bite.

Most people only know that their cat has been bitten when he becomes paralysed by the venom next day.  Antivenom, intravenous fluids and TLC save most cats from Australian brown snake envenomation.

PS Nick has flawless teeth and a perfect condition score at 12 years of age – from all that raw meat and exercise!  My city cats can only dream of such freedoms and good health.

The dreaded vet visit

Most cats would rather not visit the vet.  However, annual checks catch nasty conditions early and older cats with chronic issues need to visit much more often.

Carriers that I can lift the top off are ideal in the exam room because your cat can stay comfortably in his safe haven while I work around him.

Cats that use their carrier as an occasional bed or hidey hole at home seem most relaxed about being locked up in it for the car ride over.  Some people find short trial rides in the carrier and car reduce anxiety (and constant cries for help!) further.

I like to speak in a soft low voice to my patients as I examine them.  If you can remain calm and speak and move quietly too, your cat is more likely to stay relaxed.  Even the most laid back puss will gratefully receive gentle petting and massage in a stressful situation.

Workout advice for cats' eyes only

Make out you're keen on this diet and exercise stuff.  After all, fitness really should be fun. However, it is important to start any fitness program only when you feel like it.  The best time is at about 2 a.m. The house is quiet; there are no distractions. The warm-up is critical. You're already an expert at stretching, so this won't be a problem. Go on with a few wind sprints, full speed, toenails clicking on the tile or linoleum floors. A few low but loud growls will help you feel charged up.
Now add some eye-paw coordination work. Find a marble (the big steelies work even better) and roll that down the floor interspersing the rolling with more sprints. See how many times you can ricochet the marble off the wall before it disappears under the fridge.  Finally, work on that upper body strength with a bit of climbing. Use curtains blinds, plant hangers, or clothes. Backs of chairs work well, too.   Now put it all together. A speed sprint to the end of the hall! A race around the living room! Leap to the back of the rocking chair! Let the rebound launch you to the top of the swinging planter! Rock that baby! Feel those muscles work. Just as the hook pulls loose from the ceiling, dash to the bedroom and dive under the covers. Establish your alibi just in time to hear the crash of the plant to the floor below.

Have a good Work-Out!

My cats Cleo and Cinta enjoy a snooze and a bath together

Fat Cats

Obesity in cats is no joke.  Every day I see cats with arthritis, diabetes, bladder problems and liver disease as a result of overeating and lack of exercise.  (Where have we heard that before??!) 

Just a 20% increase in weight – a 1kg increase in a 5 kg cat – makes a cat obese.  Cats hide their fat under their bellies and along their ribs so their owners often miss the early signs of expansion. 

Neutered cats, particularly neutered males, and cats that live indoors are more likely to be overweight. When kittens are neutered their energy needs decrease dramatically.  We need to reduce their daily intake by 25% and make sure we keep them playing and active.  

If your cat is already overweight consult your veterinarian before starting the diet.  Too rapid weight loss may result in a fatty liver, which is often fatal.  Aim to lose about 1-2% of the current weight per week.  For a 5 kg cat that is about 50-100 grams per week. 

A 33% to 50% reduction in current food intake combined with exercise should be effective. If possible, cut back the dry food to less than 50% of the daily intake and offer more meat and canned food.  A good chew on raw stewing steak, chicken wings, a rabbit leg, osso bucco or lamb cutlets makes puss feel full and cleans her teeth as well.

Ensure that she does not have access to alternative food sources such as the meals of other pets in the household or friendly neighbours!

Increase the opportunities for exercise.  A cat tower and a variety of toys that you can rotate out of the cupboard are a good start. Tunnels and hideouts made from cardboard boxes are cheap and fun to play in.  You can join in the fun by tugging a simple length of ribbon or a feather along the corridor. This will trim your cats’ waist lines, increase their muscle mass and make them – and you - feel good.

  Jacques and Sally escape from humdrum indoor life into their outdoor cat run.

They won't find me here...

Holly avoiding her visit to the vet today