Cat in Deep Repose

Tabbitha in deep sleep

I swear my sister's cat, Tabitha, was sound asleep when I snapped this on the weekend. She didn't twitch a muscle when the camera flashed and clicked - and we laughed and laughed.
Have you snapped your cat in strange sleeping poses? We'd love to see just how uncomfortable a position a cat can sleep in!!! Send your pics to hallcatvet. 

Urine problems

Indoor cats  straining to urinate and not producing much but bloody urine have bladder problems. Some exhibit their frustration and pain all over the house.

The urinary passage of male or desexed male cats can block up with crystals and mucous. If your cat is tense and restless then he may have a blockage and you must contact a vet immediately before the bladder bursts.

Stress causes bladder inflammation or cystitis in some cats.

Kidney or bladder infections and bladder stones cause similar signs.

When you come to the vet surgery we examine your cat for urinary blockage and shock. Then we analyse your cat’s urine for infection, crystals and mucous plugs. We might order an X ray or ultrasound to rule out bladder stones.

If we find no sign of blockage, infection or stones then  we conclude that your cat has Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) or Interstitial Cystitis (FIC).

Contributing causes:
No single cause of FIC has been identified. However, several factors have been shown to increase the risk of FIC. These include:

• Stress
• Indoor confinement
• Dry food
• Obesity
• Low water consumption
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Frequent meals

How can you prevent further episodes of FIC?

• Introduce a predominantly wet food diet such as food in sachets or cans, or raw meat. If your cat prefers dry food you may have to introduce the new foods gradually. Add a little of the wet food to the biscuits and gradually increase the amount of wet food. Alternatively sprinkle the biscuits with water and increase the amount of water added over a few weeks until the biscuits are soft and wet.
• Increase your cat’s water intake. You might try adding more water to the food or offering water flavoured with chicken stock. Some cats like running water. Pet fountains are available in many pet stores. Cats often like drinking water from the shower recess or basin. Provide water in a variety of bowls in different shapes, sizes and textures to identify your cat’s preference. If rain water or filtered water is available your cat may prefer it to tap water.
• Encourage frequent urination. Provide at least one litter tray per cat plus one more filled with the preferred litter and in private locations.
• Reduce stress in your cat’s life. Some cats are very sensitive to their environment and may respond to any changes by becoming nervous or fearful and developing problems such as cystitis. A comfortable quiet hideout for resting, such as a cupboard, quiet bed or sofa, or on top of the refrigerator, is essential for all felines. Some nervous individuals may require a refuge in a quiet, sheltered part of the house away from other pets and people, and furnished with the necessities of life.
• Minimise interaction with other cats for fearful individuals. Check out the Indoor Cat website for signals that your cat is on edge. You may have to provide a feeding point, litter tray and hideout for each cat to minimise the tension.
• A Feliway diffuser may help to reduce stress in many situations.
• Enrich your cat’s environment. When we confine our cats indoors they become dependent on us not only for their physical needs and environment but for their emotional and intellectual needs as well. Cat scratching posts, toys that mimic prey, tunnels, outside runs and a variety of high spots and hideouts will keep your cat happy and stimulated. Your company is important. Even an old cat will appreciate a game with a ribbon on a stick or a glittery ball. Make your cat work for food by hiding it in various locations around the house or in food puzzles such as plastic containers with holes cut in the sides. The Indoor Pet website has lots of suggestions.

Choosing the right cat for you

Choose a cat to suit your lifestyle.

• Where will your cat live?  If your cat will be kept entirely or mostly indoors, select a breed or an individual that’s calm and not very active.
• How much time do you want to spend grooming your cat? Cat have short or curly coats, or are long-haired. Long or densely haired cats shed more hair into your home and need more grooming than short-haired breeds. We sedate many long haired cats in spring and summer to clip and groom them thoroughly.
• What temperament would you like? Many cats are placid and gentle while others are playful or independent. Pure bred cats have more consistent temperaments but a moggie can be a loyal, healthy and long-lived pet. Kittens that have been handled a lot and exposed to all sorts of people and experiences are usually more tolerant and well-adjusted than those that have just been left with the queen.
• What size cat would you like? Breeds and individuals range from small to large in size. Check the parents and the breed.
• What sort of household do you have? If everyone in the house is out during the day at school or work, two cats will keep each other company.

A good place to start finding the right breed for you is Selectapet.
 
Go to Pets in the City for some excellent information on keeping a cat in the city.

Cat fight wounds

Bites from another cat during a fight cause abscesses and infection. Dog, rat and other rodent bites are rare.

Consequences:

Cat bites on the head, forelimbs or at the base of the tail leave lumps that swell and burst. Your cat is lethargic and goes off his food.

When a cat bites its teeth go through the skin leaving small puncture wounds which seal over, trapping bacteria under the skin of the victim.

A pocket of pus forms an abscess. In areas where the skin is tighter, such as on the foot or the tail, the infection spreads through the tissues causing cellulitis.

Rarely more serious consequences such as a septic arthritis (infection of a joint space) or osteomyelitis (infection of bone) result.

Treatment:

• Antibiotics by injection or mouth stop the spread of infection and development of an abscess.  

• Surgery to drain the pus.

Dr Kate injects Sam with an antibiotic after the Battle of Belconnen

Flea control

Cat flea in action

Because of the all the rain over the last 6 months and now the very warm days, fleas are hatching in unprecedented numbers  around Canberra.

Cat fleas hatch from flea pupae in your house in warm, humid conditions. Our carpeted, centrally heated homes are ideal for the year round development of fleas.

After feeding on a cat adult female fleas lay eggs that fall off onto couches, carpets and beds. The microscopic eggs develop first into larvae that migrate deep into carpets, furniture or cracks in floors away from the light, and then into pupae. The pupae contain adult fleas which lie in wait for the next cat or dog to pass.

Many cats show no signs of flea infestation until:

• They develop an allergy to flea bites. They groom or scratch excessively and develop ‘miliary’ dermatitis.
• The fleas cause anaemia in kittens and debilitated animals.
• They are infested with tapeworm ( Dipylidium caninum) from eating infected fleas during grooming.

Flea control

• Conquer fleas on your cat with long lasting flea control products (Frontline, Advocate, Revolution, Advantage) applied as a spot on. Flea collars, shampoos and powders kill fleas present on your cat at the time of application but have little residual effect. 
• Remove flea eggs, larvae and pupae from the environment with regular vacuuming of carpets, sofas and beds. Throw away or burn the dust bag to prevent eggs and larvae developing.
• Professional fumigation controls larvae and pupae. 
• Wash bedding in hot water or replace regularly.
• Spray garden sheds, cars and favoured outdoor sleeping spots.

New look web site

The Ohio State University has expanded its wonderful Indoor Cat site to include dogs. The importance of mental health to overall health and well-being has long been identified in human medicine. Poor welfare and chronic stress can also lead to mental and physical health problems in our pets.
The treasure trove of hints and help for keeping indoor cats is still there - just click on the pic of the cute kitten on the left.  I've found the problem solving section especially useful for stressed pusses.

The Indoor Pet Initiative

How old is my cat?

The old way of comparing a cat's age with a person's was to multiply by seven. Here is a more  accurate way that correlates better with the various life stages and growth rate of the cat:

The first year of a cat's life is equivalent to 15 human years. By 2 years old a cat is the equivalent of a 24 year old person. After that each year for a cat is the same as four human years. For example a 10 year old cat would be 24 + (8 x 4) = 56 human years.

A cat is middle-aged by about 8 years old (48 human years). When your cat is 12 he is equivalent to retirement age (64 human years).

If your cat lives past 16, each additional year is about three human years.

The average lifespan for a cat is around 14 years (72 human years), but many live to 17 (83 human years) and some to 20 (92 human) years old.

According to the Guinness World of Records the world's oldest cat is Creme Puff from Texas who was 37 in 2004!

Thanks to the fabulous fab cats' brochure for these interesting morsels!

Why do cats...?