Diabetes

Mini checks out her blood glucose this morning

Cat diabetes is very similar to human diabetes. Slimming down and a particular diet help control or even cure it.
However diabetes in cats always requires an intial intense period of insulin treatment and, unlike humans, cats require a high protein diet to overcome their diabetes.
Mini visits us every Thursday morning for a blood glucose test. Her carer gives her an insulin injection twice a day with her meals. Until we find the best dose for her she will visit us every Thursday for a weight check and a blood glucose check.
Mini had already lost her extra kilos when she was diagnosed so she didn't have to go on a weight reduction diet. High protein diets help keep cats' blood glucose down and reduce the insulin dose though. 

Medications in food

This morning I received a very sad email from a cat whose carer is adding chicken flavoured medicine to his food:

Dear Dr Kate,

I'm writing to report  on the appalling conditions the slaves are forcing me to live in. For the past two and a half  weeks my life has gone from good to bad. I was running the place, had that rotten new dog playing right into my paws. 

Then the slave took me to see you. As the problems started shortly after my visit I thought it was best to make my complaints directly to you (my constant complaining to the slave has not resulted in any improvement in my conditions...) 

Initially I was forced to take some revolting medicine - it made me gag and froth and retch - but I do feel better now. My cough has completely gone.

Now they think they can hide "chicken" flavoured poison in my food. I’m not stupid enough to fall for their tricks! 

I went on a hunger strike and refused to eat, hoping my protest would guilt them into feeding me something normal - it didn't work. I have cried and whinged every minute of the day. 

Yesterday I gave in and ate the food with the poison in it - just to lubricate my throat, you understand. I just couldn’t go on with my tummy rumbling so much. 

Today I managed to climb up on the fridge where they keep the dog treats (why didn’t I figure this out years ago??). I've threatened to stay here on the fridge and/or throw myself off if conditions don’t improve ie if THEY DON’T FEED ME DECENT UNADULTERATED REAL FOOD!

They are ignoring me. Dr Kate, please help me! Talk to them for me. Please....

Regards Gus

Gus enclosed this photo of his poor suffering self:

Poor Gus! He will feel so much better if he relents and eats his 'adulterated' food. Already the antibiotics for his chest infection have reinvigorated him! The asthma medicine that his carer is putting in his food will make him feel better every day.

Senior health screening discount

Have you booked your older cat for a senior screen yet? Coco has been reading about the advantages of 6-12 monthly checks for cats over 10 years of age and is worried that some of her friends might miss out on the Hills senior screening program.

Hills are offering a $20 discount on the cost of a check up and any tests that have to be done. Just go to Hills senior screening to print your voucher out. Book a check up with us and bring the voucher with you.

(No worries if you haven't got access to a printer - just ask our receptionist to print a voucher out for you)

High blood pressure

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure, a silent killer of older cats.

What causes hypertension in cats?

Hypertension is usually secondary to another disease. Kidney disease is the most common cause of hypertension but cats with adrenal gland tumours or treated for hyperthyroidism also develop high blood pressure at times. Sometimes no underlying cause is found.

Most cats with hypertension are older than 9 years of age.

What are the effects of hypertension?

Hypertension damages all body organs but we notice it most in:

• the eyes. The small vessels in the retina break under pressure. The bleeding detaches the retina and the cat becomes blind.
• the brain. Ruptured blood vessels cause ‘strokes’, fits, twitches or unusual behaviour
• the kidneys. Increased blood pressure damages the delicate filtration system of the kidney.
• the heart. The heart has to work harder to push the blood out into the body and the heart muscle thickens and becomes less efficient. Sometimes the heart goes out of rhythm or we hear a murmur with the stethoscope. Affected cats may show signs of heart failure such as breathlessness, lethargy, weakness or fainting.

How do we detect hypertension?

We measure the blood pressure of all cats over 9 years old as part of the regular seniors’ examination. We also check the blood pressure of all cats with kidney disease or hyperthyroidism, or with any signs of eye, brain or heart disease. 

Most cats tolerate the cat sized cuffs we put on their arms. Some don’t like the feel of the gel or the sound of the amplifier we use to hear the pulse. We try to put them at ease so that we get an accurate reading.

How do we treat hypertension?

A daily dose of amlopidine as a fragment of tablet (Norvasc), or as chicken, fish, cheese or beef flavoured drops to put on the food, brings the blood pressure down rapidly.

After a week on amlopidine we recheck the blood pressure to see if it has come down to normal. If all goes well we recheck it every 3 months. 

Sometimes other medications like benazepril (Fortekor or Vetace) are added in, particularly if we detect kidney disease.

Hairballs or asthma?

At first Gus's carer thought he had hair balls. So did the friends she asked. He gagged and convulsed and brought up froth. She gave him some laxative paste.

Everything in the litter tray seemed normal and for a while Gus seemed OK.

When she rushed off to work he was curled up on the lounge in the sun room as usual. 

But the gagging started up again, especially at night. She noticed that he wasn’t eating all his dinner and sometimes stopped he stopped in the middle of the gagging and breathed heavily.

One night he crept on to the end of the bed and wheezed and gasped for breath until she was sure he was choking to death. 

Next morning she rushed him into us. We X-rayed his chest and found a very hazy lung and signs of chronic bronchitis.

We took samples from Gus’s lungs and found he had pneumonia. Gus had developed an airway and lung infection on top of the chronic bronchitis. 

Cats get asthma and bronchitis, just like humans do. For some it is worse when there are lots of pollens blowing about, for others being cooped up inside with the stagnant air and dust mites in winter set the wheezing and coughing off.

His carer remembered that he had always had a bit of a wheeze, especially in spring and early summer. She hadn’t thought much of it.

It is very easy to confuse coughing with vomiting or regurgitation. Usually food or bile will come up at some stage with vomiting. Vomiting cats often lose their appetite or have diarrhoea as well. Coughing cats don’t go off their food unless they develop an infection as well.

Some asthmatic cats have life threatening breathing difficulties if they are not treated adequately. If you notice your cat coughing, gagging, breathing with difficulty, especially with the mouth open and the neck extended, contact your vet.

Check out Fritz the Brave for more information or for reliable support and information if your cat has asthma or bronchitis.


Gus is back to his irascible self after a long course of antibiotics. He's getting used to a puffer and spacer, and quite likes all the attention we give him. 

Ten reasons to adopt a cat

1.You'll have a lot to choose from.

2. Kittens are easier than puppies, and equally ADORABLE. 

3. It’s about time you started the longest relationship you’ll ever have.

4. It’s time to neaten up those electrical cords anyway.

5. Kittens are much better entertainment than “real” housewives from anywhere, vampire dramas, and (lack of) talent shows.

6. You need to improve your skills at photographing things in perpetual motion.

7. Kittens find you attractive even when you’re wearing sweatpants and have bad hair.

8. The cat you already have is bored, sedentary, or getting too big for his britches.

9. You’re bored, sedentary, or getting too big for your britches.

10. It’s never a bad time to make unconditional love a part of your life.

from CATalyst

A new cat in the family?

Tips for Introducing a New Cat into Your  Feline Family 

 CATalyst Council, a group of  animal health and welfare organizations working on behalf of cats, has a great list of tips to make the introduction a little smoother for all concerned:

1. Before you bring a new cat home, prepare a room where the newcomer can be comfortable and separate from your other cats. Ensure the room has a litter box, water and food containers, a comfortable place to relax and toys. Keep the door to this room shut for a day or so to allow your new furry friend to get used to being in a new place. This will also allow your existing cats to smell around the door and get used to the idea of a new cat in the house.

2. Periodically switch out a blanket or pillow in the room where the new cat is being kept with one from another room of your home. This will allow all cats to smell each other and get used to the others’ scents. 

3. Slowly start allowing the new cat and your other cat(s) to see each other using a baby gate or other similar device, which will keep them separate and allow you to supervise their interactions. Praise the cats when they are being curious about one another (try using treats, a favorite toy or petting) to help them realize that their new friend is a wonderful thing and not a threat. 

4. When all cats seem comfortable with each other, try allowing them to meet without the baby gate, but only under your supervision. Again, use treats (praise, petting, toys or treats) to reinforce how great it is to have a new friend in the house.

5. When they all seem to be getting along well under your supervision, allow the new cat to come out and explore your whole house without supervision.