Week one - Ground Zero

The builders have knocked down a few walls and ceiling tiles, and left the odd wire hanging. Now the transformation to cat hospital begins...

Go Mr Puddy!

Pointers for laser pointers

Does your cat love to chase a laser pointer? It's great exercise, keeps cats trim and is lots of fun - but don't forget to let your cat catch some solid prey before you turn it off!

Pointers for laser pointers - Veterinary Community Video - Find it all here.

Cat hospital for Canberra

Work begins!

The builders have started fitting out  Canberra Cat Vet, an offshoot of Hall Vet Surgery!
After 3 years of planning we hope to open the doors of Canberra's first cat only hospital at the beginning of August.
Watch this space!

Do you have more than one cat???

Then check out The Ten Commandments of Cat Management for lots of hints on keeping a calm and contented household!

Cats get arthritis too!

Cleo curled up with daughter Cinta

Sixteen year old Burmese Cleo was  slow to jump down off the kitchen bench when caught out last week. She poured herself down the side, landed with a thud and looked stunned for a moment before moving off.
When we X-rayed her elbows we were horrified to find that she had severe osteoarthritis. She had been covering it up - as cats do - for a long time before we noticed she was having trouble.
We then noticed that she is also reluctant to jump very high. She uses chairs to get onto tables and has stopped leaping up to sit in the sun on the windowsill. Her painful knees make her hesitate before jumping and she then scrambles up rather than jumping. Unwilling to miss the electric blanket at night she pulls herself up on to the bed.
We've set up boxes as steps onto her feed bench and the bed. We also play gently with her by trailing ribbons and batting balls to strengthen her muscles. To reduce the strain on her joints we've restricted her food and watched her weight.
She makes sure that she sleeps in a warm, well-cushioned sleeping area - our bed!
This winter she is also on pain medication and is doing remarkably well.

Cat fight abscess

Poor old Kingston has had a run-in with a local bully. Here he is showing off the swelling on the side of his face and waiting for the vet to anaesthetise him and lance it.
We have already given him a long-lasting antibiotic.
Fortunately he has had an FIV vaccination against cat AIDS. The virus is spread by cat bites.
A latex drain, called a penrose, will keep the wound open for a few days to prevent further pus build up. Once that is out he will heal rapidly.
Hopefully he will steer clear of trouble in future!