Petville

Study links house dust to cat illness

A new federal study suggests that household dust containing a common flame retardant may be linked to an increase in cats getting sick from overactive thyroids.

That could be a warning sign for how young children could get exposed to the chemical, said Linda S. Birnbaum, director of experimental toxicology at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and co-author of the study.

The small study looks at chemical flame retardants called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which were used in foam, plastics, furniture, electronics, fabrics and carpet padding. The sole American manufacturer in 2004 agreed to phase out the types of PBDEs included in the study because of concern about toxicity in animals. But PBDEs remain in American homes.

The study of 23 cats found the older felines with high levels of certain types of PBDEs tended to have overactive thyroids, the researchers reported online Wednesday in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Hyperthyroidism is treatable in both cats and humans. In cats, the disease started soaring in America in the late 1970s and 1980s, soon after PBDEs became common, according to the researchers.

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Who says cats don't like a little moisture?

As these pictures show, there's always the exception to the rule. The cat in question is a large male white Bengal tiger called Odin.

Six years old, and at the prime of his life, Odin lives at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Zoo in Vallejo, near San Francisco. He is about 10ft long from nose to tail, and is an excellent swimmer.

White tigers - the color is caused by an unusual genetic combination - are rare in the wild, although there are several dozen in zoos.

Odin was hand-raised at the zoo. And after he was weaned, his British trainer Lee Munro discovered his remarkable skill: when a lump of meat was thrown into a pool of water, Odin would happily dive in after it.

In fact, although Big Cats generally do not like water, tigers of all types have been spotted taking to the water to hunt and even to bathe for pleasure.

Odin can now be observed in action - a large pool with glass walls has been constructed at the zoo to allow visitors to watch him gliding through the water with all the grace of a polar bear.

View the incredible photos here. Thanks to Bill for sending the link.

Cats Are Different

Find Out How A Cat's Nutritional Needs Are Different From A Dog's

Our wonderful life-supporting planet is home to a remarkably diverse and complex spectrum of living organisms. And although all living things do share some common traits and similar biochemical pathways and cellular functions, there are many notable differences that make each creature stand out from the crowd. So even with the thread of sameness joining all the planets’ life forms, diversity and difference makes us take note of each creature’s uniqueness. Maybe that’s why the cat is America’s favorite housepet . . .cats are different!

This extraordinary four-legged feline has, for all of recorded time, evoked wonder and surprise, superstition and affection, damnation and deification. From pharaohs to philosophers to paupers, the companionship of and affection for cats has been a result of the cat’s unique ability to make us humans gaze in awe and admiration.

Eons of special environmental circumstances have forced the cat to evolve some interesting and individualized biochemical activities. Let’s take a peek at how unique the cat is inside, in that mysterious universe of liver and kidneys and glands and fluids where a million chemical reactions are going about their biological business in silent obscurity. And to make our little peek at the inner workings of the cat more interesting, let’s contrast a few of the cat’s biological activities to those of our next most favorite companion the dog.

In so many obvious ways, cats look, act, react, and respond differently than dogs. You never see a cat happily wag its tail; a dog’s reflexes are quick, a cat’s reflexes are incredible; dogs are doers, cats are watchers. These differences are easily noted by simple observation. Now let’s explore some of the unseen microscopic world of the cat – the invisible world of metabolism and chemistry that is just as real as those traits we can see with our eyes.

To begin with we must get a good grip on two terms . . . carnivore and omnivore. The cat is considered by scientists to be a strict carnivore and the dog is considered to be an omnivore. Both species are in the Class Mammalia and the Order Carnivora, but here’s the difference: The cat cannot sustain its life unless it consumes meat in some form. Dogs, however, are able to survive on plant material alone; they do not have to consume meat. But always keep in mind that dogs do best and by nature are primarily meat-eaters. Just because by definition they are omnivores (can digest and utilize plant and animal food sources) does not mean that plant material alone makes a good source of nutrition for the dog. Far too many dogs have been undernourished by those cheap grain-based dog foods. And grain-based cat foods are even worse!

So a good way to think of it is that cats are carnivores, dogs are omnivores, but they both have evolved as hunters of other animals in keeping with their nature as meat-eaters.

Cat saves family from poisonous fumes

The cat jumped on the bed, meowed wildly until owner woke and called 911

NEW CASTLE, Ind. - A cat helped spare a family from death by carbon monoxide poisoning by jumping on the bed and meowing wildly as fumes filled the home, the owners said.

Eric and Cathy Keesling said their 14-year-old cat, Winnie, played a crucial role in saving their lives March 24 after a gasoline-powered water pump in their basement caused the odorless but deadly gas to build up.

About 1 a.m., the domestic shorthair began nudging Cathy’s ear and meowing loudly.

“It was a crazy meow, almost like she was screaming,” said Cathy, who hesitated to get up until Winnie’s caterwauling and jumping persisted.

When she finally climbed from bed, she realized she was nauseous and dizzy and couldn’t awaken her husband. Because he had undergone minor neck surgery the previous day, she decided to call 911 but was so disoriented she had trouble dialing.

Paramedics found the couple’s 14-year-old son, Michael, unconscious on the floor near his bedroom. The Keeslings were taken from the home in oxygen masks, treated for carbon monoxide poisoning and soon recovered.

Cathy Keesling said Winnie acted similarly last summer when tornadoes tore through the area, 45 miles east of Indianapolis.

Salmonella found in frozen cat food

FDA warns pet owners not to buy Wild Kitty brand

The Food and Drug Administration Tuesday warned pet owners not to buy Wild Kitty cat food, a frozen raw product, because salmonella has been detected in some batches of it.

Cats could become infected with salmonella if they eat contaminated food. Humans can also become infected by handling the cat food or touching animals that consumed it, the FDA said.

The FDA said it discovered salmonella contamination during a routine analysis of the company’s cat food. The agency urged consumers to stop buying Wild Kitty chicken with clam food and to dispose of any containers they may already have.

Wild Kitty Cat Food is made by a small company in Kennebunkport, Maine and sold at pet stores in more than a dozen U.S. states. It advertises itself as a raw food that does not include any artificial flavorings or preservatives and is sold in frozen, single-serving and 1 pound containers.

Salmonella can cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and serious illness in small children, frail or elderly people, and people with chronic diseases.

Achoo on this: a hypoallergenic cat

A small California biotech company, Allerca,  has produced the world's first scientifically-proven  hypoallergenic cats. These cats allow some of the millions of people with feline allergies to finally enjoy the love and companionship of a household pet without suffering from allergic symptoms.

At the start of next year, the first kittens — which Allerca calls “lifestyle pets” — will go home to eager owners who have been carefully screened and have been on a waiting list for more than two years.

The cat allergen is a potent protein secreted by the cat’s skin and salivary glands. Allerca has focused on naturally occurring genetic divergences (GD) already present in cats that do no harm to the cats in any way.  The first breed of the Allerca GD hypoallergenic cat is friendly, playful and affectionate. The  Allerca GD cats come in all coat colors and patterns. The coat is medium-long with low maintenance and minimal shedding.

Cats ordered now will take 12 to 15 months for delivery in the United States, 15 to 18 months in Europe. Cost: $4,000. And owners must pass Allerca’s finicky screening tests.

“You’re not just buying a cat; it’s a medical device that replaces shots and pills,” said Megan Young, chief executive of Allerca. “At the same time, this is a living animal, so the well-being of our product comes before our customers. This is not some high-priced handbag that you put back on the shelf if it doesn’t match.”

What is the spay / neuter process?

What you should know about spaying and neutering

The pet population problem

Every year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats, including puppies and kittens, are needlessly destroyed. The good news is that every pet owner can make a difference. By having your dog or cat surgically sterilized, you will do your part to prevent the birth of unwanted puppies and kittens and you will enhance your pet's health and quality of life.

Pet behavior and pet reproduction

Contrary to what some people believe, getting pregnant — even once — does not improve the behavior of female dogs and cats. In fact, the mating instinct may lead to undesirable behaviors and result in undue stress on both the owner and the animal. Also, while some pet-owners may have good intentions, few are prepared for the work involved in monitoring their pet's pregnancy, caring for the newborns and locating good homes for all the offspring.

What is surgical altering?

During surgical altering, a veterinarian removes certain reproductive organs. If your cat or dog is a female, the veterinarian will usually remove her ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. The medical name for this operation is an ovariohysterectomy, although it is commonly called "spaying." If your pet is a male, the testicles are removed and the operation is called an orchiectomy, commonly referred to as castration or simply "neutering."

While both spaying and neutering are major surgical procedures, they are also the most common surgeries performed by veterinarians on cats and dogs. Before the operation, your pet will be given a thorough physical examination to ensure that your pet is in good health. General anesthesia will be administered before the surgery making the procedure non-painful. You will be asked to keep your pet calm and quiet for a few days afterwards until the incision begins to heal.

Will the surgery affect my pet's disposition or metabolism?

Basic benefits of spaying and neutering

What are the benefits of spaying and neutering?

Both operations lead to improved long-term health, prevent unwanted litters, and eliminate many behavior problems associated with the mating instinct.

Benefits to your female pet

Female dogs experience a "heat" cycle approximately every six months, depending upon the breed. A female dog's heat cycle can last as long as 21 days, during which your dog will leave blood stains in the house and may become anxious, short-tempered and actively seek a mate.

Female cats can come into heat every two weeks during breeding season until they become pregnant. During this time they may engage in behaviors such as frequent yowling and urination in unacceptable places.

Both female dogs and cats benefit from spaying, which eliminates their heat cycles and generally reduces the negative behaviors that may lead to owner frustration and, ultimately, a decision to relinquish the pet to a shelter. Most importantly, early spaying of female dogs and cats helps protect them from serious health problems later in life such as uterine infections and breast cancer.

Benefits to your male pet

Your cat's health: Feline Panleukopenia

What you should know about feline panleukopenia

Feline Panleukopenia (FP) is a highly contagious viral disease of cats caused by the feline parvovirus. Over the years FP has been known by a variety of names including feline distemper, infectious enteritis, cat fever and cat typhoid. Feline distemper should not be confused with canine distemper. Though sharing the same name, they are different diseases caused by different viruses; neither of the viruses is transmissible to man. FP virus kills rapidly dividing body cells. This cell loss makes the cat more susceptible to other complications and bacterial infections.

How Can You Tell if a Cat Has FP?

Domestic cats susceptible to avian influenza (bird flu)

From the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) Website
Study finds cats are susceptible to avian influenza H5N1 virus

Domestic cats are susceptible to avian influenza A H5N1, and they can spread the disease to other cats, according to a study published in the Sept. 2 online edition of Science magazine.

The study bolstered anecdotal evidence that domestic cats and captive wild felids can be infected with this deadly strain of avian influenza by eating infected chickens. The findings raise new questions about the role cats may play in spreading the disease among poultry farms, and may suggest another route of human exposure to the virus, according to the study's authors.

A kiss before dying

Just about everyone here at the office got misty over this photo by Margie Scott, who was able to capture a beautiful moment, days before the passing of her cat, Sammy. Click on the photo and be sure to read the caption, or catch the whole slideshow courtesy of MSN for week June 8-15 by clicking here.

God Bless to Sammy, and to Margie, congrats on being able to capture the moment in more than just a memory.

How cats became domesticated

Domestic cats originated from an ancestral wild species, Felis silvestris, the European and African Wild Cat. The domestic cat is now considered a separate species, named Felis catus. In appearance, domestic cats are similar to their wild relatives, and many of their behaviors, such as hunting and other activity patterns, remain essentially unchanged from their ancestral form. Cats were first domesticated in Egypt around 2000 BC. Domestic cats spread slowly to other parts of the globe, possibly because Egyptians prevented export of the animal they worshipped as a goddess. However, by 500 BC the Greeks had acquired domestic cats, and they spread cats throughout their sphere of influence. The Romans introduced the domestic cat to Britain by 300 AD. Domestic cats have now been introduced around the world, mostly by colonists from Europe.

Obesity in Cats

Ever wonder what to do about your overweight cat? Obesity in cats is very common and can predispose the cat to diabetes, Hepatic Lipidosis and arthritis. Overweight and actually obese cats outnumber cats of normal weigh and are being seen more and more commonly by veterinarians for various disorders. Weight loss plans in cats needs to be approached very carefully. This page will help you determine what to do about overweight cats so that your kitty won't have to be encumbered by obesity.

There are more cats than dogs in the USA at this time. And 40 percent of those cats are considered to be obese! Only 5 to 10 percent of all cats can be classified as only slightly overweight. In recent years Feline Diabetes Mellitus (diabetes) has become almost a daily diagnosis in animal hospitals all across America. Our cats are at risk for a number of obesity related disorders. Documented research indicates obese cats are far more prone than cats of normal body weight to Diabetes, arthritis and a very serious disorder called Hepatic Lipidosis. And the 40 percent obesity figure seems to be growing.

Sideways Kitty

Three weeks ago, our cat suddenly went sideways.

Our 11-year-old American Shorthair, Max (I swear I'm usually more creative than that), has never been sick a day in his life. He's been annoying at times, underweight -- seven pounds soaking wet -- and a very picky eater, but never actually sick.

So we were shocked when he suddenly appeared disoriented and dizzy, as if he had vertigo. Normally an especially agile jumper, suddenly Max was jumping head-first into things, instead of onto them. He could barely make it up onto the sofa without our help. And this was a cat who normally lived on top of the kitchen cabinets. Most alarmingly, we noticed his eyes were rapidly moving from side-to-side, uncontrollably.

I immediately assumed he'd had either a stroke or a brain tumor. Without hesitation, Max was rushed to the emergency veterinary clinic.

$800, several blood tests and x-rays later, we learned that he had Feline Vestibular Syndrome. (If I'd only thought to Google his symptoms before taking him to the clinic!)

What, you may ask, is FVS? It's essentially kitty vertigo. This blog post explains it better than anything else I've found:

"She presented, he said, with virtually a textbook case of feline vestibular syndrome, which is a neurological disorder of unknown origin that is something like Meniere's disease in humans. For some reason (also unknown), it strikes most frequently during the summer. Generally, a cat will improve after 72 hours and be completrely back to normal in 7 to 14 days, and that of course is what we are hoping for Pearl."