Recently added articles from Cat Watch:
Quality of life during chemo.(Short Takes)
Apr 01, 2008 ... It's one of the toughest choices a pet owner can face--between life-saving treatment and quality of life for the pet. During chemotherapy for lymphoma, the third most common form of cancer in cats, for example, the patient might lose hair, appetite, weight, sleep or even its whiskers. Some ...
Love me, love my vet.(Short Takes)
Apr 01, 2008 ... Considering the cost of chemotherapy, we're not surprised by a report in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (Vol. 32, No. 4): "Impact of the owner-pet bond on the care that pets receive." The key finding: "Owners who exhibit strong bonds with their pets seek higher ...
Bacterial clone sharing.(Short Takes)
Apr 01, 2008 ... This one's for you, Frannie, the ShortTakes mascot, to explain why we'd rather not share the kitchen table with your dainty paws: It is common for people and their pets to share the fecal bacteria that cause urinary infections in humans. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A ...
Testing for FIV and FeLV: all cats should be tested--and retested as necessary--for the presence of these viruses. Here's why.(Disease)
Apr 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Among all causes of lethal feline disease, none should be taken more seriously by cat owners than those caused by two specific submicroscopic organisms: feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Although these viruses are ...
The danger of hairballs: a large clump of ingested hair can block a cat's intestinal tract and pose a deadly threat. Here's what you should know.(Health)
Apr 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Every so often, your otherwise fastidious cat will do an alarming and somewhat disgusting thing. She'll awake from a peaceful nap, rise up on her paws, retch convulsively for a moment or two, and spit up what may appear at first glance to be a damp clump ....
Pyometra: a deadly threat: spaying your female cat at an early age will virtually eliminate the risk for this disorder. Here's why.(Health)
Apr 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Humane considerations overwhelmingly support the practice of spaying--the surgical removal of a female cat's ovaries and uterus--when an animal is about six months of age. Perhaps the most compelling argument in favor of this procedure (also known as ...
Caring for the cat with chronic illness: would you be able to provide at-home care for your cat? Here's what to consider.(HEALTH)
Apr 01, 2008 ... A cat with chronic illness is one of the greater challenges we face when we share our lives with an animal companion. The challenge involves both medical care--which can be expensive and complicated--and also the necessary emotional involvement. While cats are receiving better ...
'Til death do us part: the relationship you share with your cat should last a lifetime. But in case it doesn't, be prepared for his ongoing care.(Noteworthy)
Apr 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many of us have spent considerable time planning for the care of our family members in the event that we die or become incapacitated. Unfortunately, though, we often fail to consider the needs of our smallest family members: our cats. In the ...
The cat in heat: the signs to look for, and what to expect.
Apr 01, 2008; ... The yowls of a cat in heat are unmistakable. When a female cat needs to mate, you should expect incessant crying, strange posturing and constant attempts to escape outdoors to waiting males. The best thing you can do about your cat in heat is to prevent it from happening in the first ...
Safely leash train your cat: it requires some patience, but the outdoor enjoyment is worth it.(Mind of the Cat)
Apr 01, 2008 ... Our lives with cats are usually quite personal and private. While many people adopt a dog to have a walking or hiking companion, cats are more often left at home to greet us after our day is done. In fact, some people feel that it would be degrading to ask a cat to wear a leash ...
Ask Elizabeth.
Apr 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q Dear Elizabeth, I have four cats in my household and one of them, Tabitha, has a tendency to chew and eat plastic. I've caught her chewing on plastic bags that I've carried in from the store, as well as items in the basement that are wrapped in plastic ....
When (and why) to spay or neuter.(Short Takes)
Mar 01, 2008 ... If statistics help you make difficult decisions, there are plenty of numbers in a Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (Vol. 231, No. 1) article, "Determining the optimal age for gonadectomy of dogs and cats." First the researchers compared benefits and risks ...
Up for a challenge?(Short Takes)
Mar 01, 2008 ... We wondered why Frannie, the ShortTakes office mascot, never tires of chasing feather toys up and down stairs--whereas the same game on a flat floor is boring. Now we know. Frannie is in the running--literally--for the title of America's Fittest Cat. The contest is jointly ...
Antimicrobial resistance.(Short Takes)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Here's something to ponder while sifting through the litter box. Cat feces are good for something--at least to researchers who published a study in Veterinary Microbiology (Vol. 127, Issue 1-2). Titled "Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and resistance genes in fecal E. coli isolates ...
Some help for busy owners: devices that provide your cat with food and fresh water all day can be helpful. Here's what to look for when choosing one.(Helpful Hints)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ann McGorty was having a problem getting her cat, Jesse, to drink enough water. Jesse ignored the bowls of fresh water that were strategically placed around the house, preferring instead to drink water from a drippy faucet. That's when McGorty had an idea ....
Lung disease: a serious threat: severe feline pulmonary disorders will often require emergency veterinary care.(Disease)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Like their human counterparts, feline lungs are bag-shaped, elastic organs, two in number, located on either side of the heart and occupying most of the space in the chest cavity. They are virtually identical in structure to human lungs as well, ...
Cats that hate company: does your cuddly tabby turn into a terrible tiger when guests arrive? Here's some help in understanding her behavior.(Behavior)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Kit, a 12-week-old female kitten, earnestly beckoned from her cage in a Manhattan animal shelter, Miriam knew she was the one. Miriam was lucky to adopt Kit, as many people had been admiring her. Kit settled in with Miriam and her two ...
Understanding your cat's body language: she sends both subtle and obvious signs. Do you know what they mean?(BEHAVIOR)
Mar 01, 2008; ... You have a group of people over for dinner. While everyone is relaxing in the living room, the boss of the house walks in: your cat. All of your guests clamor for your cat to come over, except for one, who doesn't make much of a fuss, because he hates cats. So who does your cat check out? ...
What is cushing's disease? An excess of an important hormone, cortisol, can have deadly consequences for your cat. Here's what to look for.(Disease)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Your cat Pinky has enjoyed good health for most of the eight years she's spent in your home. Lately, however, she's been undergoing some worrisome changes. She's eating and drinking much more than she used to; she's recently begun to develop a potbelly; ...
Diagnosis: cataracts: luckily, this potentially blinding eye condition can be treated with surgery. Here's what you should know.(Health)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cats' eyes, like those of humans and many other animals, are complex arrangements of delicate structural components that operate harmoniously in a normal, healthy animal to enable keen vision. Unfortunately, things sometimes go wrong with one or more of ...