Meet Mr. July!

Oliver Simon Trouble-Maker Light

Age: Almost 2

Weight: 12.70 pounds, good body condition

Birthday: July 12, 2010

Gender: Neutered Alpha-Male

Demeanor at the veterinary office: Sweet kitten, but vocal and wiggly!

Feline Friends: Basil and Kitty

How I found my furr-ever home, by Oliver's mom: 

I have had trouble finding and keeping healthy cats my whole life. When I was just a little girl I decided to name my very first cat Princess Sparkle Rainbow Cookie Unicorn Mermaid. As you can imagine this name was difficult to remember and just plain stupid so my parents simply named her Kitty. Kitty-One, as we now call her, was a black and white fluff ball of amazingness and I loved her dearly. My favorite activities included carrying her around and dumping bags of treats on the floor for her to devour. I can imagine she wanted to escape from me - I was too young to know that cats didn’t like to be pulled by their tails and what direction they wanted their fur petted, so she escaped out the front door one day and she never came back.

My parents and I felt the void of a cat-less home and searched for another adorable kitten to replace the one that we had lost when we came across an adorable orange and white kitten with the biggest green eyes I had ever seen and his tiny black calico sister at our local PetSmart. I let my younger sister have the adorable calico whom she named Princess Stormy and I fell in love with my adorable orange cat whom I named, Kitty Happy-Cat Light. These two kittens loved each other, always cuddling and keeping each other safe and comfortable. However it wasn’t meant to last and Kitty’s sister, Stormy, suffered from kidney disease at a young age and had to be put to sleep. 

Some time later, my sister adopted two kittens from Ohio, Batman and Casper, who turned out to have Feline Leukemia. We obviously couldn’t keep them for the risk of Kitty catching this highly contagious disease so we brought them to Leuk’s Landing where they enjoyed the rest of their very short lives.

Although a very, very happy cat, Kitty seemed to feel the loss of his sister and I felt that he needed a feline companion to keep him young and active. I looked for a tiny companion for Kitty every time I went shopping for cat-litter and food until one day I found Oliver Simon Trouble-Maker Light. When he looked up at me with his tiny yellow-green eyes my heart melted and I knew I was going to take him home. You see, I have a weakness for orange cats. I could feel his energy through the little glass enclosure and I knew I had to bring him home. I also picked out a buddy for him to play with, Basil Fat-Fatty Moe Light. Oliver was adopted with his tiny buddy, Basil, from PetSmart on Orchard Lake Road in 2010.

Description of Oliver:

Oliver is the absolute softest cat you will ever feel. His bunny fur is light orange and striped (Our house-keeper calls him the yellow-cat) with an adorable white chin that looks as if he just gulped down a whole bowl of milk. He has replaced Kitty as the Alpha-Male in our household, continuously play-battling Basil for the rights to the throne. He allows Kitty to rule the household, always knowing that he could take command at any moment. Kitty and Oliver seem to have a special bond because they are often spotted having top-secret conversations with each other. 

My friends and I like to think of Oliver as a lion! Oliver’s walk is slow and powerful but he can run at lightening fast speeds. He relaxes in positions of virility and yet is always full of energy, ready to pounce at any moment. Don’t be too intimidated though because Oliver makes the cutest high pitched “prrrr-ow” noise, no fearsome-roar from him! He likes to lay on his back in the center of a room with his hands and feet curled around each other and his big fluffy tail wrapped around his feet. If you don’t pay enough attention to him, even while he is pretending to sleep he will open one eye, “purr-ow” and then close them really quickly so you remember to find out how cute he is being. If you ever can’t find Oliver, it’s because he is sleeping on my bed, which seems to be the communal cat rest-area. On the rare occasion that I allow Oliver to go outside, he mows down the grass in our lawn with his razor sharp teeth and tries to chase butterflies.

Why would you want to take my cat "in the back"?

It can be a little distressing when the veterinarian or technician announces that they are taking your pet back to the "treatment area" for a nail trim, blood draw, blood pressure exam or other procedure. What goes on behind closed doors? Why do they request that you remain in the exam room?

The treatment room at Exclusively Cats Veterinary Hospital is a large room with special spotlights, tall tables, anesthesia machines, and various equipment for anything from a nail trim to a small surgical procedure, such as abscess treatment. The boarding rooms are off this room, as is the ICU area. It is the center of the hospital.

Just like small children, pets will often act out in front of their "parents" either because they are feeding off the emotional state of their owners, or because they know what to expect as a reaction from their owners if they make certain sounds or motions. Once removed from the exam room, they usually calm down somewhat to evaluate the unknown environment and unknown people around them.

In some cases, with extremely stubborn or unruly patients (we call them "fractious"), it may be for your own safety that we take your cat "to the back". Ultimately, even though we are an animal health facility, our professional responsibility is also to make sure that no harm comes to the human caretakers in our office (i.e. YOU). Cats generally lash out at anyone nearby when they are upset, and don't care whether they are friend or foe. It is our wish that no client receive an injury from their cat - especially not while at our office! Cat bites can be extremely traumatic, both emotionally and health-wise. Some people are extremely sensitive to the bacteria that is found in many cats' mouths - it is possible that a cat bite could send a person to the hospital for IV antibiotics! While we don't want to frighten anyone, we do want clients to take cat bites seriously, and to allow us to remove a stressed-out or aggressive cat to a more controlled situation if it appears that someone might get injured.

Additionally, while we all love animals - that's why we chose to work with them, our job is to make sure that procedures are accomplished with minimal stress and maximum efficiency for the sake of the cat. Once the pet is in the treatment area, we still treat your cat with respect and care - we NEVER scruff them, and still speak reassuringly towards them, but we may work more quickly and with less conversation than we would if you were present.

Even if your cat is the best patient ever, and acts better in your presence than away from you, it is often preferable to use the treatment area because a wider variety of tools are available, along with better lighting, better tables, and additional staff close at hand in case they are needed - other doctors for a quick second opinion, or another technician for additional handling, calming or for running additional tests, etc. again, all in the interest of providing your pet with the care it needs in a professional and efficient manner.
 

Also, your pet is not the only cat in the treatment area. We often have multiple procedures occurring on different tables - a blood draw on an uncooperative patient, a wound treatment or anal gland expression - something that is not for the faint of heart to observe, or a family may be visiting one of our critical care patients, or there may be a very high-tension cat waiting for surgery (the kind that screams when someone walks by the cage). Having extra commotion in the treatment area could disturb these procedures or aggravate cats that are close to the end of their ropes. In addition, we use chemotherapeutic medications, radioactive iodine and x-ray equipment - these are things that our highly trained staff has been specially educated to use safely, but which could be risk factors for people visiting in the back. In fact, we are legally bound not to allow non-staff-members to be in the room when we take x-rays or to allow anyone into the Radioactive Iodine boarding room other than those registered with our Nuclear Physicist. For these reasons, we often discourage people from coming back into the treatment area when we take their cats "in the back".

There are definitely times that we welcome you "in the back" - to visit a critical patient that is hospitalized with us, to say goodbye to your cat if you are leaving them with us for the day, to see our boarding facilities, or to show you the result of an exam performed under anesthesia. However, most of the time, we hope you understand when we ask you to wait in the exam room, or tell you to go grab some lunch while we run diagnostics. It's not because we don't like you! It is for the safety and well-being of all involved. If you ever feel uncomfortable with a request or recommendation that we make, please do let us know - our goal is to make sure that you and your cat get the best care that we can provide!

Foxy Socksy needs some help!

Foxy Socksy started vomiting when she started eating solid food. Until that time, she appeared to be a normal, healthy kitten. She and her brother were separated from their mother 10 days after birth, and were being bottle raised by a caring family. After visiting two other veterinary hospitals and being treated with oral medications for vomiting, she was showing no improvement and was significantly falling behind her brother in weight.

Barium highlights the stricture

When she came to Exclusively Cats Veterinary Hospital, we took x-rays and discovered that she either has a stricture (narrowing) of the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach – the esophagus – or she has a developmental problem called a vascular ring anomaly (where an abnormal blood vessel grows around the esophagus and pinches it). We gave her some barium, which helps highlight anatomy, and it shows that the part of the esophagus between the 5^th and 6^th rib is definitely narrowed.

Snuggles and pets after anesthesia

Since she is so small, we want her to gain weight before we perform surgery on her. Also, we want to better know what to expect in surgery, so first, we want to take a special kind of x-ray called an angiogram that highlights the blood vessels for us.

In the meantime, to help her grow, we have been stretching the esophagus by dilating it while she is under anesthesia with larger and larger tubes. This allows her to take in some solid food, even though she still needs to stand up on her hind legs to eat.

Each night, she goes home with one of our staff members so that she can be monitored and cleaned up, if needed. She becomes very distressed when she vomits, so she gets lots of snuggles and reassurance when that happens.

Eating like this allows food to trickle down her throat

So far, she has had two dilations performed – one on 6/6 and one on 6/14, and she has gained a quarter of a pound. After the first dilation, she was quite improved for about 2-3 days, then the stricture narrowed again. We are being cautiously optimistic about her progress, but she has a long road ahead of her.

Samson's Story: Rags to Riches

Samson, day 1, September 2012

Samson's wounds and hair loss (see his rat tail?)

Do you think you would ever say that becoming a stray was the best thing that ever happened to a cat? We didn’t think so, either, but in Samson’s case, it may be true!

Samson was a stray Persian-mix cat, approximately 2-3 years old, that was found by one of our clients in September 2011. He was un-neutered, loaded with fleas, missing half of his haircoat, and covered in wounds. He had 4 torn toenails and was terribly thin – only 5.25 pounds. He also had significant dental disease. After a negative Feline Leukemia Virus test and a negative Feline Immunodeficiency Virus test, the people that found him decided to keep him. We treated his wounds, his fleas and his intestinal parasites and neutered him. Due to his fragile condition, we did not vaccinate him at that time.

Spots of ringworm glowing under black light

Samson in January 2012, still fighting ringworm...

Once his wounds had healed, he broke out with ringworm – a skin fungus that he likely picked up while he was outdoors, but may also have had prior to becoming a stray. Samson turned out to have one of the worst and most persistent cases of ringworm that we have ever seen – he was covered with lesions and had to be medicated with oral medications and medicated baths for almost 7 months! We use a black light to look for fluorescence on the hairs when they are infected with ringworm. Poor Samson looked like a glowing leopard!

Samson's uncomfortable mouth, filled with gingivitis and calculus

Now that he has finally fought off the ringworm, he has more than doubled his weight (10.6 pounds!) is healthy enough that we have been able to vaccinate him, and he is staying with us Tuesday for a dental cleaning and oral surgery to fix his mouth. Unfortunately, after looking at his dental x-rays and probing his teeth with a special probe, it is clear that all of his teeth are diseased except his canines. Perhaps it is genetic, as it is in many cats, or perhaps his time as a severely malnourished stray had some effect on his oral health, but either way, after talking with his owner about options, we will be extracting all the diseased teeth, today. Fortunately, cats are still able to enjoy their food with only a few teeth left, and Samson will be much healthier without all the bacteria festering in his mouth.

Samson, May 2012, ringworm free!

Samson has been so lucky to find such a patient and loving home where he is well-fed and well-cared-for and his new owners are willing to deal with his multiple health issues.

Saying goodbye to Samantha

In early May, we said goodbye to a special kitty named Samantha. We had been seeing Samantha as a patient here since her family moved to Michigan in 2006. Her loving family had been dealing with the multiple issues of an aging cat - kidney disease, joint disease, dental disease, but in May, they brought her to us knowing that something just wasn't right. We took an x-ray and found that she had developed a tumor in her lung. Shortly thereafter, everyone knew that to say goodbye was the best choice. Yesterday, we received a lovely letter from her family and a heartfelt memorial that brought tears to our eyes. We would like to share this family's love for their dear Samantha with you...

***************************************************************************************

Dear Steve and friends –

Marilyn and I will always be grateful for the extraordinary care you’ve given our dear Samantha since bringing her home to Michigan from New York in 2006.  The devotion you all demonstrate to these wondrous little creatures in your care is a blessing not only to them, but to their “parents” whom, I’m sure, often need as much or more reassuring, consoling, calming, and maybe even medicating (!) than your furry patients. 

I’ve always considered Samantha to be among the most beautiful cats on earth, but the truth is they all seem to engender innocence, wonder, and compassion which further enhance their natural beauty.  That said, still, she was gorgeous.  But your calendar and your website remind me that she was not alone.  I love the fact that Buddy is prominently featured on your site’s masthead and elsewhere.  He and Samantha would make a stunning couple!  I will be submitting hundreds (okay, maybe a dozen) pictures for you to consider for your 2013 calendar. 

Putting this little memorial and video (see below) together has been painful, joyful, exhausting, and restorative.   You should see this home after I tore it apart looking for her kitten pictures.  They were in the last box in the last closet, taking me on a journey through almost every photograph in my significant collection.  I hope you find it to be an uplifting tail, er, uh, tale… of an awesome pussycat and her extended visit to a strange little planet. 

With much gratitude and respect,

Jeffrey B----

Many of my family and friends know the story of how we found that tiny furball nearly 18 years ago.  It was a dark, chilly evening  in early December, on our way to the grocery store near our apartment in Queens.  Marilyn jumped and said there was a cat in the middle of the road.  I swerved to stop the oncoming traffic, got out of the car, and looked down to find a very small kitten with hair as black as the night sky.  She looked up at me, frozen in terror, as I reached to pick her up off the street.  This little creature fit perfectly in the palm of my hand.  I held her close to my chest as I drove to the store with new items on our list – cat food and litter.  Marilyn was genuinely afraid of cats and I had already resolved that the next morning I would have to take the kitten to a shelter on Long Island where they don’t euthanize.  But after a little supper and a nap on my chest, bundled in one of my red t-shirts, the little critter didn’t appear as threatening as expected.  It didn’t take long before Marilyn pulled out the porcelain dishes for this little princess.  By morning, Samantha was here to stay. 

It has been a blessing and my privilege to have cared for three wonderful cats for a total of 45 years, but never have I seen (and been a willing accomplice to) the off-the-charts pampering of which this dear feline has been the lucky recipient.  I knew I was a pushover but Samantha really had her new “mom” wrapped around her paw.  Sammy was talented, too – perched on a chair, she was able to bat rolled up balls of aluminum foil out of mid-air with an average that would rival Ty Cobb’s.  Then she would proceed to pick them up in her mouth and bring them back to me (I kid you not).  I have dozens of stories about her many talents, but suffice it to say that she proved to be an extraordinarily smart cat. 

Through the years, Sammy experienced more than her share of illnesses.  From age 2 through 10, she suffered from frequent seizures.  Pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism, and more followed.  With this in mind, it wasn’t long before I gave Samantha her middle name – Pedikaras.  This was borrowed from a 1975 movie titled The Wind and the Lion with Sean Connery as an early 20^th century Berber sheik in Morocco who kidnaps an American woman (Candice Bergen) named Eden Pedikaras.  While a “guest” of Sean Connery’s character, he would often become frustrated by her independent, outspoken nature (mostly because her opinions were sensible and usually correct) and her assertion that she – a woman – was an equal to this desert leader.  Throughout the movie he would say to her, in his irrepressible Scottish accent (rolling every ‘R’), “You’re a lot of  trouble, Mrs. Pedikaras.”  

But Sammy never really was any trouble.  A dear friend, a gentle companion, with a loving, expressive nature.  It was always crystal clear to me that Samantha appreciated everything that was ever done for her – from a scratch behind her ears to a fresh rotisserie chicken brought home hot from the store (mostly for her), and from the steps she needed to climb up to the bed to the countless cat beds, dog beds, paper bags, pillows (including mine), and t-shirts on which she could lay her precious head.  And I am equally convinced that she knew, beyond any measure of doubt, that she was dearly loved every moment of her life. 

A few weeks ago, Samantha and I spent yet another truly magnificent day looking though the great screen doors onto my deck and the lake just beyond, where she loved to lay and watch the swans, the geese, the heron, the ducks, and all their cousins.  Later that same evening, Samantha’s time here on earth came to an end pretty much where it began – nestled in my arms, in yet another one of my red t-shirts.  I know she is strong and healthy again, being cared for by those we love who have gone before us, patiently waiting for the day when we will be together again.  I have to remember to bring a rotisserie chicken…

Below is the video I’ve prepared as a loving remembrance of Samantha. 

Jeff

*If the link above doesn’t work for you, go to www.youtube.com and search for PEDIKARAS.

Meet Mr. June!

Perry 

Age: 16 (ish)
Weight: A gentlecat never tells his weight (okay so maybe mom's nickname for
me "chunky monkey" fits in some way). (Note: Dr. Bailey says Perry looks good for his age!)
Gender: neutered male
Demeanor at the vet's office: Scared, I start shedding like CRAZY.

How I found my furr-ever home:  Mom found me at Michigan Animal Rescue
League (MARL) in November 1997.  I had been rescued by them when they
received a phone call that a cat had been set on fire.  My tail was so badly
damaged they had to amputate - so now I look like an orange tabby Manx!
When mom came in just to "look" at the cats she found me in the first room,
petted me and looked in the other rooms.  She came back to me because I was
the only one that wanted attention on that particular day.  When she started
scratching my head I was in heaven.  She came back about a week later and
took me home!  I've been spoiled rotten ever since.

How I got my name: Well, that's what they named me at MARL and mom decided
to keep that name, not realizing the confusion in future years when someone
calls out a name from the other end of the home and she has to ask was that
with an "M" for Mary or a "P" for Perry? 

Favorite food:  I get both wet (so I can get lots of moisture to help keep
the urinary tract free of blockages) and dry food.  But my most favorite
thing in the world to get is freeze dried chicken bits.  Mom thinks it's
funny when I start to drool if she takes too long to get me the treat.  I
also like to grab her hand and pull it close if she's slow with the treats.

I love to nap, especially since I became a senior kittizen.  Laps are good,
beds under blankies are good, boxes too. Just about anywhere really - I've
been known to nap on top of shoes.  But I do like to be by a window in case
I wake up and want to watch for birds (or other cats) out in the yard.

Occasionally one of my aunties or my mom will take me outside, but only on
harness and leash.  I like to eat grass, roll in the catnip patch, and take
a nap (my calendar photo was when I was caught napping under the Weigela
bush).  I don't do much playing now that I'm in my distinguished elder
years, but I'll make the occasional sprint through the house or suddenly
grab a toy I haven't playing with in ages and go to town.  There's still a
bit of kitten left in me!

Cat Gardening

The Lovely Cat by Sara Yard

The mild winter and warm spells this spring mean that if you have a garden, it is probably in full bloom! As people spend more time outdoors in the summer, they are tempted to bring their cats outside with them. If you follow our blog, you already know about some of the toxic plants in the garden, and the ASPCA has a fairly comprehensive list of poisonous plants. However, you might want to know about some of the pet-friendly plants that you can add to your garden.

Some of the safest, pet-friendly plants you can choose include:
Astilbe, Bee Balm, Begonia, Catmint/Catnip, Coleus, Columbine, Coneflowers (Echinacea), Coral Bells, Cosmos, Impatiens, Nasturtium, Petunia, Phlox, Primrose, Roses, Snapdragons, and Zinnia
 

Enjoying valerian at theGardenFairie.com

Other, non-plant concerns in the garden that you may not be aware of include: fertilizers, pesticides, slug bait, mulch, and garden tools. Read labels carefully and do not allow pets in areas treated with non-pet-safe chemicals until a safe amount of time has passed. If you have your lawn professionally treated, ask your lawn care provider when your pets can safely be on the lawn after treatment. Store lawn and garden supplies safely in sealed containers, cupboards or otherwise out-of-reach.

Natural products such as vinegar to help control weeds, coffee grounds, beer, and salt for slugs, and soap and water as a natural pesticide can be used instead of unsafe chemicals. Avoid cocoa mulch as it comes from chocolate manufacturing and can contain substances that will cause minor chocolate poisoning (vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity) as well as general irritation to the mouth, stomach and intestines.

Catnip! Yum!

Cats, in general, tend to be selective about what the eat. They might sniff, but they're not inclined to eat plants. Kittens, however, love to play with just about anything much more than adult cats and will explore with their mouths! Keep this in mind if it has been a while since you have had a kitten in your yard, and look around with an educated eye.

Grass may be an exception to this rule, and while common grasses are safe you may find that you also want to plant some oat or wheat grass in a patch for your cat to enjoy. Many of the flashier ornamental grasses can be irritating to the mouth, throat, and nose so it would be wise to avoid these plants if your cat enjoys grasses.

Another consideration when letting your cats outside is that they should wear a break-away collar with ID tags, or better yet, have a microchip implanted. The majority of lost cats that become "found cats" are not microchipped, which makes it extremely difficult to locate the owner. If you have ever read any of the happy stories about microchipped pets being reunited with their owners, sometimes the pets are found hundreds of miles from their homes. With a microchip, you have added insurance that if your cat loses its collar and is taken to a veterinary hospital or animal shelter, it will be more likely to be identified. If your pet is microchipped, make sure to keep your address and phone number current in the microchip registry. 

Another important thing to remember when allowing your pet to enjoy the garden with you is that while outside, your pet is exposed to parasites - fleas, heartworms, and various intestinal parasites. Even if your pet spends only a tiny amount of time outside, or only goes on the patio, there is a risk, so monthly heartworm preventive and diligent checks for fleas or monthly flea preventives are important.It is also important to have a stool sample checked for intestinal parasites on an annual or semi-annual basis, depending on whether your cat is a known hunter or not.

Because of the mild winter, this summer is expected to have larger than usual parasite populations, so if you have not given your pet monthly parasite preventives in the past, you may want to consider starting this year. If you need a refill on heartworm preventive for the summer, please call Exclusively Cats Veterinary Hospital at 248-666-5287, or place an order online through VetSource and let us know!

 
More about gardening for cats
Our Happy Cat Garden Tips
Pet friendly gardens
ASPCA Pet Safe Garden tips
Herbs that are Toxic to Cats (Listed by effect) *note - while lavender is not considered to be toxic while growing in the garden, concentrated lavender oil used in herbal remedies, while not deadly, can have toxic side effects.

Saving Smoke

Smoke, Day 1

On Thursday, last week, a new client came into our hospital with a very sick little cat. Smoke is a two-year-old male cat that suffering from a urinary obstruction. He was very sick, and his kidneys were in danger of shutting down. Smoke's owner was not able to bear the financial burden of the hospitalization, IV fluid therapy, and the long-term cost of monitoring Smoke and feeding special diets to keep him from having a urinary obstruction in the future. His owner was devastated at the thought of having to euthanize his buddy.

Some of our soft-hearted employees were able to pool their resources and champion Smoke, and his current medical expenses are being met. Smoke’s owner relinquished him to our care because, even if we can fix his problem, he will not be able to care for Smoke’s special needs. We are hoping that, once he is back to 100%, we can find a new home for Smoke with a family that is prepared to manage his special situation with prescription diet and regular checkups.

We started IV fluids and then unblocked his bladder. We removed almost ½ cup of urine from his bladder – which would be like removing almost 1 and ½ quarts from a human bladder! His urine was bloody and filled with crystals, which is what had caused the blockage. We flushed as many of the crystals out of his bladder as we could, and then placed a urinary catheter. We gave him pain medication, antibiotics and also treated his fleas.

While he immediately felt better, he still didn’t feel well enough to eat for a while. He gave us quite a scare on Friday, because instead of improving, his kidney values became worse. We were nervous that we might lose him. We continued to give him lots of fluid therapy to help his kidneys, and continued his pain medication and antibiotics.

Blood clot in Smoke's bladder

On Saturday, his kidney values were better, but now that his bladder was healing, he had developed a large blood clot in his bladder – about the size of a ping pong ball! Since he was feeling better, he did want to eat, but he was not interested in the prescription diets that will help dissolve the crystals. Eventually, we were able to fool him into eating the prescription diets by mixing them with Fancy Feast Fish and Shrimp.

On Sunday, his kidneys were even better – back to normal! By Sunday night, he was eating his prescription food without having to mix it with something else. Today, we stopped his IV fluids and removed his urinary catheter. We checked with the ultrasound and determined that the blood clot is getting smaller. Since he is doing better, we neutered him as well.

Day 5: Loving on the catnip toy

Smoke feels so much better, he was playing with a catnip toy during his exercise time, today. He was rolling on his back, asking for belly rubs, too! He has licked his catnip toy so much that both he and his toy have turned green! 

Investigating the fluid pump

Once he is no longer at risk, he will need to eat a special diet and get regular urine rechecks to ensure that he does not block again. Sometimes, even with meticulous care, cats with this problem will suffer another obstruction. We would like to ensure that his new caretaker is willing and able to manage his special circumstances so that he can live a long and happy life. If you are considering adopting this happy little fellow once he is ready for a new home, please contact our office at 248-666-5287 or ecvh@exclusivelycats.com with any questions or for more information.

Feline Inappropriate Elimination: Breaking the Cycle of Smell

Cats will return to and reuse areas where they have previously urinated. Because of this, cleaning up the areas and items where your cat has urinated or defecated is a crucial step to breaking the cycle, as well as preventing damage to the item. Because it is much easier to eliminate odors in recently-soiled areas, clean them as soon as possible. If you’re not sure of the extent of the soiled spot, a black light will easily illuminate urine and fecal matter on items. The black light will also help identify areas that you may not know were being soiled - check the walls and floor for several feet in every direction from the spot being soiled. It may help to use chalk to outline the urine spots for easy cleaning. Check the underside of chair and couch cushions and pillows to see if the urine has penetrated all the way through - if so, then your enzymatic cleaner will have to penetrate fully, too. Black lights work best in a darkened room. If you have the plug-in variety of black light, use an extension cord so that you have freedom to move around the room without having to constantly move the plug from outlet to outlet. Otherwise, there are a variety of hand-held, flashlight-type options.

Outlined spots for easy treating.

The rule of thumb when treating carpet or other absorbent surfaces for urine spots is to use twice as much cleaner as the size of the spot that you are treating. Urine will disperse down through the carpet and into the padding beneath, and may even absorb into the floorboards below that.

A cat's sense of smell is 200 times stronger than ours; therefore odors must be neutralized, not just deodorized. It is also best to avoid cleaning products containing ammonia or vinegar—they smell like urine and can be irritating. In order to neutralize the odor, use an enzyme-based cleaner such as Urine-Away, Nature’s Miracle, Simple Solution or Nok-Out. These cleaners break down the odor molecules rather than just covering up the smell. Sometimes, if the problem has been going on for a long period of time, it may be necessary to replace urine-saturated flooring.

•   Sheets of plastic, newspaper, sandpaper, double-sided tape, or a carpet runner with the nubs facing up may all discourage your cat from entering a soil-prone area.
•  Try changing the significance of a soiled area. Cats prefer to eat and eliminate in separate areas, so try placing food bowls and treats in previously soiled areas. Playing with your cat in that space and leaving toys there may also be helpful. 
• Spray the area with a pheromone spray or use a diffuser to provide pheromone all day long - the Feliway pheromone is a "happy" smell to a cat and signifies that the area is not for elimination. It also has a calming effect.
•  Try denying your cat access to a given area by closing doors, or by covering the area with furniture or plants. Baby gates will not keep most cats out of a room.
• Catch him in the act. A bell on a breakaway collar tells you his whereabouts. If you can catch him within the first seconds of his elimination routine, startle him with a water gun or shake a jar of pennies, so that he associates being startled with those actions. It is important that you startle rather than scare him; fear will only worsen the problem. Moreover, if you catch him after he's eliminated, your window of opportunity is gone—you must catch him just as he's about to eliminate. 

Never hit, kick, or scream at a cat. Not only does this create more anxiety, which may contribute to house soiling behavior, but also such tactics provide no link between the "crime" and the punishment. Some owners resort to rubbing their cat's face in their excrement to "teach the cat a lesson." This is ineffective, first because cats do not view their urine and feces as distasteful, and second, because even moments later, cats cannot make the connection between the mess on the bed and this kind of punishment.

More information about inappropriate elimination:
Lovin' the Litterbox: Husbandry Reasons Why Your Cat May Not Use the Litterbox
Kidneys and Crystals and Stones, Oh, My! Medical Reasons Why Your Cat May Not Use the Litterbox
Acting Out All Over the House: Behavioral Reasons Why Your Cat May Not Use the Litterbox

Mr. May’s Musings

Boomer

 (Interview transcribed by Boomer's personal assistant)

Age: Just turned 1 year old

Weight: Great body condition (although Dr. Bailey calls me “fat cat”) 10.4 lbs.

Gender: neutered male

Demeanor at the vet’s office: Curious, but well behaved.

Feline friends: As of last month, I have a new brother named Bandit – 8 months old

How I found my home:  My family likes to think they chose me…but I chose them.  I was born under the front porch of their home and lived there undetected for about a month.  When my sibling and I became a bit more adventurous, they saw us playing under the watchful eye of our mother on the sidewalk.  At that time, they did not know that they were “closet cat lovers” – so they just watched us through the front window as we played.  We were irresistible!  They watched until our mom got scared and moved us to a new section of the ‘hood.  I didn’t like it there and two weeks later, I found my way back HOME.  I stood on the back of a chair on the front porch and looked in the window until my human dad noticed me.  He called my human mom and the kids.  The rest as they say…is history!  

How I got my name: My human parents decided to let the kids name me. Before they discovered I was a male, they wanted to name me Kitty Perry.  One of the kids thought I should be named Professor Kitty Pants!  While everyone thought those were pretty funny names, thankfully, my human mom refused to introduce me to the vet that way!  After much deliberation, they all landed on the name Boomer – likely from the thunderstorms that made them decide to take me in. 

Favorite food:  I love to eat both wet and dry food…and treats whenever I can get them.  I especially love the dry food – but I’m currently working on portion control at the advice of my doctor and with the unsolicited help of my brother, Bandit.  He is a much faster eater than me.  When he is done with the food in his dish, he pushes me out of the way and dives into my bowl!  I try my best to scoop some food out onto the floor with my paw – but I’m not too successful! 

Standout moment of my first year:  The day after Christmas, I became very sick.  The initial diagnosis was scary for everyone…FIP*.  My family was really sad and brought me to see Dr. Bailey.  He came up with a treatment protocol that had me taking lots of medicine and everyone watched me carefully.  I’m happy to report that I’m 100% again!   After this ‘Cat’astrophe, Dr. Bailey thought I needed a friend and so my parents rescued the newest addition to our family, Bandit! 

My favorite sleeping spots:  I really don’t require a lot of sleep and am always ready for fun! I’ve carved a little spot for myself under a bed in my human brother’s room.  He’s away at medical school and will be married soon – so the spot is available!  It’s pretty nice because he put a warm fleece blanket under there and there is a dust ruffle that keeps me hidden.  My little brother seems to like this spot, too.  My other favorite spot is on my parent’s bed nestled right up against my mom.  She thinks I’m better than an electric blanket! 

My favorite things to do:  Before I had a little brother, my favorite thing to do was follow my humans around the house – especially when they would play hide and seek with me.  I also liked to relax on the top level of my kitty condo and look down at everyone else.  Sitting in a sunny spot near an open door or window is also a favorite way to pass the time.   Since my brother arrived, my new favorite thing to do is to chase him.  When I catch him, we either rough house or groom each other.  It depends on our mood!  No kitten…it’s all true!

* Note from Dr. Bailey: Boomer was initially seen at an Emergency Hospital in December for possible ingestion of a lily. His family did the right thing in rushing him to the ER immediately since lily poisoning is a true emergency. Fortunately, lily ingestion was not the source of his illness. 

It was suspected, due to the "anterior uveitis" (a painful inflammation of the front portion of the eye that makes the eye look red and cloudy) noted in his eyes (see photo below) and the fact that he had a fever, that he may have had FIP, or Toxoplasmosis, but thankfully, further testing and favorable response to treatment suggest that neither of these diseases were the cause. Unfortunately, about 6 out of every 10 cases of uveitis cannot be linked to a specific cause, despite extensive testing. Chronic, untreated uveitis is very painful to the cat and can lead to blindness.  

Fortunately, most cases of uveitis respond very quickly to prompt treatment, as was the case with Boomer. 

Boomer with anterior uveitis (red cloudy areas) in both eyes.

Heartworm disease headaches

Heartworm disease in cats is a difficult issue. Unlike heartworm disease in dogs, it is difficult to diagnose, and has no cure, but that is not where the differences end. Feline heartworm disease is quite different in many ways from canine heartworm disease.

1) Feline heartworm disease is not really a heart disease in cats. More often it is a lung disease - so much so that it has been given its own name: Feline Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD). The worms cause damage in the lungs, resulting in lifelong breathing issues that often mimic other diseases such as pneumonia, feline asthma, or chronic vomiting. In some cases, a cat will have no signs of  disease at all for the lifespan of the heartworm (about 2-3 years) and then, when the heartworms die inside the body, the cat will experience an anaphylactic reaction to the dead parasite (think of it like a bee sting reaction all over the inside of the body!) which will cause sudden death.

2) Testing for heartworm disease in cats is much more complex than in dogs. The test that is commonly used in dogs checks for the presence of a female worm in the body. Since dogs generally have 12-25 heartworms (or up to 300!) when they are infected, this test is very accurate. Because cats only have 1-2 worms when they are infected, the test is only about 50% accurate. Often, when a dog is infected, a single drop of blood will reveal hundreds of microscopic baby heartworms (microfilaria) - another good test. Heartworms do not reproduce in cats (mostly because there is usually only one worm) and so there will never be baby heartworms in the bloodstream. Generally, to confirm heartworm disease in a cat, 2-3 blood tests, an x-ray and possibly an ultrasound are needed to be certain. Because of this, at this time, it is not our recommendation to test cats annually before starting your monthly heartworm prevention treatments.

3) There is currently no recommended treatment for feline heartworm disease. In some cases, surgical removal of the worms is an option.

What about indoor cats? We recommend that even 100% indoor cats take a monthly heartworm preventive. About 1/3 of cats that develop heartworm disease are indoor-only cats. It only takes one bite from one mosquito to infect a cat, and the species of mosquito that has a taste for cats tends to be attracted to the doors and windows of houses. We have clients that sometimes see mosquitoes in their homes well into the winter months. We have also seen patients in our own hospital that were indoor only cats and suffered from heartworm disease. It may not happen often, but it does happen, and the only way to protect your cat with monthly heartworm medication. One veterinarian learned the hard way about the importance of heartworm prevention for indoor cats. We recommend that both indoor and outdoor cats receive monthly preventive April through December every year.

For more information about heartworm disease, visit the American Heartworm Society or KNOW Heartworms.

According to the CDC's Pets and Parasites risk maps, over 40% of the cases of canine heartworm disease seen in Michigan occur in Oakland and Wayne counties. Overall, Texas accounts for 20% of all US cases of canine heartworm disease, but county-by-county, the risk for dogs is remarkably similar to the risk for dogs in the Detroit area and surrounding suburbs, with risk running as high as 1 in 36 dogs being infected. Feline heartworm statistics are poorly reported, but generally tends to be about 10% of the numbers we see in dogs.

This year promises to be a very buggy year, due to the extremely mild winter we had. According to this report from Toledo, and the first ever heartworm forecast, the water sources are already teeming with mosquito larvae in record numbers, weeks ahead of schedule.If you have not considered using heartworm preventive medication in the past, we encourage you to make this the year to change your mind!

Meet Mr. April!

Hogan

Age:14 months

Weight: 6.8# in August 2001, so the little man is not quite so little anymore!

Gender: Neutered male

Demeanor at the vet's office: Very active and sweet!
My Name is Hogan, but you may call me Ho-ho.  At about 5 months of age, I came into a bereaved family of mom, dad, and two fur-brothers, aged 6-Mozie and 8-Angus.  They had just lost their beloved one-year old cat, Ru.  I was harboring a serious URI that turned into pneumonia, but it presented itself after my older brothers were exposed.  They were seriously ill in turn and in different ways, and Angus still has lingering effects.  Because of that, we haven’t completely bonded, but Angus does lick my head on occasion when I’m not trying to test my mettle against him.  As everyone recovered from the initial URI, mom and dad brought younger brother, Cooper – aged 4 months, into the fold.  Cooper was quarantined until we all were given a clean bill of health, but I would catch glimpses of him at the door when mom or dad spent time with him.  I lay outside his door … waiting.

When the door was opened, Cooper and I looked at each other, ran toward each other, and darted down the stairs together.  No adjustment time was needed. We were instant friends.  Cooper is my favorite “toy” and as he grows bigger, he certainly tests my playing skills.  I’m quite nimble and have very quick reflexes.

Mom appreciates my inquisitiveness, my “help/supervision,” and they way I make a high-pitched cry as I look in the mirror when I think I’m alone.

Dad uses a feather/stick toy to train me.  I’m a good jumper and I love the many cat trees throughout the house.  Dad makes films and takes pictures of us all while doing cute things.

Mom feeds me canned food (and I’m not picky).  I finish first and have to be watched or removed while my brothers finish their portions.  I seek Dad out for comfort.  I make my high-pitched cry and go “Jonesing” for Dad who holds me in his arms (even if he’s working) and lets me nap there.

With the colder weather, all six of us cram onto the bed – fur children above the covers.  The other boys have their preferences, but I lay anywhere against anyone.

During the day you will find me with Cooper – sleeping in the bed atop the armoire, in one of the cat trees, in the bay window, on a chair – or alone in Angus’s bed!  We sleep hard and play hard so you will also find us zipping through the house together as we love to attack our toys or chase each other and jump around.  Cooper’s head smells like my breath because we groom each other, too.

April will find me at 14 months of age and Cooper at 11 months.Mom and dad enjoy watching me grow. I’ve come a long way from the scrappy kitten whose paws reached out of the cage at my mom when she first saw me at the Humane Society.