Ages:
I’m Max, the cream colored one, and I am going to be two on
Thanksgiving. And the black and silver cat is my brother Cisco, and he
just turned one.
Weight: We are big boys and we are still growing and filling out! We seem to get a little heavier each time we visit the vet. Cisco is 9.45 pounds and Max is 12.65 pounds, which are good weights for them.
Demeanor at vet: Going to the vet is no problem for us! Everyone is so nice
and we feel very at home. We are not shy!! At home we even greet all
our visitors at the door!
How we found our home:
In
our case, our owners found us. We came from a breeder who breeds
American Shorthairs. We are half brothers, our Dad came in 3rd
place in some National Cat Show. Our sweet personality and good looks
makes even anti-feline lovers LOVE us!! We have Mom, Dad and the kids
eating out of our hands (paws)! We pretty much run this house! We
sleep on the table, or the kitchen counter, on the window sill, on the
couch, but we prefer to be snuggled up to whoever is lucky enough to
have us! Mom tried to train us to stay of the kitchen counter…ha! We
showed her!!
Favorite Toys:
The
kids! Grace, Michael and Dylan are young like us, and we love playing
with them. The kids carry us around and even put clothes on us…we don’t
mind! Cisco even likes sleeping with Michael on the top bunk of his
bed each night! We are young, so we still love to play and wrestle
together, and we love cat nip!! I like to take car rides, sometimes
going to pick the kids up at school or for a quick drive-thru trip,
anytime Mom doesn’t have to get out of the car and leave me alone. I
like to cuddle in the passenger seat especially in the winter when the
heated seats are on.
Food and Treats:
We
like to eat!! We eat both wet and dry food, and we get cat treats! We
beg (and usually get) chicken when Mom makes it!! Sometimes Daddy
sneaks us treats that mom doesn’t know about!
How we got our names:
The
kids named me, my full name is Maximilian Mahaney. Dad named Cisco, he
is a Network Engineer and works with Cisco Stuff and picked that name
for him.
Feline
Friends: Minnie, she came into our house the same time we did. But
she’s older (4), and doesn’t like to play with us. She lays around a
lot and cuddles with Mom and Dad all the time.
Sophia is an 8-month-old Bengal kitten that her family
adopted through the Oakland Pet Adoption Center. She was rescued from a
hoarding situation here in Waterford. When we first saw her, she was lean and
petite, but not undernourished, and appeared healthy. However, when Dr. Bailey
examined her teeth, he discovered that she had more teeth than she was supposed
to! Cats usually have 2 lower premolars and 1 lower molar. Sophia had extra
molars on both sides of her lower jaw. She also had two “gemini teeth” – one on
each side of her jaw. This type of tooth has two crowns (the part above the gum
that you can see) that form from one set of roots. Several of her teeth had
extra roots as well.
Left side of Sophie's jaw
Right side of Sophie's jaw
Normally, food particles build up on the surface of the
teeth, but the majority of food debris are swallowed. Since Sophia’s mouth had
many extra nooks and crannies to catch food, and since cats can’t brush their
teeth, Sophia’s extra teeth put her at high risk for severe dental disease. Dr.
Bailey recommended extraction of the extra and poorly-formed teeth in order to
help keep her remaining teeth healthy.
Ideally, a veterinarian (your pet’s dentist!) should examine
the mouth after all the adult teeth have erupted. At Exclusively Cats
Veterinary Hospital, we recommend a fluoride application at about 6 months of
age – this gives us an opportunity to examine your cat’s mouth under anesthesia
and check to see that all the adult teeth have erupted normally, and that there
are no malformations or places where the teeth do not pair up well.
Normal feline tooth anatomy
As beautiful as purebreds are, many specialized breeds are
at higher risk for dental abnormalities. Persians and other snub-nosed breeds
have the same number of teeth and the same-sized teeth as other breeds in a
MUCH smaller mouth. This puts them at increased risk for dental disease.
Dental health is one of the many reasons that annual
exams are important for all cats, even those that are young and healthy. This
little lady was less than a year old!
Misaligned bite ("wry mouth")
Surprisingly, about 40% of cats that are
LESS THAN 3 years of age already have dental tartar! Feeding an oral health
diet like Royal Canin Oral Sensitive 30 or Science Diet Oral Care can help
decrease dental tartar, but unless you can brush your cat’s teeth after every
meal, you are probably going to hear your veterinarian recommend a dental
cleaning at least once in your cat’s life. It is best to schedule dental
cleanings before disease is present – just like in humans, it has been found
that bacteria from the mouth are continually swallowed and can affect other
parts of the body, such as the heart and the kidneys. Unlike human dental disease that happens at the crown (the visible part) of the tooth, more often cat dental disease starts below the gumline where it often can't be seen until a lot of damage is already done. Teeth can
also become infected below the gumline, causing pockets of pus that can cause
fever, facial swelling, bone destruction or constant sneezing.
The weather this spring and summer has been
extremely hot and humid this year, while little rain has fallen. During these
“dog days”, pets are at high risk for
hyperthermia and dehydration. Humans have the ability to sweat and the
knowledge that it’s time for a nice glass of Gatorade to replace body salts
lost through sweat. While cats do sweat through their feet, the surface of the
paw pads do not provide enough cooling to lower the internal temperature. Cats
DO pant, but only once the temperature reaches about 90 degrees, and it is not
as efficient as it is in dogs. Cats will also groom more in hot weather,
moistening their coats in an attempt to cool down, but again, that thick coat
of fur is doing no favors. Cats that roam outdoors may not have easy access to
water.
A cat’s normal body temperature is 99.5 to
102.5 degrees at the core and can be slightly higher or lower at the
extremities (ears, tail and legs). Heatstroke is an illness that develops when
the cat’s body temperature reaches 104 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit due to
environmental heat (this is different than a fever which is a result of changes
within the body). If the cat’s body temperature rises above 106 degrees, the
heat stroke is considered severe and requires immediate veterinary care. If
your cat is suffering from heat stroke, it is important to lower its body
temperature or death can occur.
How will you know if your cat is experiencing
heat stroke?
Signs of Feline Hyperthermia (Heatstroke)
Panting
Lethargy (sleepiness or
unwillingness to move)
Rapid heart rate
Dark, red colored gums
Thick, sticky saliva
Anxiety
Dizziness
Weakness
Vomiting and/or diarrhea
Depression
Shock
Nose bleed
Muscle tremors
Coma
In addition to watching for symptoms, you may wish to check your cat’s body
temperature with a rectal thermometer. A temperature above 102.5 degrees
Fahrenheit requires immediate attention.
How to Treat Heatstroke in Cats
If you think that your cat may be suffering from heat stroke, please
contact your veterinarian, immediately! Hyperthermia can quickly become a life
or death situation, so a qualified doctor should be involved.
If you think your cat may be suffering from hyperthermia, remove it from the
heat immediately. Pour lukewarm water over the cat, making sure the undercoat
becomes wet, not just the surface of the hair. Once the hair is thoroughly wet,
place the cat near a fan to increase air circulation. An automobile air
conditioner can cool the cat too quickly,
so be cautious on the way to the veterinary office. If the body cools
too quickly, the cat can easily become hypothermic (too cold) and other medical
issues can arise.
The rectal temperature should be checked every 5 minutes to ensure that the
temperature is not dropping too quickly or too low. As soon as the body
temperature reaches 103ºF, the cooling measures should be stopped and the cat
should be thoroughly dried and covered so he does not continue to cool. Even if
the cat appears to be recovering, he may still be dehydrated or have other
internal complications, so take him to your veterinarian as soon as
possible.
At the veterinary hospital, your cat will be monitored for complications of
heat stroke such as respiratory distress, heart abnormalities, organ failure,
shock and other complications, and treated accordingly. If his temperature has
not yet become normal, your veterinarian will take steps to return the
temperature to normal. Depending on your veterinarian’s assessment, your cat
may receive IV fluid therapy, oxygen therapy, or other treatments to address
the complications of this illness, such as clotting disorders.
Cats who have suffered from mild hyperthermia may return to normal health
within a few hours. Severe cases of hyperthermia may result in long-term health
issues, such as kidney disease, and may require lifelong treatment. A cat that
has suffered heat stroke once in their lives may be at higher risk for repeat
episodes in the future.
Prevention of Hyperthermia in Cats
Fortunately, heat stroke is fairly easy to prevent. While we often see warnings about leaving dogs in parked cars in the summer,
we rarely see similar warnings about cats – mostly because cats don’t tend to
travel with their families as frequently as dogs do. However, cats are just as
at-risk for hyperthermia when left alone in a vehicle as dogs, since cars can
quickly become ovens (up to 140 degrees!) even on a “quick trip” to the store.
If your cat is regularly allowed outdoors, even if he comes inside at night,
please make sure that you provide a shady shelter from the sun, such as a cat
house. Your cat may not appreciate it, but you should limit outdoor time on the
hottest days, and keep your cat inside during 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., which is when
the sun is at its highest peak and temperatures tend to be warmer. Fresh water
should also be provided on a daily, if not twice daily, basis. Even if your cat
is an indoor cat, be sure to leave him plenty of fresh water daily. Placing a
few ice cubes in the water will help keep it refreshing.
There is no set temperature that is “too hot” for your cat, but be aware
that older cats with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease,
obesity, asthma or other respiratory conditions place them at higher risk for
heat stroke will have a lower tolerance
for heat than young, healthy cats.
If
you do not have air conditioning in your house, be sure that your cats have
access to cooler areas in your home such as your basement, or rooms with
ceiling or other fans.
Summertime can be nerve-wracking for cats because so many holidays are celebrated with fireworks. Many cats will run for the bed when there’s a
mere knock on the door or a ring of the doorbell. When firecrackers go off, it
can be devastating to a timid kitty. To help your cat cope, you can prepare a
sanctuary in advance – a bed in a closet or the basement where the sounds will
be more muffled. Feliway spray or a diffuser and items with your kitty’s own
smell on them will help create a calming scent. Show your cat this area before
the 4th of July so she will know it’s her safe place. It might also
help to spend the evening in the room with your cats, petting them and offering
soothing words.
If you have tried offering a secluded room in the past and your cat is still
traumatized, you might want to ask your
veterinarian about a mild sedative or tranquilizer, just to get the cat through
the day. Try to check on your cat every
couple of hours, petting her and talking to her. Try to keep to her normal
feeding schedule as much as possible, since cats are stressed by changes in
routine.
If your cat normally spends time outdoors, it would be best to keep him
indoors for the day. Unfortunately, there are people who find it amusing to tie
strings of firecrackers to cats’ tails. Curious cats may receive burned paws or
faces from lit fireworks or sparklers, or may receive burns from falling sparks. Playing
with unlit fireworks may result in ingestion of heavy metals – not rock band
music, but toxic substances such as potassium nitrate and arsenic. At night,
your cat may also be at risk for being hit by falling burning debris or
misfired rockets.
If you are planning a boisterous barbecue with lots of guests, you might
want to consider boarding your cat during the holiday. Otherwise, it is a good
idea to keep your cats in their sanctuary with food, water and
litter for the duration of the party. Cats that are frightened because of large
numbers of people might dash for the door, or curious cats may slip outside
along with an unwary visitor or through a door that was accidentally left open.
This is an excellent reason why even indoor cats benefit from being microchipped!
Even if it's just family, try to discourage people from feeding your kitty
scraps from the barbecue, though she might beg. Feeding something other than a
normal diet at a time of high stress can cause diarrhea or result in vomiting
later. Also, many barbecued foods are seasoned with garlic and onions, which
are toxic to cats, or other seasonings that may cause stomach upset. It is
never a good idea to offer beer or other alcoholic drinks to pets, or leave it where pets can reach it.
It takes a much smaller amount of alcohol to poison a pet than it does a human.
Signs of alcohol poisoning are weakness, depression, coma and death.
Only use sunscreen and insect repellents that are designed for cats. DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) is not a product recommended for
use in pets and can cause neurological problems. Do not use dog products on
cats. Pyrethrins have a very narrow range of safety, so using the wrong size
product can poison your pet. Any product containing permethrin
is toxic to cats! In fact, it is much safer to use products that do not contain permethrins or
pyrethrins, such as Revolution and Advantage Multi (heartworm and flea
preventive products all in one), or Advantage (flea prevention only) and
Frontline (flea and tick protection). Ingestion of sunscreen products can cause
drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy.
Make sure to protect your cats from heartworm disease with
monthly preventives, even if they live indoors. Heartworm disease is
transmitted through the bite of a mosquito, and mosquitoes occasionally come
indoors. This year is projected to be an especially bad year for mosquitoes due to the mild winter weather.
Note: Eating a glow stick will not make your cat glow. Sorry!
Keep matches and lighter fluid away from pets. Lighter fluid
should not be used to treat fleas or remove ticks. Lighter fluid can irritate
the skin and causes stomach irritation if groomed off the fur. If the fumes of
lighter fluid are inhaled, it can cause aspiration pneumonia or other
respiratory issues. Certain matches contain chlorates which can damage blood
cells, cause respiratory distress or cause kidney damage.
Do not allow pets to wear or play with glow jewelry. The glowing substance
inside these products is not highly toxic, but can cause stomach irritation and
excessive drooling. Small parts may be swallowed and require surgical removal.
Citronella candles or other products can cause stomach irritation if
ingested.
Make sure that your pool is pet safe!
Many people inflate pools for their children in the summer
if they don’t have a year-round pool. Never leave pets unattended around a pool
of any kind. Fence your full-sized pool with a secure gate, and never leave
your pet inside the fenced pool area unsupervised. Make sure pets can get out of the pool. If a
pet jumps or falls in and doesn’t know how to get out without help, it may
panic and drown. If your cat falls into a chlorinated pool, make sure that you
thoroughly wash the coat thoroughly, and make sure that if your pool does not
have stairs or a ramp to get in and out (ladders don’t count!), that you make
sure that your cat does not have access to the pool – they won’t be able to get
back out if they fall in! Try not to let pets drink pool water. Chlorine and
chemicals used to keep pools free of algae and contaminants can cause pet health
problems, such as dry mouth or gastric distress, and small wading pools with
standing water can become contaminated with single-celled organisms such as
Giardia, which can cause diarrhea.
Summer is a time of relaxation and carefree fun in the sun – make sure that
you take precautions to keep it that way for your pet, too!
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.
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 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 5th and 6th 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.
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.
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...
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 20th
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.
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!
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!
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.
