YOUR CAT QUESTIONS ANSWERED |
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Bird flu (H5N1) is a serious concern for cat owners. While the risk to humans remains low, this strain of bird flu can severely impact cats, often with fatal consequences.
How Cats Can Get Infected: Eating Contaminated Food: Feeding your cat raw meat (including poultry), raw eggs, raw milk, or raw dairy products increases the risk of infection. Contact with Infected Birds: Exposure to infected wild birds, poultry, or even areas where they have been can transmit the virus. Indirect Contact: Touching contaminated surfaces or interacting with people who have been in contact with infected animals can also pose a risk. Signs to Watch For: Early Signs: Lethargy, loss of appetite, fever. More Serious Signs: Neurological: Loss of coordination, stumbling, circling, tremors, seizures, blindness. Respiratory: Difficulty breathing, coughing, sneezing, eye and nose discharge. Severe Depression: Lack of interest in anything. Protecting Your Cat: Feed a Safe Diet: Always feed your cat-cooked, commercially prepared cat food. Avoid raw food diets completely. Keep Cats Indoors: This is the best way to prevent exposure to infected birds and other wildlife. Practice Good Hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly after handling your cat, any poultry or livestock, and after interacting with wildlife. Avoid Contact: Keep your cat away from areas where there are known outbreaks of bird flu. If You're Concerned: Contact Your Veterinarian Immediately: If you suspect your cat has been exposed to bird flu or is showing any of the symptoms, consult your veterinarian right away. Important Note: This information is for general knowledge and does not replace professional veterinary advice.
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Many cat owners are surprised when their veterinarian tells them that their cat has dental disease because the concept of dental disease in cats is not common knowledge. By the age of 4, most domestic cats will have some level of gum disease, which is called gingivitis.
It's true that many cat owners are surprised to learn about their cat's dental health issues. By the age of four, most cats have some level of gum disease (gingivitis). This is often undetected because cats don't always show obvious signs of discomfort and may only visit the vet for vaccines or when sick. Dental disease is a serious issue for cats. It's painful and can negatively impact their overall health. Here's what you can do: Annual Checkups: Have your cat's teeth checked by a vet once a year. Home Care: Establish a dental care routine at home. Watch for Signs: Be aware of signs like bad breath, which could indicate dental problems. If you have concerns about your cat's dental health, consult your veterinarian. Many people are surprised by the cost of veterinary care when their cat becomes unexpectedly sick or injured. Furthermore, when your cat gets sick or injured you are already worried, and unexpected veterinary costs can make a stressful situation worse.
Sometimes you can’t afford the care that your cat needs, which can lead to unnecessary suffering and in some situations, euthanasia. This is also stressful for your veterinarian, who wants to practice good medicine and provide the best care but is under the constraints of a small cash business (which is what most veterinary hospitals are). That is why planning for veterinary bills is important, even if you just adopted a healthy young cat or kitten. What You Can Do About It: Start an emergency savings account that you only access for veterinary care, aim to save $2,000 to $5,000. Get a credit card and only use it for veterinary bills. Open a line of credit with Carecredit or Scratchpay so you have it if you ever need it. Purchase pet insurance BEFORE your cat gets sick or injured. Cats are wonderful pets, but people don’t always understand them well. If we provide our pet cats with the things they need in their environment, it helps them to be happier and healthier. This applies not just to the physical environment, but also to social interactions with us and any other animals in their space. If not provided, our cats may become stressed and show signs of behaviour problems.
The five pillars of a healthy feline environment are described by the International Society of Feline Medicine and the American Association of Feline Practitioners, based on the scientific evidence on pet cats. They consider that cats evolved as solitary hunters and that cats can be solitary or live in groups. They also reflect what we know about the cat’s senses, and that kittens have an optimal period for socialization. A Safe Space Cats like to feel safe. They prefer to avoid confrontation and their natural response to something stressful is to hide. One study that gave shelter cats a choice of different enrichment items found they preferred the hiding place. From a cat’s perspective, a safe space is somewhere that is enclosed and just the right size for them. Cats also like to be high up where they can see what is going on around them, so good hiding places can also be high up, like enclosed spaces in a cat tree or a perch at the top of a cat tree. The good news is that a safe space can be as simple as an upturned cardboard box with a hole cut in for them to get in and out. If you look around your home, you may identify other places that will make good hiding places. Maybe there is a shelf where you can clear a cat-sized space and put a fleecy blanket to make a nice perch. You can make places feel safer by having a cat bed or blanket that smells of the cat, or even putting some of your own (already worn) clothing down for them to relax on. They will feel comforted by your smell. Ideally, your cat carrier should be a safe space for your cat and can be out at all times as a space for your cat to relax in. Multiple and separated key environmental resources The things that matter to your cat should be in different places, and there should be enough of them that your cat does not have to compete with other cats (or even the dog) to gain access to them. The key environmental resources for your cat are their food bowl, water bowl, litter tray, scratching post, somewhere to play with their toys, and cat beds or other nice places to rest. Every cat should have a choice, so even if they already have one scratching post (for example), they should also have another. For litter trays, a general rule is to have one per cat plus one spare. They should not all be located in the same place, otherwise in a multi-cat house it would be possible for one cat to block the other cats’ access. If your cat has outdoor access, these resources should also be provided outside if possible (although this may not be appropriate for food, which could attract rats, raccoons, and other animals). If you have more than one cat in your house, they may form one or several social groups. Ways to tell if cats are part of the same social group include if they groom each other, rub their faces or bodies on each other, and tend to rest or sleep near or even next to each other. Each ‘group’ should be able to access their resources without having to compete with the other group. Opportunities for play and predatory behaviour Cats are solitary hunters, and if not cared for by a human would need to spend a lot of time each day hunting. Play is important for cats, and allows them to satisfy their predatory instincts, for instance by chasing a wand toy or catching a toy mouse. This also helps the cat to get some exercise (especially important for indoor cats). Cats can have toys they can play with on their own, as well as toys for interactive play with you. Wand toys can be moved to mimic prey, and allow your cat to chase; bigger toys can allow your cat to hold it and kick with their back legs; and cats like smaller toys they can pick up with their mouth and walk off with as if they just caught it. Food puzzle toys are also a great way to provide play opportunities. Providing daily play opportunities has been linked to fewer behaviour problems in cats. Toys can also contain substances like catnip or silvervine which many cats love. Be sure to pick toys that will be safe for your cat, as string or bits that fall off can be ingested and cause a blockage. Always put wand toys away when not in use. Positive, consistent, and predictable human-cat interaction Cats like to have regular interactions with their humans, but being cats, they also like to feel in control. The guidelines say that “Many cats prefer high frequency, low-intensity level of social interaction with humans. A scenario that gives them a good deal of control.” You can help by giving your cat a choice of whether or not to interact with you, either by calling them to you (and waiting to see if they come or not), or getting down to their level and putting out a finger or hand to see if they approach. Kittens need to get used to being handled, and it is best if at least four people handle them during the sensitive period to help them learn that people are safe. It is important to ensure these are positive experiences in which the kitten has a choice, as bad experiences at this time can have a serious impact and may make the kitten fearful. Kittens and young cats tend to prefer longer interactions and play sessions, and as they get older they may prefer shorter sessions. An environment that respects the importance of the cat’s sense of smell Cats have amazing noses, as well as a vomeronasal organ that allows them to detect pheromones (chemical signals). Cats use pheromones in several ways. When a cat rubs their head on you, for example, they are depositing pheromones. They also deposit pheromones when scratching (one of the reasons scratching is a normal behaviour for cats, and why they need us to provide suitable scratching places). Cats can find strong smells very unpleasant. One of the ways we can respect their sense of smell is to avoid using cleaners with strong smells and avoid bringing strong smells into the house. Don’t use scented litter, as most cats do not like it. Remember that your cat’s scent on their bedding helps them to feel secure, so wash their bedding on rotation instead of all at once. As a behaviour consultant and cat sitter, I have been going into cat owners’ homes for 20 years and have noticed that several basic feline welfare mistakes tend to crop up repeatedly. It is not that cat owners don’t care about their cats rather they don’t take the time to view their homes from a cat’s perspective.
Litter trays are the area where many cat owners make mistakes. Usually, this involves cleanliness. Whenever I ask a cat owner how often he or she scoops out the litter tray the answer is almost always daily. Yet, when I go into the home I find litter trays that have not been scooped for several days. Occasionally I find litter boxes that are in truly appalling conditions. Cats are extremely clean creatures. They do not like to step into dirty litter trays any more than we want to use an unflushed toilet. Indeed, some cats are so fastidious that they won’t step into anything but a freshly scooped litter tray, and some cats prefer to have one litter tray for urine and another for stool. If the litter tray is dirty the cat will likely find somewhere else in the home to eliminate. It is always best to be proactive where the litter tray is concerned. Another common mistake cat owners make with litter trays is not locating them in cat-friendly areas. Litter trays are tucked away in basements, laundry rooms, closets, and bathrooms. This isn’t necessarily bad, unless the litter tray in the basement is so out of sight that it rarely gets cleaned, or the litter tray in the laundry room is near loud appliances that may frighten a cat. No one wants a litter tray right in the middle of their living room, and it is indeed best not to locate the litter tray in highly trafficked areas, but one key factor that is high on a cat’s list while eliminating is being able to see escape routes while in the litter tray. In nature, cats are vulnerable to predators when eliminating so being able to see escape routes is a hardwired survival mechanism. Not having enough litter trays is another common mistake. The general rule of thumb is one tray per cat plus one. So, if you have one cat you should have two litter trays and those two litter trays should not be placed right next to each other or in the same general area. If you have three cats you should ideally have four litter trays, and again these should be located in different areas of the home. Another litter tray mistake I often see is litter trays that are too small for normal-sized adult cats. Cats prefer the litter tray to be 1.5 times the length of their body (from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail). Food and water issues are another area where I see repeated mistakes. Humans tend to think that cats prefer their food and water dishes next to each other because that is what we would want. Cats do not like to eat near their water source. Again, this is a hard-wired survival mechanism. Cats do not wish to foul their water source with their food or attract predators to their water. Cats prefer to separate their eating, drinking, toileting, and sleeping areas. Cats like to have clean food and water dishes. I have had clients tell me I don’t have to bother cleaning the food dish after each meal. No one wants to eat from a dirty dish. Cats possess 200 million scent receptors compared to humans’ meagre 5 million. Foul odours in the food dish can even cause some cats to become anorexic and this can lead to serious medical problems. Dry food left out at all times. Dry food is not species-appropriate food for cats. It is too low in protein, too high in carbs and far too low in moisture. Dry food left out all day will go stale and in humid climates can become rancid. If you must feed your cat dry food feed small amounts (as a treat) and make the cat ‘hunt’ for the food by using a treat ball or food puzzle. This is a far more natural way for a cat to eat dry food. In nature, cats will eat multiple small meals each day AFTER having spent energy hunting that meal down. Many cats lack daily interactive play. Cats need to stalk, pounce, run and leap and cat owners can provide for these needs by playing with their cats with interactive ‘wand’ type toys daily. Several scheduled 10-15-minute play sessions will make a world of difference in the mental and physical well-being of your cat. I see many behaviour problems that are solved in part by implementing routine play sessions. Play alleviates stress and anxiety and helps build confidence. Interactive play is therapy for cats! Lack of vertical space. Just as cats need to play they also need to jump and climb. Cats can jump 5 times their height. Getting up high helps cats feel safer and more in control of their environment. Adding vertical space in the form of cat trees and climbing shelves adds valuable territory for your cat and can help alleviate tensions in multi-cat households. Lack of veterinary care. All cats should be examined by a veterinarian (but not necessarily vaccinated) once a year. Even if your cat seems perfectly healthy an annual trip to the vet is important. Cats are masters at hiding illness and can hide serious illnesses and disease processes until it is too late to affect treatment. As cats age they should be examined more frequently so that problems can be picked up and treated before they reach crisis point. There are many reasons why caring cat owners don’t take their cats in for annual exams the most common being that it is such an unpleasant experience for both cat and owner and causes much stress. Most larger cities and towns have veterinarians who provide house calls. Of all its senses, a cat's strongest is its hearing. They hear about four times as well as a human. Cats possess extraordinary hearing, detecting sounds at frequencies up to 60,000 vibrations per second, while humans can only hear up to 20,000. They also have a superior sense of smell — cats have an astounding 200 million odor sensors, compared to our measly 5 million.
Purring actually improves bone density and promotes healing within a cat. The purring frequency — 26 Hertz — apparently aids in tissue regeneration and can help stimulate the repair of weak and brittle bones. Cats are better at problem-solving than dogs. And they have a better capacity for visual learning than dogs as well. Cats have a distinct pattern their nose, like a human fingerprint. Cats have a third eyelid called a haw. It’s generally only visible when they’re unwell. Cats can drink seawater. Unlike humans, cats have kidneys that can filter out salt and use the water content to hydrate their bodies. Cats can’t see directly below their noses . That’s why they miss food that’s right in front of them. By neutering a cat, you add about two to three years to its life. Cats may have evolved their “tone of voice” to communicate with humans. Cats' natural vocal range would be inaudible to humans, but they communicate feelings such as affection, hunger, and fear within the range of human hearing. Some researchers believe that this is learned behaviour to help cats to relate to humans. In fact, cats can make over 100 vocal sounds.Dogs can only make 10. If you're a cat owner you're apparently 40 percent less likely to have a heart attack. A ten-year study from the University of Minnesota Stroke Center found that people who owned cats were also 30 percent less likely to have strokes. The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, employs 70 stray cats that are tasked with controlling the mice population and preventing them from chewing on the artwork. House cats share 95.6% of their genetic makeup with tigers and they share many behaviours with their jungle ancestors such as scent marking, stalking prey, and pouncing. A housecat can run to the speed of about 30 mph over short distances. This means that a cat can outrun superstar runner Usain Bolt in a 200-meter dash! Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, absolutely loved cats and would play with them for hours. He owned several cats during this time in the White House. Unlike humans and many other animals, cats do not have taste buds that can detect sweet flavours. This is thought to be because their diet, which is high in protein, does not require them to have a sweet tooth. Cats cool themselves by panting and sweating through their paw pads. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they require a diet of primarily meat to meet their nutritional needs. Kittens are born toothless, and their first set of teeth break through the gums at around 3 weeks. By the time they’re around 4 to 6 weeks, they’ll already have most of their 26 deciduous teeth. Like humans, kittens lose their baby teeth to make way for adult teeth. By 6–7 months, their 30 adult teeth will come in to replace the baby teeth. Cats have nearly twice the amount of neurons in their cerebral cortex as dogs. Having evolved as a desert species cats don't have a strong thirst drive. In nature they get most but not all of their water requirements from the prey they consume. I have even had cat sitting clients who believe that their cat does not need water because they never see them drink!
But cats, like all living things, do need water and there are even times when cat owners may need to encourage their cats to drink more fluids. Examples of this include but are not limited to:
TYPE OF WATER BOWL Choose a bowl from which your cat will want to drink from.
NUMBER OF WATER BOWLS Have several water bowls so that your cat does not need to go far to find one.
LOCATION OF WATER BOWLS Choose a good location for your water bowls.
KEEP THE BOWLS CLEAN Be sure to wash your cat's water bowls every day and refill with fresh water. Use a tiny amount of dish liquid and a scrubbling pad to clean the water bowl and throughly rinse before refilling, DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER Consider experimenting with different types of water – see if your cat has a preference. Many cats do not like heavily fluorinated water. Try:
OTHER LIQUIDS TO TRY
According to the latest statistics (2017) there are 95.6 million owned cats in the United States, compared with 89.7 million pet dogs, making cats the most popular pet. A third of U.S. households own at least one cat and more than half of those own at least two. Despite the fact that in the last five years the number of pet cats has increased the number of feline veterinarian visits is declining. Compared with dogs, nearly three times as many cats did not receive any veterinary care in the past year.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners and American Animal Hospital Association recommend a minimum of one annual wellness exam for cats, with more frequent exams for senior and geriatric patients, or those cats with medical or behavioral conditions. Cats age faster than we do, so an annual exam for them is similar to you visiting your doctor or dentist every four to five years. Prevention is always safer and less expensive than treatment, and is why your cat needs to be seen at least once a year by your veterinarian. Cat owners love their cats, so why are cat veterinary visits on the decline? There are multiple reason for this decline. There are many commonly held misconceptions regarding feline veterinary needs. One common misconception is that cats are more self-sufficient than dogs. The truth is that cats require the same amount of attention as dogs. They need proper nutrition, clean water, socialization, play, exercise, and veterinary care. Another common misconception is that cats are healthier and experience fewer health problems than dogs. The truth is that cats are no more or less healthy than dogs, and require annual veterinary exams as much as dogs do. Cat owners may also mistakenly believe that cats will show signs of illness, just as dogs do. The truth is cats are masters at hiding illness and for this reason alone they need regular veterinary wellness exams. As more cats are being kept indoors owners may perceive that cats are not exposed to disease or illness. But even indoor cats can become injured or ill. Vaccination protocols have changed for the better in recent years and many veterinarians aren’t recommending annual vaccinations. This does not mean that cats don’t need annual wellness exams. Misconceptions aside, probably the biggest reason cat owners don’t bring their cats in for annual exams is that the whole experience is just so stressful for the cat and human. Picture frazzled owner chasing frightened cat around the home trying to catch the poor creature and stuff him into a dark, scary box. Usually this scenario ends with the owner getting scratched and or bitten and the cat traumatized before he is even at the veterinary practice. In the car the cat may experience motion sickness and might vomit, urinate, defecate or salivate excessively. Once at the veterinary practice the cat, possibly soaked in vomit, urine, stool, or saliva, will have to sit in a waiting area where there are strange animals, and scary sounds and smells. No doubt the cat owner is also highly stressed and this only makes things worse for the sensitive cat. When cats are stressed and frightened they are more likely to act out in an aggressive manner, making handling for a thorough exam very difficult. These cat owners believe their cat hates going to the vet, and they are right. Sadly, it is possible that the veterinarian and his or her staff don’t enjoy working with cats and aren’t adept at the special handling that the feline species requires. Cats must be approached in a very different way to dogs because there are fundamental differences between the behaviour of these species. Cats are well-armed with teeth and claws, and they know how to use them. Teeth and claws harbor bacteria, and anyone unfortunate enough to be scratched or bitten may suffer from a serious infection; in fact, a cat bite nearly always results in a serious infection if it’s not treated immediately. Complications from cat bites are a leading cause of permanent disability for veterinarians and their staff. According to a 2013 Bayer Veterinary Usage study, just 17 percent of veterinarians prefer cats in general, while 48 percent prefer dogs—although 70 percent own cats and 81 percent own dogs. Twenty percent of veterinarians examined their cats less than once a year. According to the survey, 65 percent of veterinarians found cats easy to work with during examinations, in comparison with 90 percent for dogs. Fifty-seven percent found it challenging to diagnose conditions in cats, in comparison with 34 percent for dogs. According to this same study, 78 percent of veterinary practice owners say cats represent one of the most significant missed opportunities for the profession. The study found that many, but not most, practices are taking steps to increase feline veterinary visits. It is obvious that the veterinary profession in general is failing its feline patients. Much more needs to be done by veterinarians to elevate the status of cats in the veterinary world and cat owners need to demand and seek out appropriate care for their cats. What veterinarians can do to increase cat visits: -Find the un-served/underserved cats in the practice by asking about other household pets on every visit and tracking reminder compliance. -Educate cat owners on carrier use and transporting cats. -Make the waiting room as cat-welcoming as possible by establishing separate areas for dogs and cats and installing visual barriers. -Reserve one or more exam rooms for cats only. -Train all staff regularly in cat-friendly handling. -Review and refine feline exam protocols. -Talk through the exam with cat owners. -Use and dispense feline-friendly medications. -Send home an exam report every time. -Schedule the next exam before the cat leaves the practice. -Join AAFP and become a certified Cat Friendly Practice. Participating in the AAFP’s Cat Friendly Practice Program is one approach for companion animal practices to use in making changes to improve the quantity and quality of feline veterinary visits. The AAFP launched the member program in late January 2012. The program allows practices to evaluate their care of feline patients, their environment for cats, and the relevant skills, training, and education of their personnel. Watching our cats leap through the air and chase their favourite toys definitely gives us the feel-good factor. But did you know that playing with your cat isn’t just fun, it also has a lot of benefits (some of which might surprise you)…
Play provides a safe outlet to perform predatory behaviours, such as stalking, chasing, pouncing, and biting. For cats, who are genetically programmed to hunt, these behaviours are essential to meet their needs as a species. In the wild, cats that rely solely on hunting for their food can spend up to 50 per cent of the day hunting — eating 10 — 20 prey to meet their daily calorie requirement. Despite our pet cats being well-fed, they still retain that natural motivation to hunt. They didn’t get the memo that food will be provided daily. This is because cats are solitary survivors that don’t rely on the support of other cats, and therefore hunting is a solitary activity. If a hunting trip is unsuccessful, the cat won’t eat, which is why cats will still hunt when they aren’t hungry — better to be safe than sorry! Because of this, cats are incredibly opportunistic; if they encounter prey, even unintentionally, they will instantly switch into predatory mode. Though our pet cats are fortunate to have their nutritional needs met through daily feeding of a balanced cat food, play is required to fulfil their welfare need to perform this natural hunting behaviour. Play is particularly important for indoor cats whose only outlet for predatory behaviour is through toys. Without regular play, our hands and feet also risk becoming unwanted targets, especially from kittens and younger cats that are most likely to initiate play. However, we shouldn’t assume that older cats don’t enjoy or need to play, just because they may not initiate it. Cats are opportunistic, so if the opportunity isn’t presented, our older cats may not engage. But the toss of a ping pong ball or the swooping of a feather toy on the end of the wand can see even the oldest of cats instantly switch into play mode. Short play sessions can also help with ageing joints and muscles (just be sure to speak to your vet first if your cat has been diagnosed with arthritis or a condition affecting their movement to ensure this is suitable for them). Owners whose cats have outdoor access are sometimes concerned that playing with their cats will make them hunt more. Fortunately, the opposite is true. Researchers from the University of Exeter found that owners who played with their cats for just 5 — 10 minutes every day with a wand toy and a toy mouse, reported that their cats captured and brought home 25 per cent less prey. And by seeing those predatory behaviours close up — the leaping, pouncing, and batting — we get to see what magnificent and skilled athletes we have in our homes. There is also no doubt that regular active play helps keep our cats in tip-top physical condition. All that stalking, chasing, leaping, and pouncing helps maintain a healthy bodyweight. For those cats that have become overweight, play can be a vital component of a weight loss programme. One study found that a daily 15-minute session of intense play using a variety of toys, combined with other weight loss initiatives, that motivated the cats to move for food, led to significant weight loss in just four weeks. A recent survey of cat owners found that when owners reduced opportunities to play from their cats, they saw an increase in attention-seeking behaviour, vocalisation, destructive behaviour, aggressive behaviour, and reclusive behaviour. This highlights just how important the opportunity to play is for cats. Without it, problems can arise, which at the very least may be frustrating for you, but at worst, represent significant welfare concerns for your cat. Finally, play isn’t just important for your cat’s well-being, it also has many benefits for us humans. It creates a beautiful bonding experience where both cat and owner can have fun together, but it’s important to play safely for everyone involved. The use of long wand toys, where the toy on the end of the wand is well away from hands, is a perfect option for safe play where even children can get involved without the worry of being scratched or bitten. In scientific studies, owners who play with their cats have reported that it has helped them establish and maintain a bond with their cats. In fact, owners who played a variety of games with their cats felt their cats’ experienced a better quality of life than those who played less. Longer reported daily play times have also been associated with owners reporting a closer relationship with their cats. |
AuthorElizabeth Llewellyn lives in South Burlington, Vermont with her three cats. She has owned a cat sitting service since 2002 and has worked professionally with cats in a variety of settings including, veterinary, boarding and breeding catteries, and rescue organizations. Elizabeth is a qualified feline welfare and behaviour specialist. Archives
January 2025
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