Today’s Feline Links

5/14/08

Rescue:

About Alley Cat Allies

Health:

Hyperthyroidism In Cats

Protect Pets From Cancer

Helping A Cat Age Gracefully

Other:

“If You Had Only 3 Weeks To Live, Would You Do This?”

Links sent in by Sandra Janoski of Wild Touch Pixie-Bobs

Animals affected by 2 MAJOR World Disasters.

Article sent in by Sandra Janoski

There has been some pretty UNREAL world disasters in the
last week.

First in Mynamar ( Burma) a MAJOR cyclone that has left
thousands of people, and probably HUNDREDS of thousands
of animals dead.

Then yesterday in China, a HUGE earthquake, that has left
thousands of people and again probably HUNDREDS of thousands
of animals stranded- with many dead.

The news is ALL focused on the human tragedy and loss-
rightfully so- but on top of this there is the animals:
pets, farm animals and the wildlife ALL affected.

I am grateful to be living somewhere where the chance of
MAJOR disaster is pretty low, and my heart goes out to all
of the people, and the animals affected by these tragedies.

BUT Sandra, you and I can be affected.

Major Disaster Can Happen here.

SO the key is NOT to live a LIFE in fear, but to be prepared
if it ever happens.

So I went to my Membership site, http://www.theonlinevet.com,
and I am sending you a Special Report on Disaster Preparation:

Be Prepared with a Disaster Plan

The best way to protect your family from the effects of a
disaster is to have a disaster plan. If you are a pet owner,
that plan must include your pets. Being prepared can save their
lives.

Different disasters require different responses. But whether
the disaster is a hurricane or a hazardous spill, you may have
to evacuate your home.

In the event of a disaster, if you must evacuate, the most
important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate
them, too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe
place for them, is likely to result in their being injured, lost,
or worse. So prepare now for the day when you and your pets may
have to leave your home.

1. Have a Safe Place To Take Your Pets

Disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of provincial and
states’ health and safety regulations and other considerations.
Service animals who assist people with disabilities are the
only animals allowed in shelters. It may be difficult, if not
impossible, to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a
disaster, so plan ahead. Do not wait until disaster strikes to
do your research.

Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check
policies on accepting pets and restrictions on number, size,
and species. Ask if “no pet” policies could be waived in an
emergency. Keep a list of “pet friendly” places, including
phone numbers, with other disaster information and supplies.
If you have notice of an impending disaster, call ahead for
reservations.

Ask friends, relatives, or others outside the affected area
whether they could shelter your animals. If you have more
than one pet, they may be more comfortable if kept together,
but be prepared to house them separately.

Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who
could shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hour phone
numbers.

Ask local animal shelters if they provide emergency shelter or
foster care for pets in a disaster. Animal shelters may be
overburdened caring for the animals they already have as well
as those displaced by a disaster, so this should be your last
resort.

2. Assemble a Portable Pet Disaster Supplies Kit

Whether you are away from home for a day or a week, you’ll
need essential supplies. Keep items in an accessible place
and store them in sturdy containers that can be carried
easily (duffle bags, covered trash containers, etc.). Your
pet disaster supplies kit should include:

Medications and medical records (stored in a waterproof
container) and a first aid kit.

Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and/or carriers to transport
pets safely and ensure that your animals can’t escape.

Current photos of your pets in case they get lost.

Food, potable water, bowls, cat litter/pan, and can opener.

Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions,
behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian
in case you have to foster or board your pets.

Pet beds and toys, if easily transportable.

3. Know What To Do As a Disaster Approaches

Often, warnings are issued hours, even days, in advance.
At the first hint of disaster, act to protect your pet.

Call ahead to confirm emergency shelter arrangements for
you and your pets.

Check to be sure your pet disaster supplies are ready to
take at a moment’s notice.

Bring all pets into the house so that you won’t have to
search for them if you have to leave in a hurry.

Make sure all dogs and cats are wearing collars and securely
fastened, up-to-date identification. Attach the phone number
and address of your temporary shelter, if you know it, or
of a friend or relative outside the disaster area. You can
buy temporary tags or put adhesive tape on the back of your
pet’s ID tag, adding information with an indelible pen.

You may not be home when the evacuation order comes. Find
out if a trusted neighbor would be willing to take your
pets and meet you at a prearranged location. This person
should be comfortable with your pets, know where your animals
are likely to be, know where your pet disaster supplies kit
is kept, and have a key to your home. If you use a petsitting
service, they may be available to help, but discuss the
possibility well in advance.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////

P.S. Planning and preparation will enable you to evacuate with your
pets quickly and safely. But bear in mind that animals react
differently under stress. Outside your home and in the car,
keep dogs securely leashed. Transport cats in carriers. Don’t
leave animals unattended anywhere they can run off. The most
trustworthy pets may panic, hide, try to escape, or even bite
or scratch. And, when you return home, give your pets time to
settle back into their routines.

It’s too late to wait until it happens… If you haven’t
prepared for this, then spend 1 less hour this week watching
T.V. and get prepared.

P.P.S. You can get access to HUNDREDS of Quality Reports like
these, PLUS access to ME on the Forum, a MONTHLY Teleseminar,
AND a CD or DVD sent to YOU in the Mail Each MONTH.

To get this and EVEN MORE got to:

http://www.theonlinevet.com

It’s Your Pet…Heal Them At Home!

Best Wishes,

Dr Andrew Jones, DVM

Flea allergies

Cat Crazy Newsletter
By petplace.com

This is the season where many pets begin to itch and itch and itch some more. A common cause is allergies to fleas.

Some cats are allergic to fleas. It is actually an allergy to the saliva of the fleas. Just one bite can cause many cats to break out and begin their cycle of itching and allergy treatments.

The best way to deal with flea allergies is to ensure that your cat doesn’t have fleas and doesn’t perpetuate fleas.

There is nothing you can do to stop a random flea from jumping on your cat. But there is something you can do to prevent that one flea from producing more and more fleas.

One flea can turn into thousands in a short time. It is amazing. The life cycle of the flea is especially rapid during the warm humid months of summer.

The best way to prevent that one flea from infesting your cat and home is to ensure he is on flea prevention medication. What does this mean? This means that if your cat takes a monthly preventative medication , if a flea jumps on him and bites him, it will receive a tiny dose of medication that will prevent it from reproducing thus preventing more fleas.

Talk to your vet to determine if your cat should be on flea prevention medications. One new product that works well is called ProMeris.

Go to: Promeris.com for more information.

The best time to begin flea prevention medication is NOW. Later in the summer – fleas are at very high numbers and it will be more difficult to prevent them, increasing your time and cost on treating fleas.

Regards,

Dr. Jon

P.S. One thing that is especially annoying about fleas is that your cat doesn’t have to go outdoors to get them. You can bring flea eggs in your home on your shoes. Talk to your vet to determine if your cat should be on a flea prevention medication such as ProMeris.

Go to Promeris.com for more information.

[-438.638438-]

‘Cat Lady of Baghdad’ battles on

Article sent by Sandra Janoski

11:34 AM PDT on Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Associated Press

BAGHDAD – The mission was to get Simba al-Tikriti out of Iraq and to a new life in Britain.

AP

An undated photo released by the owner shows Simba al-Tikriti, who made an improbable escape from Iraq.

First, a roadside bomb nearly wiped out the taxi heading to the border with Kuwait. The next step was to hide under tarps in the back of a truck. More hardship awaited: six months caged by authorities in England.

But freedom eventually came for Simba, who walked away from captivity with tail held high.

So began the improbable work of the self-proclaimed Cat Lady of Baghdad.

Related Content
Baghdad Cat Rescue

Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad
“Some people buy flash cars, others flash clothes. But it’s my animals that float my boat,” said Louise, a security consultant in Baghdad who moonlights as a one-woman animal rescue unit that may be the only such organized effort under way in Iraq.

Since Simba’s journey three years ago, she has managed to send four more cats and two dogs back to her native England. The costs — which can run up to $3,500 per animal — are covered by donations and her “old stuff” sold on eBay.

“Collectibles, Cabbage Patch Kids, toys, the lot,” said Louise, who asked that only her first name be published because of security worries.

Louise — a tall, blond and blunt-speaking former soldier with an accent as thick as Yorkshire pudding — also has private battles to wage with Iraqi bureaucracy. Completing mountains of paperwork, calls to countless officials and, on one occasion, bursting into tears at the airport have all been required to get animals out of the war zone.

By law, any animal imported to Britain must go through a six-month quarantine. There are also required vaccinations.

It all started when Simba, a white cat with “tabby bits,” strolled onto a U.S. military base. Soon came the planning for Operation Puss ‘n’ Boots — as the Simba journey was dubbed by Louise’s colleagues when she worked at the Army outpost near Tikrit, about 80 miles north of Baghdad.

An Iraqi working with Louise was heading to Basra in southern Iraq. She asked if he could take Simba to the border with Kuwait, where an English friend would be waiting.

Just south of Baghdad, a car bomb exploded a few yards from the cab, but no one was hurt. At the border, Simba crossed into Kuwait with the cat hidden.

There may even be a bit of aristocracy among the felines she has rescued.

A popular urban myth in the Green Zone is that the area is overrun with cats because Saddam Hussein kept hundreds in and around his former presidential palace, which now houses the U.S. Embassy.

“Two of my cats — Googles and George — have Ocicat markings,” Louise said, referring to a highly prized spotted breed that originated by interbreeding Abyssinian, Siamese and American Shorthair cats. The theory goes that few in Iraq, other than Saddam, would have had such a cat.

It is impossible to gauge how many dogs, cats and other animals have been rescued in Iraq in the past five years by soldiers and foreigners.

In March, Marine Maj. Brian Dennis, was reunited with Nubs after his family and friends raised the costs to fly the 2-year-old mutt from Iraq to San Diego. Dennis found the hound stabbed with a screwdriver in Iraq’s Anbar province and nursed him back to health. He named him Nubs after learning someone cut the ears off believing it would make the dog more aggressive and alert.

Many Western companies also have one or more pets living in their compounds, and cats and dogs are often seen on military bases.

It can be a strong dose of culture shock for many Iraqis who are unaccustomed to having pets and who especially — following widely held Muslim tradition — eschew dogs as unclean.

In January, Iraqi security guards and maintenance workers watched with bemusement as Zeus — one of the dogs Louise rescued — was lavished with belly scratches and other doggy treats by Westerners before it was flown to England.

But when Iraqi workers came near, Zeus would bark savagely and nip at their heels. Louise denied that the pooch had something against Iraqis.

“He just senses their fear, that’s all,” she said.

According to an official with the Jordan office of the London-based Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, there are no established groups actively working in Iraq to rescue small animals. Veterinarians have been targeted by insurgents and fled the nation in droves.

“This has left a huge black hole for all animals in Iraq,” said Dr. Ghazi Mustafa, the group’s director in Jordan.

The State Department, through its provincial reconstruction teams, is working on livestock care, providing free vaccinations and funneling in as many military veterinarians as possible.

But about the only time smaller animals see a vet is to be put down.

Thousands of stray cats and dogs in Baghdad’s Green Zone and on U.S. military installations across Iraq have been trapped and euthanized for health reasons under a program carried out for the military by the contractor KBR Inc., a former Halliburton subsidiary.

“No one involved in the animal control program enjoys the task,” said Lt. Col. Raymond F. Dunton, chief of preventive medicine for the military in Iraq. “Unfortunately, it is critical that we continue this work to protect the health and safety of our service members.”

Stray dogs and cats, Dunton said, can spread rabies and other diseases that could be transmitted to soldiers.

Last year, nearly 7,100 animals were caught in humane traps by KBR workers, Dunton said. Of those, about 5,300 were euthanized.

At least four of those were cats that Dennis Quine said he had been planning to take back to his native England.

Quine, a former contract maintenance worker for the British Embassy in Baghdad, befriended five feral cats last August. When he returned from a vacation in December, he learned that his cats had been caught by KBR workers.

Quine spent several evenings searching for the cats. Finally, after about a week, the lone survivor — Missy — turned up. Quine knew he had to get her out of Iraq.

He had heard of Louise by word of mouth.

After leaving Iraq in December on a Royal Air Force flight — which did not allow pets — Quine returned on a commercial flight to be reunited with Missy, who had been under Louise’s care. Quine and Missy then made their way to England, where the cat is now in quarantine.

“Friends have said it is stupid, asked why I’m doing this,” he said. “I tell them, ‘Hold on, this is nothing less than what I’d do for a friend.’ I was prepared to risk my life to get my cat out.”

For weeks, Louise had sworn she could no longer take any more pets back to her family home in England and would only act as matchmaker for strays and new owners. “I’ve got five cats, two dogs, four guinea pigs, some fish and two parents at home,” she said.

But as she left Baghdad for a vacation this month, there beside her sat Tigger, a skinny street cat with half a tail, on his way to Britain.

Tips on Saving on Cat Care

Cat Crazy Newsletter
By Petplace.com

Like our children, we give our cats our hearts, our time, and … our money. Lots of money (this year U.S. pet owners will spend $40 billion dollars on their pets).

However in today’s economic environment people are looking for ways to lower their expenses including in their cat related expenses. To help in this process we decided to out together a few simple suggestions on how to save money on cat care costs.

Here are 3 simple suggestions:

1. Your cat truly does not care about the brand or cuteness of his toys. Be creative. Cats love to play with rolled up pieces of paper, plastic rings off milk cartons, pens, etc. Before paying big bucks, evaluate why you are buying extras, such as fancy beds. Does your cat really care if the bed is cashmere?

2. The Red Cross offers pet first aid courses. Sign up for these classes, learn how to administer first aid to help your cat through times of minor injury, and save on vet bills. Take a grooming class, or read a how-to book about grooming to save costs on maintaining your long haired cats (and prevent hairballs).

3. Shop for cat supplies through wholesale catalogues, such as PetEdge. This will save you the middle-man mark up of pet stores. Your veterinarian and other pet businesses may have specials during pet awareness periods. February is National Pet Dental Month, the second week of May is National Pet Week, and October is National Pet Wellness Month.

There are also some areas where you should not go “cheap” (because it will cost you more in the long run).

Do NOT go “cheap” on health care. Proper, quality health care is essential to the well-being of your cat. Find a reputable veterinarian, take his or her advice, and practice preventative care, and you will safely save money in the long term on cat health care. For example, it is much less expensive to prevent fleas than to treat a flea infestation.

Consider pet insurance. For a small, worthwhile, monthly fee, health insurance for your cat can cover the cost of preventative medicine and the treatment of illness and injury. Pet insurance can be a great way to protect yourself against large unexpected medical expenses.

To learn how pet insurance can save you money and give you financial peace of mind go to veterinarypetinsurance.com.

Food is another category where it does not pay to go “cheap”. Generic or low-quality foods often do not provide the nutrients your pet needs, which may lead to future expensive health problems. Your cat can eat a smaller amount of a high quality food than a lower quality food, again reducing cost.

Finally, if you are looking to get a new cat, first consider adopting one from the shelter. Rescued cats are significantly less expensive than a cat from a breeder. Shelter animals are typically spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and licensed before adoption, reducing some initial pet costs.

I hope these ideas are helpful. If you have uncovered others ways to save money on cat related expenses please send them to me so I can share them with all the Petplace subscribers. You can e-mail me at editors@petplace.com.

Until next time…

Dr. Jon

P.S. – If you do not have pet insurance, you should be saving money for your cat on a regular basis so you can be prepared for a major pet expense, such as a life-threatening emergency. When it comes to a situation like this, you will be thankful that you set money aside so that you could afford to have your cat around for many years.

If you are not good at saving every month (most of us are not), then consider pet insurance. They have a number of different plans to fit different budgets.

To get a quote and see if there is plan that is right for you Go to: petinsurance.com.

May is Adopt-a-Senior Pet Month at the Seattle Humane Society!‏

BELLEVUE, WA – The Seattle Humane Society is kicking off “Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month” with a special event on Saturday, May 3. Every senior cat that is adopted Saturday will receive a decorative collar to wear to his or her new home.� The cost for adopting senior dogs and cats, age 8 and over,� is $50 all month long.

“It is wonderful to be able to re-home a senior pet,” said Brenda Barnette, CEO of the Seattle Humane Society.� “Everyone benefits; the former caregiver is relieved that their trusted friend will be cared for when they can no longer provide the care, the new family gets a great new friend, and a fabulous pet gets a loving home.”

At some shelters, pets over the age of three are not considered “adoptable,” but at the Seattle Humane Society we know that older pets are often the best pets to have!� That’s why the Seattle Humane Society finds homes for every loving pet that comes through its doors, no matter their age.� Visit the Seattle Humane Society’s campus in Bellevue to meet fabulous senior pets who have so much love left to give.

Top 5 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Pet:

� MELLOW PERSONALITY
Senior pets have fully-formed personalities, so you know what you are getting!� Plus, senior pets have just the right level of playfulness for busy families.

� ALREADY HOUSE-TRAINED
Senior pets have already learned many of life’s lessons.�

� FIT IN TO YOUR FAMILY QUICKLY
Older pets seem to acclimate more quickly to new settings.

� HAVE A LOT OF LOVE TO GIVE
Many of our adopters say that senior pets really seem to appreciate it when they are adopted and bond to their new family more readily than younger pets.

� OLD DOGS CAN LEARN NEW TRICKS!
With older pets, you don’t have to waste time teaching them all the basics – they already know them!� Instead, have fun teaching them new tricks!

Visit the Seattle Humane Society in person at 13212 SE Eastgate Way in Bellevue, or see the pets online at www.seattlehumane.org.� Adoption fees for all senior dogs and cats are just $50 and include microchipping, vaccinations, spay/neuter, 30 days of pet health insurance, and a certificate for an examination by a King County veterinarian.

The Seattle Humane Society was founded in 1897 to bring people and pets together.� The Seattle Humane Society does this today through its low-fee spay/neuter surgery program, pet workshops and training, pet food bank, humane teen club, visiting pets program and more. The Seattle Humane Society is located in Bellevue, at 13212 SE Eastgate Way.� For directions and more information, visit www.seattlehumane.org or call (425) 641-0080.

Are You Useing The Right Cat Litter

Cat Crazy Newsletter
By Petplace.com

To help cats use the box appropriately, you need to do lots of right things…

You need to have enough boxes (the general rule of thumb is that you should have one litter box per cat plus one OR one litter box per floor or level of your house, whichever is more.).

You need to make sure they are in an appealing place for your cat to use – a place that is quiet, private and easy to access. Damp cellars, noisy locations, and high traffic areas are common locations that cats don’t like.

Another factor is using the right litter. As you may know, there are several types of cat litter on the market these days. They vary of scented, unscented, scoopable, clay, flushable, recyclable and silicone. Many cats have a definite litter type preference. There are even litters on the market that help to tell you before the litter begins to “smell”. This particular product is called Odor Alert.

To learn how this litter works and see if it is right for you go to: armandhammer.com.

I have one cat that only likes me to buy one particular brand. I can’t tell the difference but if I run out and buy a different brand, he will go outside of the litter box.

Drives me crazy, but he has his preference. What we need to do is to understand what your cat likes and stick to it to avoid problems.

You can test this by adding a litter box or two to your home with some different litters. Which one does your cat like? Take note of which one is being used more.

Next week, I want to talk about how deep the litter should be. This is something most cat owners don’t think about. You will see it can be very important.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon

P.S. – I got an email from Edna Bates in Ogallala Nebraska. She loves odor alert. She wrote “I love arm & hammer cat litter I won’t use nothing but! I have 3 cats so the smell is bad! Charley is my Manx he is a stinker!!!! He has been with me 7 months now; he was abused and very skinny had worms and ear mites Now look out!!! he is a very playful buddy. The cat litter works great. And the cats love it. Thanks a lot for your column.”

Thanks Edna. Glad you like it.

For anyone interested in trying Odor Alert. – go to armandhammer.com.

P.P.S. – We are all trying to save money these day, so when you check out armandhammer.com. make sure to print the coupon for money off your next purchase.

A Bad Cat Day

Funny cat video.

 

Cats Can Drive You Crazy Sometimes

Cat Crazy Newsletter

By Petplace.com

I LOVE cats, but they can drive you crazy sometimes…

For example, some cats are finicky and other cats are really, really finicky. There are times I have opened 3 or 4 cans of food for a cat to eat until I finally found the right one. 

Has this ever happened to you? (If not, don’t worry; it will happen sooner or later).

I’ve sent you some previous emails about how to deal with finicky cats – as far as topping off the food bowl, offering fresh food, and watching closely to make sure that your cat is not just sick (that he is playful, normal urination, normal bowel movements, etc).

What else can you do?

Here are a couple more tips.

Sometimes offering food in a different location can make a difference in a cats desire or willingness to eat. This is especially true in cats that have been ill and are regaining their appetite. Cats are funny and can have a “memory” of being sick with a particular food or in a particular location. Sometimes the location can be a different room as well as a different location on the floor or counter.

Another thing that will stimulate some cats to eat is a different bowl. This sounds too simple but some cats will really have a preference as to the style and substrate of a bowl. Some cats prefer a very shallow bowl or dish so their whiskers are not stimulated while they are eating. One thing you can do is take your cats current food and offer it in his regular feeding bowl, a deeper bowl, a more shallow bowl or a flat plate. See which one he goes to.

Some cats really like for you to offer different foods. If you are feeding dry, sometimes offering a different dry or canned can stimulate some cats to eat. If you are feeding canned – offering a different canned or pouched food can help your cat to eat. Hills® Science diet has a new food called Tender Chunks in Gravy .  This food contains real chunks of fish, chicken or beef and seems to appeal to many cats.
   
To learn more about this food go to: TenderChunksinGravy.com.

So…if your cat is not eating well, make sure he is not sick. If you have any doubts – see your veterinarian for a check-up. So things you can do are:  offer some different foods, feed in a different location or try some new or different types of food bowls or plates.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon

How To Tell If Your Cat Has Fleas?

Cat Crazy Newsletter

By Petplace.com

Do you know how to tell if your cat has fleas?

The best way to tell if your cat has fleas is to look on his hair coat.  The easiest places to look are areas where he has the least amount of hair or in locations where fleas like to live.

The areas with the least amount of hair are often the abdomen and inguinal area. If your cat rolls on his side or back, most cats had less hair on their abdomen – especially their lower abdomen and the upper thigh. These are areas where you can see the skin and often see fleas.
Fleas like to gather over the lower back. Fleas can be anywhere on a cat and bite them but many times fleas gravitate to the lower back.  You can sometimes find fleas by parting the hair over the lower back in front of the tail. Part the hair in several places to view the skin. Many times you may see fleas if there are fleas. You may also see “evidence” of fleas which is the bowel movement of the flea.

The bowel movement will look like fresh ground pepper flakes. They will be little black flakes of dirt – often known as flea dirt. If you take some of these flakes and put them on a white tissue and wet it – it will actually turn red because the bowel movement of the flea consists of digested blood.

If you see fleas or something that looks like fresh ground pepper, your cat probably has fleas!

The best way to prevent fleas is by using a preventative flea medication. There are many safe and effective preventative medications on the market .  ProMeris has a new flea preventative, which appears to be very effective.  If you are in the market for a new flea product or want to know how it compares to what you are currently using go to Promeris.com. 

Whatever product you use, you really should start it soon… before the fleas are out in full force!

Until next time…

Dr. Jon

P.S. By the way, many of the flea prevention medications are topical medications and very easy to administer.  I know it can be hard to give a cat pills but with ProMeris, you simply apply it to the skin and it is absorbed.  For more information on ProMeris, go to promeris.com.