Every cat should wear a collar and tag (yes, even indoor cats). We prefer collars designed with a break-away feature to prevent your cat being trapped if the collar gets snagged on something. Collars should fit properly – neither too loose nor too snug – and may need to be changed as your cat grows. The collar is your cat’s obvious identification and should have a contact phone number.

Microchips are a permanent identification method where a small object the size of a grain of rice is inserted just under your cat’s skin. It’s painless and can be implanted at your veterinarian’s office in a matter of minutes. The best insurance for your cat is to use both a collar with tag and a microchip. For kittens, we recommend placement of the microchip at the time of spay or neuter. The microchip carries an identification number linked to your contact information that can be retrieved when the chip is scanned with a reader. If your address or phone number changes, you must remember to update your information with the microchip registry. Almost all humane societies, shelters, and veterinary offices have microchip scanners. A cat with a microchip is 20 times more likely to be reunited with its owner!

For more information about identification options for your cat, please contact us.

• Bleeding cut
• Insect bite
• Possible broken bone or dislocation
• Attacked and bitten by another animal
• A burn

Simple precautions can help prevent emergencies, such as cat-proofing your home. Particular hazards for cats include toxic plants, sewing needles and thread, other stringy objects like dental floss, medications meant for people or dogs, and chemicals and cleaners. Keeping your cat indoors reduces the risk of trauma and attack by other animals. Another important precaution, even for indoor cats, is ensuring your cat has identification such as a microchip as well as a collar and tag.

A cat receives treatment by emergency workers after hurricane Katrina.

A pet first aid kit can be very handy – you can buy one at many pet stores or make your own. Kits should contain sterile cotton and gauze, sterile bandage pads, scissors, tweezers, cat-safe antibacterial cleanser, and blankets or towels. You should also have the phone numbers of your regular veterinarian, the nearest veterinary emergency clinic, and an animal poison control center (such as the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or the Pet Poison Helpline) readily available. If you have to take your cat to an emergency clinic, having a copy of your cat’s current medical records will be very helpful. And make sure there is a cat carrier always ready for use. Above all, if your cat is sick or in pain, never give human pain medications – most are toxic to cats!

What is there is an emergency in your home or neighbourhood? Make sure your plans include your pets. Many shelters for people cannot accept pets, so be sure you know a friend, neighbour, or family member that could temporarily house your cat if need be.

The Catalyst Council has a good article on treating common injuries in cats.

The Red Cross has a disaster safety checklist for pets.

The American Veterinary Medical Assoc. has a pet first aid supplies check list and other information on handling and treating injured pets.

Always remember that even if you administer first aid to your pet, it should always be followed by immediate veterinary assistance.

National Poison Prevention Week is the third week in March each year – for 2012, the dates are March 18-24. In fact, it’s the 50th anniversary of the event that is designed to makes our homes safer and save lives. Most of the educational efforts are aimed at parents of small children, but pets are also very susceptible to accidental poisonings. And with Easter less than one month away, it’s a good time to remind ourselves of the many plants that are poisonous to cats. At the top of this list are lilies (especially Lilium and Hemerocallis). In fact, lily toxicity is the leading poisoning reported in cats by the folks at the Pet Poison Helpline. Examples include Tiger and Day lilies, as well as Easter and Stargazer lilies, and many other varieties. All are highly toxic to cats – ingestion of a very small amount may cause serious illness or death by damaging kidney function. Even lily pollen and the water in a vase containing lilies can be toxic. Symptoms of lily poisoning include:

• Loss of appetite
• Depression, lethargy, hiding
• Vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration
• Seizures, death

If you believe your cat has consumed any part of a lily, bring your cat and the plant to a veterinarian immediately. Aggressive treatment – decontamination, fluid therapy, etc. – may save your cat’s life.

Keep all lily plants out of the reach of your cat. A complete list of toxic and non-toxic plants can be found on the website of the Animal Poison Control Center.

For veterinarians: A comprehensive study of Easter lily poisoning in cats

How can you tell if your cat has oral disease? Here are some tell tale signs:

1. Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
2. Pus along the gum line or around teeth
3. Loose, broken, or abscessed teeth
4. Persistent bad mouth odour
5. Loss of appetite
6. Pawing at the mouth
7. Darkened, stained, discoloured teeth
8. Excessive drooling
9. Sensitivity around the mouth

What can you do? It’s easy   – start by scheduling a routine wellness examination including a dental exam with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will be able to determine what immediate treatments will help restore your cat’s oral health. As well, your veterinarian will also discuss ongoing dental care for your cat, including home care, dental diets, and dental treats.

• Read our information sheet on feline dental care.
• Listen to a podcast on dental care for pets.
• Contact your veterinarian today to improve your cat’s dental health.

Since the cat is a true carnivore, with no dietary requirement for carbohydrates, these findings make perfect sense. In fact, the dietary requirements of cats are very complex and are still being researched. Dietary needs change not only with life stage, but with the presence of certain diseases. For example, cats require specific diet formulations to treat diseases such as diabetes mellitus and advanced kidney disease. As always, your veterinarian is your best source of information on feline health matters, including nutrition.

Want to know more?

Cat Cravings, the article in The Scientist

Scientific article in PLoS Genetics, describing the structure of the sweet taste receptors in cats

Good Cat! Practical Answers to Behavior Questions by pet behavior consultant and journalist Steve Dale presents answers to common problems seen in both kittens and adult cats. It’s written in an easy-to-read question and answer style and is a useful book for both new cat owners and experienced ones. And the book is affordable – it’s available as an e-book for readers such as the Kindle and iPad. The 14 chapters contain insights and answers about issues such as training kittens, adopting a new cat, shy and fearful cats, aggression, and cats living with dogs.

Other reliable sources of information on feline behaviour include:

Veterinary Partner

Cornell Feline Health Center

1. Foods: Many popular holiday foods, flavours and seasonings are potentially toxic to cats (and dogs). These include chocolate, onion & garlic, and grapes & raisins. In fact, over indulgence in any unfamiliar food that is fatty, rich, or spicy can cause gastrointestinal upset at this time of year. And don’t forget that small bones – like turkey bones – can cause serious problems in the intestinal tract if eaten.
2. Plants: While not poisonous as previously thought, poinsettia is still capable of causing vomiting and diarrhea if eaten by irritating the gastrointestinal tract. Mistletoe is more problematic and can cause severe illness and even death if eaten. Other plants sometimes brought into our homes at this time of the year that are potential hazards for cats include lilies, daffodils, amaryllis and aloe.
3. Decorations: Playing with tinsel or ribbon sometimes ends in cats eating the material which can then cause an intestinal obstruction and even perforation and infection. This is a well known cause of emergency surgery, so play it safe and keep all tinsel and ribbon away from your cat. Potpourri may make your home smell festive but it contains chemicals that are highly toxic to cats. Another potential hazard is electrical cords we use for holiday lights and other decorations. Chewing on an electrical cord can cause painful burns and life-threatening complications.

Holiday hours:

Bytown Cat Hospital (613-741-2460) is open for veterinary appointments on Dec. 24 from 9 AM to 2 PM. We are closed Dec. 25 and Dec. 26. We are open for veterinary appointments on Dec. 31 from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Merivale Cat Hospital (613-722-0251) is closed on Dec. 25 and Dec. 26. The hospital will be open for food sales only on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 from 7:30 AM to noon. Veterinary appointments can be made on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 at our Bytown location from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Your veterinarian will evaluate your cat for diabetes by asking you questions about your cat’s habits, performing a thorough physical examination, and by using blood and urine tests. Other feline diseases, such as hyperthyroidism, have similar clinical signs so that the correct diagnosis is important for successful treatment. Diabetes is typically diagnosed when the levels of glucose (‘sugar’) are excessive in both blood and urine.

Diabetes is managed with a combination of insulin and dietary therapy. The good news is that significant advances in our knowledge of how to manage feline diabetes have occurred in recent years, so that most diabetic cats have a good quality of life. Some will even lose their dependence on insulin therapy with time.

If you suspect your cat may have signs of diabetes, or even if your cat has not had a wellness examination in more than one year, you should contact your veterinarian. For more information on feline diabetes, see our Cat Hospitals website, as well as:

Pet Diabetes Month

My Cat Has Diabetes

How can you tell if your cat has oral disease? Here are some tell tale signs:

1. Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
2. Pus along the gum line or around teeth
3. Loose, broken, or abscessed teeth
4. Persistent bad mouth odour
5. Loss of appetite
6. Pawing at the mouth
7. Darkened, stained, discoloured teeth
8. Excessive drooling
9. Sensitivity around the mouth

Professional dental care for cats is very similar to that for people. Cats must be treated under anesthesia for the procedure to be safe and comfortable. Then the cat’s mouth is thoroughly examined. Each tooth is checked and very often, x-rays are taken to detect signs of tooth damage or infection. Any diseased teeth that cannot be saved are removed. Then the teeth are cleaned and polished to slow down the accumulation of plaque and tartar. Follow up care might involve pain medication, antibiotics, and advice on continuing dental care at home.

Want to learn more about dental care for cats?

Another excellent video on brushing cat’s teeth from the Cornell Feline Health Center can be found at Partners in Animal Health.

The Feline Advisory Bureau has a comprehensive article on feline teeth and the role of home care.

And we have an information sheet on feline dental care at our Cat Hospitals website. If you have concerns about your cat’s dental health, please contact your veterinarian.