The Truth About Cats

LETHAL

2013-03-02T10:36:00.000-08:00

Any part of the Easter Lily is lethal to cat kidneys if ingested. This is also true for any asiatic lily (tiger lily, stargazer lily, etc.) Cats who brush up against the plant and groom pollen off of their fur will likely die within 48 hours of ingestion. Because no one knows what the toxic factor is in these plants prevention is everything. Just say NO to lilies.

Pregnant? Keep your cat. Wash your hands.

2013-01-26T17:22:00.002-08:00

Toxoplasmosis: Ignore the myths and be well informed.

Honor and Love

2011-04-07T18:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was reminded in a very gentle way why I became a feline veterinarian. Cheers to the friends who care enough about you to support you with love. Cheers to Chase who makes the world more lovely simply because she exists with people who see her beauty. Cheers to the hard-working, compassionate friends, clients, and felines who inspire me every single day. Thank you.

Inappropriate Urination

2010-06-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

We have a new question from Susan, and it is a good one.

"We have a calico named Mia, a very sweet kitty, about 6-7 years old. She was a stray as a kitten and we adopted her.
She has been suddenly not using her box. She once did this before and caused us to replace the carpet with hardwood, but that turned out to be an organic issue (urinary stones) and her pee was pink tinged. That was also about 4 years ago. Now she's doing it again, but it also includes shitting where ever she feels like it. She is seriously pissing me off.
Her stool appears normal - formed, soft, not diarrhea, doesn't appear to have any frank blood...why would she be doing this??? I'm on the verge of getting rid of her but I love her very much. What the hell is her prob? Thanks for any advice.... "

Cats Exclusive Veterinary Center

2009-12-13T22:13:00.000-08:00

The Best Veterinarians in Seattle

Readers Choice 2009.

Not the best "cat veterinarians". The best veterinarians. Full Stop.

Nice work friends!

Pennsylvania

2009-11-26T18:47:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends in PA. Please let me know if I can help you in any way with your feline family. I am happy to help. . . . even if I do live on the the West Coast for now. Love and Thanksgiving. Jen

Seattle is in the top 10 for feline-friendly cities

2009-05-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

The CATalyst Council voted and Seattle is in the top 10.

Voting was based on:

* Number of cats
* Number of American Association of Feline Practitioners members (yours truly)
* Number of American Association of Veterinary Medical Association members (yours truly)
* Number of American Animal Hospital Association hospitals
* Number of dipomates of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
* Number of cats microchipped
* Number of Society of Animal Welfare Administrators member shelters
* Favorable ordinances for licensing where cats are defined as companion animals

For more on the CATalyst Council visit: http://www.catalystcouncil.org/

Also on the list were:
Boston
Atlanta
Tampa
Minneapolis
Denver
Phoenix
Sa Diego
San Francisco
Portland, Oregon

Buying a Pure Bred Kitten

2009-05-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

takapaha said...: I was wondering if you can tell me where I might be able to find a British Shorthair cat or kitten. We haven't been able to find any through our web searches.
Thank you!

I would be very careful about your decision to purchase a purebred kitten. British shorthair cats, while very beautiful and typically good natured, are one of several breeds that have a genetic link to a kind of heart disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

HCM is an adult-onset disease, which makes it impossible to screen kittens when you take them to your veterinarian for “well kitten” exams post purchase.

The mode of inheritance for HCM is not understood, unfortunately. While you may find an excellent breeder, they cannot tell you with any certainty if their kittens are predisposed to this disease, even if the mother and father are not currently symptomatic.

In private practice I deal with more severe viral diseases in the pure breed cats as well.

If you are set on buying a purebred kitten, never ever purchase a cat on online, no matter what the web site says or how many recommendations or “testimonials” they post. You will have to find a breeder you can actually visit. Go to their house. Make sure the cats live with them. Make sure the breeder insists on a contract that indicates you will return the kitten to them should circumstances arise that prohibit the animal being a member of your family.

My recommendation is to go for hybrid vigor! Find a local rescue group or shelter. Adopt a kitten that needs a home. Make sure that the shelter has already spayed or neutered the kitten and tested for feline leukemia virus. Then take the kitten to your veterinarian as soon as possible after adoption for a well kitten visit.

Taking Your Questions

2009-05-17T18:40:00.000-07:00

Send me a question. I'll be here.

Mr. Tedford and the Yodeling Cat

2009-05-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

Mr. Tedford writes:

"What makes a cat howl like a banshee or tropical bird? My almost 19-year-old cat is basically healthy, but periodically (mostly at night) she starts howling like a deranged toucan. I run into the room to see what is agitating her, she stops and then meows normally. Sometimes she starts the howling in her sleep.

Do cats get dementia? Could she just have the age-related koo-koos?"

Mr. Tedford:

There are many reasons why a cat will yodel or vocalize like Stanzi.

Hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperthyroidism, loss of vision, and other primary medical conditions have to be ruled out as possibilities before considering feline dementia or “senility.”

Your veterinarian will recommend a complete physical examination including what is called a fundic exam (looking at the back of the eye with an ophthalmoscope), a thorough neurological exam, a blood pressure check, complete blood test (blood chemistry including thyroid evaluation by RIA, and complete blood count), and urine analysis.

Unfortunately, I worry about some of the more difficult to diagnose conditions in older patients who are vocalizing excessively. Meningiomas are tumors that can occur in older cats. You cannot identify them definitively without advanced imaging such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computed tomography) scans. If it is appropriate, referral to a veterinary neurologist can be offered.

Since MRI and CT tests are expensive, many people with older cats elect not to pursue them. “What are we going to do with the information we get from this test?” is an excellent question to keep in mind when discussing advanced diagnostics. If you have a very geriatric cat and you would not pursue surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy for something like a tumor, then don’t do the advanced imaging. Cats need to be completely anesthetized for these tests, and in very fragile older cats, this is sometimes not appropriate.

Some simple things to consider now for Stanzi are night lights, bringing her to sleep with you at night, offering her her own bed on the floor by yours, and in general being the devoted cat lovers that you are.

As a last resort, if her yodeling is becoming especially problematic and you’ve worked with your vet to make sure she is as healthy as possible, an anti-anxiety medication might help.

Talk to your veterinarian about your options and good luck with Stanzi!
Please keep me posted.

Jennifer

Under Construction

2009-05-04T19:14:00.000-07:00

When completed, this blog will help you understand your cat a little better.

My hope is that through sound veterinary advice and recommendations we can help dispel the myths about cat care and create healthier, longer, and happier lives for these constant friends and companions. As a feline veterinarian, I'll guide you through the happiest and most troubling times with your cat. You will be able to post questions, learn when to seek help from your veterinarian, and master the subtle art of cat companionship!

Stay tuned.

Dr. Jennifer Fligiel