News for You and Your Cat

September 15, 2014

Dear ,

Ingrid and Amber

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all our new subscribers! It was a pleasure meeting you at the National Capital Cat Show in Chantilly, VA. I had such a great time at the show - what better way to spend a weekend than in the company of thousands of cat lovers!

We hope you'll enjoy this newsletter as much as we enjoy bringing you all the information you need to keep your feline family members happy and healthy.

In this issue:

When it comes to vomiting, far too many cat guardians rationalize occasional, or even chronic vomiting with explanations such as "he just eats too fast," "she has a sensitive stomach," or "it's just a hairball." The truth is that vomiting in cats is not normal, and can be the indicator of a serious illness.

Cat bites can happen even with the most loving and docile cat: an overexcited cat nips her guardian, or bites a finger while enthusiastically accepting a treat. While it may not seem like a big deal, cat bites should not be taken lightly, as they can cause serious infections.

Wishing you health, happiness and purrs,

Ingrid.

Website: www.ConsciousCat.com
E-Mail: ConsciousCat@cox.net

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In This Issue

Chronic Vomiting in Cats is Not Normal

Don't Take Cat Bites Lightly

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

Upcoming Events

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Chronic Vomiting in Cats is Not Normal

Vomiting in cats is not normal. Period. Far too many cat guardians rationalize occasional, or even chronic, vomiting with explanations such as "he just eats too fast," "she has a sensitive stomach," or "it's just a hairball."

Chronic vomiting can be an indicator of serious diseases of the small intestine, including inflammatory bowel disease and intestinal lymphoma. Dr. Gary Norsworthy, a feline veterinarian and owner of the Alamo Feline Health Center in San Antonio, TX, recently conducted a study on 100 cats who showed one or more of the following clinical signs:

vomiting once or twice a month or more
diarrhea of at least two months' duration
weight loss

Out of the 100 cats, only one had normal test results. 49 had chronic inflammation in the small intestine, and 50 had a form of cancer in the small intestine. 46 of the cancer group had lymphoma. These findings are staggering and make it abundantly clear that cat guardians and veterinarians must stop diminishing the seriousness of chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Proper diagnosis is critical

To rule out other causes of gastrointestinal problems, your veterinarian will perform diagnostic tests that may include complete blood cell counts, blood chemistry, thyroid function tests, urinalysis, fecal analysis, abdominal x-rays, and ultrasound. The most definitive way to diagnose IBD is through biopsies of small samples of the intestinal lining. Unfortunately, many veterinarians will use endoscopy to obtain these biopsies, which, while less invasive than surgical biopsy, will not always reach the abnormal sections of the intestine. Dr. Norsworthy found that the only way to definitively distinguish between inflammatory bowel disease and intestinal cancer was by obtaining full thickness biopsies surgically.

Intestinal disease is very treatable

Inflammatory bowel disease is usually treated with a combination of medical and dietary therapy. Corticosteroids are used for their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant properties, and they can also serve as an appetite stimulant. Unfortunately, steroid therapy carries potentially serious longterm side-effects. There is mounting evidence that treating the disease in its early stages will likely prevent a progression to lymphoma. The most common form of intestinal lymphoma, small cell lymphoma, is also very treatable. It should be noted that dietary treatment may work for some cat with frequent vomiting and/or diarrhea if the symptoms are caused by food allergies or insensitivities. Increasingly, holistically oriented veterinarians are seeing a connection between diet and IBD. These vets believe that commercial pet foods, especially dry foods, are a contributing factor to the large numbers of cats with chronic IBD. They also discovered that many cats improve by simply changing their diets to a balanced grain-free raw meat diet. Similar results may be achieved with a grain-free canned diet, but a raw diet seems to lead to quicker and better results.

Don't ignore chronic vomiting or hairballs

Cat guardians need to realize that hairballs are not normal. Yes, cats will vomit up the occasional hairball, but "normal" is no more than four times a year for longhaired cats, and twice a year for shorthaired cats. Anything more than that could be cause for concern. You can read more about Dr. Norsworthy's study here.

Photo by Lindsey Turner, Flickr Creativde Commons

Don't Take Cat Bites Lightly

It can happen even with the most loving, docile cat: an overexcited cat nips her guardian while playing, or accidentally bites her guardian's finger while accepting a treat. In more extreme cases, redirected aggression can cause a cat to lash out at her guardian and cause severe damage. And of course, most of us will pet stray cats we meet along the way, but not all seemingly friendly cats remain friendly after being approached by strangers. Regardless of how a cat bite happens, it is not something to take lightly.

Why cat bites can be dangerous

Cat bites only account for 10-15% of animal bites reported by emergency rooms, but they pose a much greater risk of infection. Cat bites create narrow, deep puncture wounds. Unlike other animal bites, which can tear flesh and even break bones, these deeper wounds are much harder to clean. Additionally, cats' mouths carry a large number of bacteria which can cause serious infections in bite wounds. One of the more common is a highly pathogenic bacterium, Pasteurella multocida.

What to do immediately after a cat bite

Immediately wash the wound under running water. If the wound is bleeding, don't stop blood flow; in fact, try to encourage bleeding by gently pressing the area around the wound. Bleeding may help flush out any bacteria that may have gotten into the wound. Don't use harsh disinfectants or chemicals to clean the wound, as they may harm tissue and slow down healing. Arnica, a homeopathic remedy, can help prevent bruising, and Ledum can help prevent infection.

Seek medical attention

While some cat bites may heal without causing infection, it is recommended that you seek medical attention for all cat bites. A serious infection can develop 24-48 hours after being bitten. According to a Mayo Clinic review of records for 193 cat bite victims, 36 were immediately admitted to the hospital, where they stayed an average of three days. Another 154 were treated with oral antibiotics as outpatients, although 21 of them eventually had to be hospitalized. Complications included nerve involvement, abscesses and loss of joint mobility.

Signs of an infected cat bite

If you decide to delay medical care, watch closely for signs of infection. If you notice any redness, swelling, discharge from the wound, increasing pain, or difficulty moving the hand, seek emergency care.

Treatment of cat bites

Most cat bites are treated with antibiotics, with penicillin being the most commonly used drug. Cat bites to the hand can be especially dangerous, since tendon sheaths and joints are close to the surface in the hand and cat bites penetrate deeply. In severe cases, surgery may be required to clean out the infected areas. Cat bites can also lead to bone infection, and in extreme cases, septic shock, which is a life-threatening condition. Your physician may also recommend a tetanus shot. If the cat who bit you was not current on his rabies vaccination, or was a stray with unknown vaccination status, you may need to undergo prophylactic treatment for rabies.

Cat bites are reportable

In most jurisdictions, physicians are required to report animal bites to the local health department. In almost all states, a cat that has bitten a human or another domestic animal must undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine period. Some states allow this quarantine to be done in the cat's home, others require that it will be carried out in an approved animal control facility. If the cat is healthy after 10 days, there is no risk to the person who was bitten.

How to prevent cat bites

Do not allow kittens and young cats to play with your hands. While the kitten grabbing at your hand and biting your fingers may be adorable, it won't be so adorable anymore when he has grown into an adult cat. Use interactive toys to play with your cat instead. Never try to separate cats who are fighting. If your cats get into a serious scuffle, use a blanket or sturdy piece of cardboard to try to separate them. Give them time to calm down before approaching them. Have you been bitten by a cat? How did you handle it?

The information shared in this article is not a substitute for medical care.

Highlights from The Conscious Cat

Vaccines for Cats: Risks and Benefits

There is no question that vaccines protect against disease, but they also present considerable risk. Sadly, far too many cats are still being over-vaccinated because too many veterinarians, and cat guardians, still think annual "shots" are necessary. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recently updated its vaccination guidelines. The guidelines divide vaccines into core [...] The post Vaccines for Cats: Risks and Benefits appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

GMO in Cat Food: What You Should Know

I've written extensively about feline nutrition on this site. You'll find information ranging from how to choose the best food for your cat to how to get finicky cats to eat. One topic I haven't covered in the past is the issue of GMO. GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism and refers to an organism [...] The post GMO in Cat Food: What You Should Know appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Mews and Nips: First Cat Cafe in North America Opens in Montreal

Cat cafés have long been popular in Japan and Europe. Finally, the first North American cat café opened its doors in Montreal, Canada. Café des Chats is home to eight cats, who have their own window perch and mingle with animal-loving customers. The Star reports that along with the usual tables and chairs designed for [...] The post Mews and Nips: First Cat Cafe in North America Opens in Montreal appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

Why Every Writer Needs a Cat

Guest post by Mary Kennedy When I tell people I'm a mystery writer, they picture my life as glamorous and exciting, filled with an endless round of power lunches and research trips to exotic locales. What they forget is that ninety percent of my time is spent hunched in front of the computer, wrestling my [...] The post Why Every Writer Needs a Cat appeared first on The Conscious Cat. ...ť

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October 14, 2014
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