Cat scratch disease is a disease spread by cats, but that affects only humans; it's also called cat scratch fever. It is most commonly diagnosed in the colder winter and fall months of the year for reasons scientists don't understand; it's possible that cats are more likely to be indoors at this time, raising the chance of human exposure overall.
Cat scratch disease is caused by bacteria called Bartonella henselea that generally lives in the mouths of cats. They spread it to their claws through routine grooming. Interestingly, cat scratch disease is not spread through cat bites, only through cat scratches.
Most Americans have been exposed to cat scratch disease, and 5% of the US population has antibodies in their blood but no history of clinical illness. Because antibodies are only made in response to the invasion of a disease, it is clear that they were exposed to Bartonella directly. It is possible that they did not subsequently become ill, or that the disease was mistaken for the flu.
Cat scratch disease does present with flu-like symptoms. The most common symptoms include fever, chills, and lethargy, but they last for only a few days, much shorter than most flus.
There is a more severe form of cat scratch disease that causes high fever, anorexia, weakness, and badly swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the armpits and groin area. Sometimes the lymph swelling gets so bad that the swelling spontaneously ruptures; at other times, doctors choose to surgically drain them to prevent the rupture and relieve the pain.
Typically, the most serious form of the disease is seen in younger children and the elderly and people with compromised immune systems, such as those who have HIV, are receiving chemotherapy, or who have been the recipient of an organ donation. When the serious form of the disease presents itself, the consequences for the victim can be disability or even death.
If the disease in humans is treated immediately with antibiotics, the outcome is usually good, but it's very hard to diagnose because it's so similar to flu and because it is not a common disease. Cat scratch disease is often overlooked in its earliest stages, and only caught when the lymph nodes are involved. Almost every verified case of cat scratch disease follows a cat scratch wound; a few occur after a bite, and a few even crop up with no obvious cause.
Another oddity of cat scratch disease is that only rarely are adult cats involved in the transmission. Generally, a kitten scratch passes the disease. This does not mean you should not worry about it with an older cat, but only that you should worry more about the kittens. It is contagious for only about two or three weeks in a kitten, after which it goes dormant. It can recur, however.
Kittens can be diagnosed as cat scratch disease carriers through a simple blood test, and positive kittens can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Because this disease can come back, however, this is not a silver bullet for preventing cat scratch disease. Declawing kittens at an early age is the best way to prevent infection. You should be aware of the ramifications to the cat before declawing it, however. Not only can it be dangerous for the cat to go outside, it can also be psychologically traumatic and cause unexpected complications like arthritis.
There are a few alternatives to declawing your cat, such as claw covers or trimming back their claws, but you will have to be vigilant if you are in a home with an immunocompromised person.
Fewer than ten percent of family members scratched by a cat carrying cat scratch disease will develop the disease, and very serious illness from the disease is rare. If you've had cat scratch disease once, you are almost certainly immune to it afterward.
Cat scratch disease should not be confused with another cat-borne disease, toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is deadly to a pregnant woman's fetus, but presents in different ways and is more likely to be inhaled when a woman changes her cat's litter box. Cat scratch disease can be dangerous to a pregnant woman as well, but in an entirely different way.
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Female cats can become pregnant as soon as six months. It is important to spay your female cat in order to prevent unwanted litters. If you wait too late to spay or you come across a pregnant cat, there are several steps you should take to ensure that your cat has a healthy pregnancy.
The gestation time for cats is about nine weeks. If your cat is pregnant longer than ten weeks you will need to consult your vet right away. During that time, a female cat will need to eat a special diet for extra calories and protein. Some veterinarians might recommend a vitamin supplement to give her an extra boost. It is often recommended that pregnant cats eat kitten food because of the added nutritional benefits. You probably will not notice much difference in her eating habits the first two or three weeks. As her pregnancy progresses, your cat will want to eat more, but not all at one time. It will be important to monitor her appetite as she grows. The weight of carrying her kittens might press on her stomach making it hard for her to eat a lot of food at one sitting. She will probably need several smaller meals throughout the day.
During the final days of her pregnancy, a female cat will become restless and begin to search for a place to have her kittens. She will look for a small, out of the way area where she will not feel threatened while giving birth. You can provide her with a lined box or basket, but the chances of her picking that spot are slim. If your indoor cat chooses a bathroom as a birthing place, it might be wise to close the drains to the bathtubs and line it with an old rug or towels.
Birthing is a natural process and most cats have no trouble delivering her kittens. Inexperienced mothers may be taken by surprise, though, and should be closely monitored during the final days of pregnancy. It is not unusual for a new mother to be scared and try to harm a kitten right after it is born. Another way you can help your cat give birth is to be prepared for the unexpected. Have the number to your vet and a number to a 24-hour animal hospital on hand just in case something goes wrong. Also, have a few clean towels ready to use if you have the need to wrap a kitten or the mother up and rush her to the vet. It is also wise to have a suction bulb and blunt scissors ready. Both of these can be used if the mother fails to accept her babies and you need to intervene.
When it is time for your female cat to give birth, she will become very restless and begin pacing the room. This is a sign that she is in labor and is preparing to give birth. Some female cats will stop eating when labor is about to begin. When the first kitten begins to come, she will get in her spot and will have rapid breathing. The first kitten will usually deliver about an hour after labor starts. Other kittens can come up to two hours a part. Most of the time, all kittens should be delivered within 24 hours.
It is important to watch your cat give birth. Most cats have no difficulty in delivering and taking care of her babies. There are rare circumstances where the mother rejects her kittens and will not remove them from the membrane sac. If this happens it will be necessary to hold the kitten in a soft, clean towel and remove the membrane. If this is not done quickly the kitten can suffocate and die. The mother cat will also chew off the umbilical cord. If she fails to do this, tie a piece of dental floss on the cord and clip it off.
After the first kitten is born, the mother cat should nurse her kitten right away. The nursing will stimulate the birthing process and will help deliver the other kittens. It is not unusual to see a little yellow or red discharge while nursing for the first time. If the kittens are having a hard time nursing or are not getting enough milk, you may need to consult your vet for advice.
Most mothers are champs at taking care of their babies and need very little assistance in doing so. A mother cat can be spayed between eight and ten weeks after giving birth. This is a very important step to ensure that she does not give birth to an unwanted litter. It is never a good idea to let your female cat give birth to a litter just for the experience. A female cat can live normally without ever having a litter of kittens.[1134]
Cat scratch disease is a disease spread by cats, but that affects only humans; it's also called cat scratch fever. It is most commonly diagnosed in the colder winter and fall months of the year for reasons scientists don't understand; it's possible that cats are more likely to be indoors at this time, raising the chance of human exposure overall.
Cat scratch disease is caused by bacteria called Bartonella henselea that generally lives in the mouths of cats. They spread it to their claws through routine grooming. Interestingly, cat scratch disease is not spread through cat bites, only through cat scratches.
Most Americans have been exposed to cat scratch disease, and 5% of the US population has antibodies in their blood but no history of clinical illness. Because antibodies are only made in response to the invasion of a disease, it is clear that they were exposed to Bartonella directly. It is possible that they did not subsequently become ill, or that the disease was mistaken for the flu.
Cat scratch disease does present with flu-like symptoms. The most common symptoms include fever, chills, and lethargy, but they last for only a few days, much shorter than most flu?s.
There is a more severe form of cat scratch disease that causes high fever, anorexia, weakness, and badly swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the armpits and groin area. Sometimes the lymph swelling gets so bad that the swelling spontaneously ruptures; at other times, doctors choose to surgically drain them to prevent the rupture and relieve the pain.
Typically, the most serious form of the disease is seen in younger children and the elderly and people with compromised immune systems, such as those who have HIV, are receiving chemotherapy, or who have been the recipient of an organ donation. When the serious form of the disease presents itself, the consequences for the victim can be disability or even death.
If the disease in humans is treated immediately with antibiotics, the outcome is usually good, but it's very hard to diagnose because it's so similar to flu and because it is not a common disease. Cat scratch disease is often overlooked in its earliest stages, and only caught when the lymph nodes are involved. Almost every verified case of cat scratch disease follows a cat scratch wound; a few occur after a bite, and a few even crop up with no obvious cause.
Another oddity of cat scratch disease is that only rarely are adult cats involved in the transmission. Generally, a kitten scratch passes the disease. This does not mean you should not worry about it with an older cat, but only that you should worry more about the kittens. It is contagious for only about two or three weeks in a kitten, after which it goes dormant. It can recur, however.
Kittens can be diagnosed as cat scratch disease carriers through a simple blood test, and positive kittens can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Because this disease can come back, however, this is not a silver bullet for preventing cat scratch disease. Declawing kittens at an early age is the best way to prevent infection. You should be aware of the ramifications to the cat before declawing it, however. Not only can it be dangerous for the cat to go outside, it can also be psychologically traumatic and cause unexpected complications like arthritis.
There are a few alternatives to declawing your cat, such as claw covers or trimming back their claws, but you will have to be vigilant if you are in a home with an immunocompromised person.
Fewer than ten percent of family members scratched by a cat carrying cat scratch disease will develop the disease, and very serious illness from the disease is rare. If you've had cat scratch disease once, you are almost certainly immune to it afterward.
Cat scratch disease should not be confused with another cat-borne disease, toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is deadly to a pregnant woman's fetus, but presents in different ways and is more likely to be inhaled when a woman changes her cat's litter box. Cat scratch disease can be dangerous to a pregnant woman as well, but in an entirely different way.[1133]
Cats can be such persnickety creatures. Do you ever get the feeling that they just sort of put up with us humans? Sometimes, their behavior lends itself to certain status roles ? cat as the royalty and humans as the court jester or servant. So when they start meowing, we are supposed to automatically know what they want! A cat?s meowing; cat calling or caterwauling can have countless meanings, sometimes more than one at the same time. All this vocalizing is the cat?s way of communicating or talking with us. Hissing and purring is also lumped into this vocal communication of cats. If we are to co-exist somewhat peacefully with these furry felines, we have to at least have a basic understanding of some of these vocalizations.
Perhaps one of the best ways for us humans to understand some of these cat vocalizations is to try and read their body language and behavior during their meowing communications. For instance, if you are standing in the kitchen and all of the sudden your cat starting rubbing on you and meowing take a look at its food and water bowls. Chances are that one or both just might be empty. Go ahead and fill the cat?s bowls with food and drink. If it stops rubbing and meowing and heads straight for the kitty kibble, then guess what? You have just interpreted one of the cat?s many meows!
What happens if your cat starts meowing and scratching, and scratching is not part of the cat?s normal behavior? Go take a look at its litter box. Cats do not like going potty in a dirty litter box. If the litter box looks like it needs to be cleaned, then do it and see if the cat continues the meowing and scratching behavior. If you interpreted the cat?s vocalizations correctly, it will have gone straight to the fresh, clean litter box to conduct a little ?business.? If not, then you still have a problem on your hands trying to figure out what your cat is trying to tell you.
Purring is also part of the cat?s vocalization. And when paired with some meowing, you may just have a cat on your hands that is trying to suck up to you. Sometimes, it is for a food treat, a good ear scratching session or a little play time. So it is up to you, as the owner, to interpret that purring and try all three solutions. Chances are that your cat would appreciate all three! Cats are bold animals. If they wanted the ear scratching first, they would probably just head butt your hand until you commenced with the scratching.
The cat?s tail can also tell the tale when paired with meowing or some other vocalization. That twitching tail can mean anything from being happy to restless to fearful. For instance, if the cat?s tail is twitching furiously and accompanied by a meow, that could signal excitement, meaning they want to play. If you were holding them or petting them, it could mean to cease and desist ? they?ve had enough! If a cat is feeling threatened, they may tuck their tail down low and emit a low growling type of sound or even hissing. The cat?s ears may also look pinned back as well.
If your cat is not usually the meowing fool, be certain that you are alert for any signs of changing behavior. Sometimes, when cats get sick, they try not to show their ?weakness.? So when they start to meow suddenly, think back to any unusual behaviors. Signs of scratching, potty accidents or loss of appetite could have been a precursor to illness. The meowing is an indicator that they cannot take it anymore and need help. Big changes in a cat?s life could also be the key to your kitty?s sudden overabundance of vocalization. Have you moved recently? Was there a death in the family? Have you introduced another animal to your home? These can all precipitate the meowing, cat calls or caterwauling.
Of course, all that noise from your cat could simply indicate that they want to play or get your attention. For them, it is especially fun to do this while you, their ever-loving owners, are asleep in bed. Whatever you do, do not show any reaction. Giving them attention ? whether positive or negative ? just encourages them. Try to ignore them or close your bedroom door. If that doesn?t work, keep a water gun by your bed and shoot it with water every time they wake you up with their meowing. Cats hate getting wet!
Your furry family member possesses a multitude of meows and other vocalizations. You may never be able to interpret a lot of what they are communicating to you. However, the few ideas above should give you a good start in the right direction.[1132]
By nature, cats are superb hunters who enjoy stalking their prey. For domesticated cats, the ?prey? can be something as simple as an insect or a wind up toy. But, is it always healthy and normal for a cat to stalk, or is there ever a reason to be concerned about a stalking cat?
A Matter of Instincts
Even indoor cats have the natural instinct to hunt and to stalk. With an indoor cat, stalking generally is not a sign of hunger. Rather, they stalk prey out of curiosity or because they simply need to add a little excitement to their lives. Hunting and stalking also helps the cat get a little exercise and provides a release for pent up energy.
For the most part, domesticated cats prefer chasing mice or other small rodents. Some even enjoy stalking and catching rabbits and birds. A domesticated cat that is well fed will generally just play with the prey rather than eat it. In fact, it is rare for a well cared for domesticated cat to eat its prey. Many people think cats are cruel because they play with their prey, but this is just simply the cat?s way of satisfying its natural hunting instinct and of getting exercise.
When a cat uses its stalking skill to hunt for prey, it moves quietly and attracts very little attention. Cats particularly enjoy stalking in areas with high grass because it helps prevent the prey from seeing them. This stalking instinct can be a little disturbing for cat owners who are also bird lovers. If a cat has a tendency to stalk wild birds that the cat owner wants to be left alone, it can be a good idea to tie a bell around the cat?s neck. This will help warn the birds of the nearby stalking cat.
Negative Behaviors
Besides destroying the wild bird population with their stalking and hunting instincts, some cats can begin to exhibit their stalking behaviors in negative ways. Indoor cats that are the only cat in the household are most likely to develop negative stalking behaviors. For example, a cat can learn the patterns of behavior of its owner. So, when it hears the owner arrive home, it might engage in stalking mode and pounce on the owner and bite him or her on the ankle when he gets home. This behavior is sometimes referred to as predatory-play aggression because it combines elements of play with elements of predatory behavior.
When this happens, the owner understandably becomes upset. The owner might yell at the cat or spray the cat with water to attempt to make the cat stop the behavior. But, this isn?t the proper way to modify this behavior.
Modifying Stalking Behavior
Indoor cats tend to engage predatory-play aggressive behavior more than outdoor cats. This is because indoor cats are more likely to become bored. In addition, outdoor cats have a far greater number of options for fulfilling their predatory behavior ? such as stalking small outdoor animals, insects, and birds.
For the indoor cat, however, it is necessary to purchase toys that encourage the cat to stalk. This gives the cat the opportunity to engage in its natural predatory instincts in a healthy way. The cat should have access to toys that both involve the owner and those that do not. Toys that involve the owner help to create a bond between the pet and its owner. On the other hand, cats also need to learn how to engage in solitary play, and this includes stalking and other predatory behaviors.
Choosing Toys
Toys that are lightweight and easy to move are the best types of toys to help the cat engage in its stalking behavior. Bouncy toys are also a good choice, as are toys that hand from the top of doors or from doorknobs. Toys that hang from other items should be moved around the house, however, to help keep the cat?s environment different and enriching. Toys can even be hidden in places such as laundry baskets to add to the excitement.
Toys that resemble the natural prey of cats, such as mice, are also good choices. In addition, toys should be large enough to prevent choking, but small enough to be easily moved by the cat. The material used to create the toy should also be indestructible. Otherwise the cat, particularly kittens, will destroy the toy. This is not only messy, but also poses as a choking hazard.
A cat that is properly stimulated with toys that allow it to utilize its stalking skills will be far healthier than one that is not. In addition, the cat will be far less likely to pounce on or harm the owner or the household belongings.[1131]
Many cat owners do not spay or neuter their cats. There are multiple excuses for failure to perform these simple procedures. Some don?t want to bear the cost of spaying or neutering. Others think it is ?cruel? to do so. Yet others simply don?t see a reason to spay or neuter their pets. In all cases, the pet owner is making a terrible mistake by failing to spay or neuter their pet.
Overpopulation
The main reason it is important to spay or neuter a cat is because there is a terrible overpopulation problem with cats. In fact, the United States alone has puts over 10 million cats and dogs to death every year by euthanasia. This is performed routinely in animal shelters because there are simply too many animals and not enough homes for them to live.
The majority of cats that are put to sleep are healthy and friendly animals. The majority of them are also young. For the sake of the animals, it is important to have then spayed or neutered to avoid creating more animals with no place to live.
Benefits to the Pet Owner
Having the cat spayed or neutered is also beneficial to the pet owner. First, a pet that is spayed or neutered tends to be better behaved and is more responsive to humans. In addition, cats that are spayed or neutered generally have a longer and healthier life, which means the pet will be around much longer to be enjoyed and loved. Also, the improved health of the pet means fewer visits to the vet. In fact, it has been shown that spayed felines are less likely to develop mammary cancers and neutered males are less likely to develop uterine infections.
In addition, cats that are spayed or neutered are less likely to ?mark? their territory with smelly sprays or to damage furniture. Cats that are spayed or neutered also tend to live a safer lifestyle, as they are less likely to roam through the neighborhood in search of a mate or to try running out of the house every time the door is opened.
Spaying a Cat
To spay a female cat, the veterinarian removes the uterus and the ovaries through a surgical procedure. In general, it is best to spay a cat at around 6 months of age, or before she has her first heat cycle. The full name of the procedure is ovariohysterectomy.
To perform the surgery, the veterinarian first puts the cat under anesthesia. He then makes a cut through the cat in order to remove the ovaries and the uterus. The incision is then closed with non-absorbable stitches, sub-cuticular stitches, or sutures. With non-absorbable stitches, it is necessary to bring the cat back in 7 to 10 days in order to have the stitches removed. With sutures, the sutures are placed below the skin. Here, they gradually dissolve on their own into the cat?s body.
A female cat can also undergo a tubal ligation. With this procedure, the female cat is sterilized, but she still comes into heat and attracts males. For this reason, a tubal ligation is a less popular choice with pet owners. With either form of spaying, the female cat can generally return the same day as the surgery and can be active within a couple days.
A female can be spayed while she is in her heat cycle, though most vets prefer not to perform the surgery at that time. There is often an increase in the cost of the surgery for cats that are in their heat cycle at the time. This is because the surgery requires extra attention to detail since the blood supply to the uterus is increased. Nonetheless, it is best to spay a cat during her heat cycle rather than wait because she may become pregnant to contract an illness from a cat she mates with.
Neutering
When a male cat is neutered, his testicles are removed after applying an anesthesia. Often, the cuts to remove the testicles are so small the cat doesn?t require stitches or sutures in order to heal. A male cat should be neutered by around 6 months of age.
Neutering is not the same as a feline vasectomy. With a vasectomy, the cat is sterilized, but the cat will still be territorial. This means he will still spray and wander for a mate.
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Did you know that baking soda will clean your cat?
Just rub a small amount of baking soda on and be sure to rub into the coat. Let set a few minutes and brush off! The smells will be gone, and you don't need to get all wet!
Please know that ingestion of large amounts of baking soda can lead to electrolyte abnormalities (low potassium, low calcium and/or high sodium), congestive heart failure or muscle spasms.
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Before you introduce a new cat into your family, consider all of the issues related to ensuring its good health. Regular flea treatments, veterinarian visits, vaccinations, kitty kibble and of course, entertaining toys are all a part of maintaining a happy, healthy cat. There is one major consideration to think about as well in regards to their health ? the deworming process. How often should this be done? What types of worms plague cats? What are the health concerns in regards to worms? These worm issues, many times, consist of a large part of their health maintenance.
Practically all kittens are born infected with some type of worm. These worms can and usually are transmitted through the mother?s milk or while the kittens are still inside the mother?s womb. Unless the mother lives in pristine conditions (think sterile clean rooms), expect that your newborn kitten will have worms. The same goes for an older cat as well. It takes a lot of work to keep cats worm-free. For the most part, veterinarians will say to deworm your cat, as needed. But how do you know exactly what ?as needed? means? There are a few indicators which will help you decide when the deworming process is necessary.
Indicator #1 ? If your kitten was found as a stray, don?t assume anything. If you decide to keep the kitten, make sure that a veterinarian visit is on your list of priorities. Deworming will be a given. If your cat is a pet that likes to prowl, catch mice or other small animals, it is more likely than not highly susceptible to worms. Wild animals are the perfect hosts for carrying worm larvae and if your cat consumes it, they will develop a worm problem.
Indicator #2 ? Suppose your cat is predominantly an indoor pet. They can still develop worms but the problem could be harder to detect. If your cat develops a heaving problem or occasionally has retching episodes, these behaviors are a good indicator that your cat is trying to rid itself of worms. Also, vomiting the worms up is, of course, a clear indication that your cat needs to be dewormed immediately. More than likely, the worms vomited up are roundworms and resemble spaghetti in appearance. Sometimes, tapeworms are a culprit. Tapeworms are flat and segmented.
Indicator #3 ? It is important to note that worm testing at the veterinarian?s office does not always show a positive result for worms. Vets test the feces of your cat and unless the worms are actively migrating or on the move, these worms can lie dormant within the cat host body for long periods of time. It is only when some type of stress factor occurs (like pregnancy or surgery) that the worms would show itself in a fecal exam.
Indicator #4 ? If your cat?s appetite changes or it develops diarrhea, those are some possible indicators of a worm infection. A dull coat of fur or the growth of a pot-belly is other indicators. In addition, if you ever see your cat nibble on the feces of another animal, you might as well be prepared to go through a deworming of your cat.
For the most part, testing of your cat?s feces is the best bet to determine what type of worm infestation your cat may have. Without a proper worm diagnosis, your cat cannot receive the correct medication. This means that medication for roundworms sometimes does not work for tapeworms or other species like the hookworm or whipworm. By determining the correct species, you can be ensured of a successful deworming.
It is important to note that most medications come in liquid or in some type of pill. Since cats can be a bit ornery, you have to ensure that they actually take their medicine and ingest it. Disguising the deworming medication in their cat food or other treat is the simplest way. Another thing to be aware of is that it may take several treatments of deworming medication to completely rid your cat of worms. The reason for the possibility of multiple treatments is that the worms may be in different stages of development and not all stages are susceptible to the treatments. However, multiple treatments will ensure a worm-free kitty.
The bottom line on deworming your cat is just as your veterinarian says: do it on an ?as-needed? basis. Frequent trips to the vet for fecal testing as well as keeping a sharp eye on your beloved cat will make all the difference in the world when it comes to determining the frequency of the deworming process.
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This is my special friend Goliath. He's an American Shorthair.
Goliath is very happy to let me be his people. He's very affectionate. Sometimes he acts more like a dog, always wanting to be near me. I love it!
We have been together for 8 years now. I found Goliath at the local animal shelter. I went in looking for a kitten, but Goliath was so vocal, he practically demanded that I take him home with me. So we have been together ever since.
It's funny, he's only vocal now when I have to put him in his carrier to take him to the vet. He simply hates the carrier, and sure let's me know it.
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