Uncomon Facts about Cats

Did you know…

Cats have more toes in front than in back..

Most cats have five toes on their front paws and four toes on their back paws.  The exception to this rule are polydactyl cats.  Polydactyl cats can have as many as seven toes on their front or hind paws.

Photo from www.dogbreedinfo.com

 

Cats have excellent hearing.

A domestic cat’s sense of hearing is better than a dogs hearing.  Their low end is the same as humans, but they can hear even higher pitches than dogs. Cats are deaf at birth and their hearing develops at around two weeks of age.

Photo from cooindacatresort.blogspot.com

 

Cats cool off by grooming

Cats, like dogs, only sweat through their paws.  To help regulate their body temperatures on hot days, cats groom themselves.  Licking is a mechanism for cooling.  As saliva evaporates off the fur it lowers the body temperature.

Photo from www.maine-coon-cat-nation.com

 

Your cat’s nose is one of a kind.

Like human fingerprints, each cat’s nose is unique to that cat.

Photo from fineartamerica.com

 

Cat’s tongues are covered with microscopic hooks.

Those hooks are called Papillae.  They are what gives the cats tongues the rough texture when they lick you.

Photo from en.wikipedia.org

 

Cats can fit in unbelievably small spaces

Cats can squeeze through any opening that is not smaller than their heads.  Their bone structure is narrow at the shoulders and they can easily rotate their bodies through tight spaces. 

Photo from www.karennutton.co.uk

 

They use their whiskers to determine if they can fit into a space.

Photo from www.todayifoundout.com

 

Today’s domestic cat is essentially the same as their ancient ancestors.

Fossil records have shown that cats have been around for thousands of years, without much change in their shape or behavior.

Photo from amazingnotes.com

 

Tail positions differ between domestic and wild felines.

Domesticated cats are the only feline species that walks with it tail held vertically.  Wild cats walk with their tails horizontally or tucked between their legs.

Photo from blog.luciolepress.com

Photo from pictures-of-cats.org

 

Be Well & Be Happy,

Pet~Pourri

Bladder Crystals and Stones in Cats

I’ve told you in a previous blog about my Magic Cat.  His name was Merlin.  He was a Lynx Point Siamese.  I called him my Magic Cat because he was so special.  He knew me so well and could read my moods and was always there when I needed him.  I am an avid reader and read a lot.  When he thought I wasn’t paying enough attention to him, he would climb up and lay on my chest right in the way of my book.  I knew it was time to give him some loving and attention.  Unfortunately I had Merlin before the advent of digital cameras.  The photos show what a Lynx Point Siamese look like, but are not photo's of my Merlin.

Photo from www.life-with-siamese-cats.com

One of our favorite games to play was me spinning him around on the carpet.  I would be down on my hands and knees and he would lay in front of me.  I would put my hand on his chest, just behind his front legs and spin him around on the carpet.  He LOVED it.  He also loved to pounce my husband.  Where we used to live there was a hallway between the living room and kitchen.  I had a book case against the living room wall near the entry to the hallway.  Merlin would wait in front of that book case for my husband to walk into the living room.  He would then jump out and wrap his front legs around my husband’s ankle and my husband would drag him through the living room.

 

 

 

My Magic Cat knew me so well…but I didn’t know him so well and I failed him.  Merlin was my very first pet when I moved out of my Grandmother’s house and into my own apartment.  The very first thing I did after I moved in was adopt Merlin and his sister Morgana.  Morgana was a Burmese.  I adopted them in 1989 and Merlin died in 1994.  I first noticed something was wrong when he started meowing loudly when he was using his litter box.  I thought that was strange, but really didn’t think much about it until it persisted for several days.  Then I noticed blood in his urine.  I took him to the vet and was informed that he had crystals in his bladder. 

 

Our vet told us that the cause was a combination of our well water and the cat food we were feeding him.  Merlin loved Deli Cat.  Well water is high in mineral content.  His bladder was full of crystals.  The vet flushed his bladder gave us some medication and sent us home.  It wasn’t very long before Merlin was back at the vet.  The crystals had caused an infection and the infection had gone to his brain.  Merlin was having seizures.  Our vet tried everything he could to save him.  He even took Merlin home with him that night and slept on the floor next to him so that he could monitor him.  He locked his own cats out of the room so that he could concentrate on Merlin.

 

Photo from roxicons.livejournal.com

 

Unfortunately, unless I wanted to pay for a very expensive brain surgery, with no guarantee of success, there was nothing that could be done for Merlin.  We made the decision to end his suffering.  I brought him home for one last night and then took him in the next day to let him go.  Merlin was the first cat I ever had to let go.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  I was an emotional wreck for days after that. 

My purpose for writing this blog is not to reminisce about Merlin, but to send a warning to my readers about the danger of crystals in the bladder.  The crystals are formed from the minerals found in poor quality cat food and well water. They can vary in size getting as large as a quarter.  The problem with these are that they could cause damage to the lining of the bladder (crystals can be sharp and cut the bladder.  This is what happened with Merlin), or get caught in the ureter blocking the cats ability to urinate.  If the blockage goes unnoticed it can be fatal.

 

 

So, how can you tell if your cat has bladder stones or crystals?

• Blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Painful urination
• Straining to urinate
• Frequent urination
• Genital licking
• Chronic urinary tract infections
• Urinary tract obstruction (especially in males)
• Urine spraying
• Passing urine in unusual places

 

Our problem was a combination of the cat food we were feeding Merlin and the Well Water where we lived at the time.  Here is a link with information on the most common mineral contents of well water.

Sometimes a cat will not show any clinical signs, which is what happened with Merlin.  What alerted me was his crying while trying to urinate and then the blood in his urine.  It is important to know your cat and know his/her behavior.  If your cat is not acting normally and you suspect something is wrong, have it checked out.  If I would have noticed sooner that Merlin was not his normal self, he might have been with me for many, many more years.  Who would have thought that crystals in his bladder would have cause and infection in his brain?  From that moment on, we have only given our pets bottled or filtered water and good quality food.

Be Well & Be Happy,

Pet~Pourri

Pet Food Recall - 2/26/13

I've just heard of two more brands of Dog Food that have been recalled.
 
Nature's Variety recalled the items below as of Feb. 15th,due to some bags containing pieces of clear plastic that could pose a choking risk.
 

 
 
The recalled foods include medallions in 3-pound bags (UPC number 7 69949 60137 1) and 27-pound cases (UPC number 7 69949 70137 8), and patties in 6-pound bags (UPC number 7 69949 60127 2) and 36-pound cases (UPC number 7 69949 70127 9).

Consumers may return the food for a refund or exchange. More information is available at 888-519-7387.


The Honest Kitchen has recalled five lots of its Verve, Zeal and Strive dog foods as of Feb. 21st because of potential salmonella contamination from a batch of human grade parsley received from a supplier they no longer do business with.

The recalled lots include:

• Verve: 4- and 10-pound boxes, expiration date 8/20/13, lot number 2332A (batches 1-3).
• Verve: 10-pound box, expiration date 11/1/13, lot number 3062A (batches 8 and 9).
• Thrive: 1-ounce sample, expiration date 9/18/13, lot number 2622A (batch 3).
• Zeal: 4- and 10-pound boxes, expiration date 8/14/13, lot number 2272A (batches 1-5).
• Zeal: 10-pound box, expiration date 9/21/13, lot number 2652A (batches 1-4).

Refund information is available by calling 866-437-9729.

As always, when I hear of any other recalls, I will let you know.

Be Well & Be Happy,
Pet~Pourri

Update ~ Pet Food Recall 2-22-13

UPDATE ~ The recalled products carry three different “Best By” dates and were distributed to Hy-Vee stores in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin between October 26, 2012 and January 11, 2013. Go here for complete details: http://www.hy-vee.com/company/press-room/recalls/dog-food-recall.aspx

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We've just learned of two recalls of Hy-Vee Brand Dog Food.

Hy-Vee Brand Dry Dog Food - UPC 0075450056650 has been recalled due to high levels of AFL.

 
AFL stands for Aflatoxin.  According to Wikipedia, Aflatoxin occurs naturally and is produced by many species of Aspergillus fungus.  These fungi are common and widespread.  They contaminate grain before harvest or during storage.

Aflatoxin can cause liver disease in dogs.  If found it dogs, it is treatable, however long term exposure can be fatal.

As a precautionary measure they have also recalled Hy-Vee Brand Bites Bones and Squares Dog Food.  UPC's 0075450056800 and 0075450055600



As always, we will keep you updated when we hear of any pet food or treat recalls.

Be Well & Be Happy,
Pet~Pourri

Iowa Humane Lobby Day ~ Part 2

For Part One Click Here

My reason for participating in Iowa Humane Lobby Day is to make the Legislature aware of the treatment of animals in commercial breeders.  Most commonly known as Puppy Mills.  There are also commercial breeders for cats, but there are only 3 in Iowa, so my main focus has been on dog breeders.  Any legislation passed for commercial breeders will also affect cats and other companion animals.

Capital Spiral Stairwell

 

WARNING

 

Some of the photos below are quite disturbing.  These were taken at various commercial breeders by inspectors, therefore they were obtained legally. 

 

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Courtesy of Iowa Voters for Companion Animals.

 This breeder was cited by an inspector, and a subsequent inspection report stated this situation was corrected.  We aren’t sure how it was corrected.

 

Courtesy of Iowa Voters for Companion Animals.

This is a commercial breeder in Belmond, Iowa.  This breeder has 106 adult dogs according to their 2012 inspection report. 

My rescue is licensed and inspected by the State of Iowa.  We are licensed for 22 dogs.  We do not breed our rescue dogs.  They are all spayed and/or neutered once they arrive in our care.  I know how hard it is to take proper care of 22 dogs.  During Hurricane Katrina we went over our limit, but we had volunteers coming in to help us take care of the dogs every day. 

 

Courtesy of Iowa Voters for Companion Animals.

This breeder states that their puppies are ‘Farm Raised’.  This is the truth of that claim.

 

 

 Courtesy of Iowa Voters for Companion Animals.

 

This is the same breeder claiming their puppies are ‘Farm Raised’.  When is the last time you think these puppies were let out of their kennels?

 

This is Lana just after she arrived into rescue from a really bad puppy mill where they had over 400 dogs.  Unfortunately, she only survived a week because she had such a severe uterine infection from being bred so many times without a break between litters.

Now I’m not claiming that all commercial breeders are like this.  They aren’t.  However, the sad fact is that most of them are.  There are approximately 300 commercial breeders in Iowa, with over 23,000 breeding dogs.  Pure bred puppies are big money.  And now with the new ‘Designer Breeds’ it has gotten worse.  A Labradoodle, while cute, is a mixed breed dog between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle.  A Puggle, also a cute dog, is a mixed breed of a Pug and a Beagle.  Yet breeders are charging $1,500 or more per puppy.  I’ve seen them for as much as $3,000 per puppy.  I know I may be offending some people here and I am sorry…but I just can’t see paying $3,000 for a Mutt.

A reputable or responsible breeder cares for the betterment of the breed and will watch out for any genetic or hereditary issues when breeding their puppies.  They will trace the bloodlines of the sire and dam to make sure the puppies resulting from that breeding will be healthy.  Here is a list of what a reputable breeder does.

·         Chooses breeding stock carefully, with an eye to physical and temperamental soundness.

·         Chooses a stud because he is complementary to the bitch and not because he is nearby, popular or cheap.

·         Does genetic testing for defects such as hip dysplasia before breeding, as well as pedigree analysis for less obvious faults.

·         Breeds only for the purpose of preserving or improving the breed and never for ego satisfaction, financial gain or "because she/he ought to be bred at least once".

·         Provides the bitch with a warm, safe, comfortable place to whelp and care for her pups. Provides pre- and post-natal veterinary care for the bitch and her pups.

·         Begins a medically-sound inoculation program before the bitch is bred and continues it when the pups are the proper age.

·         Is willing to supply previous buyers as references and not just those who bought show dogs or who co-own dogs with the breeder.

·         Is able to provide written certification of freedom from genetic diseases that affect the breed.

·         Belongs to a local or regional breed club and is willing and able to supply the names of officers and members of that club as references.

·         Is very concerned that all pups are placed in suitable homes. To that end, personal interviews with buyers are conducted with information requested about life-style, children, other animals, fencing and general knowledge of the breed. Proper contracts, guarantees, medical records and pedigree are all in writing and understood by all concerned.

·         Accepts life-long responsibility for the pups' welfare, assisting when necessary in finding a suitable new home for dogs whose family circumstances change.

·         Stays in touch with puppy-buyers, ready with advice, referrals, assistance and empathy.

 

Whoops…got on my soap box there for a bit.  This is a very important issue for me. 

 

Inside the Capitol Dome

One of the most important parts of Lobby Day is to send your Senator or Representative an e-mail or letter thanking them for their time.  It lets them know that you do appreciate them taking the time out of their busy schedule to meet with you.  They are there to represent us and really do appreciate their constituents stopping by to let them know how they feel about various issues.  But they are very busy men and women and it’s nice to let them know you appreciate them listening to you.

I think it is wonderful that the State Capitol is open to anyone who wants to go see how things work.  You can sit in the gallery to listen in on the discussions first hand.  I’ve always had an interest in politics.  I was even on the Student Senate when I was in college.  People sit and watch the news and complain about how the Legislature handles things all the time.  But if you don’t take the time to let your Legislator know how you feel about issues they aren’t going to know if there is a genuine concern.

 

House Floor from North Gallery

Here are some tips on how to talk to your legislator.  Even after doing this for four years I still get very nervous.  I could hear the tremor in my voice while I was speaking to Mr. Ourth.  I just reminded myself that he is a person just like me and I was there to share my beliefs on the issue.  Once I got to talking, my nerves went away.  Listening to the people they represent is part of their job and they need to know what we are thinking and how they can help us. Communication is key in any relationship.

Be Well & Be Happy,

Pet~Pourri

 

 

 

Iowa Humane Lobby Day ~ Part 1

Monday, February 18, 2013

I was very excited this morning when I woke up because I knew today was the day that I was going to the Capitol to lobby my legislators for the humane treatment of animals.  I arrived at the Capitol around Noon today.  It was a very windy an chilly day and the walk up the hill from my parking space was a workout for sure.  J

 

Once I arrived, I went through security and went up to the 1^st floor lobby to see if the other groups were there.  Iowa Voters for Companion Animals, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and The Iowa Federation of Humane Societies (IFHS) were all there.

 

 

I checked in with Iowa Voters for Companion Animals.  They were very organized this year.  They had a packet of information available for each person who checked in. They looked up who my State Senator and Representative were and told me what seat they were in.  Inside the packet of information were talking points to mention to my legislators.  For folks who were there to lobby for the first they, they had some volunteers to educate them on how the process works and how to speak to their legislators.

This is my fourth Humane Lobby Day visit, so I knew what to do.  For those of you who don’t know what to expect, let me explain how it works. The legislators are there as representatives of the people and most of the time they are more than happy to speak to their constituents.  As you take the stairs up to the 2^nd floor, the Senate is on the left and the House is on the right.

My first stop was at the Senate.  There is a desk just outside the door with a map showing what seat each senator sits in.  I knew my senator is, Kent Sorenson, but if you don’t know, there is a map that can tell you.  You can also go to the Iowa Legislator website and click on the Find Your Legislator link.

 

Once you find out who your senator is, there is a slip of paper you fill out with his name, seat number, date, time, any message you have, your name, and whether or not you are waiting to see him.  Then give this slip to one of the door men and they will take it onto the floor.  In my case, Mr. Sorenson was not on the floor so they asked if I wanted to leave a message or come back in 20 minutes.  I decided to come back and went to see my House Representative.

 

The steps involved in visiting your House Representative are the same.  My Representative is Scott Ourth.

 

I gave my slip to the doorman and was very pleasantly surprised with Mr. Ourth came out in just a few moments to speak to me.  I explained to him that I was there because it was Iowa Humane Lobby Day and showed him photos of dogs from commercial breeders that we have helped here at our rescue.  Mr. Ourth states he has seen similar photos before and understood the problem.  He asked why, specifically, I was there. 

I visited with him about the laws that have recently been passed with regards to inspecting commercial breeders and my fear that they were not being enforced.  While I understand that the legislature does not enforce the laws, I hoped there was something they could do to make it easier for them to be enforced, such as hiring more inspectors and being aware of any issues other lawmakers may try to slip through.  I referenced the previous bill where a representative tried to change a dog’s status from companion animal to livestock.  Mr. Ourth really understood the issues I was concerned with.  He even took down the information for my rescue and invited me onto the House Floor to visit and have his photo taken with me.  I was truly pleasantly surprised that he really seemed to care.

 

When I was done visiting with Mr. Ourth, I went back over to the Senate side and tried to visit with Mr. Sorenson again.  He was still not on the floor, so I left a message with my contact information.  As of today, I have yet to hear from him.

 

To Be Continued in Part 2…

 

Be Well & Be Happy,

Pet~Pourri