Cat Communication... Here are some simple ways to be able to understand what your Cat is thinking and feeling:
Tail tucked - fearful, defensive Tail held at half - mast and moving slowly from side to side – indicates mild interest Tail vertical or straight up - indicates anticipation and/or greeting Tail vertical but curved to one side - indicates playfulness Tail curved over the cat's back - indicates expectation/monitoring Tail held completely to one side in a female - indicates sexual receptivity Tail held low with tip twitching - indicates a stalking, predatory stance Tail frantically switching in wide arcs - indicates heightened affect/aggression Tail puffed up (piloerect) - indicates fear and aggression
For even more insight into how your Cat communicates, click HERE for all of the details.
Health Alert:
Spider Bites... The Black widow spider gets its name from the practice of
the female devouring the male after mating, but the female black widow is a
threat to more than just her erstwhile mate. The female carries enough
neurotoxin venom to injure or kill a small pet. For obvious reasons, males are
rarely encountered and are smaller. The practice of the female eating the male
is common in many types of spiders.
Black widow spiders range from about a half-inch to one inch
in size and are typically shiny black. They have a distinctive red hourglass
area on their stomachs. Typically black widow spiders inhabit warm, dry areas,
such as those found in the southern and southwestern parts of the United
States, although they have been found as far north as Canada. They prefer dark
crevice-like environments, ie:woodpiles, rock walls, holes, and even your closet.
The best way to prevent a bite is to limit your pet's access
to areas that may contain black widow spider nests. Black widows are not
aggressive; they normally only bite defensively. Inquisitive pets tend to be
bitten, when they accidentally invade a nest.
What to Watch For:
After a bite, your pet may experience extreme pain in the
area around the bite. Nausea and swelling may follow. These are common symptoms
for many types of bites. For venom bits the other signs to look for include: - Muscle tremors
- Rigid muscles - Paralysis - Difficulty breathing - Spasms
Unfortunately, a bite from a black widow spider can kill
your pet. Death is usually caused by paralysis of the muscles and nerves
associated with breathing.
Home and Veterinarian Care
If you suspect that your pet has been bitten by a poisonous
spider, do not place a tourniquet above the bite. This won't stop the spread of
venom and may severely compromise the circulation in that area of the body.
Keep your pet quiet and calm, and take him to your veterinarian immediately.
There is not a blood test that can detect black widow venom,
therefore, your veterinarian will make a diagnosis based on the potential
access to black widow spiders and a physical exam to check for muscle rigidity,
spasms and possible breathing difficulty.
Your veterinarian will administer medication to try to relax
the muscles to help with breathing. Your pet will likely be hospitalized and
given intravenous fluids. Although there is an antivenin antidote available for
humans, the cost is often prohibitive in a veterinarian setting. With this
treatment, dogs usually survive black widow spider bites, however, cats do not
always fare so well mainly due to their smaller size.
Preventive Care
The best way to avoid spider bites is to keep your pet away
from areas that may contain black widow spiders. Inspect your lawn and garden
for these spiders. If you discover any, contact an exterminator to remove them.
The venom is also dangerous to humans, so do take care when working in the
area.
Health Alert:
Nutrition...
Good nutrition and a balanced diet are essential elements
for good health. The ideal diet for your Cat includes a good-quality food and
plenty of fresh water. Your Cat should be fed amounts sufficient to meet energy
and caloric requirements. Inadequate or excess intake of nutrients can be
equally harmful.
Dry-Cat foods have greater caloric density, which means
simply that there is less water in a 1/2 cup of dry food as compared to a
canned food diet. Overall, the choice of "dry" vs. "canned"
vs. "semi-moist" is an individual one, but most Cats enjoy eating a
combination of a dry-food along with supplemental canned-food and many enjoy
raw beef, cooked chicken, or Bonita flakes as treats.What is very important regarding dry-food is to choose a
food that does not have wheat or corn as fillers or binders.Felines are carnivores and a whole
mouse, for instance, fills a Cat's nutritional needs.There are several high-quality, no grain dry-foods on the
market, which may have a small amount of brown rice as a binder in the
recipe.Currently, we feed our
Bengals Innova and Evo dry and wet food with raw food treats.Check out these products at NaturaPet.com.
Cats in the various life stages, including kitten
("growth"), adult and senior ("geriatric"), require
different amounts of nutrients. Special situations such as pregnancy and
nursing kittens can dramatically affect nutritional needs. Working, active Cats
need more calories, while the couch potato Cat needs less (just like us). Bengals
are a high-activity breed of feline and more than likely never to fall into the couch potato category.
Click HEREto view more information about the specific nutrients needed in a feline diet.
Health Alert:
Spring Time... Happy Spring! But a quick word of caution... Please remember that, even though the Lily flower is very beautiful and helps to celebrate this time of year... Easter Lilies and Tiger Lilies are very toxic to Cats! Please be safe and do not keep these flowers in your home... and don't spend the weekend in the Emergency Veterinarian Clinic!
Health Alert:
Precaution and cleanliness... Most viruses do not live outside the host organism for very long, however, there are some that do survive for more than a week. One of these viruses is Calici (FCV - Feline Calici Virus) and it can survive on surfaces for 8 to 10 days. This fact is the main reason that at Santa Fe Bengal Cattery, we insist that Potential Kitten Buyers, who come to our Cattery, wash their hands with soap for 20 seconds, then dry with a one time use finger tip towel (which is then put in the laundry on 'sterilize') prior to touching any of our Kittens or Cats. We also insist that street shoes are removed, when entering our home. Other contaminants can be brought in to our ultra-clean environment on the bottom of shoes, such as nematode eggs. We do our best to limit our Cats and Kittens exposure to outside contaminants for the good health of our felines and the guaranteed good health of our Kittens. Personally, we follow the same regime for the protection of our felines. This is why we also steam clean our floors in our home and in our Cat Houses. We also advise that Kitten Buyers are extremely careful at Veterinary offices and that they insist, as we do, that the Vet Tech and Vet wash their hands and the examination table again, even if they indicate that this has already been done. Unfortunately, Veterinary Offices, including the waiting rooms, Boarding Facilities, and Catteries can be the source for spreading FCV.
Health Alert:
Household items dangerous for Felines...
1. Acetaminophen
(Tylenol®) is considered a very safe form of pain relief in people, but this
drug should never be administered to cats. While low doses are tolerated in
dogs, there are far better and safer pain killers available for both species.
Cats cannot properly metabolize acetaminophen and toxic effects include damage
to red blood cells, anemia, and severe liver injury. As little as one regular
strength Tylenol® tablet can be lethal to an adult cat! Symptoms of
intoxication include vomiting, weakness, difficulty breathing, and swelling of
the face and legs.
Most cats are exposed to Tylenol by ingesting a dropped
pill or following administration by a well-intentioned, but uninformed owner.
Acetaminophen also is a poor analgesic for dogs, so you are better off asking
your vet about effective and safer treatments than risking adverse effects.
2. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Advil®), and Naproxen (Aleve®) all
belong to a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAID'). These drugs are commonly used to treat people for fever, arthritis,
and other inflammatory conditions. Cats are unable to metabolize these drugs,
and even one low (81 mg) dose given daily to a cat can be lethal after several
days. Ultra-low doses can be safe, but should be guided by a veterinarian.
While dogs better tolerate some NSAIDs, other drugs in this group carry a high
risk of toxicity. NSAID toxicity in dogs causes gastrointestinal ulcerations,
enhanced bleeding tendencies and kidney failure. Exposure occurs when cats ingest
unsupervised medication or receive doses by well-intentioned but misinformed owners.
Initial symptoms of toxicity may include vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite,
and dark stools. There are several NSAID' on the market licensed to treat
arthritis and pain in cats including Rimadyl® Deramaxx® EtoGesic® and Metacam®
These medications (and low-dose aspirin in dogs) are generally safe if used as
directed by your veterinarian. Never give any NSAID to your pet unless
instructed by your veterinarian, and be aware that pre-existent diseases
(kidney failure) and drug interactions (including commonly-used prednisone and
furosemide) can potentiate the adverse effects of these drugs. 3. Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) keeps car engines from
freezing in winter and overheating in summer. However, ingestion of this
product is one of the best known toxicities affecting household cats. While
many people take their auto to the local garage, millions of Americans purchase
over-the-counter antifreeze products to replace or supplement auto engine
coolants. Inappropriate storage, drainage (into uncovered containers or pans),
spillage in the garage or driveway, and inappropriate dumping into streets
creates a real potential for lethal ingestion. Ethylene glycol (EG) is a critical
toxic constituent of most antifreeze products. Following ingestion EG is
metabolized into a number of chemicals that injure the kidneys, heart, lungs,
and brain. Acute kidney failure is the best recognized lethal problem but
initially cats may appear drunk and then normal. Without intensive care, dogs
and cats exposed to toxic amounts of ethylene glycol will die. Antifreeze
carries a sweet, appealing taste so many cats drink it willingly. As little as
one teaspoon can be lethal to a cat. Clearly, antifreeze must never be handled
in a careless manner! 4. Gorilla Glue® is among the most prominent of the
water-activated, expanding adhesives sold in hardware and home improvement
stores. If ingested, this glue product can be fatal. Gorilla Glue exposure most
commonly occurs when cat chews on the bottle and ingests the glue. This is more
common in dogs but can occur in cats, especially kittens. The glue expands and
hardens within the stomach, a process that prevents vomiting of the ingested
product. The lodged "foreign body" and associated ulceration of the
stomach lining causes a loss of appetite, lethargy, and vomiting. Treatment
requires surgical removal of the glue ball from the stomach. If your cat
ingests this or any adhesive, read the package insert, call the 1-800 contact
number on the package, monitor closely for symptoms, and contact your
veterinarian. 5. Paper Shredders have become a common home office item.
While these machines can help protect your identity, the ripping mechanism also
presents a clear danger to the heads, limbs, tail, and skin of dogs and cats.
Thus, while the following section may seem akin to a horror movie, the risks of
shredders are worth understanding, and we suggest you read on. The aperture or
opening of a shredder mechanism is designed to reduce risks, so it is
relatively narrow. However, the powerful motor of some devices can literally
pull in a hairy extremity or exploring tongue, causing severe tissue damage.
Most paper shredder injuries occur when machines are left on in the "auto-feed"
mode. Cats may be attracted to the top of the device, especially if the motor
is warm. Hair can become caught in the jaws, activating the shredder, and
pulling in attached skin, tail, or even digits. The best ways to protect your
cat (and children) from such injuries involves two simple rules: keep the paper
shredder unplugged and never leave your machine on auto-feed.
To sum it up... there are many items in your home or garage
that are potentially dangerous to your cats. Help keep your cat safe by
following these suggestions: 1. Never give your cat prescription or nonprescription
medications without the advice of your veterinarian. 2. Keep antifreeze, glues, and other chemicals safely stored
and out of the reach of your cat. 3. Keep paper shredders unplugged (or at least fully turned
"off") when not in use. 4. Don't let your cat roam around the basement or garage. 5. Don't wait! Call for help if you have a concern about your
cat. Some toxins and substances can be treated effectively with prompt therapy;
some toxins are fatal if treatment is delayed. 6. If you think your cat has been exposed to a toxic
substance, contact your veterinarian, local emergency clinic, search for
information on www.PetPlace.com and/or call the Animal Poison Control Center
(ASPCA) at 1.888.426.4435 (There is a $55.00 fee for this service).
Health Alert: PLEASE READ!
A reminder and a WARNING... Cats are very curious, intelligent creatures. This is part of why they are so cherished by so many. Unfortunately, the old adage, "Curiosity killed the Cat.", comes from actual reoccurring circumstances and events that have happened, when Cats live with humans. I recently heard a very sad story of a young curious Cat, who went somewhere that they shouldn't have... they understand a lot about our world, but Cats don't understand everything about our homes and the dangers that can await a curios Cat. This young Bengal had quickly and silently jumped into an open dryer, then nestled into the clothing to play a hide and seek game with their Owner. What happened is very sad... the Cat did not survive.
Please remember how curious all Cats are and this applies especially to Bengals. Look first, before you close the dryer, washer, dish washer, closet, and dog food bin lid or door! Your Bengal could be inside playing a game with you and be trapped inside. Every night, no matter how tired I am, I visit and tend to every one of my Cats. Food, water, litter boxes need attention and so do my Cats several times a day at the least. I can not sleep, if I haven't seen everyone of their sweet little faces and I have given each one a pet and a scratch good night. Please do the same for the health and safety of your Cat!
Health Alert:
Kittens and vaccines... Kittens are correctly vaccinated at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks of age for Distemper and "Kitty Cold complex"; keep in mind that Rabies vaccine cannot be administered until 16 weeks of age and is the new owners responsibility. Kittens also need to be with their mothers and litter mates for a minimum of 12 weeks for proper health and social development. Kittens should never be permitted to leave a Cattery prior to 12 weeks of age. If a Cattery is selling at earlier ages, such as 8, 9, 10, even 11 weeks of age, they are not properly vaccinating or giving the Kittens their best chance at a happy, healthy, long life. At Santa Fe Bengal Cattery, we vaccinate at 8 and 12 weeks of age as the "Code of Ethics" specifies. If a Cattery does not follow these recommendations and guide lines, then you may want to ask... what other guide lines do they ignore?
Health Alert:
Common misconception... FeLV is not Leukemia as compared to human Leukemia. FeLV is an auto immune deficiency disease, just like FIV. In fact, it is the same virus; just a different strain. Both are "Kitty AIDS" and highly transmittable. Always test for both strains of this virus as it is the same disease. Your Cat, or new Kitten, must be tested and free from both strains to be assured of good health. If purchasing a new Kitten, make sure that both parents have tested negative for FeLV/FIV.
Our Cattery tests for both and has, again, tested negative for FeLV/FIV in all Cats, September 2008.
Health Alert:
New information!... Regarding vaccinations. It is very important to make sure that your Vet is using the new, much safer, avian based FeLV/FIV vaccine. There are pros and cons to using all-killed or modified-live virus vaccines, but now we have a new option that is the safest vaccine for your Cat. The new avian (canary/bird) based vaccine activates a Cat's immune system to help protect them against FeLV/FIV, however, because it is avian, it can never revert to the virulent strain of the actual Cat virus, like the previously used modified-live virus vaccine. We are looking forward to all vaccines moving in this new direction. We still feel that the all-killed virus vaccines are safer for all other viruses, but now agree that the new avian-based, modified-live FeLV/FIV virus vaccine is the most effective and safest for your Cat.
Health Alert:
Interesting new information... Over the years we have tested for different viruses, protozoan, and bacteria in our Cats. Our Cats have always been negative for all tests, however, we did have a case of soft stool in one of our Stud Cats purchased from another Cattery. There seemed to be no reason for this. Despite the negative test results, our Vet suggested treating the Cat with eight days of Metronidazole and within two days the Cat had normal bowl movements.
In a recent "Cat Fancy" magazine article, it was suggested that a change in water may cause loose stools from the change in natural bacteria in the water. Think of it this way... when humans travel to another country and drink the potable local water, it can cause the same symptoms. It is the change in bacteria that can cause a reaction; it is not bad water, just different water. It could be possible that completely changing a Cat's water source could cause a problem in their digestive system... just like it does in humans. Happily, a simple treatment corrects the problem. But if this medication is ever used, do make sure that the tablets are in a gel cap. The liquid form should only be used for young Kittens (a pill would physically be too large for them to swallow) as it tastes terrible to a Cat. Some Veterinarians also have a "tuna flavored" liquid form of metronidazole.
So, keep in mind that if you are introducing a new Cat to your household or moving to a new home, it is like going to another country for your Cat!
Health Alert:
Simple solution to a common problem... Cats, in general, can be susceptible to a type of herpes simplex virus. It can affect any Cat at some time in it's life time. A slight clear, then crusty discharge from the nose may indicate your Cat has this virus. You simply need to break the cycle of the virus reproduction and your Cat will be fine. Our Vet recommends giving 250 mg of L-Lysine in the morning and again in the afternoon for about a month. Just sprinkle the L-Lysine on to their food and mix well.
If there are any other symptoms, like a colored discharge from Your Cats nose, sneezing, difficulty breathing... your Cat has an upper respiratory infection and needs to be on antibiotics immediately. Left untreated, this can move into pneumonia and be fatal. It is always wise to have your Cat examined by a Veterinarian to assess the problem prior to trying any treatment. Cats hide their symptoms very well and your Vet is educated to recogize symptoms that you may not.
Health Alert:
Just in... Recent studies have shown that cats are susceptible to the hormone creams (especially estrogen) which are applied to a woman's inner forearms. The cream remains residual on the arms and hands, when a cat is picked up and held the hormones are transferred to their fur. A cat's natural instinct to clean their fur by licking, causes them to ingest the hormones. A reaction can be anemia and sometimes diarrea, but the long term effects are not yet on record. All women with cats, or any pets, please be aware of this problem and choose another location to apply your hormone creams! Your cat's life could be adversely affected by ingesting the very hormones that help you!
Health Alert:
Breeder myth... In print, in several books about Bengal Cats, it is stated that Bengals have a natural immunity to FeLV (Feline Leukemia). It has been a common belief that due to the Asian Leopard Cats' natural immunity that the domestic Bengal has inherited this same immunity. After much research and long discussions with our Vet, Santa Fe Bengal Cattery has the position that this Breeder myth is not true. We do feel that it is an important vaccine to administer to your Bengal and to all cats. Unfortunately, this is a virus that is easily spread and can be devastating to a pet owner and to a Cattery. Please do vacinate your cats for FeLV, as well as, Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper), and the Kitty cold complex. However, there are new studies in the UK that suggest we are over vaccinating our pets. This issue will be researched and we will discuss this in a later Health Alerts update.
Health Alert:
Are we over vaccinating?... A recent article in the October 2008 issue of "Cat Fancy" magazine discusses "The Great Debate" of are we over vaccinating our cats. "Ronald Schultz, Ph.D., a veterinary immunologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, has been studying vaccines for more that a quarter of a century. His research has shown that many vaccines initially given to a kitten provide lifelong immunity and that repeated administration of some vaccines after the first year is unnecessary." Read the full article in "Cat Fancy" magazine.
The article also touches on the possibility of injection-site sarcomas being caused by over-vaccination. Previously it was thought that vaccine adjuvants, which are used to enhance immunity in killed-virus vaccines, were believed to possibly increase cancer risk. However, new studies in the United Kingdom have shown the opposite results. Santa Fe Bengal Cattery maintains that all-killed virus vaccines are safer for your cat than modified-live vaccines.
Health Alert:
A reminder... Feed your cats ONLY high grade food as their health can suffer tremendously with lower grade foods. The perfect food for a cat is a mouse. Basically, all protein and other nutrients; no vegetables, fruits, or grains (corn is especially harmful). Low grade foods are made of sub quality protein sources (you don't really want to know...) and fillers, often grains, etc. Low grade foods contain a high percent of ash (magnesium) and this constituent will cause urinary tract blockage, especially in male cats, and if not treated, it will cause renal failure and death.
For more information about this and other cat health issues a good resource is "The Cat Bible". There are a number of high quality cat foods now on the market. Innova/Evo is one of the best and listed in "The Cat Bible". This is what our Cattery feeds and what we recommend to our Kitten buyers. When feeding this type of high quality food, dry food is pure and not a danger, like with the low grade foods with the fillers and ash content. We feed about 75% to 80% dried food and the balance as wet food treats. Remember, fresh water in clean bowls, every day, is a must for your cat's continued good health!
Common Mistake by Cat Owners!
Do not over feed your cat!... Especially with the high grade foods (less food is needed, because the nutrients are higher), an adult cat typically needs 1/4 of a cup of dried food in the morning and a 1/4 of a cup of combination dry/wet food in the evening. Do not "free feed" -- just because the food bowl is empty, does not mean that you should automatically fill it. Over feeding can cause loose stools and flatulence, which is unpleasant for both your cat and for you.