NO! NO! NOT the Vet!!!!!!!!!!!

I recently reported that the last trip Kirby took to the vet was far more successful than any of the previous. I used to be a nervous wreck taking him in, but I paid attention to my own advice published on an earlier blog. Imagine that! These vets do know what they're talking about.

The suggestions I followed were to put the carrier in a room and leave it open so Kirby could go in and out without worrying about going out the door and to the car. I also put a towel over the carrier while he was in the car and in the vet's office. According to the experts, it cuts down on the visual stimulation and keeps them calmer. The third thing I did, which I will mention today, is have them take the top off the carrier and keep him in the bottom while they trimmed his nails, examined him, and gave him his yearly shots. He didn't make a peep! I was so surprised and elated, I could hardly stand it. I also didn't go into the examining room on the recommendation of my own vet.

Most cats prefer familiar things and need time to adjust to the unfamiliar. Everything about the veterinary visit is frightening to your kitty, including the carrier, the car and the clinic itself. Starting with the carrier, as I said before, place it in a room where your cat spends a lot of time. Place treats, catnip, or toys in it so your cat will go in, explore, and be able to come back out. You can also spray a synthetic feline facial pheromone in and around the carrier which gives the cat an "everything is good and happy" feeling. When you get to the point that kitty is napping or playing in the carrier, try giving them a treat to get them in the carrier and close the door. Repeat this “game” as often as possible. This makes the routine of getting into the carrier very familiar. When the day of the exam comes, remember to stay calm. Don’t chase your kitty. If you can’t lure them into the carrier with treats, open the top and gently lower them in backwards.

During the car ride, cover the carrier with a towel and place it on the floor of the car for stability. Most prefer quiet, so no loud music.

When you arrive at the clinic, find a secluded spot in the waiting room. Keep the carrier off the floor. (I need to remember this) Many cats are more much comfortable being examined in the bottom of their carrier under their own blanket or towel with the top of the carrier off. Boy, that sure worked with Kirby!

If you have other cats at home, the one returning from the vet won't smell right to them. If the cats are having a hard time readjusting to each other, use the pheromone spray.

Cats sense our emotions. Staying calm will help your cat from becoming anxious and fearful. Also cats learn positive behaviors from rewards, not punishment or force.

All of the above were suggestions for normal, preventative visits to the vet which we do on a regular basis. However, there are some cat emergencies that need immediate vet attention. They are as follows:

 1. Difficulty breathing 

Death occurs after three minutes without breathing, so cats with breathing difficulties are on the edge of disaster.

2. Abnormal urination in male cats 

 This has the potential to be a symptom of one of the most serious crises any cat can face: urinary obstruction.  This condition, which is fatal if not treated, occurs when cats are unable to urinate. For anatomical reasons it occurs almost exclusively in males. Females are not likely to die from the problem, but they are likely to be suffering from discomfort that warrants treatment.

3. Signs of severe pain or obvious distress

4. Sudden paralysis of the hind end

Aortic thromboembolism, or ATE, is a complication of heart disease in cats in which a blood clot lodges in the rear (usually) legs. It causes sudden paralysis of the hind end. Affected cats usually will pant, vocalize, and show other signs of distress. It requires immediate veterinary attention.

5. Stopping eating and/or drinking 

 This often means serious trouble. It is not normal for any individual to go a full day without eating when food is available, and not eating can be a symptom of (kidney failure, complications of diabetes, intestinal obstruction) and a cause of (fatty liver) major health problems.

6. Protracted vomiting and/or diarrhea

This requires immediate veterinary attention, especially when blood is present. Cats who vomit repeatedly or have blowout diarrhea should see the vet immediately.

7. Known ingestion of toxins

Ingestion of toxics such as lily or antifreeze should be treated immediately. Rapid action can dramatically improve outcomes in many different types of toxicities.

8. Profound lethargy or collapse

This should trigger an urgent trip to the vet. Profound lethargy often manifests as "not moving," hiding in one room for a protracted period, and not reacting to stimuli (such as the can opener or the dog) in a normal fashion. 
9. Seizure
Although a solitary seizure is not likely to be life threatening, owners should be aware that seizures often come in clusters that get worse over the course of several hours. They also can be a symptom of exposure to toxins such as mold or low-quality flea control products. Cats who suffer a seizure should go straight to the vet.

10. Major trauma

This should always trigger a veterinary visit. Owners of cats with gaping wounds or massive hemorrhage usually know this intuitively. However, sometimes cats who have fallen from height, been hit by cars, struck by garage doors, or attacked by large dogs can have major internal injuries yet appear unharmed after the incident. Any time you are aware of such an occurrence, your cat should be checked out.

11. Fights with other cats

Cats who have been in fights with other cats should see the vet sooner rather than later. Cat fight wounds are relatively easy to treat with antibiotics if they are caught early. If a delay occurs, an abscess may develop that requires anesthesia and surgery.

The above list is not exhaustive. If you have ANY doubts, get your pet to the vet! 

Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667

Flying Around in Circles

Story Time!

It was a beautiful day for a trip! Bright, blue sky, very few clouds, and no wind. The family was excited to be on their way to visit friends and family in another part of the country. Mom and Dad had always enjoyed flying and looked forward to being able to do it again. Suitcases were packed and everyone was ready to go.

Dad drove the car to the airport where it would be parked until they arrived back home. The luggage was checked and everyone made their way through security. The kids were anxious to see which animal would be on the tail of their airplane. Wouldn't that be fun if they could really talk! Soon it was time to board. They all settled down into their seats, buckled their seat belts, and listened to the flight attendants give their speech while the pilots got the plane ready for takeoff.

Away they went! That was always the part that the kids loved best. The plane leveled off and everyone was enjoying the scenery out of the window. Things looked so small!  All was going great until the plane started going around in circles. They were close to where they were suppose to land, but the plane kept going around in circles! People started to wonder if they were EVER going to come down or run out of gas instead! Then the plane straightened out and landed. As people were getting off the plane, the pilot explained about the circles.

YOU May Be WEIRD, But Your Cat Still Loves You!

Thank you, thank you for all of the wonderful responses that I received from the previous post about your cat thinking that you're weird! There were some good belly laughs going around which delights me to no end. This blog will be a little more factual, but I'll see what I can do to liven it up!

One of the ways your cat will show love is by purring. Believe it or not, these purrs can be very healing. The purr vibrations are within a range of 20-140 Hz which can be medically therapeutic for many diseases. For example:

1. Petting a purring cat can slow down and relieve stress.

2. Cat owners have 40% less risk of heart attack.

3. Vibrations are helpful for healing tendons and muscles.

4. Purring can heal infections and swelling.

5. Frequencies of 25 & 50 Hz are the best and frequencies of 100 to 200 Hz are the second best for promoting bone strength.

6. Hearing a cat purr can lower your blood pressure.

A U.S. researcher found animals release the "love hormone" oxytocin when they interact with each other and with humans. Paul J. Zak, a professor at Claremont Graduate University, tested the oxytocin levels of different animals at an animal refuge in Arkansas, where numerous animals interacted with each another. “That animals of different species induce oxytocin release in each other suggests that they, like us, might be capable of love," Zak commented. "It is quite possible that Fido and Boots may feel the same way about you as you do about them. You can even call it love.” 

I'd like to close with a You Tube video which talks about the healing ability of cats. It's only two minutes long and features a beautiful cat. Let us know what you think about the healing properties in a purr and if that has helped you in any way.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pktXW2pNxCY

Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667