Cat's Meow Veterinary Clinic

11/21/2025

I am posting this portion of an email from K. Jetelina of Your Local Epidemiologist in the interest of general public health. I agree with her, and do not know if we can trust any information on the CDC website going forward, including information on animal health.
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On Wednesday night, a directive from HHS forced the agency to publish scientifically false claims about vaccines and autism—claims the agency itself and scientists across the world had spent decades investigating, and study after study has shown no link. This wasn’t a debate or a misunderstanding, and no new data was presented. This was political actors overriding science in a place where accuracy, integrity, credibility, transparency, and honesty literally saves lives.

The damage doesn’t stay neatly contained to one webpage or one topic. When any part of the system is forced to publish something false, it immediately weakens the credibility and integrity of every other part that depends on shared trust. Hesitation, doubt, and confusion spread fast. Just yesterday, I was talking with colleagues responding to the infant botulism outbreak, and they asked, “How do you ask the public to trust that science on infant formula when another part of the agency is being forced to publish false information?”

What does this mean for you?
It’s getting harder and harder to know what is data-driven and what is spun, and now the CDC website has entered the arena.

There are parts of CDC I still trust, and there remains an important distinction between political operatives and the scientists doing the real work. In other words, there is still information there that I trust only because I have firsthand insight from friends and colleagues I speak with every week. That’s a privileged position to be in, and it’s not advice the general public can realistically rely on.

So, what do you do?

At this time, I suggest the general public avoid the CDC website.

If you do go to the CDC website, avoid anything on vaccines, reproductive health, environmental science, or health equity.

Data systems are still largely under the control of states and CDC scientists. Flu and wastewater data, for example, are good to go.

Find trustworthy navigators outside the federal government, such as AAP, ACOG, and healthychildren dot org, as well as many credible scientific communicators. (The Evidence Collective put together a comprehensive list of scientific communicators and organizations for you here!)

The good news is that the level of mobilization outside the federal government—by health systems, medical societies, researchers, local health leaders, and entire professional communities—is extraordinary. We can’t replace what a fully functioning CDC provides, but many people are stepping up, coordinating, and building the scaffolding we need to navigate this moment with clarity. There are also so many CDC career employees flagging falsehoods and interferences for those of us on the outside, and trying to hold the line.
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HealthyChildren.org - Powered by pediatricians. Trusted by parents.

11/06/2025

For Immediate Release:

November 5, 2025

Public Health Reports Second-Highest Number of Rabid Bats Ever Recorded in LA County
People urged to never touch a bat or wild animal

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is urging people to stay alert after confirming 61 rabid bats so far in 2025, the second-highest total ever recorded in LA County. Only 2021 saw more, with 68 rabid bats confirmed.

While rabid bat detections can vary from year-to-year, this increase continues a decade-long upward trend. Awareness and prevention remain the best defenses against rabies exposure for both people and pets.

“Bats are vital to our environment, but they can also carry rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear,” said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “Anyone who may have had contact with a bat should immediately speak with their medical provider or contact Public Health. Never touch a bat or any wild animals. Immediately report any bat found indoors, or outdoors if it appears sick, active during the day, unable to fly, or dead, to Animal Control.”

What Counts as Contact or Exposure

Exposure to a rabid bat, or a bat that might have rabies, happens anytime saliva or tissue from the bat could enter the body, such as through a bite, scratch, or contact with a wound, mouth, nose, or eyes.

Because bat bites are often so small they can go unnoticed, anyone who wakes up to find a bat in the room, or finds a bat near a sleeping person, child, or pet, should treat it as a possible exposure and contact Animal Control or Public Health right away.

If possible, do not release the bat so it can be safely collected and tested for rabies.

Rabid Bats Found Across Los Angeles County

Rabid bats have been found in every part of LA County, from suburban areas such as the San Fernando Valley to urban areas like downtown Los Angeles office buildings, public parks, schools, businesses, and residential backyards.

Rabid bat detections typically peak in late summer. In 2024, August saw the highest activity, with 23 rabid bats confirmed. That month, one in three bats (33%) reported by residents tested positive for rabies.

Higher Detection in Santa Clarita Valley

Over the past decade, the Santa Clarita Valley has recorded the most rabid bats in Los Angeles County, with the majority found among the Canyon Bat species, suggesting rabies may be circulating primarily within that local bat population.

To raise awareness, since 2018, Veterinary Public Health has conducted targeted outreach in communities where rabid bats have been detected to increase public awareness and encourage timely reporting. Increased awareness and reporting may also explain part of the higher detection rate in Santa Clarita, thanks to years of local outreach by Public Health. However, Public Health emphasizes that the elevated numbers still represent a real and ongoing public health concern.

Public Health Reminds Residents and Pet Owners: Never Touch a Bat

The most important rule is simple: never touch a bat or any wild animal and never allow pets to interact with them. Even small or unnoticed bites can transmit rabies.

Other safety practices include:

Report and Test: If you find a bat in your home, especially near a sleeping person, child, or pet, carefully cover it with a box or container and call Animal Control immediately for collection and testing. Do not release it.
Seek medical advice immediately: If a bat cannot be tested or tests positive for rabies, consult a physician or Public Health right away. Rabies is preventable with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a series of timely vaccines.
Vaccinate your pets: Rabies is 100% fatal in animals once symptoms begin, but completely preventable through vaccination. This includes vaccinating indoor-only cats and older pets. Protecting your pets from rabies is one of the best ways to protect your whole family.
Recognize signs of illness in bats: Bats that are active during the day, on the ground, or unable to fly may be sick. Contact Animal Control immediately for assistance. For post-exposure guidance, reach out to Veterinary Public Health at 213-288-7060.
Know the risk: About 14% of bats that come into contact with people or pets in LA County test positive for rabies, rising to as high as 33% in late summer.
Residents can learn more about what to do if they encounter a bat by reviewing Public Health’s fact sheet: What To Do If You Find A Bat (PDF)

For more information, visit:

In people: initially fever, weakness, headache; progressing to tingling sensation, anxiety, agitation, abnormal behavior, hallucinations,  difficulty swallowing, coma, death

10/28/2025

If you are thinking about what to give the person who has everything this holiday season, please consider giving a gift "in honor of" to Heifer International.

This has been we veterinarians' charity of choice for as long as I can remember - at least 45 years.

We are unable to process your request. Please try again, or view common solutions on our help page. You can also contact our Donor Services team at 855.9HUNGER (855.948.6437).

10/20/2025

It's an extremely common misconception among many cat rescuers, in my experience, that feral colonies are NOT a rabies risk. I've almost given up trying to convince them over the decades.

PLEASE use caution when handling strays, and especially those in colonies.

An incident involving a rabid feral cat thought to have exposed numerous people to the deadly virus underscores the need to educate the public about health risks associated with feral cat colonies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

10/10/2025

We've been having frequent, brief internet outages for over a week now and it's been gradually getting worse. This has affected our phone system many times a day, so if you can't reach us, keep trying.

I called Spectrum again today and they say there is a local outage due to equipment and they are working on it. They have said it's NOT the modem. I sure hope it gets fixed. It makes the internet hard to use on my computer AND knocks out our internet phone system repeatedly.

09/26/2025

A recent nationwide study found that nearly 1 in 6 veterinary professionals reported thoughts of self-harm in the previous year, and more than 40% experienced serious distress. These numbers are more than statistics — they are a call to action.

This Su***de Prevention Month, let’s continue breaking the stigma, talking openly, and supporting one another in veterinary medicine. 🫶🏻

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Call or text the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for support.

09/26/2025

Yet another reminder about the very real dangers associated with improperly processed or unprocessed cat foods.

The discovery of pathogens in raw pet foods creates risks for both pets and their owners.

09/03/2025

September is Happy Cat Month. Make a needy cat happy by adopting!

Is a cat the right pet for you? Learn about selecting a pet cat for your family.

08/30/2025

We are closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day weekend. Enjoy your holiday time off and remember to play with the kitties.

08/29/2025

For Immediate Release: August 28, 2025

***Public Health Reporting an Increase in Flea-Borne Typhus Cases in Los Angeles County - People urged to take precautions to protect themselves and their pets***

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is urging people to take precautions following an increase of flea-borne typhus cases across the County. Earlier this year, Public Health investigated a localized outbreak of flea-borne typhus in Central Los Angeles and is currently investigating a second outbreak in the City of Santa Monica.

Flea-borne typhus cases have been rising in Los Angeles County since 2010. In 2024, a record 187 cases were identified. So far in 2025, 106 cases have already been reported, higher than this time last year. Public Health expects additional cases and clusters to appear in the coming months, as flea-borne typhus infections peak in late summer and fall.

“This ongoing increase in flea-borne typhus highlights the importance of taking preventive steps to reduce the risk of infection,” said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer.

What is Flea-Borne Typhus (Typhus)?

Typhus is an acute febrile illness caused by Rickettsia Typhi bacteria, which is spread by infected fleas. People can become infected when flea f***s are rubbed into cuts or scrapes on the skin or rubbed into the eyes.

In Los Angeles County, infected fleas are most commonly found on rats, free-roaming cats, and opossums. Pets such as dogs and cats that go outdoors can bring fleas into and around your home. Infected animals typically do not show signs of illness. Flea-borne typhus is not spread from person to person.

“Flea-borne typhus is serious, but preventable,” said Dr. Davis. “We urge people to take precautions by using flea control on their pets, avoiding contact with stray animals, and preventing wildlife from living in or next to their home or property. If you develop symptoms, such as fever, chills, or a rash, seek medical attention right away.”

How to Prevent Flea-Borne Typhus:

Public Health encourages people to follow these preventive steps to the risk of flea-borne typhus infections:

Keep fleas off you and your pets.
When outside, use EPA-registered insect repellent labeled for protection against fleas.
Routinely use flea control products on your pets.
Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Avoid attracting wild or stray animals.
Don’t leave pet food or water outside.
Don’t feed or touch stray or wild animals.
Keep your yard free of debris and overgrown plants.
Store trash in containers with tightly fitting lids.
Close off crawl spaces and seal any openings where animals could enter, hide, or find food and water.
Report stray animals or signs of rodents or opossums near your property to local animal control officials.

***For more information regarding flea-borne typhus, visit: ph.lacounty.gov/Typhus ***

Typhus.

05/10/2025

Excellent and timely article from CIDRaP @ UMinn.

University of Maryland scientists are calling for increased surveillance of avian flu in domestic cats after a global review of 20 years of published data reveals a dramatic uptick in feline infections—and the number of ways cats are being infected—after the emergence of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in o...

04/08/2025

Spectrum guy can't get the new cable pulled through by himself. He's going to replace the deteriorating outside portion, splice where it enters the building, and schedule a day for a team to come out to do the complex pull of an entire long cable.

Should have nice, fast internet and working phones in a few minute.

Update: So, we have phones again. And internet, though it's not fast, just functional. The cable pullers are coming Wednesday afternoon. And after that, we may very well still need a new router.