Crazy Cat Vet

20/09/2024

Feline Friday 📣 Neonatal isoerythrolysis 🐈
Depending on the parent cats’ genotypes (what genes they carry), a variable proportion of kittens from a mating may be blood 🩸 group A or group B. If two group B cats are mated together all the kittens will be type B (as both parents will be homozygous for the ‘b’ gene). Although blood group A cats are generally the most common, the frequency of type A and B cats varies between countries and between different breeds of cat.
Any antibodies present in the blood 🩸 of a queen will also be passed into her milk 🍼 and colostrum. During the first 24 hours of life, a kitten’s intestine is specially adapted to be able to absorb these antibodies to help protect the kitten😻 against diseases in the early weeks of life. This process is highly beneficial for the kitten, but it can sometimes cause problems with blood groups and blood incompatibilities. If the queen is of blood group B, she will have naturally-occurring anti-A antibodies. If she is mated to a type A tom cat, some of the resulting kittens will be type A and when they feed on the queen’s milk in the first 24 hours of life they will absorb the anti-A antibodies. The anti-A antibodies will then destroy the kitten’s red blood 🩸 cells just as if there had been an incompatible blood transfusion. This is a condition known as neonatal isoerythrolysis. This can be a significant cause of death in young kittens in certain breeds (especially those with high numbers of both type A and type B cats). This disease does not occur in type B kittens born to a type A queen, as type A cats have much lower levels of antibodies against the type B blood cells and often no antibodies at all. Once the kitten 🐈 has absorbed the antibodies it is very difficult to treat the problem.

13/09/2024

Feline Friday 📣 Upper Respiratory Infections in cats 🐈

Cat flu, or upper respiratory infection (URI) is a very common disease that can vary considerably in severity, and on occasions can even be life-threatening. In the majority of cases, disease results from infection with feline calicivirus (FCV) 🦠 or feline herpes virus (FHV-1). The incubation period following infection with FCV or FHV is usually just a few days (2-10 days). In some cats ❤️ the signs are very mild and transient, in others they may be very marked and severe. There are some differences in clinical presentation between the two viruses 🦠, but these are not sufficient to be able to distinguish them simply from clinical signs. Although FCV and FHV are viral infections, secondary infection with bacteria is common and can contribute to rhinitis (infection in the nose) conjunctivitis, and even lung infections. While most cats will recover from URIs, on occasions they can be life-threatening, and with severe infections the recovery may take several weeks. Some cats 🐈 may also be left with permanent damage within the nose and may have persistent or recurrent nasal discharge (so-called ‘chronic rhinitis’).
Diagnosis by your vet is usually based on the typical signs associated with URIs, and exclusion of other causes. It is possible to confirm a diagnosis and to investigate which virus(es) are involved, but this is often not necessary. Testing for FCV or FHV involves collecting a mouth or eye 👁️ swab which is then sent to a specialized veterinary laboratory. Here the virus can be identified through culturing or by a PCR test 🦠.

06/09/2024

Feline Friday 📣 Anemia in cats 🐈
Anemia is the term used to describe reduced numbers of red blood cells 🩸 in the circulation. Red blood 🩸 cells (RBC) are a special type of cell that contain hemoglobin – this is a special iron-containing molecule that efficiently binds oxygen. When animals become anemic, their ability to absorb oxygen from the air and deliver it to tissues in the body becomes very compromised and this can lead to many different problems, but is often manifested as weakness and lethargy. In severe cases, it will also cause an increased respiratory effort as the cat 🐈 tries to get more oxygen in the lungs to improve the level of oxygen in the circulation.
Anemia is confirmed by finding reduced RBC numbers (and reduced hemoglobin concentrations) in a blood sample collected from the cat 😻. Knowing whether the anemia is regenerative or not will help in narrowing down the likely underlying cause of the anemia.
A variety of treatments may be used depending on the specific underlying cause of the anemia, and these may include antibiotics for some infectious causes (such as Mycopalsma haemofelis), immunosuppressive drugs (such as corticosteroids) if there is immune-mediated destruction of RBCs, iron supplementation for iron deficiency anemia etc. The prognosis in cases of anemia 🩸 varies depending on the cause. Many may respond well to treatment, but in some cases (especially severe non-regenerative anemias caused by bone marrow disease) the long-term prognosis may be very guarded.

30/08/2024

Feline Friday 📣 Vaccinations 💉 🐈
Just as in humans, vaccination 💉can help to protect ❤️ your cat against several serious and/or life-threatening diseases. A vaccine is usually given by an injection under the skin, although sometimes may be given as drops into the nose. Vaccines 💉 provide protection against a specific infectious disease through stimulating an immune response that will protect the cat if it is subsequently exposed to the infection.
Vaccines can be divided into core vaccines and non-core vaccines 💉. The core vaccines are considered essential for all cats (including indoor-only cats) because of the widespread and/or severe nature of the diseases being protected against. Non-core vaccines are only given to cats if there is a genuine risk of exposure to the infection and if vaccination would provide good protection. Decisions regarding the requirement for non-core vaccines may be based on the cat’s age, lifestyle and contact with other cats. You should always discuss with your vet what vaccines your own cat may require.
All vaccines 💉 have to undergo rigorous safety and efficacy testing before they are licensed for use in cats by regulatory authorities. When used appropriately and as recommended they are both safe and provide crucial protection for cats against a number of diseases. Adverse effects from vaccines are very rare, especially in view of the millions of doses that are administered every year. The most common side effects are mild and include lethargy, inappetence or tenderness at the injection site, usually lasting no longer than a few days. More marked side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea, lameness, fever, signs of respiratory tract infection, or lumps at the site of injection. However, as with any other product, no vaccine can ever be entirely without side effects so it is important to carefully choose which vaccines are necessary for any individual cat 🐈 and to evaluate how frequently they should be given. You can discuss all these issues with your vet.

23/08/2024

Feline Friday 📣 Toxoplasmosis🐈

Out of all the zoonotic diseases which humans can get from cats, Toxoplasmosis is the most well-known one; however, there is a huge amount of misunderstanding about this disease and about the role in which the cat plays in causing human disease.
Toxoplasmosis is caused by infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Although cats are important in the life cycle and epidemiology of T gondii infections, human infections are often nothing to do with the cat itself and often result from ingestion of undercooked meat 🥩 containing the parasite. In humans 🧍🏽‍♀️ with a normally functioning immune system, clinical signs of toxoplasmosis are usually mild and may pass either undetected or just cause mild ‘flu’-like symptoms. Toxoplasmosis is most severe in certain ‘high risk’ groups of individuals whose immunity is impaired.
In cats 🐈, infection with T gondii is much more common in outdoor cats that are active hunters, and in cats that are fed undercooked or raw meat 🥩. In general, depending on their lifestyle, between 20-60% of cats will be infected with T gondii, but very few of these will ever show clinical signs. Cats are the definitive hosts, meaning they are the only animals in which replication of T gondii can result in the production of oocysts (eggs), which are then shed in the f***s. In most cases, people become infected via ingestion of oocysts from the environment (eg. contact with soil) or ingestion of meat 🥩 containing tissue cysts. Research indicates that contact with cats (or owning a cat) does not increase the risk of T gondii infection in humans.

16/08/2024

Feline Friday 📣 Obesity in cats 🐈 Did you know that an estimated 60% of cats are obese or overweight in developed countries? ‘Obese’ cats 🐈 are those that are at least 20% heavier than the optimal weight due to excessive fat accumulation. A cat is ‘overweight’ if it is 10-19% per cent heavier than the optimal weight. Ideally 😻, cats should be fed to maintain their optimal bodyweight. Long-term studies have shown that both obesity and excessive thinness shorten life expectancy. Weight gain occurs when cats have a ‘positive energy balance’ for an extended period of time, meaning they are taking in more calories than they are using. The excess energy is stored as fat. Neutered cats tend to gain weight more easily. Cats with decreased activity or restricted opportunities for exercise are at a greater risk of gaining weight than active cats.
It is dangerous for cats to lose weight too quickly because this predisposes them to the development of hepatic lipidosis, a potentially fatal liver disease. A gradual, steady decrease in bodyweight is ideal; it may take up to a year for a severely overweight cat to reach its ideal body condition. A veterinarian can make up a weight loss program that combines a suitable feeding and exercise plan 🏋️‍♀️ with careful monitoring. It is very hard to see weight loss in a cat 😻 that you are in close contact with on a daily basis. Regular visits to a veterinarian for weigh-ins will also ensure that weight loss is not too rapid.
Once a cat has reached its target weight, it may be preferable to feed a ‘light’ or low calorie food. Regular weight checks should be continued to ensure that the fat doesn’t start to come back on.

13/08/2024

Meet the breed: Cornish Rex 🐈 Do you know the Cornish Rex? Cornish Rex gives the impression of a very noble, elegant, intelligent and incredibly delicate creature, like a ballerina. All Cornish Rexes have the same forefather, a cat called Kallibunker, this first curly coated ancestor was born the 21st July 1950.
The Cornish Rex is a medium built cat 🐈, with a slim, yet muscular and strongly outlined silhouette. The difference between males and females is quite noticeable. Female Cornish Rex is elegant, showing a slim waist and looking like a delicate lady ❤️ and male Cornish Rex is more muscular and with a more powerful expression. Cornish Rex head is egg shaped, and its profile is straight with a flat forehead. The eyes are medium to large, and their expression is that of a very alert cat. This expression is also enhanced by the ears, which are very large and upright set. Cornish move lightly and elastic because of their long legs ❤️. Hind legs are longer than front legs, which make them jump very high. The most evident feature of Cornish Rex, compared to other breeds, is the short, wavy, plushy coat, resembling that of a lamb.
At first, Cornish Rex may keep distance from humans for few moments, but after a while they feel comfortable on someone’s shoulder or even head ❤️. Cornish Rex loves participating in all household activities. Cornish Rex is very social and usually loves having company of another active cat 🐈 .
Credit:

Sweetpurr's cattery https://www.instagram.com/luci_busi?igsh=MWkyb3F6d3QyeHY2aQ==
ReikiRex cattery
Kathorse cattery
Being piye https://www.instagram.com/being.piye?igsh=MXF4dGg2NGM1YW0zOA==

09/08/2024

Feline Friday 📣 Feline lymphoma 🐈. Lymphoma is the most common cancer that affects cats. This tumor affects white blood cells (lymphocytes) that are involved in immune responses and are widely distributed in the body. Common sites to be affected include the lymph nodes (distributed throughout the body), the chest cavity, the intestinal tract, the nose, the kidneys and the nervous system. Lymphoma in cats is often classified according to the site (tissues) that are affected – common terms used include:
• Alimentary lymphoma – affecting the stomach and/or intestines
• Mediastinal lymphoma – affecting lymphoid tissue in the chest cavity
• Multicentric or nodal lymphoma – affecting multiple lymph nodes and possibly other sites in the body
• Extranodal lymphoma – affecting the kidneys, nose, brain etc.
Clinical signs vary widely according to the tissues that are affected. Both infection with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus 🦠 (FIV) can be underlying or predisposing causes of some lymphoma development.
Various treatment options are available for lymphoma including surgery, chemotherapy 💉 and radiation therapy. The treatment choice will depend on the site and form of the tumor, and the availability of the treatment options. In many cats the response to therapy can be very good and long lasting. Although uncommon, some cases of lymphoma can go into remission and thus some cats 🐈 can effectively be ‘cured’. It is very difficult to predict which cats will respond well to therapy and usually the initial response to chemotherapy (how well the tumor responds in the first few weeks) is often the best predictor of long-term response.

09/08/2024

Happy international cat day to all the amazing cats😻😻😻

06/08/2024

Meet the breed: Turkish Angora 🐈 Have you ever seen a Turkish Angora cat? The Turkish Angoras are an ancient, natural breed of cat originating from central Anatolia, now Ankara province in Turkey. With a long, but well-muscled body, the Turkish Angora is the “ballerina” of the cat fancy ❤️. On their slender and graceful neck, they carry a wedge-shaped head, wide at the top, tapering slightly towards the chin. The ears are large, pointed and set high on the head and close to each other giving special feeling of the bread. Large, almond shaped eyes are vivid and expressive. Their coat is very silky and medium in length on the body and longer at the frill and tail.
Turkish Angoras are playful, intelligent, athletic and involved. They bond with humans, but often select a particular member of a family to be their constant companion, whom they are very protective of. They seek to be “helpful” in any way they can with their humans and their intelligence can be at times remarkable, showing basic problem-solving skills. Turkish Angoras are energetic, and often seek out “high ground” to observe activity of the home. Some ride on their owners’ shoulders ❤️. The W gene responsible for the white coat and blue eye can cause problems with deafness and all white cats are required to be tested before shows and breeding that they are able to hear.

02/08/2024

Feline Friday 📣 Blood Groups 🩸 in cats 🐈. Do you know that cats have different blood groups🩸? Just as in humans, cats have different blood groups. These are important as the blood groups determine the compatibility of blood. There are three major feline 😻 blood groups: A, B and AB (C). Group A is the most common, but group B is quite common in certain pedigree breeds such as British Shorthairs and Devon Rexes. Group AB appears to be rare in all breeds. How do you find out what blood group your cat is? A cat’s blood group is determined genetically or by testing the blood itself with a special test. A single pair of genes are generally responsible for determining the blood group and the gene for group A is dominant to the gene for group B. The blood group AB is inherited independently.
Blood 🩸group B cats all have naturally occurring high levels of anti-A antibodies in their blood. Antibodies are part of the immune system and this means that if a type B cat were to receive blood from a type A donor, this could cause a severe and even fatal reaction because the immune system would recognize the type A blood as ‘foreign’ and attack it. Some group A cats also have naturally-occurring anti-B antibodies, meaning that they too may develop severe reactions if given incompatible blood transfusion.

26/07/2024

Feline Friday 📣 Upper Respiratory Tract Disease in cats. Do you know that upper respiratory tract (URT) disease (nasal discharge/sneezing) is a relatively common problem in cats? 🐈. The syndrome refers to chronic disease affecting the nose or the nasopharynx (the air passage immediately behind the nose). One of the most common forms is termed chronic rhinitis (inflammation in the nose). What can cause URT disease in cats? 🐈 Unfortunately, in many cats the cause is not found and we call this idiopathic rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal cavity), some of these cats may have allergies. Viral or bacterial infections 🦠 (eg. feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, or mycoplasma) can often cause URT signs in young cats especially. Other infection that we can see is a fungal infection (eg. cryptococcosis or aspergillosis) and these are more common in some locations. Cancer (eg. lymphomaor carcinoma) unfortunately can be seen in cats as well. Polyps can grow in the nasal (oropharynx) cavity too and these are common mainly in young cats. Some cats can have a foreign body (eg. grass) in their nose and in some cats, signs can be caused by a dental disease (eg. abscess development). Most of the times, investigation will require bloodwork and, in many cases, cats 🐈 need endoscopy (rhinoscopy) which uses a small endoscope placed through the opening of the nose to visualize some of the structures in the nose. Biopsy is also very helpful – small biopsies can be collected from tissues within the nose to be examined histologically by a pathologist, and also for culture to see what organisms 🦠 may be present. Collecting biopsies will cause a small amount of bleeding, but usually this is very minor. Treatment of chronic URT disease will depend on the underlying cause. Some diseases will be curable 😻, some manageable (to control clinical signs).

22/07/2024

😍😍😍

🔥Hot from the press! 🔥ABCD's Katrin Hartmann's team (including Regina Hofmann-Lehmann and this year's Young Scientist Awardee Katharina Zwicklbauer) just published proof that a 6-week treatment of FIP cats with oral GS-441524 is equally effective as the 12-week protocol. Great news for cats and cat owners alike!
😻😻😻
Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.3390/v16071144
For our free tool to help diagnose FIP, factsheet and comprehensive guideline on FIP, check out the ABCD website www.abcdcatsvets.org

22/07/2024

Very exciting news... 6 week therapy with GS antiviral seems to be effective for cats with effusive FIP 🤩🥳😍

19/07/2024

Feline Friday 📣 Feline idiopathic cystitis. Do you know that many cats 🐈 can suffer from a disease called ‘feline idiopathic cystitis‘ or FIC? This form of disease appears to share many similarities to a disease in humans called ‘interstitial cystitis’, but in both cats and humans, it can be difficult to manage. FIC is thought to account for around ⅔ of all cases of feline lower urinary tract diseases 🐈‍⬛.
In cats with FIC, analysis of a urine sample may show the presence of blood 🩸 and inflammatory cells, but there is no identifiable underlying cause (eg, bladder stones or infection) to explain these changes.

What causes FIC? By definition, FIC is a disease of unknown cause. However, a number of abnormalities appear to be common in cats with FIC and may contribute to the disease such as defective bladder lining, neurogenic inflammation, stress and abnormal stress responses.
It is important to try to identify and modify or avoid any specific stress triggers in the environment – this could be another pet in the house, abrupt changes in diet, overcrowding, owner stress, or changes in the house (eg. to the people 🙎🏻‍♂️). The single most common cause of stress in cases of FIC is probably conflict with another cat🐈 in the household. Where possible, if specific stress triggers are identified, they should be minimized or avoided ❤️.

17/07/2024

We are very grateful for all the sponsors of the Online Cat breeder conference as it would not be possible without them. 😻

17/07/2024

This surreal moment when everything you ever wanted and worked your ass off for comes true 😻❤️ I can soon (after submitting remaining paperwork 🤣) call myself ACVIM diplomate in small animal internal medicine 😻❤️🥳 Thank you for everyone who believed in me ❤️❤️❤️

15/07/2024

I couldn’t be more excited for becoming MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats) 😻😻😻 this qualification means so much to me because it is one of the few feline medicine qualifications a veterinarian can achieve. Thank you all for your support and believing in me 🥳🥳🥳

12/07/2024

The Online Cat Breeder Conference is happening tomorrow so remember to register if you have not already. Many great speakers and lectures. ALL LECTURES WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE ON DEMAND. Join us to learn so much about cats and cat breeding. Register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/61589cfa-604f-4829-b66e-b164b47a6538/summary?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3OF9oSCyZ5QDyrqzc3viCCWIhKQVkgjRIL3Air5o14l0ocJGfLaIy3YpI_aem_pjEuE-UWZJOSBdnoY7WkEA

12/07/2024

Feline Friday 🔔: Do you know that cats can develop asthma?
Asthma is a disease of the lower airways (lungs) 🫁 and is most commonly caused by the cat 🐈 inhaling an allergen.
Immune cells trigger the production of substances that promote inflammation, a condition that results in irritation, swelling, and reactive constriction of the airways. The average age of cats diagnosed with asthma is between 4 and 5 years and Siamese cats may be predisposed. 🐈
When it comes to diagnosing feline asthma, diagnostic imaging such as x-rays is often required. Bronchoscopy is a technique in which a flexible camera (a bronchoscope) is passed down into the airways of the lungs but this requires a general anesthesia. When diagnosing feline asthma, it’s crucial to rule out other conditions that can cause similar signs and give similar test results.
To treat feline asthma, commonly, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in the lungs are prescribed. These could be either oral or inhaled. There are several steps involved in training your cat to use an inhaler and this should be done slowly and with lot of positive reinforcement 😻 (eg. by using treats). Environmental modifications (eg. removing dust and air scents) is also very important.

10/07/2024

Cannot wait to see everyone this Saturday at the Online Cat Breeder Conference. Only few days left so remember to register if you have not already. Many great speakers and lectures. ALL LECTURES WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE ON DEMAND. Join us to learn so much about cats and cat breeding. Register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/61589cfa-604f-4829-b66e-b164b47a6538/summary?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR13Xcdt7fpo7dWbwJ32gfjc-4Aa5HaFAVw2JFZ-V7qGcuZ2GtomUzW4jrw_aem_RUEVQGVRHHlOk2baF23w2Q

05/07/2024

Feline Friday 📣 Diabetes mellitus. Do you know that cats 🐈 can develop diabetes mellitus? In diabetic cats, the body cannot properly produce or respond to the hormone insulin resulting in elevated levels of the sugar glucose in the blood. Cats 🐈 most have type II diabetes which means their glucose levels are high because cells in the body do not respond appropriately to insulin.
The most common signs of diabetes noticed at home are weight loss despite a good appetite and increased thirst 💧and urination. In rare cases, cats may develop “plantigrade” stance of the hind limbs (walking or standing with their hocks on or close to the ground).
Diagnosis is made based on clinical signs at home, a high blood 🩸sugar level, and sugar in the urine. Fructosamine test, which is a blood test that measures the sugar levels for the previous two weeks, may also be used.
Injectable insulin 💉 is a mainstay of treatment for feline diabetes. New treatment option are oral medications, SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitors, that lower the concentration of glucose in the blood by increasing the amount excreted through the kidneys.
The prognosis for a good quality of life is good with adequate management at home. With early treatment, cats can enter a state of diabetic remission, meaning they are able to maintain normal blood sugar levels without insulin injections.
Monitoring a diabetic cat at home requires careful attention to a few things. Caregivers should monitor daily water 💧 intake, urine production, appetite, body weight, amount of insulin 💉 administered, and possibly blood or urine glucose levels. Monitoring is best coordinated in close collaboration with your veterinarian to achieve optimal control over your cat’s diabetes.

04/07/2024

Very exciting news to share. Sleepypod is giving 2 sleepy pod carries for the raffle and Wisdom Panel™ and MyCatDNA™ have given 10 DNA tests for the participants of the Online Cat Breeder Conference and we will be having a raffle each day so don’t wait to register any longer to win a free prizes for your cats. Also, all conference participants will receive 35% discount for sleepy pod and for Wisdom Panel™ and MyCatDNA™.

02/07/2024

Less than 2 weeks to the Online Cat Breeder Conference so remember to register if you have not already. Many great speakers and lectures. ALL LECTURES WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE ON DEMAND. Join us to learn so much about cat breeding: https://web.cvent.com/event/61589cfa-604f-4829-b66e-b164b47a6538/summary

20/03/2022

Amazing results of our cats at the TICA show in Brighton, CO this weekend 😻😻😻 so proud 😻😻😻