Hairless Nakids & Miamur Cats

02/12/2024

Happy Monday from Chonky Mouse Myshka, and Fullumptous Flo Flo

Whilst Myshkas weight (a tender 4.8kg) is not healthy, which we are aware off...she has been this weight since she was pregnant.

What does she eat you ask? Raw. How much of it? A lot less than you think!

So why? Who knows...however, she has lost 200g since being on her new diet.
You see, for some raw works wonders...between 4 of my mums (moggy and 3 nakids) and 4 of mine...only two struggle to lose the weight with raw. Both Flora and Myshka have 40g of raw twice per day and still managed to gain weight vs 120g per day (plus 30g of oral biccies daily before bed) for the others.

So what's their diet? We've gone back to Hills Weight Management. This is not a direction of the vet...this is because previously, this particular food workes for us. And why? It's one of the few foods that contains L Carnatine which helps to transition fats.
I've never been an advocate for raw or for commercial - I've always been an advocate of "pick the food that works with the cat". Why? Raw isn't for everyone...as is commercial isn't for everyone. There are risks with both - we've lived through them, so it's always important to understand those risks.
And risks aside, some...like my two girls...simply will continue to gain.

So for now...both Flora (who went down to 3.2kg and then back up to 5.1kg) and Myshka (who is supposed to be 3.2kg as well) are on a strict diet. They have 30g of raw and 10g of Hills Weight Management twice per day, and another 5-10g of Hills at night.

25/11/2024

Happy Monday from the window perch hoggers

24/11/2024

This is how much Phoenix loves his Flora 💕

23/11/2024

Just a usual Saturday night...with my fantastic four

13/10/2024

And then...there was just one! Blossom is staying here with us... ❤️

25/09/2024

Love ❤️

No...Phoenix isn't protecting Flora because she got told off...he is just protectively loving her.

Flora...is our mediator. When Phoenix came, Myshka was not pleased about it - someone else to snuggle with mumma.
You see...Flora sleeps under the duvet with me, at my legs, which gives myshka my whole face to kiss at night and in the morning. And so, feeling left out and kicked out by one, Phoenix and Flora very quickly formed a bond.

Flora accepts anyone and everyone, that's just her nature. She knows, one extra mouth to feed doesn't mean she will eat less...it means more food for her to steal 😆 at least that's my theory.
But whatever the reason, she is my little love 💕 they all are.

Myshka in time, learnt to accept Phoenix. She learnt that I can cuddle all of them, at the same time. And although he sleeps on my face (literally)...he sits and waits for Myshka to give me kisses, before climbing up to suffocate me.

Phoenix is a very gentle soul...despite his crazy antics that bring me closer and closer to a heart attack. Even during play time with his favourite teaser (he loves it more than treats and food!), he knows he has to let others play too...and so they all learnt to take turns jumping and leaping and chasing it. This is how we function here - learning and accepting one another, with patience.

21/09/2024

Apple didn't fall far from the tree...exactly like her father.

21/09/2024

As the weather is turning...everyone enjoyed a bit of catio time today 🌞

17/09/2024

Good night from these bed hoggers

17/09/2024

We finally have a name!!

Officially, introducing...Daddy's favourite, Blossom...Miamur Be Still My Heart

09/09/2024

Playtime with mummy...This is not in slow motion, she's just being very gentle with the babies

08/09/2024

Sunday Special!

Featuring...Care Bears!!

04/09/2024

No, we are not missing. Or in hiding. And everything is OK.
We (all of us) had to move to my mums...initially it was only going to be for 2 weeks, whilst she's away. Why?

Well...with three nakids there (Luna, Skye and Charlie) and a senior...plus Kai, there were meds to give. Usually, she would put them in a cat hotel but this time...we decided against it because they are more comfortable at home. And driving there and back, 25 miles each way was not going to work. So we packed light.

Phoenix and Flora have integrated well, but they are familiar with the nakid crew at mums.
Phoenix is used to coming with me. And Flora...well, let's just say that she's on a Nakid Cloud Nine.
Myshka and babies, are being kept separate - after all, mummies with babies do go into fight or flight mode. So, to avoid all unnecessary scraps, they were designated to their own domains. Babies and Myshka get a separate run around time, with daddy and aunty Flora joining in on all the fun.

We haven't been lazy with pictures...just not enough hours in the day on most days with having added works at the house to be done. By which I mean...it's no fun having had a chronic back ache. Mum had a spinal surgery few years ago, but her back has been playing up quite bad. The house needed decorating...and whilst she was away...I got to work, and got to cover myself in paint!

But for now...some pictures.

20/08/2024

In light of what’s happened a few years back, and FSA (UK) still running surveillance on raw pet food (cats and dogs), particularly where pathogens are concerned…this went live yesterday and thanks to Grace who shared this with me, I would like to share it with you all also.

I would also like to add…that whilst this is 18 cases, it may just be a start of another wildfire… or it may just be few isolated cases.
To those who have lost their beloved ones to this, my heart goes out to you. There really isn’t a set curative treatment for it.

Raw, whilst supposed to mimic nature, is always risky. But so is commercially prepared cooked. It’s always about weighing out the risks, pros and cons.
We do make our own here…and even then, there are still risks to high pathogens. And whilst you can’t remove them all, you can minimise them.

The specialist veterinary team at Edinburgh University are warning vets about an outbreak of TB in raw fed cats.

Although so far only 11 cases have been confirmed, TB is not a condition many vets will think about because it is so unusual, the symptoms are vague and can mimic other conditions and the testing needed for a diagnosis is very specific.

It is also extremely serious, sadly 8 of the infected cats have already been euthanased and it can make humans very ill as well. Which is why it is important that the word is spread.

All the cats so far diagnosed were fed the same raw diet. They were mainly indoor cats and did not drink raw milk, so had no other risk factors that might have caused the disease.

The company impacted is aware but has not yet been named and the vets are at pains to point out that they appear to have followed all the regulatory requirements and that this is simply an inherent risk (albeit thankfully a low one) of raw feeding.

As yet, as far as I am aware, a recall hasn't been issued.

Infected cats have presented with weight loss, coughing (a real concern as this could increase the ability of the disease to spread, particularly to people), abdominal abnormalities and were often very poorly by the time a diagnosis is made. Their blood tests generally only show non-specific changes like a mild anaemia.

Although TB in cats can present with skin lesions, this strain (similar to the last time this happened) appears to mainly cause respiratory signs and abnormalities may well be seen on chest x-rays.

If a lung wash is performed the bacteria might be identified but any vets doing one on a suspicious case must take care to wear PPE to protect themselves.

If you are concerned you might have a case, the team at Edinburgh, which includes Danielle Gunn-Moore and Conor O'Halloran, are very happy to help and advise you.

They have this webpage which is great; https://www.ed.ac.uk/vet/services/small-animals/vet-professional/specialist-services/feline/mycobacteria and advice on suspected cases from this outbreak will be given free of charge.

You can also contact Conor directly on [email protected]

And don't forget that TB is a notifiable disease, so the APHA must be contacted, and they are also a good source of support.

If you are a cat owner who raw feeds and you are worried, the best people to speak to for information and, hopefully, reassurance are your veterinary team and the company who produces the meals you feed.

It is also worth noting the difference between this problem, with a specific subset of infected animals, similar symptoms, a definitive diagnosis, a common diet and specialist vets at the forefront of raising the alert… and the the issues claimed with Purina pet food at the start of this year, which had none of these typical hallmarks of a genuine food related illness outbreak.

For more information about TB in cats, this article from the Edinburgh team, written in 2019, is very helpful; https://www.ed.ac.uk/vet/services/small-animals/information-about-cat-tb **But do note the company mentioned in it is in relation to the outbreak at the time, not this one**

Link to this report; https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/tuberculosis-in-young-raw-fed-cats-in-the-uk

*Letter pictured published with the permission of the Vet Record and the authors.

12/08/2024

Miamur (pedigree name pending…undecided) aka Blossom aka Spitfire aka Terror aka CrazyBeans

11/08/2024

Miamur Blessed With Love aka Viola aka Sweetie Pie

8 weeks old

Reserved

11/08/2024

Miamur Bring Me Joy aka Benji Buttons aka Buttons aka Benji

8 weeks old

Reserved

09/08/2024

Happy Friday all and everyone!

Daddy Phoenix is being amazing at entertaining the babies whilst Myshka is recovering.
She doesn’t much like wearing suits, and is allowed few hours per day to be without them…but being paranoid over stitches (which will be removed next week), I rather to be safe.