Lakeside Cattery

09/08/2024

11/01/2024

We love our pets, and we want to see them healthy and happy. There are a few things that you can do to help keep your pet healthy, and they might be easier than you think. You might have to plan a little differently or ask for help where necessary, but ultimately, it is your […]

25/12/2023

🎄✨ Wishing our beloved Lakeside Cattery family a purr-fectly delightful Christmas! Thank you for choosing Lakeside Cattery to be part of your cats' lives. Here's to a holiday season filled with playful antics and contented purrs! 🎁🐱💖 🎄✨

18/07/2023

This pretty young female kitten is looking for a home.
More or less 12 weeks old
Please contact the clinic for details 0126676542
Centurion.

23/06/2023

Isolate your new cat in a separate room with food, water, a litter box, bedding, and toys. This setup will help your new addition get used to the sounds and smells of your home. Learn more about introducing a new cat or kitten at https://bit.ly/3PJf432.

09/06/2023

Patience is critical when you bring a new cat home. Take your time to introduce a new cat to other pets and family members, and all will benefit. Learn more about introducing a new cat or kitten at https://bit.ly/3CZJV4y.

07/06/2023

As Adopt-a-Cat Month continues, remember the three Ps of adoption—patience, planning, and preparation. Follow these steps to improve the success of adoption and bond with your new cat. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3CZJV4y.

04/06/2023

Today is National Hug Your Cat Day. We’ve put together some tips on how to show your feline friend affection in a way so you both benefit from the experience. Check them out at https://bit.ly/2YCHtC6.

02/06/2023

Adopting a cat or a kitten is a big decision. It is essential to consider how an adopted cat or kitten will fit in your household. Learn more about making the commitment at https://bit.ly/3wHgHHb.

29/05/2023

Let your child care for your cat by giving age-appropriate tasks such as feeding. Let your child know what they are doing and why it is important. Learn to teach your child to safely interact with cats at https://bit.ly/3heXpPS.

27/05/2023

Proper nutrition is essential to your cat’s health and wellbeing. In this special “JFMS” virtual issue, Co-Editor Dr. Margie Scherk has selected articles published since 2014 on feline nutrition and conditions with a known or suspected nutritional component. Check out the collection at https://bit.ly/3NuF8k0.

21/05/2023

Veterinarians are trained to recognize pain in cats. Did you know a cat’s facial expressions are one method of evaluating pain? Learn more about cat pain signs at http://bit.ly/2QpCBY5.

14/05/2023

🐾🧡💛🧡🐾

29/04/2023

Today is Hairball Prevention Day. Frequent hairballs are not normal and may result from excessive grooming (which could be a sign of anxiety, skin disease or discomfort, or parasites) or abnormal movement through the digestive tract. Contact your veterinarian if you see frequent hairballs. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3NqUUtL.

27/04/2023

Have you ever had to give subcutaneous fluids to your cat? In this video, Dr. Margie Scherk demonstrates how to set up the intravenous bag, needle preparation, and proper cat handling to provide the fluids. Watch the video at https://bit.ly/3IBFcIk.

23/04/2023

INVITATION TO A FACULTY INFORMATION SESSION (OPEN DAY) ON 5 MAY 2023

All Grade 9 - 12 learners are invited to an in-person Faculty Information Session (Open Day) at the Faculty of Veterinary Science's Onderstepoort Campus on Friday, 5 May 2023.

The Open Day is divided into four information sessions with different starting time slots of which the first will take place from 09:00 to 11:30, with the second following just after that until 14:00, both in the Faculty's Multidisciplinary Lab (Lesedi Complex).

The third (14:00 to 16:30) and fourth sessions (13:00 to 15:30) will be presented in lecture halls 1-35 and 1-36 (Arnold Theiler Building) respectively.

To REGISTER and for the programme please click on the link below: https://bit.ly/3AhvKbt

The content of all four sessions will be the same and, among other things, will cover the selection criteria for prospective BVSc and BVetNurs students and career opportunities for veterinarians and veterinary nurses while time was also allocated for an optional campus tour. It also includes a presentation by Junior Tukkie.

The event is hosted in association with Junior Tukkie and Hill's 🆚

07/04/2023

Wishing all our clients a happy and blessed Easter weekend! 🌿 Here are some tips to keep your pets safe and healthy.

26/02/2023

Products Archive - TailMe - Keeping a tail on your pets.

23/02/2023

Get your coupon now

17/02/2023

Once a cat has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a few things need to happen. […]

09/01/2023

❌❌ DO NOT USE DOG PRODUCTS ON CATS!! ❌❌
Permethrin poisoning is still one of the most common poisonings of cats worldwide and it can be life-threatening. Even worse is the fact that loving owners can accidentally poison their cats by using dog flea spot-on products containing permethrin because they do not recognise the dangers.

What is permethrin?
Permethrin is a pyrethroid, a synthetic pyrethrin. Pyrethrins are naturally occurring insecticides extracted from the flowers of Chrysanthemum Cinerariaefolium. Permethrin is used in some flea spot-on products made for dogs, and occasionally (in lower doses) in flea powders and collars for cats. Unfortunately, exposure to concentrated permethrin (as in some dog spot-ons) can result in serious illness and even death in cats.

Why is permethrin toxic to cats but not dogs?
We often use the phrase ‘cats are not small dogs’ and this is certainly true when it comes to the way cats break down certain chemicals and drugs in their bodies. The cat liver lacks certain proteins (enzymes) that break down some chemicals into harmless forms, meaning that the chemical can accumulate in the cat’s body and cause serious illness. This difference in drug metabolism is why we must never assume that a drug or product which is safe for dogs will be safe to use for cats.

How are cats poisoned by permethrin?
The most common way cats are poisoned is when owners use a dog flea product on their cat in error. They perhaps assume that the dog product is simply a higher volume of the chemical and that if they apply a small amount to the cat, that will be fine. Unfortunately, this is not the case and cats can become very unwell even after tiny doses of permethrin. The other way cats are exposed to permethrin is by coming into contact with a dog which has recently been treated with a spot-on containing permethrin. The permethrin will stay on the dog’s skin and coat for some time and when a cat grooms or even rubs against the dog, or simply sits on the same furniture, it can be poisoned.

What signs do affected cats show after contact with permethrin?
The signs of permethrin toxicity are very unpleasant. The chemical affects the cat’s nervous system causing tremors/shaking, twitching, oversensitivity to touch and sound, walking as though drunk and, in severe cases, seizures or fits. Less commonly, cats may have trouble breathing and may even become blind.

How are affected cats treated?
If you think you may have applied a flea product containing permethrin you need to contact your vet IMMEDIATELY. The same applies if you think your cat has been in contact with a treated dog.
The vet will initially try and prevent the cats from absorbing more permethrin through its skin by washing the cat with dilute washing up liquid. Further treatment depends on how badly affected the cat is, but medication often needs to be given to stop the tremors or fits. Cats often have to remain in the veterinary clinic for several days. In very severe cases the cat has to be given an anaesthetic to stop the fits and a tube put into its throat to help it breathe.

What is the prognosis for cats with permethrin poisoning?
Thankfully, the majority of cats, if treated promptly by their vet, will make a full recovery. More severely affected cats, especially those suffering from fits that are hard to control, have a poorer prognosis and sadly may die or are put to sleep.

How can we prevent cats suffering from permethrin poisoning?
Permethrin poisoning is a very distressing condition and completely preventable.
• Make sure you buy flea treatment solely designed for cats – it can be easy to pick up the wrong pack when dog and cat treatments are displayed side by side in shops
• Be very careful if shopping online. Many product descriptions do not include the active ingredients and any warnings may not be noticed in the small picture
• Always read the instructions carefully and take note of any warnings
• NEVER USE A DOG PRODUCT ON A CAT
• If you have dogs and cats in your home, choose a treatment for the dog which does not contain permethrin
• If dogs are treated with flea products containing permethrin then they should be kept away from cats for 72 hours.
• If you have any concerns about any medication, always contact your vet for advice.