Category Archives: Cats
What the CDC says about Cats & Dogs & Ebola, Oh My!
Now that Ebola is in the U.S. (and for those of us in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, it’s in our community), there is an understandable concern about Ebola and your cat and dog. People want to know can pets catch Ebola from humans; can people catch Ebola from their pups and pusses.
While the information available suggests that the virus may be found in several kinds of animals, CDC, the US Department of Agriculture, and the American Veterinary Medical Association do not believe that pets are at significant risk for Ebola in the United States.
Which animals can become infected with Ebola?
CDC: Scientists believe that the first patient becomes infected through contact with an infected fruit bat or primate (apes and monkeys)…In some past Ebola outbreaks, primates were also affected by Ebola, and multiple spillover events occurred when people touched or ate infected primates. In the current West African epidemic, animals have not been found to be a factor in ongoing Ebola transmission.
Can cats and dogs become infected with Ebola?
CDC: At this time, there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or of being able to spread Ebola to people or other animals. Even in areas in Africa where Ebola is present, there have been no reports of dogs and cats becoming sick with Ebola. There is limited evidence that dogs become infected with Ebola virus, but there is no evidence that they develop disease.
Are cats and dogs in the U.S. at risk of becoming sick with Ebola?
CDC: The risk of an Ebola outbreak affecting multiple people in the United States is very low. Therefore, the risk to pets is also very low, as they would have to come into contact with blood and body fluids of a person with Ebola. Even in areas in Africa where Ebola is present, there have been no reports of dogs and cats becoming sick with Ebola.
Can humans get Ebola from cats or dogs?
CDC: At this time, there have been no reports of dogs or cats being infected with Ebola or of being able to transmit Ebola to people or other animals. The chances of a dog or cat being exposed to Ebola virus in the United States is very low as they would have to come into contact with blood and body fluids of a symptomatic person sick with Ebola.
Can a pet’s body, fur, or paws spread Ebola to a person?
CDC: We do not yet know whether or not a pet’s body, paws, or fur can pick up and spread Ebola to people or other animals. It is important to keep people and animals away from blood or body fluids of a person with symptoms of Ebola infection.
What about a pet living in the home of an Ebola patient?
CDC: The CDC recommends that public health officials in collaboration with a veterinarian evaluate the pet’s risk of exposure to the virus (close contact or exposure to blood or body fluids of an Ebola patient). Based on this evaluation as well as the specific situation, local and state human and animal health officials will determine how the pet should be handled.
Should I get my dog or cat tested for Ebola?
CDC: Currently, routine testing for Ebola is not available for pets.
What are the requirements for bringing pets or other animals into the United States from West Africa?
CDC: The CDC regulations require that dogs and cats imported into the United States be healthy. Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies before arrival into the United States. Monkeys and African rodents are not allowed to be imported as pets under any circumstances.
Each state and U.S. Territory has its own rules for pet ownership and importation, and these rules may be different from federal regulations. Airlines may have additional requirements.
How does Ebola spread?
CDC: When infection occurs in humans, the virus can be spread in several ways to others. Ebola is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth) with
- In Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats.
- Only a few species of mammals (for example, humans, monkeys, and apes) have shown the ability to become infected with and spread Ebola virus. There is no evidence that mosquitos or other insects can transmit Ebola virus.
Can monkeys spread Ebola?
CDC: Yes, monkeys are at risk for Ebola. Symptoms of Ebola infection in monkeys include fever, decreased appetite, and sudden death. Monkeys should not be allowed to have contact with anyone who may have Ebola. Healthy monkeys already living in the United States and without exposure to a person infected with Ebola are not at risk for spreading Ebola.
Can bats spread Ebola?
CDC: Fruit bats in Africa are considered to be a natural reservoir for Ebola. Bats in North America are not known to carry Ebola and so CDC considers the risk of an Ebola outbreak from bats occurring in the United States to be very low. However, bats are known to carry rabies and other diseases here in the United States. To reduce the risk of disease transmission, never attempt to touch a bat, living or dead.
Where can I learn more information about Ebola and pet dogs and cats?
CDC: The CDC is currently working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and many other partners to develop additional guidance for the U.S. pet population. Additional information and guidance will be posted on this website as well as partner websites as soon as it becomes available.
Russia’s Largest Mortgage Lender Offers the Gift of House (Cat) Ownership
Sberbank, the largest bank in Russia largest bank, is offering to a new benefit to its first 30 customers who take out home mortgages of over $116,000. According to Bloomberg Business Week Global Economics, not only are they lending money, their lending cats.
According to a Russian legend, If a cat walks through a new home before you move in you’ll get have good luck. The state-controlled bank set up a special website to publicize the puss promotion. “Order a cat for your housewarming, and bring happiness and luck to your home,” reads campaign web ad. Future homeowners can choose between 10 feline talismans: a mustached tuxedo named Caesar, Sonia a red lynx point, the Angora named Fedor, Caramel the calico, Toffee a Siamese, orange tabby Apricot, Kuzya a Peterbald, a gray and white named Knoop, the brown tabby Timothy and of course a Russian Blue named Smoke.There’s even a video on the that shows a couple of homeowners having their home blessed by the kitties.
The kitties are all actually family pets. Some of them belong to Sberbank employees. As soon as the bank announced the launch of the puss promotion in mid-August they began receiving requests for loaner cats. Ownership lasts for two hours, barely time to even set out a litter box. Cat recipients must agree to an 8-page contract.
Even if you don’t live in Russia or aren’t buying a home you can still have the benefit of a short term “tailisman” by contacting a rescue group or animal shelter in your area and offering to foster a cat. If a two-hour stroll fills a Russian home with luck, just think about good fortune in store if you save a life and give a kitty a safe place to stay for a couple of weeks.s
Winn Feline Foundation is Calling for Research Proposals
The Winn Feline Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization that funds research into health issues affecting cats.This is so important because feline health issues are the redheaded stepchild of the medical world. That’s why most cat meds were originally for human or canine patients. But as you and I know, cats are not little dogs and they aren’t people either. Physically and behaviorally they are complicated creatures. So cat specific-studies are necessary
Each year, Winn funds feline health studies through the generosity of their donors. Last year Winn funded nine studies including research on gastrointestinal disease associated with E. coli infection in kittens,feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), kidney disease, oral squamous cell cancer, feline calicivirus,and new drug treatments forTritrichomonas foetus.
In the past I have lost foster kitties to virulent E. coli, and my personal kitties to FIP, HCM, kidney disease. I hope they will soon fund studies on feline pancreatitis.
Maybe your vet is interested in pursuing a research grant. If he/she is, the deadline for receipt of applications is Monday, December 15, 2014 and awards will be announced in April, 2015. Here are a few Winn grant FAQs.
- The maximum grant amount is $25,000.
- Projects should have discrete and achievable goals within the $25,000 limit.
- Continuation of grants awarded in 2014 or earlier will be considered.
- Studies applicable to all cats are encouraged. The Winn Feline Foundation is also interested in projects that address issues in individual breeds, nutrition and behavior.
- Although we are interested in all areas of feline health, we have dedicated funds for research in feline infectious peritonitis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and lung cancer in cats.
- In addition to the aforementioned funds, current breed specific funding is available for Norwegian Forest Cat and Persian HCM studies and Birman heart disease studies in general.
- Applicants may be faculty veterinarians, post-doctoral fellows, practicing veterinarians or veterinary students.
For detailed instructions please review the Winn Foundation Grant Guidelines Document. All studies must abide by our Humane Guidelines. All studies must use our cover sheet for submission. A document and pdf version are provided.
The Winn Feline Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1968 that supports studies to improve cat health. Since 1968, the Winn Feline Foundation has funded more than $4.8 million in health research for cats at more than 30 partner institutions world-wide. For further information, go to www.winnfelinehealth.org.
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Shady the Fat Cat Goes on a Diet #HillsPet #giveaway
Four years ago Animal Allies of Texas (AAT) adopted out a feisty black girl kitten named Shadow. Adoption counselors did all the usual background checks and thought the lady would be a responsible adopter. A couple of months ago we got a call from the woman wanting to return Shady. The woman had violated the contract and declawed the kitty, and now her two male cats were picking on her, so of course, she had to give up the nice defenseless cat.
Since AAT suffers from a chronic lack of foster homes, I agreed to take Shady for a “couple of weeks”. No big deal.
When I met Shady, it was a way bigger deal than I thought. I felt like Sheriff Brody in the movie, Jaws. “We’re going to need a bigger carrier.” Shady looked like a Great White, except she was all black. Poor kitty tipped the scale at almost 20 pounds. There was enough fat on that cat to build two tabbies.
Apparently, like many of cat lovers, what the woman couldn’t give Shady in attention, she made up for in food. After all, humans equate food with love, and we certainly don’t want to skimp on love, do we? Shady’s woman had almost loved her to death.
Shady the Great Black certainly isn’t alone. According to the CDC, 69% of human adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Pets aren’t far behind. The Banfield Pet Hospital State of Pet Health 2012, in the US, 53% of dogs and 55% of cats are now overweight or obese. Over the last five years the number of overweight or obese cats has increased by a heartbreaking 90%.
Shady and I eyed each other. Who in their right mind would adopt a black cat big enough to have her own personal zip code? Where do we go from here? First step, the vet’s office where I heard “the weight lecture.”
The sad truth is, most pet parents don’t even realize they have obese or overweight cats. I confess I have a couple of plumpies myself. I do worry about the extra girth affecting their health. I’ve tried to help them lose weight and failed. Controlling portions or withholding treats is tough. No one wants to feel like they’re starving their cat– even when it’s to help them stay healthy. And who can resist those big green eyes? But I digress…
Shady is such a sweet girl. Despite her reputation as a victim, she gets along with our resident kitties and even the dog. The vet said she needed exercise, so I tried using the Rainbolt Test Kitties’ favorite feather toy to get her blood pumping. She stared at me as if I had lobsters crawling out of my ears. “Does this body look it should be exercising?” Shady refused to extend so much as a claw. There goes the vet’s exercise program. She reminds me of the cat in the
One Big Kitty video.
So what’s the trick behind this cat weight loss thing?
Since Shady’s not going to be burning calories except to convert oxygen to carbon dioxide, I had to come up with Plan B. Diet, oh no! A friend of mine mentioned that Hill’s was conducting a special program for overweight cats.
Hill’s says you can transform your pet’s weight simply by changing what you feed, not how you feed. Hill’s® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution . is clinically proven nutrition that naturally activates metabolism to burn fat and regulate appetite. They say pets feel full and satisfied and still lose weight. (Cool. Do they make a taco-flavored formula for humans?) They tell me the diet is safe, effective and fast, and I’ll see a leaner, more playful Shady in just 60 days. Alright Hill’s, you’re on.
How is Metabolic Different?
The program includes dry and canned food and even treats designed to work together. Yea, I still get to give her treats. Since I’m not cutting back on her portions, I’m more likely to stay on the program and be compliant with my vet’s recommendation.
On what do they based these claims?
314 pet parents just like you and me participated in an at-home feeding study using Hill’s® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution. Without strict protocols or precise measuring, 88% of pets lost weight within two months at home. 8 out of 10 pet parents said they’d recommend the program to a friend with an overweight pet. Hill’s even offers a 100% great taste guarantee.
Cat and Dog Giveaway Information & Instructions
But why should Shady and I have all the fun? Do you have a Great White of your own? Hill’s has offered ALL of my readers a free Feline Metabolic Starter Kit (a $70 value). Each kit contains:
• 1 Weight Loss Success Tote Bag
• 1 Weight Loss Success Guide
• 1 4lb bag of Metabolic dry cat food
• 2 (5.5oz) Metabolic cans
• 1 (2.5oz) Metabolic treats
• (2) $25 coupons
To receive a free Feline Metabolic Starter Kit fill out the form completely including your vet’s contact information. There’s also a kit canine kit, if you have a pudgy pooch. You don’t have to pay for a vet visit. Hill’s just needs to get your vet’s authorization to send the product.
I’ll be receiving my kit in a few days and will keep you posted about Shady’s Metabolic Adventure.
It’s full disclosure time. This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution, but as you know, Dusty Rainbolt’s Universe only shares information I feel will benefit my readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
February 25 is World Spay Day
Talk to your vet or humane organizations in your area about reduced cost spaying and neuter. Because we don’t want babies having babies. (Don’t you wish it was that easy with your teenager?)
January 30 is the Anniverary of Charles’s Execution
January 30 is the 365th anniversary of the death of England’s King Charles I. Unlike the United States, where people often fear black cats, the English have long held the belief that black cats are sources of good fortune. Winston Churchill even credited his wartime success on his ritual of petting every black cat he saw. His own black cat, Nelson, even attended cabinet meetings.
A few centuries earlier King Charles I had a black kitty ,(whose name has been lost to history) that he also dearly loved. He believed his cat would protect him from those who wanted to kill him. The king so feared losing his pet (and his life) that he placed a 24-hour guard around him. Eventually the cat fell ill and died. In December 1648, legend says the distraught king cried out, “Alas, my luck is gone.” Apparently he was right. The next day Oliver Cromwell’s troops arrested him. He was found guilty of treason. On January 30, 1649, Charles was beheaded.
Learn a lesson from Charles I. Always have a lucky black to cover your back.
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”
January 19 was the 205th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth, the American suspense author, poet and cat lover who is best remembered for The Black Cat and The Raven. Poe was born in 1809 and died in 1849 at the still young age of 40. He was laid to rest at Baltimore’s Westminster Hall and Burying Ground.
For seven decades in the early morning on the anniversary of Poe’s birth, a mysterious man (or maybe a father and son team) paid tribute to the author. Carrying a silver-tipped cane, the black-clad gentleman always wore a wide-brimmed hat and scarf to hide his face.
The Poe Toaster was first noticed in 1949 (in year of the 100th anniversary of the poet’s death). The night of January 19 the stranger entered the cemetery and raised a toast of Martell cognac to Poe. At the grave he left the unfinished bottle along with three red roses placed in a distinctive pattern. The Poe Society of Baltimore admits that some details have been kept private so they’ll recognize the real Toaster from the copycats.
A cryptic note left behind in 1993 stated, “The torch will be passed.” That apparently happened. A message left in 1999 announced that the original Toaster had died the previous year and a son had taken over the tradition. Watchers agreed that the Toaster appeared younger. A 2001 note ranted about the Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl chances, and a note in 2004 included a diatribe about France’s opposition to the Iraq war. Obviously not the same dignified old Toaster. The Toaster last appeared in January 2009.
At the time of Poe’s passing, newspapers attributed his death to “congestion of the brain” or “cerebral inflammation”. Today’s doctors speculate he could have succumbed to alcoholism, epilepsy, syphilis, cholera, rabies or even murder.
We have arrived at the end of an era. Hopefully the Toaster is now sharing Martell with Poe face-to-face. And in the poet’s own brilliant words, the Poe Toaster is “Quoth the Raven, “’Nevermore’.”