If in doubt: go to the vet!
Other groups such as news:rec.pets.cats.health+behav or news:sci.med.veterinary are probably best to deal with in depth issues. Feel free to ask questions though, someone might know.
The Cat Fanciers web page also has a lot of cat information on it, including lots of articles about cat health and behavior. It is well worth a look, but remeber, no web page or e-mail to a vet can substitute for the diagnosis of vet that has physically examined your cat in Real Life.
The Cat Fancier's web page can be found at:
http://www.fanciers.com/
Fleas are bad things. Not only do they make your cat, and possibly you, itchy, they can carry tapeworm and other blood-borne diseases. Some cats are also allergic to fleas and can develop skin problems. A flea-free cat is a happy cat
Apparently, some people swear that giving their cat garlic tablets decreases flea numbers. Other people say that giving the cat yeast helps with fleas. If you object to using chemicals on your cat, then the only options you have are these, the flea comb, the basic soap & water bath and a very rigorous routine of vacuuming and disposing of the contents immediately somewhere outside your home.
Flea collars, flea powders, flea baths & even the stuff you stick in their food can be of some success. However, as an allergic person, I would not recommend any of these as I become instantly violently allergic to my cat because I am allergic to the flea-control sunbstances that are all over him. You also don't quite know what you are buying when buying in apet shop or supermarket, and some people have reported bad reactions to these "over the counter" products.
There are products, however, that can be prescribed by the vet that are known to be very effective against fleas and even some other parasites such as ear-mites. The vet can advise you on how to correctly apply the treatment and what side effects to look out for. As an allergic person, Ihave found these "to the back of the neck" products the least problematic of all flea treatments, and kills a heavy infestation within a day.
You may also want to read a FAQ on Fleas and Ticks:
http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/fleas-ticks.html
Although cats are primarily carnivores, they occasionally snack on vegetable matter, such as grass.
Cats also have a predilection for some strange "human" foodstuffs, such as olives, cantaloupe, cornchips etc. These sorts of foodstuffs will probably not do your cat any great harm if given as treats and not as a substitute for quality cat food.
However, there are a few foods that you should not give your cat:
:Most cats are lactose intolerant, and giving the lactose-intolerant cat dairy products will result in an upset tummy and diarrhea. While a small amount may not harm kitty, a great bowl of normal milk every day is not good for the cat, despite how much kitty clearly enjoys it. There are specially treated milk for pets that have had their lactose significantly lowered, and these special milks are probably better for the cat with a milk addiction. Cleaning out the last drops in the your breakfast bowl may be OK, but you should keep an eye on kitty's stools to see if the cat has been affected or not.
10.2.2 Chocolate, Cocoa & Coffee
Chocolate, Cocoa & Coffee contain either caffeine or a substance very similar to caffeine. Cats (and most other domestic pets for that matter) don't have the sophisticated liver & kidney system to deal with digesting these substances and repeated exposure may cause damage to these organs. If kitty really does love chocolate, get her some chocolate treats specifically for pets. Don't feed kitty human chocolate.
Despite many cats loving bolognaise sauce, the onions may cause kitty to become aneamic. Onions don't go well with cats (or dogs) and cause severe blood problems.
Sometimes kitty just gets a taste for something "odd". Use caution and don't over-feed kitty the human food. Check with your vet to see if the strange food kitty has a passion for is likely to cause any problems.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a perennial herb in the mint family that is easy to grow from seed in most climates. Its effects on cats have been likened to the effect of marijuana in humans - euphoria and consequent "silly" behaviour. It is safe for a cat to eat and it is not addictive. It can be used fresh or dried, and can even be made into a herbal tea (for humans) that is said to be calming and restorative (although I can't imagine how it could possibly be calming with a frantic cat trying to get into my cup!)
However, not all cats react to catnip, just like most other things, the reaction is a genetic one and not all cats have the gene that makes catnip attractive to them. Don't fret if your cat isn't bothered by it, but if you cat is a "nip-head" then you'd better hide that 'nip in a very cat proof place.
Antifreeze or ethylene glycol (EG) is a commonly available coolant for most water cooled engines. The availability of the product is slightly seasonal in colder climates. However, EG is used year round as an antifreeze and summer coolant. Unfortunately, the chemical is very toxic and lethal in small amounts to all animals. Dogs and cats are probably more susceptible because of their inherent nature to taste everything. In particular dogs seem quite willing to try anything if smells or tastes reasonable. EG is somewhat sweet to the taste. Newer coolants are now available that eliminate the desirable taste but, EG is the predominant coolant on the market.
EG is readily absorbed by the gastrointestinal system. Doses of less than 1ml per kg. in the cat and 4-5ml per kg. in the dog are fatal if not promptly treated. The drug itself is not toxic but, the metabolites of EG cause tremendous changes in acid-base balance and produce direct toxic effects to the kidneys. In addition, EG metabolic byproducts cause, metabolic acidosis, respiratory depression and upset glucose metabolism.
By the time most animals are presented with signs of EG toxicity it is often too late to effectively intervene. The prognosis is hourly dependent on the interval between ingestion and treatment. Most dogs will recover if presented in the first 8 hours and within 4 hour for cats. Early signs include vomiting in the first few hours with in coordination problems. These signs may actually decrease significantly after 12 hours but, by then the outcome is almost always certain and death will follow in 2- 3 days. After one day, most dogs will begin to show severe signs of dehydration from vomiting and increased urination. Signs in the final 48-72 hours are mostly neurological including, incoordination, depression, coma and death.
Therapy for EG poisoning is only effective if employed quickly, ideally upon ingestion but no later than 24 hours. Early diagnosis is critical for effective therapy and involves measuring serum osmolality which is greatly increased in EG toxicity or by employing a commercial test for serum EG. If consumption of EG ocurred within 6 hours, induced vomiting, stomach pumping and stomach installation of charcoal adsorbants can be effective. However, prevention of absorption of EG is best done within the first two hours post ingestion. After EG absorption, stopping metabolism of the drug involves preventing the action of the liver enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Traditionally, intravenous administration of 20% ethanol has been employed in conjunction with bicarbonate and steroids to counter acid base problems and shock. Ethanol has been effective if treatment is given in the first hours after ingestion of EG. The doses of ethanol employed to tie up ADH must be repeated every 4-6 hours over 2 days. Recomended doses of 5 ml/kg. cause severe depression, occasionally coma, interfere with clinical assessment and increase the difficulty of patient management.
Currently, a newer drug, 4-methylprazole (4-MP) has proven more effective at blocking the action of ADH without the depressive side affects of ethanol. If administered early, under 3 hours, nearly all of the EG will be eliminated by the kidneys in the original unmetabolized form. This drug has been shown to be very effective up to 8 hours after ingestion and will provide some benefits even with intervals up to 36 hours. The longer the interval between ingestion and treatment the greater the amount of kidney damage. Unfortunately, 4-MP does not seem to be effective in the cat.
Additional support during therapy includes traditional intravenous fluid therapy and acid-base regulation if required. Convalescent therapy may include low protein diets to rest the kidneys depending on the damage incurred.
1/4/97 Veterinary Information Services
DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE IN NO WAY ESTABLISHES A CLIENT- VETRINARIAN RELATIONSHIP. THE INTENT OF THE ARTICLE IS TO COMPLIMENT THE USERšS CURRENT VETERINARY EDUCATION. NO CLAIMS ARE MADE AS TO CONTENT. THIS ARTICLE IN NO WAY REPLACES THE CLIENT-VETERINARIAN RELATIONSHIP.
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