From the July 2019 Issue
Catnip Crazy
Catnip, technically Nepeta cataria, is a member of the mint family with a reputation for attracting cats. It is a fast-growing, tall plant with heart-shaped leaves and blossoms that are white, lavender, or pink. Most cats love it! Cats in the wild, even big cats, often seek out patches of catnip and return repeatedly.
Current Issue
Anal Sac Cancer
The first sign of anal sac cancer in cats is usually ulceration and discharge from the perineal area (tissue around the anus), according to a study in JAVMA that looked at apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinomas (anal sac cancer). Surgery is usually the treatment, although work has been done with chemotherapy and/or radiation.
Yes, They Know Their Names
A study published in April in Scientific Reports 9 and done at the University of Tokyo (Saito, A et al) reports what we’ve all suspected: A study published in April in Scientific Reports 9 and done at the University of Tokyo (Saito, A et al) reports what we’ve all suspected:
Canned Mouse, Anyone?
Many veterinary nutritionists say the ideal feline diet would be “mouse in a can.” While mouse farming has not caught on, it looks like cats may get their ideal diet via a laboratory. The Pet Food Industry reports that the company Because Animals is working on this development.
Ureteral Obstruction Technique Study
A retrospective study published in JAVMA by a veterinary specialty hospital in collaboration with University of Pennsylvania selected 71 cats (mostly domestic shorthairs) to help determine whether using ultrasonography could show there was a ureteral obstruction and help determine the cause and location of the problem.
Diarrhea: Worry or Wait?
Diarrhea is no fun for anyone, especially if the cat doesn’t make it to the litterbox or gets some of it on her fur. The good news is that occasional diarrhea is rarely an emergency and often resolves on its own
Your Role as Flea Fighter
Ctenocephalides felis is a big name for a tiny insect that is a huge pest: the cat flea. While other fleas may infest your cat, this is the most common species to affect cats.
Are Titers the Answer?
The specter of feline vaccine-associated sarcomas—malignant growths that can appear at the injection site of some vaccines—lurks in the back of the mind of every cat owner. Although veterinarians have guidelines for tracking vaccine-related sarcomas, you still may wonder if it’s wiser to skip vaccine boosters and rely instead on titers, which are blood tests that can tell you how much immunity to a specific disease remains in your cat.