Short Takes

Happening now…

According to the Naples (Fla.) Daily News, deputies responded to a possible burglary in progress only to find the culprit was a cat.

Acute Upper Respiratory Infections Study

Upper respiratory infections are common in cats. Treatment can be frustrating, especially since the primary culprit is often feline herpes virus (FHV). While FHV infections arent usually life-threatening, infected cats sneeze, may develop corneal ulcers, and have nasal discharge and conjunctivitis. Currently, treatment is aimed at supportive care, with antibiotics added if there are signs of secondary bacterial infections.

Pets May Reduce Need for Pain Medications

An article in the June 2019 Journal of Applied Gerontology looked at using pets to help senior citizens with pain. Cognitive behavioral self-management strategies are used to help seniors deal with chronic pain, and this study looked to see if pets might be incorporated into these strategies with a positive end.

Video Records of What Cats Do All Day

A study from Applied Animal Behaviour Science used tiny cameras to follow 16 cats throughout their neighborhoods. The camera was about the size of a golf ball and attached to the cat (originally, 21 cats were selected, but five said no thanks).

Technology Improves Veterinary Care

A publication by members of the Section of Ophthalmology at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine highlights the innovative use of a smartphone with an open-source 3D printed smartphone indirect lens adapter.

Flame Retardant and Hyperthyroidism

A study in Environmental Science & Technology associated hyperthyroidism with flame retardants, using silicone pet tags like the popular wristbands people wear for charitable causes.

Pheromone Scent

Felinine is a sulphur (cysteine) amino acid found in cat urine. It works as a pheromone. This sulphur amino acid is what causes the strong scent in urine marking by intact male cats.

Happening Now…

Angelo’s Pizza in Matawan, N.J., is “delivering more than just food,” according to CBS NewYork Channel 2.

Happening Now

Angelo’s Pizza in Matawan, N.J., is “delivering more than just food,” according to CBS NewYork Channel 2.

Cats in the U.S.

The American Veterinary Medical Assocation lists these numbers for cat ownership in the United States:

FIP Research Grant

The Winn Feline Foundation awarded $307,679 to 16 feline research studies for 2019, including $25,000 to Gary R. Whittaker, PhD, at Cornell University, and Susan G. Baker, PhD, at Loyola University, for Generating an attenuated feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) vaccine by inactivating EndoU.

Most Expensive Cats

TheRichest.com is a leading source for Internet-savvy millennials searching for information on the topics they love. With a pretty obvious focus on money, the website recently listed the 10 most expensive cats: