P e rsp e ctive s

A Newsletter for Cat Fanciers O n C a t s From The Cornell Feline Health Center

Spring 1988 How Smart is the Cat.

Katherine A. Houpt, B.S., V.M.D., Ph.D.

Everyone wants their favorite pet to be the learning is relatively free of problems related to smartest. Certainly cats are intelligent. They the animal’s anatomical constraints, but cats do have been smart enough to manipulate millions not do well on maze learning. They are infe­ of humans into feeding them, buying them bags rior to dogs and all the farm animals. Their of litter and providing them with the best in memory for which box contains food or which medical care. They are also smart enough to be door leads to freedom is better, but cats still able to survive on their own in both urban and do less well than dogs. rural areas. Learning Although cats have a very small brain, their brain-to-body-weight ratio is better than that Cats learn to operate on their environment, a of any other domestic animal. One percent of a form of learning called "operant conditioning". cat’s weight is brain tissue, in comparison to For example, in one study, cats learned to 2% of a hum an’s and 0.1% of a horse’s. select and pull a string to which a piece of food was attached from among several other Objective tests of intelligence in which strings. Cats can be classically conditioned, i.e. species are compared are as likely to be biased to blink or to salivate in response to a tone as are human intelligence tests. For example, (conditioned stimulus) paired with an uncondi­ jumping an obstacle is easy for a horse, but is tioned natural stimulus (i.e. the sight of food in more likely to be climbed by a cat. However, the case of the salivation) because the cat must a cat would find it much easier to manipulate a operate in the environment to get the reward. string than a horse or even than a dog. Maze Neurosis can also be produced in cats, by requiring them to discriminate between two very similar stimuli. Inside this Issue . . . Discrimination How Smart is the Cat? page 1 The cat’s ability to learn discrimination has Blood Parasites: The Hidden page 3 been used to great advantage by psychophysi­ Threat cists in studying vision. For example, color vision can be studied by teaching cats to dis­ Home Dental Care for Cats page 5 criminate between two symbols and then to discriminate between the symbols when they Subject Index page 6 differ in no characteristic except hue. Cats can, in fact, make this discrimination but only Honor Roll page 7 after 1,400 trials. Cats do have color vision. H owever, the color stim ulus must be large (i.e., Special Thanks page 8 a big object) before the cat is able to make use of the hue. (continued next page) Perspectives O n C a t s 2

Rewards Summary

Unlike dogs, cats will not usually perform in Any cat fancier will attest to the intelligence order to be reunited with a person. However, of the cat. However, having a better under­ cats will perform for food rewards. Feline standing of how cats learn can be invaluable to finickiness can interfere with the reward value the cat owner. ■ of food. Kittens will learn more quickly when the reward is freedom to explore a room than Katherine A. Houpt, B.S., V.M.D., Ph.D., is when the reward is food. associate professor of veterinary physiology at the NYS College of Veterinary Medicine at Problem-Solving Cornell University. She is director of the Behavior Clinic where behavior problems of Cats are able to form learning sets, a skill cats, dogs, and horses are diagnosed and treated. once thought to be confined to primates. A learning set or learning-to-learn is the underly­ ing principle by which a variety of related problems can besolved. Cats can learn to solve a problem, such as choosing the object on the left when identical black squares were the stimulus, and would learn much more quickly on the next problem to choose the object on the left when white triangles were presented. After four problems the cats’ errors fell to 36% of the original errors, and only 58% of the number of trials originally necessary were needed to reach criterion. They have learned to learn. ( \

Cats seldom show insightful behavior; they Perspectives do not learn to move a light box under a sus­ A Newsletter for Cat Fanciers pended piece of fish in order to reach the fish. From The Cornell Feline Health Center Captured feral cats learn discrimination more quickly than cage-reared ones. These findings The ultimate purpose of the Cornell Feline Health Center is to indicate that a varied environment or experi­ improve the health of cats everywhere, by developing methods to prevent or cure feline diseases, and by providing continuing ence may lead to an increased learning ability education to veterinarians and cat owners. All contributions are in cats. tax-deductible. Director: Fredric W. Scott, D.V.M., Ph.D. Im itation Editor: June E. Tuttle Secretaries: Sheryl A. Thomas, Gwen Frost, Karen Havekost Cats learn by observation or imitation. Cats Special Consultant: Leo A. Wuori, D.V.M. watching another cat press a bar or jump a This publication is made possible, in part, by a grant from 9-Lives Cat Foods. We grate­ barrier to obtain food learned to press the bar fully acknowledge this interest and support or jump the barrier much faster than cats in the furthering of feline health. This acknowledgement of our gratitude is not an which did not observe a trained animal. Cats endorsement of any particular company or can also be misled. If the cats watched a cat product. that obtained food by simply approaching but ©1988 by Cornell University on behalf of the not pressing the bar, they learned to bar press Cornell Feline Health Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14853. All for food more slowly than nonobserving cats. rights reserved. Permission to reprint se­ lected portions must be obtained in writing. Cornell University is an equal opportunity, Kittens can also learn by observation. Stud­ affirmative action educator and employer. ies show that they learn more readily by watching their mothers than by watching an­ other adult cat. 3

Blood Parasites: The Hidden Threat

A parasite is an organism which finds its food membranes. Weight loss, vomiting, and dehy­ source by living in or on another animal (host). dration can also occur. This particular relationship benefits the para­ site, but may harm, or occasionally prove fatal, to the host. Parasites can be one-celled organ­ Symptoms are somewhat dependent on the isms, such as protozoa, or complex organisms, rapidity with which the anemia develops. If such as insects or worms. Certain parasites anemia develops gradually, the cat may lose a thrive within the blood. Anemia develops from considerable amount of weight but be bright infestations of these parasites because they and alert. If anemia develops quickly, the cat destroy the red blood cells. Biting and blood­ will have lost little weight, but be markedly sucking insects (i.e. fleas, ticks, mites) have depressed and jaundice. Early during the dis­ been implicated as the vectors for blood para­ ease process, the rectal temperature is high sites. (104°-105° F) but it will drop to subnormal in the dying cat. Feline Infectious Anemia D iagnosis: Feline infectious anemia (feline hemobartonello- sis) is caused by the rickettsial organism H em o- Identification of parasites in stained blood bartonella felis which destroys the cat’s red smears is the primary method of diagnosis. blood cells. This parasite is responsible for However, due to the cyclic nature of the para­ about 10 percent of all feline anemia cases. site, several blood samples may need to be Feline infectious anemia is usually secondary to taken for your veterinarian to actually observe an immunosuppressive disease such as feline the parasite in the blood. leukemia (and probably feline T-lymphotropic virus infection). Treatm ent:

The disease is seen most often in young Antibiotics or arsenical drugs and steroids male cats 1 to 3 years of age, although it is are used to treat feline infectious anemia. seen in both males and females of all ages. Broad spectrum antibiotics such as tetracycline, Risk for males is 2 1/2 times that for females. oxytetracycline, and chloramphenicol have been Seasonally, feline hemobartonellosis occurs used with variable results. Oxytetracycline has slightly more frequently in the late spring. been the most widely used and seems to be the most effective. Cats are treated orally for The precise mode of transmission has not three weeks. been proven, but it is known that blood from an already infected cat must somehow be trans­ In addition, treatment with a glucocorticoid ferred into the bloodstream of a healthy cat to such as prednisolone may be prescribed by your produce the disease. Biting insects, particularly veterinarian to treat immune-mediated injury to fleas, are likely carriers of the parasite. erythrocytes.

Intrauterine transmission is well established. No drug appears to totally eliminate organ­ The organism has been found in still-born kit­ isms from infected cats, and consequently re­ tens and in kittens within 3 hours of birth. covered animals remain chronically infected. With proper therapy, most cats recover from Sym ptom s: the acute phase but remain inapparent carriers. No immunity is conferred. The most common symptoms are depression, (continued on next page) weakness, loss of appetite, and pale mucous Perspectives 4 O n C a t s

Prevention: there is no published documentation at this time to support this hypothesis. A comprehensive pesticide control program for both the animal and the environment is Sym ptom s: prudent, since blood-sucking insects have been implicated in the spread of this disease. Symptoms observed include loss of appetite, labored breathing, lethargy, dehydration, de­ Babesiosis pression, pale mucous membranes, and a high fever (103-107° F). Feline babesiosis, a hcmatoprotozoan disease, D iagnosis: has been reported in South Africa (coastal region), South America, Asia, India, Sudan, and Diagnosis is made by observing the parasite Kenya. Although feline babesiosis has not been in a stained blood smear. An indirect fluores­ reported in the United States, the possibility of cent antibody (IFA) test has been developed for infection exists. The Babesia species infecting the detection of the tissue phase of the disease. wild and domestic cats include B. cati, B. felis, However, the test is not currently available. B. herpailuri, and B. pantherae. Cats at highest risk appear to be cats under two years of age. Treatm ent:

Within the last decade Babesia has been Unfortunately, attempts to treat the disease recognized as a human pathogen. However, have proven unsuccessful. Supportive fluid human cases of babesiosis have been related to therapy and broad-spectrum antibiotics (e.g. infections in rodents and ruminants. The tetracycline) may prolong the course of illness transmission of Babesia from dogs and cats to but do not effect a cure. people has yet to be determined. Prevention: Sym ptom s: A parasite control program and confining The disease is characterized by loss of ap­ cats indoors may be effective methods to pre­ petite, lethargy, weakness, dehydration, and vent Cytauxzoonosis. pale mucous membranes. Summary D iagnosis: Aggressively eliminating fleas, ticks, and mites Diagnosis is based on identifying the organ­ in the cat’s environment is a good preventive ism in a stained blood smear. measure to protect your cat against infestation of blood parasites. If you observe any of the Treatm ent: previously mentioned symptoms, schedule an appointment for your cat with a veterinarian as Primaquine phosphate is a very effective soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment therapeutic drug. If the cat is severely anemic is important. ■ your veterinarian may recommend a whole blood transfusion. Postage Stamps Feature Cats

Cytauxzoonosis The United States Postal Service intro­ duced in February four new stamps that This is a fatal hematoprotozoan disease that feature eight different cat breeds (Siamese, was first identified in cats in 1976. Cases of Exotic Shorthair, Abyssinian, Himalayan, cytauxzoonosis have been reported in Missouri, Maine Coon, Burmese, American Shorthair, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ala­ and Persian). The stamps are currently bama, Georgia, and Florida. It is thought that available at local post offices for a limited the disease is transmitted by ticks, however, time. 5

Home Dental Care for Cats

June E. Tuttle

Feline teeth are used in grasping, tearing and and opening its mouth. This should be a slow chewing of food. A mature cat has 30 teeth (4 process combined with considerable praise to canines, 12 incisors, 10 premolars, 4 molars). prevent your cat from panicking. You need to Proper care of your cat’s teeth is just as im­ instill trust in your cat, after all you will be portant as proper care of your own teeth. putting your fingers in direct danger of being General health is improved by eliminating tooth bitten. Do not shortcut the time spent in this infections and related gum disease. Most own­ very important step. However, if your cat ers believe that gum disease will not occur until continues to be uncooperative, more routine their cat becomes aged. However, this is not dental checkups should be scheduled with a true. Gum disease has been diagnosed in cats veterinarian. only 2 years old. Therefore, it behooves the cat owner to be on the alert for signs of gum After your cat completely trusts you and disease and to take preventive measures. submits to the handling of its mouth, wrap a piece of clean gauze around your index finger. Signs of Gum Disease With your free hand gently lift the upper lip to expose the teeth (or the lower lip to expose Bad breath (halitosis) increases as plaque ac­ the lower teeth). Dip your wrapped finger in a cumulates on the tooth surface. The first teeth dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide or 0.2 to be affected are the premolars and molars. percent chlorhexidine solution. (Do not use Over time the plaque mineralizes, forming a human toothpastes as they cause excessive yellowish-brown discoloration on the tooth salivation and if swallowed may result in gas­ surface (tartar). The gums become inflamed trointestinal upsets.) Gently rub the teeth, (gingivitis) as more deposits accumulate. The being sure to include the gums. Perform your pain from the inflamed gums causes difficulty in cat’s teeth cleaning at a regularly scheduled eating and a loss of appetite. The cat may time so that it becomes a habit for both you begin pawing at the mouth, and bleeding at the and your cat. Eventually you may be able to gums may occur as the disease progresses. substitute a soft-bristle, small child-sized tooth­ (Siamese cats often have greater inflammation brush. However, some cats may not tolerate of the gums in relation to the amount of tar­ the brush. tar.) The final outcome of untreated gingivitis is loss of teeth and possibly systemic infections. Also, the abrasion caused by dry cat foods Upper teeth are lost more frequently than lower can aid in removal of tartar buildup. teeth. The Role of the Veterinarian Home Dentistry Regular dental checkups performed by a veter­ Daily removal of plaque is a prime factor in inarian are very important. He/she can perform preventing and controlling dental disease. professional teeth cleaning to remove built-up There is documented evidence that daily clean­ tartar and plaque, and remove any infected ing reduces tartar formation by 95 percent; or teeth. (These procedures are performed under 76 percent for weekly cleanings. (If you own anesthesia.) an older cat, it would be prudent to first schedule your cat for a professional dental Also, your veterinarian can run diagnostic cleaning with a veterinarian.) tests to confirm or rule out the presence of kidney disease, diabetes, hypothyroidism, feline Home dentistry consists of "brushing" your T-lymphotropic virus infection, or feline leuke­ cat’s teeth. Begin the process by acclimating mia which can predispose cats to gum disease. ■ your cat to being handled around the muzzle Perspectives 6 O n C a t s

Subject Index

The following is a categorical listing of past articles published in Perspectives on Cats. If you are interested in receiving a past issue or a reprint of a particular article, there is a charge of $1 per request to cover the cost of handling and mailing.

Bacterial Diseases Cat Scratch Disease, Win '83 A Look at Hyperthyroidism, Win '86 Cause of Cat Scratch Disease, Sum ’86 Home Treatment for Diabetic Cats, Win '87 Basic Information Nervous System Barnyard Cat, June '81 CNS Disease in the Cat, Nov '81 Special Needs of the Older Cat, Sept ’82 New Hope & Healing Through Pet Therapy, Neonatal Care Dec ’82 Premature Kitten Deaths, Sum ’85 Cats Through the Ages, Sum ’84 Queen for a Day ... or More, Spr '86 Allergic to Cats? Don’t Despair, Fall ’85 How do Cats Purr? Fall '85 Nutrition Summer Camp for Your Cat, Sum '86 Read the Label, Spr '85 Can You Catch It From Your Cat? Spr '87 Fat Cats Have Weighty Problems, Sum ’87 Know Your A,B,Cs of Vitamin Nutrition, Fall Behavior ’87 Feline Behavior Problems, Nov '81 High-Rise Syndrome, Spr '83 Parasites Solving Housesoiling Problems, Sum '86 Feline Toxoplasmosis, Spring '83 Heartworm:A New Feline Disease, Sum '85 Diagnostic Tests Giardia Can Cause Chronic Diarrhea, Fall ’85 In-hospital Test for FeLV, June '81 Don’t Let Fleas Become a FAD, Spr '86 The KELA Test for Coronavirus, Apr ’82 How Viruses are Diagnosed, Apr '82 Poisons Antifreeze Poisoning, Apr ’82 Digestive System Plant Poisoning, Spr '84 Cornell Survey on GI Viruses, Mar '81 Counteract Chemical Poisons, Sum ’84 Giardia Can Cause Chronic Diarrhea, Fall ’85 Inside Story on Rodenticides, Sum '87 Feline Gum Disease, Fall '84 Reproduction Eyes Breeding Basics, Win '86 Intraocular Inflammation in Cats, Spr ’84 Feline Breast Cancer? Sum '87 First Aid Respiratory System Summer Safety Hazards, Sum '83 Feline Respiratory Disease, Win '85 Life-threatening Injuries, Fall '83 Care for Burns and Frostbite, Win '83 Skin Is Your Cat a Pill About Pills? Win '84 Fleas and Flea Allergy Dermatitis, June ’81 Abcesses in the Cat, Fall '85 Rodent Ulcer is Perplexing Disease, Fall '86 Holiday Hazards, Win '85 Don't Let Fleas Become a FAD, Spr '86 Heat Stroke, Sum '86 CPR: The Breath of Life, Fall ’86 Urinary System What’s the Fuss over FUS?, Win 85 Genetics Kidney Disease in Cats, Spr '87 Inheritied Craniofacial Malformations in Burmese, Dec '82 Viral Diseases A Matter of Color: Calico & Tortie, Fall ’86 Cornell Study on GI Viruses, Mar ’81 FeLV Transmission, Human Risk, Mar ’81 Heart Cornell Study Herpesvirus, Mar ’81 New Studies on Heart Disease, Apr '82 FIP Update, Jun ’81 Heartworm: A New Feline Disease, Sum ’85 Worldwide FIP, Apr ’82 Lincoln Sets Pace for Cardiology, Spr ’86 Feline Rabies on the Rise, Win ’83 Answers to Questions on FIP, Win & Spr '84 Metabolic Disorders Rabies Alert! Fall '85 Feline Thyroid Disease, Sept '82 FeLV Vaccine is Now Available, Spr ’85 7

Honor Roll The following individuals have contributed $100 or more to support the Cornell Feline Health Center’s work on feline diseases. We are most grateful for their support and the support of many others who are not listed on the honor roll.

Name Funds given for:

Laurence M. Addington, New York General Donation Sally Axelrod, New York In memory of Honey and Aunt Dolly Don and Joan Blackburn, Texas In memory of Cookie General Donation Sherry Carran, Kentucky In memory of Bill Kathryn and Leisa Chandross, New York In honor of Dr. Richard Zeitel Dorothy Corlis, New York In memory of Henry Kissinger, Sunday, and Bay Calico Lynn Diamond, New York In memory of Amelia Gilmore’s cat Mr. and Mrs. Richard Evans, Sr., Pennsylvania In memory of WYZZ’S Golden Boy Sam Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fine, Dist. of Columbia In memory of Ascot Gerald and B.W. Hamm, Florida In memory of Mocha JoAnn Hanson, New York In memory of Sydney William Hay, New York In memory of Xantippe and Spare Baldwin C. Hvass, Connecticut General Donation Wayne and Laurie Kail, Texas FIP Research Dorothy Karlsen and Bruce Levine, New York In memory of Chuck Anna Kierpaul, Michigan General Donation Louis Lohr, Ohio General Donation Tom Mayerl and Sue Loerhl, Wisconsin In memory of Pee Wee Lynn L. McCanless, New Jersey In memory of Tumbles Mr. & Mrs. Ellice McDonald Jr., Delaware General Donation Mr. and Mrs. John Meldrum, California FIP Research Annette Muir, New York In memory of Ming Vaughn Prunier, New York General Donation Brigita Rameika, Illinois Feline Leukemia Research Rachaele Raynoff, New York General Donation John & Lin Rooker, New York General Donation Mr. and Mrs. Keith Rumbel, Virginia In memory of Merry and Smokey Trudy Schlossberg, New York In memory of Curious Dr. and Mrs. Dale Schulz, Indiana FIP Research Mr. and Mrs. Eldwin Strong, Virginia In memory of Thomas Jefferson The Washington Post, Dist. of Columbia Matching Gift Ila Kay Voris, New York FIP Research Mr. and Mrs. Ben Wendelken, New York General Donation Constance J. Wright, New York In memory of Love

Contributing Memberships: ★ ★ ★ We also wish to express our thanks to the Alpo Pet Foods, Inc., Pennsylvania following cat clubs for supporting the work of Karen Courtenay, Massachusetts the Cornell Feline Health Center. (In memory of Tailspin, Tacos, and Simon) Kentuckiana Cat Club, Kentucky Garden State Cat Club, New Jersey Dr. Barbara Mella, Virginia Illinois-Iowa Cat Fanciers, Iowa Susan Morere, Maine Janesville All-Breed Cat Club, Illinois (In memory of Pip) Mohawk Valley Cat Fanciers, New York E. Ashley Palmer, New York National Capital Cat Show, Virginia Leslie Ross & Bob Shannon, New York Tabby & Tortie Club of the West, California (In memory of Alan, Piggy, Paka, and Leroy) Phyllis R. Strickler, New York Deborah L. Thomas, Florida Perspectives 8 O n C a t s

Special Thanks

We received a very heartwarming response to our 1987 wish list with many people sending in contributions. We are grateful and appreciative of your support. In appreciation, we have acknowledged those who responded to our appeal for equipment:

Sharon Bedford, New York Barry Perlmutter, New Jersey Dr. Glen Carlson, California Maggie Orr, Pennsylvania Dolores Casella, New York Cynthia Phillips & Thomas Martin, Massachusetts Patricia Collins, New York Carol Pitkin, New York Mr. & Mrs. Albert Coppola, New York Barbara Richardson, Virginia Amelia Diamond, Pennsylvania N. Hollis Rife, New York Mr. & Mrs. Roger Ditm an, N ew York Mr. & Mrs. John R igby, Virginia (In memory of Tenth Street’s "Mamma Cat") Phyllis Rosalli, Washington Mr. & Mrs. Erwin Edelm an, Connecticut Marilyn Ross, Virginia (In memory of "Fang") Barbara Schiemer, New York Susan Fisher, New York Susanne Schmitthenner, Connecticut Calla Fricke, New York Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Schwarz, N ew York Barbara Gardineer, New York Diane Shaw, New York Mr. & Mrs. John G arthw aite, N ew Jersey Winifred Shores, New York Mr. & Mrs. John G oodrich, Florida William Simm, Michigan Mr. & Mrs. W illiam H efler, M assachusetts Mr. & Mrs. Norm an Siskel, Florida Virginia Howell, Virginia Mr. & Mrs. Roy Taylor, Louisiana Mr. & Mrs. Myron Johnston, Jr., Virginia Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Terrones, C alifornia Patricia Lake, Michigan Joan Tosti, Virginia Audrey Lobdell, New York Donald & Karen Trotter, New York Jessie McGilless, Oklahoma Mr. & Mrs. Robert Tucker, N ew York Brenda Maclary, Maryland Jessie Ward, New York Marti Miles, Connecticut Mr. & Mrs. Gary Wood, N ew York Mr. & Mrs. Conrad Milster, N ew York Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Zim m erm an, Maryland Barbara Muto, New York

Cornell Feline Health Center Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Ithaca, New York 14853

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