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INSIDE ACommitment to Improving Well-being Short Takes 2 The secrets to cheetahs' speed; help Now in its 38th year, the Feline Health Center continues for pain control; no taste for sweets. its support ofoutreach and groundbreaking research Looking Beyond the Food Bowl 3 The setting, frequency of feeding and afood bully can impact nutrition. magine veterinarians are amenable to I being able to sterilize chemotherapy. When to worry about tail injuries 4 feral cats by vaccina­ These are just Simple fractures may heal on their own tion instead of surgery. three of the many but not scrapes and heavy bleeding. Or to identify the con­ scientific studies Why Do THey ••• Head Bump? 5 nection between a rel­ funded by the Cor­ This common behavior is believed to atively benign form of nell Feline Health be aform of olfactory communication. feline coronavirus and Center where, under feline infectious peri­ the guidance of Di­ Ask Elizabeth: 8 tonitis, which is nearly rector Colin Parrish, All-meat diets won't provide essential always fataL with the Ph.D., Professor of nutrients necessary for good health. hope of finding ways ~ Virology, the goal of ------1 to diagnose and com­ ~ bettering the health IN THE NEWS ••• bat it. Or discover how of cats continues and why vaccine-asso­ to be the focus and Trial uses stem cells ciated sarcomas may commitment, as it trigger DNA damage has been since the to treat kidney disease in some cats and how this damage may be center opened its doors in 1974. Researchers at Colorado State used to predict which cases of the sarcomas (continued on page 6) University College ofVeterinary Medicine are testing a new treat­ ment for a common problem in aging cats.They're using stem When Aggression Has a Physical Basis cells in an effort to better man­ age chronic kidney disease. Its emergence in older cats calls for special "In our clinical trial, we are see­ ing if stem cells can improve renal concern because they typically mellow with age function, decrease inflammation and scarring in the kidney, and our cat is shy but generally sweet natured The emergence of aggreSSion in older improve levels of excess protein Yand affectionate. Imagine your shock, then, animals is a particular cause for concern, Dr. in the urine," says Jessica Quimby, when you reach to pick him up and he tries to Houpt says, because cats tend to mellow with DVM, who's working with a bite you - for no apparent reason. Did your age. Moreover, pain is easy to miss in geriatric team of team of veterinarians eat's inner tiger emerge? felines, who will spend a good deal of time and researchers at the school. When the onset offeline aggression is sleeping. Owners might think the cat is simply They're isolating stem cells sudden, there's a good chance that the source slowing down when, in fact, he's hurting. from the fat of healthy young could be a health problem, and you need to cats and injecting them into cats make an appointment with your veterinarian. Two painful diseases. Primary sources of with kidney disease. Preliminary "A medical cause for aggression in cats undiagnosed pain in cats include periodontal results suggest that the cells may is relatively rare, but it must always be ruled disease - in the worst case, a receding or ab­ stabilize the disease's progression. out," says Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, Ph.D., scess of the gums that makes eating difficult Dr. Quimby's research, funded diplomate of the American College of Vet­ - and arthritis. Dental work and medications by the Morris Animal Foundation, erinary Behaviorists and emeritus James such as corticosteroids, respectively, are usu­ includes a study of telomeres Law Professor ofAnimal Behavior at Cornell ally effective in mitigating the problems. - protective structures at the UniverSity's College of Veterinary Medicine. Several diseases can also cause dramatic ends of chromosomes - in the "The primary cause of medically based ag­ behavioral changes. The following are the kidneys of older cats to under­ gression is pain, no matter what the source of most common: stand their role in renal disease.•:. that pain." (continued on page 5) CatWatch The Cat's Speedy Cousin rather than a lack of ability." They don't have EDITOR IN CHIEF Biologists at the Royal Veterinary College to work for their food. Bruce G. Kornreich, DVM, Ph.D., in London may have discovered the reason Both species put a greater proportion of Dipl AcvlM for the cheetah's record as the fas test li vin g weight on their hind limbs at high speed EDITOR Betty Liddick land mammal. Researchers at the college's rather tha n the forelimbs, as was generally Structure and Motion Laboratory compared believed. But ch eetahs sup ported 70 percent ART DIRECTOR Mary Francis McGavic the cheetah's ga it to that of raCing Grey­ of their body weig ht on hind limbs, com­ hounds, whose speed tops out at 37 mi les pared to 62 percent in tne Greynounds . "This ADVISORY BOARD James A. Flanders, DVM, Di pl per hour. Th e big cats have been clocked at will enhance the cheetah's grip for accelera­ ACVS, Associate Professor, 64 miles per hour. tion an d ma neuvering using their powerful Clinical Sciences "Cheetahs and Greyhounds are known hind limbs," the researchers say. Marc S. Kraus, DVM, Dipl ACVIM, to use a rotary ga llop [in which the limbs fa ll The leng th of time the cheetahs' limbs Senior Lectu rer, Clin ical Sciences in circu lar sequence around the body) and remained in contact with the ground ­ Margaret C. McEntee, DVM, Dipl ACVIM, DACVR, physically they are rema rkably si mila r, yet there ca lled the stan ce - was also longer, perhaps Professor of Oncology is this bewitching difference in maximum imparting an advantage in their speed in the William H. Miller, Jr., DVM, ACVD, speed," says researcher Alan Wilson, Sse. , Ph.d. wild. Increased stance time reduces the peak Professor, Clininical Sciences His team videotaped cheetahs at a Lon­ load on the legs. Ilona Rodan, DVM, Dipl ASVP don zoo and a cheeta h center in So uth Africa, Wisconsin Cat Care Clinic, Madison, WI using lu res and embedded force plates, New Help for Pain Control in stru ments that meas ure the forces gener­ Nova rtis Animal Healtn na s introduced ated by a body standing on or movi ng across Onsior (robenacoxib) tablet s, a three-day them . Th ey tested Greyhounds at the lab. non-stero id al a nti - in~ammatory drug for Cornell University Among their findings, published in the postoperative cats weig hing 5V2 pounds or =§ College of (ii). Veterinary Medicine Journal of Experimental Bio logy: Cheetahs more and at lea st 6 months ol d. used strides of 2.4 per second at low speed, The drug is intended to control pa in For information on you r cat's health, in crea sin g to 3.2 strides per second at high and in~ am m at ion after orthoped ic surgery, visit the Corn ell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Fel ine speed w hile Greyhounds used a constant ovari ohysterectomy and cas tration. It's the Heal th Center website at 3. 5 strides per secon d at al l speeds. Wh en first multidose oral NSAID approved for cats, www.vet.comell.edu/fhcl. they were at the same speed, however, the Novartis says cheetah s' strides were slightly longer tha n The drug is quickly eliminated from blood the Greyhounds'. w hile persist ing longer at the site of in~amed "U nfortunate ly, in this study the tea m tissue, the company reports. Side effects in couldn't tempt the cheetahs to run any clinical tria ls and field tes ts included surgical fa ste r th an the raCing Greyhound s, with both site bl eed in g, infection, le thargy, vomiting CatWatch' (ISSN 1095-9092) species achieVing top speeds of and inappeten ce, although studies suggest _ is published monthly around 40 mph," th e that robenacoxi b is generally safe in cats if for 539 per year by _ Belvoir Media Group, researchers say. "It is used properly =1 LLc' 800 Connecticut th oug ht that this is due Belvoir Ave, Norwalk, CT 06854­ 163 1. Robert En glander, to a lack of motivation in Taking a Pass on Sweets Cha irma n and CEO; Timothy H. Cole. the [captive) cheetah s A team of a dozen scientists from Executive Vice Presi dent, Ed itorial Direc tor; Philip L. Penny, Chief institutions ranging from Capital Medical Operating Officer; Greg Kin g, Execu tive University in Beijing to the University of Vice President, Marketing Director; Ron Goldberg, Chief Financial Officer; Tom Pen nsyl vania to the Waltham Centre for Pet Canfield, Vice President, Ci rcu lation . Nutrition in the UK may have found why cats 102012 BelvOir Media Group, LLC. have no interest in sweets. Th ey probably lack Postmaste r: Send address corrections the gene to detect them. to CatWatch, P.O. Box 8535, Big Sandy, TX 75755 -8535. A taste bud receptor consists of the For Customer Service product s of two genes, but in cats one of or Subscription information, visit the genes for the receptor that senses sweet­ www.catwatchnewsletter. co m/cs ness isn't functional and isn't expressed, the or call toll free: 800-829-8893. researchers say. "In contrast to most other Exp ress written perm is sion is req uired to repro duce, in any mammals, both domestic cats and their wild manner, the contents of this issue, cousins, the big cats, do not show a prefer­ either in ful l or in part. For more information, wri te to Permissions, ence for and, most li kely, cannot detect CatWatch, 800 Co nnecticut Ave ., sweet-ta sting compounds. Other than this Norwa lk, Connecticu t 06854-1 631. .. .the cat's sense of taste is normal." .:.

2 CatWatch SEPTEMBER 2012 Mini-meals morning, afternoon and night can help maximize cats' metabolism and play to their preference for grazing.

where doors can be closed. "Cats like routine, and in time, they may even park themselves in front of their des­ ignated rooms at meal time waiting for you to feed them." • Give the bowls a thorough soaking and cleaning after meals. They can be coated with salmonella. Dr. Wakshlag advises soaking them in a solution of one to two capfuls of bleach per gal­ Ion of water for 10 minutes minimally and then washing them in warm wa­ ter with mild detergent. Thoroughly rinse and allow to air dry. • Resist buying gigantic bags of food. Looking Beyond You'll get more than you bargained for - increased risk of the food be­ coming stale and contaminated. In­ the Food Bowl stead, Dr. Wakshlag suggests storing a small or medium-sized dry food bag The environment - setting, frequency offeeding inside an air-tight plastic food storage bin. "Emptying the food into a plastic and presence ofa food bully - can all impact nutrition container - even though it is air tight - can still cause food to go rancid. ringing out the nutritional best in foods and grains are inexpensive," he That's because there are fats sprayed Byour cat goes beyond the food in the says. "Cats do well on grains but not on on the food and they line the inside of bowl. Frequency of meals, location, post­ all-grain diets. They don't metabolize as the container. Ifyou don't completely meal bowl cleaning and other environ­ qUickly to absorb the glucose." empty and clean the container before mental factors also influence his health. To make mealtime more satisfying adding a new bag of food, it can cause "One of the biggest problems is that and safe for cats, Dr. Wakshlag offers this the new food to go rancid quicker." far too many people overfeed their cats, advice to improve their environment: Rinse the container, add the and the cats become overweight and • Provide mini-meals rather than one bleach solution and allow it to soak some even become obese," says nutrition­ big meal. In general, cats are grazers, for 20 minutes, then rinse and dry it ist Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, Ph.D., As­ unlike dogs, who tend to be gorgers. completely before adding a new batch sociate Professor of Clinical Nutrition at Mini-meals, say in the morning, of food . "Ifyou just keep the food in Cornell University College of Veterinary when you return from work and be­ the original bag and put it in the plas­ Medicine. "Dogs give you those begging fore bedtime can also help maximize tic bin, you don't have to worry about eyes wnen you sit down to eat, but in your cat's metabolism. cleaning the bin," Dr. Wakshlag says. most cases, you can get them to go into • Use a measuring cup. While suggested "Just throw the bag away." another room and leave you alone." portions are often printed on the bags • Pay heed to the contents of your floor­ ofdry and canned foods, Dr. Waksh­ cleaning products. Dr. Wakshlag They excel at begging. "Cats, howev­ lag says it's vital to measure the food says cleaning products containing er, are aggressive beggars. They will keep precisely and work with your veteri­ bleach are effective in killing viruses purring and meowing. Ifyou tell them narian to establish daily portions that on the kitchen floor. However, cats to go away, they will just come right back meet your cat's age, health and activity. have sensitive noses and some may be and start meowing again. They are more • Separate cats at meal times - espe­ repelled by the odor of cleaners. He persistent than dogs and far too often, the cially if you have a feline food bully recommends not cleaning the floors person gets frustrated and will get up and or a cat on a therapeutic diet. Meal immediately before meal times. put more food in their bowls." times should be calm, welcoming Dr. Wakshlag recommends owners events so cats can properly digest His final advice: "If you have two cats work closely with their veterinarians to their food. Stress created by other and one is more of a food bully to the select quality diets that have adequate pro­ cats in the household trying to steal other cat or to their owner, put some dry tein for cats, who are obligate carnivores, another's food can cause stress and food in a food puzzle toy for this cat. This or meat eaters. "There is some concern possibly even gastrointestinal upset. gives him something to do at meal time about grains in cat foods, but carbohy­ Dr. Wakshlag recommends train­ and he gets to burn a few extra calories drates are necessary to make cost-effective ing the cats to eat in separate rooms hunting for his food." .:.

SEPTE MBER 2012 Vis it us at www .catwa tchn ews lette r.com When to Worry About Tail Injuries Simple fractures may heal on their own, but scrapes and heavy bleeding need medical care

cat's tail can wave happily. swish an­ in the tail. That's because it's not pos­ A grily and wrap around him content­ sible to splint or put a cast on the tail to edly. But when the tail is injured. more hold the bones in place until they heal. may be at stake than the ability to com­ The motion of the tail can cause the municate mood. fracture to heal in an unusual direction. Injuries to the feline tail may be The tail is otherwise fully functional, Dr. minor. causing a brief spasm of pain or Flanders says. a permanent crook. or they may dam­ age the nerves so severely that blad­ Using Ointment at Home. You can der and sphincter control are affected treat minor abrasions or hair loss on the temporarily or permanently. Common tail at home with antibiotic ointment, but injuries include fractures. acute trauma when serious injuries like being mangled that may involve damage to the skin or in a car engine or other accident leaves heavy bleeding. and what are known the tail scraped and bleeding. a veteri­ as avulsion injuries. caused by pulling. nary exam is a must. says board-certified surgeon James A. With severe damage to the skin, if Flanders. DVM. Associate Professor at healing seems prolonged or unlikely, Cornell University's College ofVeteri­ sometimes it's easier simply to shorten nary Medicine. Tails can also be dam­ the tail by amputation, which is a sim­ aged if they are bitten in a fight with ple surgical procedure. Depending on another animal. the location of the injury. the cat may A cat's tail can break when acci­ lose as little as the last third of the tail dentally slammed in a door. crunched or almost the entire tail. Fortunately, underfoot or beneath a rocking chair. despite the tail's role in communica­ In cases of severe damage, surgeons may or run over by a car. Simple fractures, tion and balance, cats can get along have to shorten the tail by amputation. especially those toward the end of the fine without one. Despite the tail's role in communication and tail, heal on their own and may leave no The most common and potentially balance. cats can get along fine without one. more evidence of the injury than a crook most serious type of injury to the tail is an avulsion injury, one caused by pull­ ing. An avulsion injury is often the result and by pulling on the tail. you actually TAIL ANATOMY 101 ofa car accident. "What we think hap­ pull on nerves that are much further up pens is the tail gets caught underneath in the body." The feline tail is an extension of the tire of a moving car and it pulls the Nerve function mayor may not re­ the spine, consisting of what are tail," Dr. Flanders says. turn with time. Sometimes it can take known as coccygeal, or caudal, This can damage both the nerves a month or more before the cat regains vertebrae. The first tailbone controlling muscles that move the tail control of the bladder or anus. For cats is connected to the sacrum, a - causing it hang straight down like a who are fecally incontinent, a veterinary drooping flag (known as denervation) ­ neurologist can perform a test called an wedge-like bone at the base of and the nerves that control the bladder electromyogram that can predict with the spine. The next caudal ver­ and the anus. Depending on the extent of reasonable accuracy whether the muscle tebrae become smaller along the injury, the cat may be unable to uri­ tone of the anus will eventually improve. the length of the tail. Between nate and/or defecate on his own. If a cat is unable to urinate on his own, them are tiny joints and disc owners must express the urine from the pads, much like those that cush­ Anus or Bladder Affected. A gamut bladder three or four times daily to en­ ion the spine. The tail, however, of injuries can occur, Dr. Flanders says. sure that the balloon-like organ doesn't "Only the tail may be affected, or only become stretched out. is more mobile than the spine, the tail and the anus, or only the tail and Outdoor cats run the highest risk of able to bend and flex more eas­ the bladder. It all depends on how much tail injuries, but even indoor cats can suf­ ily. Muscles, blood vessels and trauma there was to the tail at the time fer a tail break if they land wrong after a nerves are also part of the tail's of the injury and whether the injury ex­ fall, for instance. A cat without a tail is anatomy. tended up into the sacrum," Dr. Flanders unusual, to be sure, Dr. Flanders says, but says. "It's all somewhat attached together, he's still a fully functional feline . •:.

4 CatWatch SEPTEMBER 2012 tail, which explains why cats wrap their Why Do They ••• tails around our legs. That and the fact that they typically rub against objects or body parts within reach, Dr. Perry says. Head Bump? Cats who live together amicably often rub heads - a behavior called allorub­ They're imparting bing - to share a common odor. "Cats will also rub their lips, chin their scent or offering and tails against objects, particularly a friendly greeting if those areas have been rubbed by This occasional series explores the reasons for other cats or if the object is new such cats' often intriguing behavior. Ifyou would as a cardboard box - a favorite in my ovice cat owners may be sur­ household," Dr. Perry says. "This may like to suggest a topic, please write CatWatch prised when their cat presses be a way of depositing their scent on N Editor, 800 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, CT and rubs his head against them. Is it those objects and communicating in­ a greeting? A sign of a physical prob­ 06854 or email catwatcheditor@cornel/.edu. formation to other cats." lem? Some experts have suggested that And, yes, head rubbing can be a cats are marking the owners as their olfactory communication. When cats greeting. "If you stick a finger out to own, but how would they know that? rub against objects, other cats, dogs or a cat, he often will sniff and rub his A more plausible explanation, from people, they deposit secretions from head against it," Dr. Perry says. "It Pam J. Perry, DVM, Ph.D., a graduate specialized skin glands on their head is an affiliative gesture - a friendly of Cornell University's College of Vet­ - submandibular glands beneath the one - and may be a way of imparting erinary Medicine who has lectured on chin and perioral glands near the cor­ their scent on you." small animal behavior at the school: ners of the mouth." Cats also perform head bunting as "Head rubbing, also called bun­ an attention-seeking behavior. They ting, is a common normal behavior Glands at the tail base. They also want to be petted, and what owner in cats and is believed to be a form of have sebaceous glands at the base ofthe ca n resist? .:.

AGGRESSION .. .(continuedfrom cover) older cats. Signs include weight loss and increased appetite. The disease is easily • Hyperthyroidism. Caused by an ex­ diagnosed with a blood test and success­ cess of thyroid hormone, hyperthyroid­ fully treated with medication, radioac­ ism occurs quite often in middle age and tive iodine or surgery. • Rabies. Outdoor cats who haven't ACCIDENTS EXACT ATOLL, TOO been vaccinated for rabies may develop this usually fatal disease as a result of a bite from carriers such as bats, skunks, Cats with no apparent signs foxes or raccoons. Any unvaccinated cat mey be experiencing pain as the who comes home with deep scratches result of being injured in an acci­ should be taken to the veterinarian im­ dent. Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, mediately for possible quarantine. The pain of arthritis and periodontal disease Ph.D., remembers a student who • Feline ischemic encephalopathy. In can cause aggression. brought in a cat for a behavior summer, outdoor cats in the Northeast problem. The formerly friendly United States and Southeast Canada cats, but because they occur on the surface cat had disappeared for a few may pick up a parasite called a cute­ of the brain, they can often be removed days but when he returned home, rebra, which lays its eggs on the host's surgically with complete success. he began to scratch the young skin. If the larvae migrate to the cat's Aggression isn't generally a problem woman and her roommates. After brain, this can cause aggression. The in cats, Dr. Houpt says. "People tend to be disease is difficult to treat unless anti­ more respectful of a cat's need for space, Dr. Houpt calmed the cat enough parasite medication is administered but if we have an animal that presents to pet him, all was well- until during the first week, but signs such as for aggression with no known cause, we she tried to get near his leg. The epilepsy can be controlled. always perform at least a good physical diagnosis: An unhealed fracture of • Meningio mas. Magnetic resonance im­ exam, a chemistry screen and a complete the femur. Once the break was set aging can diagnose these benign tumors blood count to rule out medical causes." and healed, the cat reclaimed his of the meninges - thin membranes that In most cases, veterinarians can treat calm personality. cover the brain and spinal cord. They're medical causes ofaggression and you'll the most common type of brain tumors in have your happy, friendly cat again . •:.

SEPTE MBER 201 2 Vi si t us at www .catwatc hn ews letter.com 5 HEALTH (ENTER (continued from cover)

"Our mission has and always will be to improve the health and well be­ ing of cats worldwide," says cardiolo­ gist Bruce G. Kornreich, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, who was appointed Associ­ ate Director for Education and Out­ reach for the center in March. "We do this by networking with and dissemi­ nating information to veterinarians, owners, breeders and cat lovers; and also by funding research into impor­ tant feline health issues." Dr. Kornreich credits Fred Scott, DVM, Ph.D, the center's founder, with the foresight and persistence to focus on feline health nearly four decades ago, when dogs outnumbered cats in American households. Today, cats outnumber dogs as pets - 86 million versus 78 million. In addition to supporting research, the Feline Health Center disseminates information to veterinar­ Independently Funded. The cen­ ians, owners, breeders and cat lovers, says Associate Director Bruce G. Kornreich , DVM, PhD., DACVIM. ter, which is independently funded and has two full-time faculty and four full-time staff members, is located informational platforms for educational focused on feline infectious diseases within the Baker Institute for Animal outreach, oversees conferences and and cutting-edge research presented Health at Cornell University. It has research grant programs and serves by feline practitioners and research­ played a major part in feline health as a liaison between the Feline Health ers from Cornell and the University milestones such as: Center and the Cornell University of Tennessee. Speakers also provided • Establishing vaccine recommenda­ Hospital for Animals. He also teaches updates on anesthesia, cardiology, tions for respiratory viral diseases and sees patients in the cardiology unit dentistry, neurology, nutrition, clinical and feline panleukopenia, a highly at the hospital. The position allows pathology and ophthalmology. An ex­ contagious, sometimes fatal viral him to maximize his natural teaching citing addition to this year's program disease. talents. "My entire career has been all was the inclusion of lectures address­ • Developing the ELISA test (enzyme­ about education and outreach to the ing health and conservation issues in linked immunosorbent assay) to veterinary community and the public," non-domestic cats. detect coronavirus antibodies. he says. "The time is right for me to be Keynote speaker Gary Whittaker, • Identifying feline immunodeficien­ part of the center's important work." Ph.D., Professor of Virology in the De­ cy virus in non-domestic cats. In July, the center held its 24th partment of Microbiology and Immu­ annual Fred Scott Feline Symposium nology at Cornell, discussed his ongo­ In his role as Associate Director, at the university's Veterinary Educa­ ing study of the molecular mechanism Dr. Kornreich develops multi-media tion Center. The three-day conference of the transformation of the enteric form of feline coronavirus, a relatively benign virus that is usually tolerated by HELP IS APHONE CALL AWAY cats, to the highly virulent FIP form of the virus, which is nearly always fatal. Do you have more questions than answers about your cat? Are you look­ ing for expert advice? The Cornell Feline Health Center operates the Dr. Improving Treatment. "FIP is a Louis J. Camuti Memorial Feline Consultation and Diagnostic Service. tough disease to diagnose and ex­ tremely difficult if not impossible to You can call the Camuti Consultation Service at 800-548-8937, between 9 treat," Dr. Kornreich says. "Dr. Whit­ a.m. and noon and between 2 and 4 p.m. EST on Mondays, Wednesdays taker has been conducting ground­ and Fridays. Expect detailed replies from veterinary consultants within 48 breaking research on this problem hours. The fee for this service, payable by credit card, ranges from $55 for for several years and we're hopeful information on many feline diseases, to $75 for oncology issues and $115 that his studies will provide us with for behavior issues. •:. a better understanding of the patho­ genesis of this disease and ultimately

6 CatWatch SEPTEMBER 2012

------to improvements in the diagnosis and • Determining how treatment of FIP." checkpOint proteins, Meanwhile, progress continues on special proteins that studies to develop a vaccine to sterilize assess DNA damage, feral cats and to investigate how the impact tumor progres­ molecular abnormalities in vaccine­ sion and resistance to associated sarcomas can be explOited cancer therapies. to tailor chemotherapy and improve • Determining how tar­ the prognosis for this devastating dis­ geting different signal­ ease. ing pathways within Vicki Meyers-Wallen, VMD, neoplastic (tumor) Ph.D., Associate Professor of Genet­ cells can be combined ics and Reproduction at Cornell's with cytotoxic thera­ Baker Institute for Animal Health, is pies, such as chemo­ conducting the feral cat research. The therapy and radiation goal: Find a time-saving, cost-saving, therapy used to kill and effective way to sterilize cat colo­ cells, to improve re­ Vicki Meyers-Wallen, VMD, Ph.D., at Cornell is conducting nies otJ1er than surgery. sponsivene_ss of cer­ reseafEh-on vaccine--ba5eE1-ster~Hz-atie n of cats ..------.. "We don't expect immediate ap­ tain tumors. plication of this principle, as a number of obstacles to practical application "A major goal of Dr. Hume's research The goal of the study, like the goal exist, but Dr. Meyers-Wallen has is to determine if VAS-associated alter­ of the center, is to discover and share made significant strides in this area of ations in the DNA may predict chemo­ medical information so cats enjoy research," Dr. Kornreich says. "Trap­ therapy sensitivities," Dr. Kornreich says. long, happy lives . •:. ping, neutering and releasing feral cats back to their colonies is an ad­ mirable and major undertaking that, THE STAR OF THE HEALTH CENTER WEBSITE: TOOTH BRUSHING I while benefitting many cats, may not achieve the reduction in feral cat pop­ The Cornell Feline Health Center's website (www.vet.comell.edu/FHC) is ulation that we would prefer. The con­ consistently updated to provide a virtual library of articles and short videos cept of vaccine based sterilization, or for owners. A four-part video on brushing your cat's teeth ranks among the immunosterilization, that Dr. Meyers­ most viewed by visitors to the site. Wallen is investigating holds promise of an easier and more effective way to Four out of five cats after age 3 have some form of periodontal disease if control feral cat populations." owners don't provide at-home dental care. The video offers a four-week training program to introducing tooth brushing to your cat. Studying Sarcomas. Oncologist To access the health topics for printed articles and videos, go to Feline Kelly Hume, DVM, Assistant Professor Health Center on the Cornell website and search for "healt h." You can in the Department of Clinical Sciences, is studying why some cats fare better obtain information on topics from the latest medical treatment s for feline with chemotherapy for vaccine-associated diabetes to how to handle hairballs. ----c:-sa"'""r=comas han otRer cats. AIl10ng her Here is a sampling of medical information you can obtain at t he cl ick of the research interests are: computer mouse: • Cognitive dysfunction in senior cats. Sign s of dementia can be noticed in cats w ho are typica lly 10 years or older. Am ong the signs: excess ive sl eepin g, altered cycl es of sl eep and wa kefulness, long periods of staring bl ankly at the w all and loud vocalizing, especially at night. • Pinpointing the cause of excessive licking. Cats are noted for keep­ ing t heir coat s groomed, spending ab out 30 to 50 percent of their wak­ ing hours tending to t heir coats. Excessive licking ca n be triggered by many caus es, such as re sponse to stre ss, pre sence of parasites such as fl eas, or an underlyi ng medica l condition. • A five-part video on kidney disease. Presentation features expert advice from three Corn ell veterinarians. Vi ewers learn about the diagnosis

Excessive licking is among the topics covered of kidney dis ease, its impact on a cat's health, dietary an d medical thera­ on the Feline Health Center'S website. pies, treatment w ith subcutaneous fluid therapy an d more . •:.

SE PTEMBER 2012 Visit us at www.catwatchnewsletter.co m 7 Dear Elizabeth: I work at a large no-kill are necessary for many metabolic processes and animal sanctuary with special-needs cats. deficiencies may result in a number of health prob­ Q Often when one becomes ill and stops lems for cats. Vitamin A deficiency, for example, eating, we tempt him or her with people food like may cause problems with vision and bone develop­ baby food or boiled chicken. ment and density, while a diet low in vitamin K may Ihave heard a lot ofconflicting things about feed­ predispose cats to bleeding disorders. ing cats baby food or straight meat. Someone recently Minerals are important as well. Calcium, for told me that a good all-meat baby food and straight example, is vital for normal bone development, chicken are nutritionally complete, but I have read in muscle contraction, blood clotting and transmis­ a few places that cats need other nutrients like taurine sion of electrical signals through the heart and and vitamins A and 0 or they will get very sick. Does nervous system. Fatty acids provide crucial build­ straight meat provide full nutrition for cats? In the wild, ing blocks for the production and maintenance how do cats get full nutrition ifmeat does not provide of cell membranes throughout a cat's body, and it all? What is the best kind offood for our dear kitties? diets deficient in fatty acids may result in signifi­ Thank you for conSidering these questions! cant health problems for cats. Also understand Elizabeth is thankful for that while deficiencies of various nutrients may be the assistance ofBruce G. First, let me say thank you for your kind and unhealthy for cats, diets that are too high in cer­ Kornreich, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, Associate Director generous dedication to my feline brethren in tain nutrients may also cause illness. ofthe Cornell Feline Health Ayour work at the sanctuary. People like you The problem with feeding cats diets of only Center, in providing the answer make the world a better place for kitties ... which meat is that they do not provide all nutrients nec­ on this page. we all know makes the world a better place! essary to maintain good health. Cats in the wild In terms of optimal food for my brothers and fulfill their nutritional requirements by eating not PLEASE sisters in your shelter, my best recommenda­ only the meat (muscles) of their prey but also the SHARE YOUR tion would be to provide a commercial diet that entrails and bones of prey species. These non­ QUESTIONS is specifically formulated to provide all of a cat's muscle components of prey provide the additional nutritional requirements as soon as is possible. nutrients that muscles lack, thereby balancing the We welcome questions Bruce G. Kornreich, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, Associate diet. It's amazing to think that to a cat, a mouse is on health, medicine and Director of the Cornell Feline Health Center, agrees. a perfectly balanced diet; and since we cats are so behavior, but regret that Commercial diets that are nutritionally balanced smart, we know what's good for us! we cannot comment on prior diagnoses for cats will carry a statement from the Association This is why we were domesticated in the first and specific products. of American Feed Control Officials indicating that place, to eat our perfect diet (i.e., mice and other Please write CatWatch they fulfill established nutritional requirements for vermin) and to protect our human's diet (grain) that Editor, 800 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, CT, 06854 cats. Cats require a balance of a number of nutri­ the vermin like to feed on at the same time! Nature or email catwatcheditor@ ents in their diet, including amino acids, fatty acids, is just fascinating, isn't it? It's OK to use meat or meat cornell.edu carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water, to based products (like baby food) to entice cats to eat, survive. Some of these nutrients can be produced but these products should not take the place of a by the cat's own metabolism, provided that the well balanced diet for extended periods of time. COMING UP •.• appropriate precursors are provided, while others Another important point is that if you are deal­ must be provided in the diet. ing with sick cats, their caloric requirement may Nutrients that must be provided in the diet are be increased, sometimes significantly. Feeding the termed "essential" nutrients. For example, there amount of food that you would feed to a healthy . are 10 amino acids, the building blocks from cat to a sick kitty may result in weight loss and which proteins are produced, that cats cannot deterioration of physical well-being. synthesize on their own, and that must be pro­ Thank you again for all of your great work on vided for them in the diet. Taurine is one of these behalf of the feline contingency. If you need essential amino acids, and if it is not provided in further advice and specifics, I recommend that the diet, serious heart, eye and/or immune sys­ you consult with your veterinarian and/or a vet­ tem problems may occur. erinary nutritionist. The website for the American Arginine is another essential amino acid for cats, Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (aavn.org) is a and if sufficient arginine is not provided, toxic levels great source of information and contacts . •:. of ammonia may build up in the blood. Vitamins Best regards, Elizabeth

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CatWatch SEPTEMBER 2012