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® Expert information on medicine, behavior andhealth from a world leader in veterinary medicine INSIDE The Risks ofUpper Respiratory Infedions Short Takes 2 Ocean-going farewells; ahealth They're often ultimately harmless, but kittens are especially bene~\t \)~ pet \)\fm~C)h\p. vulnerable, and secondary diseases can have serious effects ADeadly Threat to Outdoor Cats 3 Hypothermia can cause adrop in igns that your cat • The infections can be blood pressure and cardiac arrest. Shas an infection of highly communicable in his upper respiratory multi-cat households. The first Oue: a Persistent Cough 4 tract can mimic the Unfortunately, vac Wheezing and breathing through the ones you suffer with cines for respiratory tract mouth are also hallmarks of asthma. a cold: watery eyes, infections don't provide Ask Elizabeth 8 runny nose, wheezing, total protection, although sneezing and coughing. they can reduce the illness' Chewing and scratching hot spots Just as you're likely to length and severity. About will perpetuate the damage. rebound in a few days, 80 percent of feline up ------------4 in most instances a cat per respiratory infections IN THE NEWS ••• will, too. ~ are caused by one of two In some cases, how ~ viruses: feline herpesvirus 'Kitty cams' reveal ever, bacterial and viral in (FRV), also known as their hidden world respiratory infections can carry Significant risks: feline rhinotracheitis virus (FRV), and feline • Complications such as pneumonia, calicivirus (FCV). A third and far less fre Two thousand hours of video blindness or chronic breathing problems quent cause of upper respiratory infections in recorded by "kitty cams" from the can develop. cats is the bacteria Chlamydophilia felis. National Geographic Society have • Cats can become carriers for two viruses "All three of these organisms are very uncovered the lives of indoor cats and spread the disease but not show any specific to cats," says Richard Goldstein, who are allowed outdoors. The outward signs of illness. (continued on page 6) surprising results that University of Georgia researchers found in tracking 60 cats wearing the light weight cameras in Athens, Ga.: The mysterious purr eludes translation • 44 percent hunted prey, with 30 percent preying Learning how to interpret their vocalizations upon lizards, snakes, frogs, chipmunks and the can help you understand and meet their needs occasional vole. Only 28 percent of them ate prey, onventional wisdom has long held that Health Benefits? Complete understand however. Cpurring is a sign of contentment, a ing of purring remains a mystery, though, • 85 percent risked danger cat purring on a sunny windowsill by the at least for the time being. Reports of its by crossing two-lane streets owner's side being a perfect example. How possible health benefits have surfaced and exploring tight spaces ever, researchers have found that cats also recently in mainstream media, suggest such as storm drains. purr in other, often surprising situations ing the behavior might promote increased • Four cats went into other - when giving birth and nursing, when bone density and the healing of muscles houses, where families under duress and even when dying. and tendons in cats. The hypothesis goes petted and fed them, Learning how to interpret your cat's like this: "basically cheating on their vocalizations can help you understand and Low frequenCies - those between 20 original owners," says lead meet his needs, whether he wants to eat, and 50 hertz - have been shown to be researcher Kerrie Anne go out or have his litter box changed, says helpful in pain relief, bone growth and Loyd, a wildlife ecologist. Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, Ph.D., diplo healing muscles and tendons in other ani The findings were presented mate of the American College of Veteri mals and people. at the Ecological Society of nary Behaviorists and emeritus James Law Cats' purring registers between 20 to 50 America's annual conference Professor of Animal Behavior at Cornell Hz and occaSionally up to ISO Hz. in Portland, Ore.•:. UniverSity College of Veterinary Medicine. (continued on page 5) CatWatch SHORT TAKES Ocean-going farewells EDITOR IN CHIEF A sea burial service, begun in Bruce G. Kornreich, DVM, PhD., Marshfield, Mass., with one boat, Dipl ACVIM now has 48 vessels operating EDITOR Betty Liddick from Maine to Miami and from San Francisco to San Diego. Since ART DIRECTOR Mary Francis McGavic he expanded the company in 2007 to include cremated pets, ADVISORY BOARD James A. Flanders, DVM, Dipl founder Capt. Brad White says his ACVS, Associate Professor, New England Burials at Sea has Clinical Scien ces provided memorials for hundreds Marc S. Kraus, DVM, Dipl ACVIM, Senior Lecturer, Cl inica l Sciences of animals. The company, one of a handful in the United States Margaret C. McEntee, DVM, Dipl ACVIM, DACVR, offering the service on both Professor of Oncology coasts, is billed as the most requested. Its dust from homes with a cat or dog is distinct William H. Miller, Jr.,VMD, ACVD, memorials offer the scattering of ashes, sea in composition from homes without pets. Professor, Clininical Sciences wreaths or rose petals, and music. In comparing the homes, researchers say Ilona Rodan, DVM, Dipl ABVP Dispatching cremains into the deep is "bacterial community richness was notably Wisconsin Cat Care Clinic, Mad ison, WI environmentally safe because of the high increased in all dog-owning and a subset of temperatures used in cremation, White cat-owning households." The study is the first says, adding - no surprise to pet lovers step toward identifying the microbial species mourners typically "cry more about Fluffy and that offer protection against the asthmagenic Cornell University College of Fido than they do about their grandmothers." pathogen RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), Veterinary Medicine says researcher Kei Fujimura, PhD. Emergency help for pets RSV, a common infection in infants, can For information on your cat's health, When the worst wildfires in Colorado cause mild to severe respiratory symptoms. visit the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Feline history swept the state, causing thousands A severe infection is associated with a higher Health Center website at of evacuations, the American Humane risk of developing childhood asthma. The www.vet.comell.edu/fhcl Association sprang into action. It deployed disease is highly communicable, spread personnel, volunteers, supplies and its through droplets containing the virus in a 16-wheel, 82-foot-long Red Star Rescue Rig cough or sneeze. It also can live on surfaces, to help animal victims. hands and clothing . Red Star Rescue Service was a state The researchers presented their findings approved first-responder, with the rig at this year's annual meeting of the CatWatch' (lSSN: 1095-9092) providing emergency operations, sheltering American Society for Microbiology. _ is published monthly and care to lost pets. The effort achieved 100 for $39 per year by _ Belvoir Media Group, percent success . "During this deployment, Warning on stainless bowls -=1 LLC, 800 Con necticut we helped 124 animals and reunited every A foreign supplier mistakenly used Belvoir Ave, Norwalk, CT 06854 1631. Robert England er, single one of them with their families," says small quantities of radioactive Cobalt-60 in Chairman and CEO; Timothy H. Co le, spokesman Mark Stubis. making certain stainless Exec utive Vice PreSident, Editoria l Director; Ph ilip L. Penny, Ch ief The service and the rig - complete with steel pet food bowls for Operating Officer; Greg King, Exec utive a mobile operating room - have saved Petco, the com pa ny says. Vice Presiden t, Marke ting Director; Ron Goldberg, Chief Financial Officer; Tom more than 64,000 animals in major relief "The affected products Ca nfield, Vice President, Circu lation. efforts in the past five years. The rig's work were found to emit low ©20 12 Belvoir Media Group, LLC. in Colorado and in the year to come is made levels of radiation." Pos tmaster: Se nd address co rrecti ons possible in part by a $200,000 pledge from Testing of the products indicates there to Ca tWa tch, PO Box 8535, Big Sandy, TX 75755-8535. MarsPetcare US, makers of Pedigree Food is no health risk to the public, employees for Dogs and Whiskas Food for Cats, among For Customer Service and pets, Petco says, adding that U.S. or Subscription information, visit other brands. Customs and Border Protection agents wvvw.ca twatchnewsletter.comlcs discovered the problem during routine or call toll free 800 -829 -8893. Benefits of pet ownership screening of a cargo container. Express written permission is required to reproduce, in any Another study has emerged, indicating The few customers who bought the manner, the contents of this issue, that dog and cat ownership can protect bowls between May 31 and June 20 are either in full or in part. For more information, write to Permi SS ions, children from developing asthma. entitled to refunds, the company says. CatWatc h, 800 Connecticut Ave, Researchers at the University of California in Product numbers are listed on labels on the Norwalk, Connecticut 06854-163 1. San Francisco found that bacteria in house bowls: 1047493, 1386956 and 1047477. •:. CatWatch NOVEMBER 2012 SAFETY to the touch. Iflow body temperature is ADeadly Threat to Outdoor Cats suspected, the owner should place a bare hand on the animal's groin - the pOint at Hypothermia can cause a drop in blood pressure, which the hind legs meet the torso. If the skin feels cold, the animal's temperature a lowered heart rate and the potential for cardiac arrest should be taken with a rectal thermom eter - a device that all cat owners should have on hand. "In extreme cases," says Dr. Schoeffler, "the temperature may be so low that it won't even register on a standard thermometer." All cases ofsuspected hypothermia need prompt treatment, regardless of whether the condition is thought to be mild, moderate or severe.