® Expert information on medicine, behavior and health from a world leader in veterinary medicine Short Takes 2 ABreakthrough Decades in the Making Tracking the cat's big cousin in Africa; diagnosing an eye disorder. The discovery of a benign virus' mutation into a deadly Finicky Eaters: Born That Way 3 infection could lead to accurate diagnosis and treatment They seem to have appetite centers in the brain that control their eating. eline infectious team of Cornell University Holidays Can Tempt the Curious 4 Fperitonitis ranks as researchers has identified Hazards range from "linear foreign one of the deadliest dis­ the changes that happen bodies" to lilies and essential oils. eases affecting cats ­ when the coronavirus mu­ Ask Elizabeth 8 it's the leading cause of tates in'to FIPV Atabby grooms excessively to the death in cats under 2 point of his developing bald spots. years of age. Veterinary Possibility of Vaccines. scientists have long sus­ This breakthrough is viewed INTHE NEWS ••• pected that the FIP vi­ as a vital first step toward ASimple Test Determines rus (FIPV) was a lethal accurately diagnOSing FIP If a Cat Has been Spayed mutation of the feline Shelter kittens are especially prone and eventually developing to the FIP virus. Surg ical sca rs once were a coronavirus (FECV), vacoines and treatments, good ind icator that a cat h d a benign and common says the study'S lead scien­ bee n spayed, but with the proce­ intestinal virus, but they couldn't identify tist, Gary R. Whittaker, Ph.D., a Professor of dure performed at you nger ages how this transformation occurred. Virology in the Cornell University College today, the spay sca r often heal s Until now. By taking a novel approach to of Veterinary Medicine's Department of without a trace. Now a test us in g studying FIP ­ at the molecular level - a Microbiology and Immunology. a sma ll blood sa mple to distin­ (continued 011 page 5) gu ish spayed fro m inta ct pets is available from th e Ani ma l Hea lth Diagnostic Cen ter at Cornel l. Own ers and shelters interested When the Diagnosis Is Arthritis in th e servi ce shou ld ask their A few easy, often inexpensive changes at home can veterinarian to contact the center at ahdc.vet.comel l.edu. make your eat's life less painful and more comfortable Th e diagnostic test, known as an ti-Mull erian hormon e or rthritis creeps up on a cat with signs so exam, blood tests, X-rays and other tests can AMH, looks for the presence of a A subtle that they're easy to miss: getting help determine whether the pain results from hormon e that is produced on ly up more slowly from a nap, dashing after an infection, autoimmune disorder, injury or by the ova rie s. A nega tive test a toy mouse less often, perhaps even los­ simply the toll of age. in dic ates their removal. A positive ing interest in leaping from the floor to the te st mea ns the ani mal is intact or kitchen counter top. Worn Cartilage. All types of arthritis may have a remn ant of an ova ry It hurts to realize that your cat hurts, but involve degeneration of the -cartilage covering from a previ ous spay. She may go you play an important part in his comfort the ends ofbones in joints. Normally smooth, into heat, but pregnancy is pre­ when the diagnosis is arthritis. The condi­ the cartilage allows joints to move easily. As vented if th e uterus was removed tion can't be cured, but veterinary care and a the cartilage breaks down, the joints don't durin g the spay procedu re. The few easy changes around the house can keep move as well and bones rub together, result­ AMH test can help with the both of you happier. ing in inflammation, stiffness, swelling and manage ment of case swh en a The first step is a trip to the veterinar­ soreness. The condition has no cure but can rem na nt is suspected . •:. ian to learn the cause of the pain. A physical be treated to keep a cat more comfortable. (continued on bottom ofpage 6) CatWatch SHORT TAKES 58 MPH Sounds Fast, but Grip and Maneuverability Play Key Roles EDITOR IN CHIEF Bruce G. Kornreich, DVM, Ph D .. Cheetahs, our domestic Dlpl A VIM cats' big cousins, seem to EDITOR fascinate scientists. Maybe Betty Liddick it's because they're the ART DIRECTOR fastest land animal, and Mary Francis McGavic measuring their speed ADVISORY BOARD James A. Fl anders, DVM,Dipl presents a challenge. AC . Associate Professor, Researchers have clocked Clinical Science~ cheetahs running after a Marc S. Kraus, DVM, Dlpl ACVIM, Senior LEc turer, Clinical <;ciences lure and observed films of them chasing prey in Margaret C. McEntee, DVM, Dipl ACVIM, DA(VR, the wild . Profess r of Oncol gy Now, w ith the use of William H. Miller, Jr., VMD, ACVD, GPS and a motion-sensing Pro essor, Clinical Sc;ences collar of their own design, Ilona Rodan, DVM, Dipl ABVP WiSCOnsin Cat Care Clinic. Alan Wilson, BSc, Ph.D., Madison, WI BVMS, and his team at the Royal Veterinary College in London have gathered To test their tracking equipment, researchers used lu res to sirnu late the natural hunting behavior of cheetahs ar the Ann van Dyk Cornell University what they describe as the - College of Cheeta h Centre in South Africa . ti) Veterinary Medicine first detailed information on the hunting dynamics For information on your car' health, Future study, based on animals' ranging visit the Cornell Universi y Co llege of of the cheetah in its natural habitat. Their Ve tennary Medicrne, C mel! Feline tracking collar was equipped with a GPS behavior in the w ild, could have practical Health Center website at module and electronic motion sensors application in evaluating management of w Iw.vet.com elledu/ fhcl. - accelerometers, magnetometers and potential wildlife-protected areas, the re­ gyroscopes - powered by solar cells searchers say. and batteries. They recorded data over 18 months Assessing the Eyes from 367 "hunting events" by three female Re searchers at UC Davis are studying and two male adult cheetahs in the CotWarch' (lSSN 1095·9092) whether new tests for diagnosing and Botswana Predator Conservation Trust in is publl,hed monthly monitoring tear film disorders in humans for S39 per year by remote Northern Botswana. The findings: _ BelVOir Media Grauo, could be applied to cats. "This information I LC 80 ConneCl lcl'\ The cheetahs ran at top speeds of 58 miles -=1 w ill be of immediate use to veterinarians Be\v(}\ r Ave , I ~orwalk , C! 06854 ­ an hour after prey, mostly impalas. By 1631 Robt'rt Englander, worldwide because it will allow early Chairma r1 and CEO;Timot hy H, Cole, comparison, according to the Cornell Feline Executive ice Presi dent, Editor ial diagnosis and treatment of tear film Director; Philip L. PeMy, Chref Health Center, domestic cats can sprint abnormalities in cats (and) minimize ocular Operating Office r; Greg lng, Execu ti ve at 30 miles an hour for short distances, a Vice President, Marke 1119 DireClOr; Ron pain and the potential for seve re or chronic Goldberg, Chief Financial Officer; Tom remarkable feat in its own right. complications," says the Winn Feline Canfield, Vice PreSident, Circuiation. Although speed is certainly important ~2012 Belvoir Medra GrouQ, llC. to a cheetah's hunting success, grip and Foundation, the study'S sponsor. Po tmasler. Send address correUlons All species have a thin film of tears to c"IWalch, PO. Box 8535, Big Sandy, maneuverability are also critical. according rx 75755·8535 . to the study published in the journal coating their eye s for comfort, eye health For Customer Service Nature. (For information on domestic cats' and vision. The film provides corneal or Subscription information, vim www.calwalchnewsle lercom/cs athleticism, please see "Why Do They lubrication and protection from infection, or cail [01 1fre e: 800·829 -8 93. Almost Always Land on Their Feet7" in our and flushes debriS from the eyes' surface. Expre;s wriuen perm iss ion is October 2013 issue. A clue Like the cheetah, "Abnormalities in these tear layers are required 10 reprod'JCe, In allY manner, the contents of this ISlue. domestic cats have flexible spines.) asso ciated with rapid evaporation of eit her in full or in part For more The average length of the cheetahs' run the tears and drying of the conjunctiva info rmation, write [0 Perm issrons, C,lIWa ch, 800 Conneclfcu Ave., was 189 yards, w ith the longest ones measur­ and cornea, which is highly painful and or walk, Connecticut 06854- 163 1. ing 611 yards, or about six football fields. potentially blinding," the foundation says. •:. 2 CatWcltch NO VEMBER 2013 NUTRITION Finicky Eaters? They're Born That Way In other cases, infection, disease, pain and medications can cause a lack of appetite eterinary nutritionist Joseph J. Q: Which medications tend to V Wakshlag, DVM, Ph.D., has an eye­ cause inappetence? opening assessment about finicky eat­ A. Opioids like morphine decrease the ers: "The reality is that most finicky cats motility of the gastrointestinal system are the best kinds to have because they and can cause it. Many chemotherapeutic regulate themselves. They eat to meet a drugs will cause nausea, which causes a requirement to keep themselves alive, not lack ofappetite. It's generally not a prob­ Cats appear to have similar appetite centers in their brains as those In humans because their lem if a cat is on a week's worth ofantibi­ for pleasure.