Expert information on medicine, behavior and health from a world leader in veterinary medicine Facing a Hard Fad: 0 Cats Are Fat Thirty percent of 193 patients with cat bites required hospitalization. More than 50 percent are overweight or obese, which Anatomy's Impact on Eyelids 3 can stress arthritic joints and lead to serious disease They can fold inward in short-nosed breeds, causing considerable discomfort. eterinarians liver problems, diabetes When Normal Yeast Goes Wild 4 claSSify 54 per­ and cancer, says Joseph Overabundance results in substances V Wakshlag, DVM, Ph.D., that irritate the skin, acting as allergens. cent of cats in the U.S. as overweight Associate Professor of Ask Elizabeth 8 or obese, according Nutrition at the Cornell The lack of rigorous study has slowed to a study by the University College of the acceptance of holistic medicine. Association for Pet Veterinary Medicine. 'NTHE NEWS ••• Obesity Prevention. That's about one in How do you define AStep Toward Uncovering two cats or about Q overweight or obese, Their Sixth-Sense Behavior? 47 million. The as­ Dr. Wakshlag? The list of animals wi th ultraviolet sociation calls the Therapeutic foods can aid weight loss. Cats should remain in vision - the ability to see high­ situation - without the four-to-five range frequency rays of light invisible irony - an "expanding epidemic." on the Purina Body Condition System (on to humans - extends from But it's no laughing matter. Excess Page 7). As they age, a score of five is bet­ bees, bats, birds, fish and mice to weight diminishes a eat's quality of life. ter, and five-and-a-half isn't so bad, but you reptiles. Until now, few mammals It's hard on arthritic joints and can lead to don't want to get above that. Obese is eight were believed to have this capabil - (continued on page 6) ityThelensesofhumaneye~~r ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ example, block ultraviolet light Nowa study at City University London suggests that cats, dogs Why You g Kittens Fai to Thrive and certain other small mammals like ferrets can also see UV light Genetics, environment and infectious diseases can be to The researchers measured UV light blame, but quick intervention can sometimes save them entering the lens of animals' eyes and found that it penetrated to the illions of kittens are born each spring Feline Health Center, which supports vital retina and was converted to visual M - the majority to stray or feral moth­ research investigating several causes of nerve signals entering the brain. ers. The lucky ones end up in the care of fading kitten syndrome. These include cali­ They haven't determined the kindhearted humans. But many of these civirus, a common respiratory infection, basis of this ability but say it serves new owners and foster parents face heart­ and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a several purposes, such as skill as break when their tiny charges succumb to routinely fatal viral infection. nighttime predators and survivors. fading kitten syndrome - a disturbingly For example, reindeers use UV light common occurrence. Even under the best of Future Hope. OngOing studies supported to help distinguish polar bears in circumstances, an estimated 15 to 27 percent by the Center hold the promise ofclarify- white snow. They do say know­ of all kittens die before they're 9 weeks old. ing the mechanism of these important feline ing many animals have ultraviolet "There are a variety of reasons for the diseases and improving our ability to prevent, vision could provide greater under­ death of very young kittens," says veteri­ diagnose and treat cats afflicted by them. standing of their behavior. Perhaps nary cardiologist Bruce Kornreich, DVM, "The causes offading kitten syndrome can their sixth sense? They see things Ph.D., Associate Director of the Cornell be roughly divided into genetic, environmental we don't. ·:. (continued on page 5) CatWa ch SHORTTAKES When They Went to spaces that don't have blood Circulation, EDITOR IN CHIEF the ER for Cat Bites and surgery is often required." Bruce G. Kornreich, DVM, PhD, His message: "Don't ignore a cat bite." In Di pl ACVIM A three-year retrospective study of fact. as the CatWatch October 2013 article EDITOR Betty liddick people who went to the Mayo Clinic "How to Avoid Those Sharp Feline Bites" Hospital in Rochester, Minn" with cat bites advises, older or immuno-compromised ART DIRECTOR Mary Francis McGavic to their hands found that 30 percent of individuals should immediately see a doctor them required hospitalization. While dog if they have been bitten because of the risk ADVISORY BOARD James A. Flanders, DVM, Di pl bites can seem dramatiC, with torn skin, of bacterial infection. ACVS, AssoCia te Pr ofessor, broken bones and considerable bleeding, OiniG31 Sciences their open wounds can often be easier to Allergy-free Breeds? Marc S. Kraus, DVM, Dlpl ACVIM, clean - and heal. Semar LEct urer, Clin ical Sciences Cat bites, however, can pose serious No cats have been proven to be Margaret C. McEntee, DVM, Dipl ACVIM, DACVR, problems. Their deep puncture wounds hypoallergenic, but an air purifi er Professor of Oncology make victims vulnerable to bacterial manufacturer and environmental cons ulting William H. Miller, Jr., VMD, Dipl infections. Of the 193 Mayo Clinic patients firm have included two felin e breeds on a ACVD, Professor, Clinical Sciences whose cases were reported in the Journal of list of 10 allergen-friendly pets, Ilona Rodan, DVM, Dipl ABVP Hand Surgery: One is the Javanese, whose name, like Wisconsin Ca t Care Clinic, Madison, WI some other Oriental breeds, derives from • 36 were immediately admitted to Southeast Asian countries and islands the hospital, where they staye d an rather than their origin. The Javanese wa s average of three days, developed in North America. The breed, Cornell University , College of • 154 were treated with oral recognized as a show cat, has an elegant f) Veterinary Medicine antibiotics as outpatients, but 21 of body and no undercoat and, as a result, even them later had to be hospitalized, though he's a longhair, has less fur to shed For info rm,llion on your cdt's health, Allergens in cat saliva, especially the vi sit the Cornel l Umverslly Col lege of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Feli ne Complications involved nerve protein Fel d 1, can trigger allergic reactions Health Center website at problems, abscesses and loss of joint in humans. Cats spread the wwwvel.comelr.e du/fhc/ mobility. The aggressive bacteria protein, found in dander in Pasteurella multocida in the mouths their fur and skin, when they of many animals and up to 90 groom themselves. percent of healthy cats was the most The second cat on common cause of infection, the the list is the Devon researchers say, Rex, a shorthaired cat --.. CarWarch' (ISSN 1095-9092) "Redness, swelling, increasing with a slender body and i<; published mon Illy pain, difficulty in moving the hand la rge ears. The intensely fo r S39 per yea r by BelvO ir Media Gro up, and drainage from the wound are loyal breed is celebrated for LLC, 800 Cot1rlecr icut all signs that there may be an a fun-loving natur'e rhat the Belvoi r Ave , Norwalk, CT 06854­ 1631, Robert Eng lander, infection and that treatment Cat Fanciers Association says Chairman and CEO; n mothy H, Cole, should be sought." says the some describe as a cross Executive Vice President, Editorial Direu or; Ph il ip L PenrlY,Chief study's senior author, Brian between a cat. dog, monkey Ope rating Of Icer; Greg King, Executive T Carlsen, MD, a hand and Dennis the Menace. Vice PreSident, Marketing Direc tor; Ron Goldberg, Chief Fioancial Officer; Ton, surgeon at the Mayo Cl inic The allergen-friendly Canfield, Vice PrEsiOent, Clrcula ion "The tendon list was sponsored by Kaz Inc ~l01 4 Belvo ir Media Group, U C sheaths and of Southborough, Mass, Post aSler: Send ad dress CO rren,ons joints are with participation from to Ca Watch p.o. Box 8535, BI9 Sandy, TX 7 ~ 7 55·8535 superficial Ted Myatt, senior scientist at Environmental Health For Customer Service in the hand, or Subscription information, viS it and cat bites and Engineering in w w w.ca!wiJ tmnewsletter.com!cs penetrate Needham, Mass. •:. or call toll free: 800-829-8893 easily, seeding those Express written perm ission Is required to re produce, in any spaces with the germ. manner, the contenlSof rhiS issue, Once it's in there, it can No cat is hypoallergenic, ither III fu ll orin pa rt. For more grow quite Informati on, wille to Permissions, but the shorthaired i)ev()n CacWiHc h, 800 (onnee leut Ave., rapidly in Rex made the cut for allergy NorWalk, Co nnecticu t 06854-1631. nuid-filled frre ndly breeds, Catwatch MA Y 2014 MEDICINE Anatomy's Impact on the Eye ids They can fold inward in short-nosed breeds, causing blinking, inflammation and considerable discomfort f you notice your cat squinting or his "Although inherited predisposi­ I eyes watering, he may be suffering tion is the most common cause," from entropion, a condition that causes Dr. Eaton says, "entropion can part of the eyel ids to fold inward and also develop as a result of eyelid eyelashes to rub on the eyes' surface. It trauma that heals improperly, Short-nosed breeds such as Persians usually affects the lower eyelids but can as a secondary condition to a chronic are at higher risk for en tropion because 01 also impact the upper lids, in either case herpes infection that scars the lining rheir skull conformations.