It's Raining Kittens

Who can resist kittens? They are cute, tiny versions of adult felines, yet completely dependent on others. A mother cat, or queen, has the job of nursing her kittens for about eight weeks. She also socializes them.
Kittens’ personalities are often similar to that of their mother and are developed by observing and imitating her social habits.

It also is important for kittens to have positive contact with people and other animals before seven weeks of age, so they are not fearful later in life.

Of course, the best caretaker of the kittens is the queen. However, in some cases, this is not possible, and human caretakers may have to take over the responsibilities of bottle feeding and socializing them. There are several good commercial kitten milk-replacement products available for young kittens that can supply all their nutritional needs.

A kitten can be a joy to have in the home. Many people think it is impossible to train cats and kittens, but this is not true. In fact, training can be easy if started while the animal is still a kitten. Good behavior is rewarded with treats. A squirt bottle or air canister can be used to discourage cats and kittens from getting on furniture or counters. If the behaviors are rewarded or reprimanded consistently, most cats will learn the house rules quickly.

It is especially important to teach kittens appropriate play behavior. Owners should never allow their kittens to pounce and play-bite at hands or feet. This teaches them it is acceptable to bite and scratch people.

What is cute at eight weeks will not be cute in adulthood. Kittens also need a large variety of interesting toys. Fishing-pole toys and laser pointers can entertain a cat and its owner for hours.

Litter-box training is critically important for indoor cats. They instinctively like to dig and bury their waste, so most cats prefer to use litter boxes.

Lifetime habits develop early, so it is vital for young kittens to have easy access to a litter box. It may be necessary to cut the side of the box to allow the kitten to climb in. The box should be cleaned regularly, to keep it appealing to the kitten.

There are numerous cats and kittens in need of homes. Central Florida has many local, dedicated pet-adoption groups that are happy to match people with the right pet. Anyone who adopts a kitten should be sure to have the new pet examined by a veterinarian, vaccinated and screened for feline infectious diseases and parasites. A veterinarian is also a good source of information regarding training and behavior. After that, cat owners should be sure to spay or neuter their pets so that it will not “rain” as many kittens in the future.

By Diane Delmain, D.V.M., A.B.V.P.
As featured in the Southwest Orlando Bulletin June 5-18, 2008 Issue

Information on Declawing

             Not sure if you should declaw your cat?  Well, that debate is for a different article!  This article will briefly explain the declawing procedure and the different methods with which it is done.  It will also provide an explanation of the Bay Hill Cat Hospital declaw protocol.  Declawing, or onychectomy, is a routine procedure performed throughout the United States.  Sometimes it may shock owners to learn that a declaw isn’t simply ‘removing the nails’.  At the Bay Hill Cat Hospital, to avoid the risk of any nails regrowing, the nail and the first digit of bone it is attached to are removed while the cat is under anesthesia.  No bone is actually cut, but is removed at the first joint.  This bone is not weight bearing, nor necessary for the cat to walk or play appropriately. Typically, after healing there should be no noticeable behavioral differences. 

            Surgical declawing entails using a scalpel blade as the surgery tool.  A blade is what makes an incision through the tendons and nerves at the joint.  After surgery is complete, each wound is sealed with surgical glue and each paw is wrapped in bandages for 24 hours.  A special type of litter is recommended so that no particles find their way into the healing surgical sites.  Within a few days, or a couple of weeks for an older cat, the cat’s behavior should return to normal and no further restrictions are necessary.

            Laser declawing entails using a laser as the surgery tool.  Every other step of the surgery and recovery is the same.  The most common type of laser used is a CO2 laser.  These lasers emit infrared light at a certain wavelength to penetrate the cells in the tissue, instantly vaporizing the water in those cells, which in turn cuts the tissues.  This process may result in less bleeding during surgery.  Because the same amount of tissue still needs to be removed, the use of lasers does not reduce the amount of time required to complete the surgery.    However, it does increase the cost!  These laser units can be quite expensive.  Just to make up the cost of the product, the client’s fees may need to be increased over $100 per surgery!  Also, using a laser does not automatically mean the surgery will be performed any better than without one.  A surgeon who is bad with a scalpel will still be a bad surgeon with a laser.  And even a good surgeon will still require the appropriate training to use a laser.  

             Here at the Bay Hill Cat Hospital, we regularly perform declaws.  We use neither traditional mechanical procedures nor the laser.  We use a scalpel blade that is attached to a cauterizing unit.  While cutting through the tissues, the unit electrically cauterizes the tissues, therefore reducing blood loss.  So we have the best of both worlds!  In addition to this, we use local anesthetics, which are injected into the cat’s paws before surgery.  Even though the cat is under anesthesia for the surgery this greatly reduces any pain the cat may feel upon waking.  We recommend keeping your cat with us for 2-3, days depending on the size of your cat at the time of surgery.  We also administer oral or transdermal pain medication (a patch on the skin) throughout your cat’s stay with us.  These measures should be taken regardless of what procedure is used during the declaw to ensure proper pain management and recovery of your cat.

Imagine that you are all of a sudden whisked away to a foreign land where no one speaks your native tongue.  You would be pretty nervous, right?  Because even if everyone were friendly, no one would be able to understand you, and you would be at a pretty big loss, too!  However (after the initial shock wore off) you would be able to communicate through body language and facial expressions.  We can all agree that no matter who you are, a smile indicates happiness and a closed body position may indicate a lack of interest or even slight annoyance.

The same goes for cats!  Although each may have their own personality, and they may not be able to actually talk to us in a verbal language we readily understand, they do communicate.  Vocally, we can all distinguish between a “Good morning, nice to see you!” meow and an “I’m starving!  Feed me now!” meow.  There’s also the scent marking type of communication discussed in a previous article.  Their body language, however, can be a bit more difficult to understand.

Every part of a cat’s body has something to tell you.  The ears, eyes, body posture, and tail!  And they all work together to form the big picture of a cat’s mood or emotional state.  Let’s examine them briefly as an overview so you can better understand what your cat might be trying to say. 

A cat’s ears can move independently and rotate almost 180 degrees!  This is great for helping them locate prey or discern whether you’re in the study or the kitchen opening a can of food for them!  They are also a wonderful communication tool.  The ears of a content relaxed cat will also be relaxed and facing forward.  When the ears are pricked forward, the cat is usually alert or excited.  When they are flat against the head, this can indicate that the cat is very fearful or even aggressive.

The eyes of a cat can see very well even in low light, and can also say a lot to other cats (and people).  The pupils of a cat’s eye will dilate (get larger) in response to very low light and contract into slits when there is a lot of light.  The eyes can do this for other reasons as well, though.  Dilated pupils can indicate that a cat is excited or fearful.  They can also simply mean that your cat is happy to see you (this happens in people, too!).  Pupils that are contracted can signify that a cat is aggressive and feels very confident.  A cat with wide eyes is often very alert and ready to move, while a cat with eyes half closed is often very comfortable and relaxed. Another interesting tidbit is that staring is considered to be a threat in the eyes of a cat.  That’s why at a human gathering, a cat will almost invariably sit on the person who likes cats the least.  Everyone else is looking at the cat, which is perceived as a threat and something to stay away from.  The person who is allergic or afraid of cats is ignoring it, considered as quite polite behavior to the cat!  So they are rewarded with a visit!

A cat’s body posture is extremely telling of its mood.  A cat that is lying on its back with legs spread is happy and content and probably ready to play!  The same goes for a cat obviously lounging on its side or upright on its belly with the front paws tucked under.  When a cat is nervous or fearful it may be standing slightly crouched and ready to run.  The fur on its back may be standing on edge as well.  A cat that has just been startled and is defensive aggressive will often have an arched back and face you sideways with all the fur on its back and tail standing on edge (the standard “Halloween cat”).  Cats do this to try and seem larger than they are and scare off potential attackers.  An aggressive cat will also have its hackles up, but facing forward, while a fearful and submissive cat will try to shrink away into the wall and become as small as possible to avoid attack.

One of the best judges of a cat’s overall mood is also its best balancing tool - its tail.  While on its feet, if a cat’s tail is horizontal it is content and confident.  If fully erect in flag-pole style, the cat is feeling friendly and maybe even excited to see you!  While walking around, if the tail wraps around something like a chair leg (or a human one!) the cat is scent marking and inviting attention, affection, and probably food!  While at rest, a tail wrapped around the body may indicate a chill, but also means contentment and the overall desire to be left alone.  If the tail is lying away from the body, contact is acceptable.  We all love to give our cats affection, but they will let us know when they’ve had enough by swishing their tail back and forth.  The more powerful the swishing, the more fed up they are.  Be wary:  too much more affection and your furry friend may swat you!

While there is much more to having a complete understanding of cat behavior and communication, you now have the basic tools with which to go out into your living room and know what your cat is trying to tell you, without even saying a word.

How do cats communicate?  They can’t quite talk to each other like we can,
and they can’t call or send e-mails to one another either.  So what signals do
they use to communicate with other animals?  They use the same senses we
do (sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell), but in different ways.  Cats can see
almost as well as we can during the day, and quite a bit better in low light.
Each of their ears can move independently of the other, so they are much better
than us at locating the source of a sound.  Their whiskers have an extremely
sensitive sense of touch and helps them determine if they can fit back behind
your refrigerator. Cats can taste the same things we can, but their sense is
weaker and as strict carnivores, chocolate cake is not nearly as appealing
to a cat as to you or me!  A cats sense of smell, on the other hand, is much
stronger than ours and is one of their most important senses.

Cats learn all about their environment through what their nose tells them.
When a human comes home after visiting a friend with four cats, their cat
can smell each and every one of those cats, and can most likely distinguish
males from females. Imagine entering a store with your eyes closed and
being able to smell how many men and women were there!  It can also let
them know when their food is available (as if the can opener weren‘t enough!),
and if it’s at the right temperature. Cats prefer food to be warm, which
also happens to be when it is smelliest.  Most of a cat’s sense of taste actually
comes from what it smells.  Which is why cats like food from a freshly opened
can rather than from the fridge.

In addition to gaining general information about their environment through
their noses, cats can also leave scent messages for each other and themselves.
Many activities that endear our cats to us are actually the cats way of scent
marking. These marks may be territorial in nature, or may just be so that as
much as possible in a cats daily environment smells like the cat.  When a cat
head butts your leg or simply rubs the side of its face and neck against you, it
is actually marking you with scent from sebaceous glands.  Similarly, after
we pet a cat, the cat will often lick itself.  This is not only to put all the hairs
back in place, but to cover up your smell with theirs!  When a cat scratches
a scratching post (or the floor, or the couch!) they are not only sharpening
their claws.  Glands in their footpads are actually depositing scent on whatever
was scratched.  One more way cats leave scent behind is by urine spraying.
Although this is most common in cats that have not been neutered (what more
motivation do you need?!), any cat can spray urine to leave scent behind.

Tips for Socializing Your New Kitten

Socialization is the process during which kittens develop positive relationships with other living beings. The younger this process begins the better. Studies have found the most sensitive period is the first 3 months of life. Experiences the pet has during this time will greatly influence its developing personality and how well it gets along with people and other animals. It is very important for interactions to be frequent and positive. This will help prevent fear, biting, and aggression as the kitten grows into adulthood. Frequent exposure to new environments, sounds and odors are very beneficial.

Kitten classes are an excellent way to ensure multiple contacts with a variety of people and other cats. When visitors come to your home it is a good idea to have them meet and give treats to your kitten. This exposes the kitten to a wide variety of people in a positive way.

Always avoid physical punishment. Physical and verbal punishment will damage the kitten’s bond with you and make it fearful of being handled by people. When correction of behavior is necessary redirecting the kitten’s attention is the best choice. Well-socialized kittens grow into friendly, outgoing cats that are pleasurable companions.

Periodontal disease is just a fancy term for gum disease.  It is the most diagnosed health problem in cats.  Just like people, it all starts with plaque.

Basically when a cat eats, the meal leaves a coating on the teeth.  That is plaque.  Plaque hardens within 24-36 hours after eating.  If not brushed away, plaque becomes calculus or tartar, which can be removed by a veterinarian.

Periodontal disease happens in stages.  In the early stages, plaque and tartar form, irritating gums and causing inflammation.  Caught early the problem can be remedied.  If it progresses to later stages, however, periodontal disease can cause bleeding, loose teeth and loss of bone.  The bacteria from the mouth can cause more severe complications including problems with the heart, liver, kidneys, joints, and lungs.

The best weapon in the fight against periodontal disease is a toothbrush with soft bristles and animal toothpaste.  Since tooth brushing can be difficult in cats, feeding Hills T/D tartar control diet or greenies treats is a good alternative.  Follow this defense by professional cleaning as needed.

If you take care of your pet's mouth you may add several years to his/her life.