Cat Facts - Feral Cat vs. Stray Cat

A female cat can reproduce as early as 6 months of age. Her heat cycle can recur up to 4 times per year and can be uncomfortable for the cat. If impregnated, litter sizes may vary from 2 to 10 kittens. In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can yield 420,000 cats!

Feral cats are born and raised in the wild or who have been abandoned and reverted to wild ways in order to survive. Most feral cats are too fearful and wild to be handled and they often live in groups called colonies and take refuge wherever they can find food. They also seek out abandoned buildings, deserted cars and even dig holes in the ground to keep warm in winter months and cool during summer heat. Their average lifespan is less than two years if living on their own and may reach five years if living in a colony that has a caretaker.

A feral cat is primarily wild raised or has adapted to feral life, while a stray cat might be someone's pet who has become lost of has been abandoned. Stray cats are usually tame and comfortable around people and will try to make a home near humans - in car garages, front porches or back yard.

The sad fact is that 6-8 million of cats and dogs enter shelters each year and 3-4 million of these cats and dogs get euthanized by shelters each year.

 

Declawing your Cat

By: Veterinarian Dr. Christianne Schelling

First, you should know that declawing is pretty much an American thing, it's something people do for their own convenience without realizing what actually happens to their beloved cat. In England declawing is termed "inhumane" and "unneccessary mutilation.". I agree. In many European countries it is illegal. I applaud their attitude.

Before you make a decision to declaw your cat, there are some important facts you should know. Declawing is not like a manicure. It is serious surgery. Yoru cat's claw is NOT a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your cat's claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amuptation of the last jiont of your cat's "toes". When you envision that, it becomes clear why declwaing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery , with a painful recovery period. And remember that during the time of recuperation fromt he surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litterbox regardless of the pain it is experiencing. Wheelchairs and bedpans are not an option for a cat.

No cat lover would doubt that cats - whose sense are much keener than ours - suffer pain. They may, however, hide it better. NOt only are they proud, they instinctively know that they are at risk whenin a weakend position, and by nature will attempt to hide it. But make no mistake. This is not a surgery to be taken lightly.

Your cat's body is perfectly designed to give it the grace, agility and beauty that is unique to felines. Its claws are an important  part of this design. Amputating the imporant part of their anatomy that contains the claws drastically alters the conformation of their feet. The cat is also reprived of its primary means of defense, leaving it prey to predators if it ever ecapes to the outdoors.

I have also had people tell me that their cat's personality chagned after being declawed. Although, the medical community does not recognize this as a potential side effect.

Okey, so now you realize that declawing is too drastic a solution, but you're still concerned about keeping your household furnishings intact. Is there an acceptable solution? Happily, the answer is yes. A big, joyful, humane YES! Actually there are several. The following website "Cat Scratching Solutions" provides many solutions as well as and insight into the psychology of why cats scratch. You can teach your cat to use a scratching post. You can trim the front claws. You can also employe aversion methods. One of the best solutions I've found is SoftPaws®.

Soft Paws are lightweight vinyl nail caps that you glue on the cat's front claws. They're great for households with small children and extremely useful for people who are away from home alld ay and can't exercise the watchfulness necessary to train a cat to use a scratching post. Soft Paws® are easy to apply and last about four to six weeks. They come in clear or colors - which are really fun. Now that is a kitty manicure! The colored caps look spiffy on Tabby or Tom and have the added advantage of being more visible when one finally comes off. Then you simply replace it. You can find SoftPaws® on the web or call 1-800-989-2542.

In case you are not convinced yet, we encourage you to check out "The Truth about Declawing - Technical Fact" at http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm.

For a list of countries in which declawing is either illegal, or considered extremely inhumane and only performed only under extreme circumstances, or for medical reasons, please check out this following site at http://www.declawing.com.

 

Feline Leukemia Virus

By: Doctors Foster and Smith peteducation.com

Feline leukemia is a cancerous disease caused by feline leukemia virus (FeLV). FeLV causes diseases other than leukemia including other cancers and immunodeficiency. Cats may not start to show signs of disease for months or years after being infected with FeLV. Infection with FeLV is a major cause of illness and death in domestic cats.

FeLV is a type of virus caleld a "retrovirus". That puts it in the same family as feline immunodefiency virus (FIV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that causes AIDS).

It is estimated that 1-2% of otherwise healthy cats are infected with FeLV. Males are more commonly infected than females, and cats with access to the outdoors are more at risk of becoming infected than indoor cats. Kittens are much more susceptible to FeLV infection than adult cats.

Large amounts of FeLV are excreted in the salvia. Therefore, the most common mode of transmission is through mutual grooming. Nose-to-nose contact, and shared food and water bowls can also be sources of infectino. Bites are very efficient way to transmit FeLV. It can also be found in lesser amounts in tears, urine, and feces. Thus litter boxes could be a sourc eof infection in multi-cat households or catteries. FeLV can also be transmitted through the milk.

Several things can happen if a cat becomes exposed. Some cats will not be infected due to inadequate exposure and good immune response. Some cats will develop a latent infection; these cats will not be able to destroy all of the viral RNA, but will be able to hold it in check. This is called a latent or regressive infection. These cats usually show no signs of infection and usually do not shed virus in their saliva or other body secretions. Some cats will become persistenly infected; these cats will not develop an adequate immune response and will remain permantly infected with FeLV. THis is called a progressive infection. These cats will shed large amoutns of viruses in their saliva and often develop FeLV-associated diseases within a few years.

Age is an important factor in determining what will happen after a cat is exposed to FeLV. Almost all FeLV-exposed kittens less than8 weeks of age will have persistent viremia, show signs of disease during the acute phase, and become permanently infected.

FeLV can cause: weight loss; fever; immunodeficiency and infections; anemia; immune-mediated diseases; reproductive problems; gastrointestinal disease; neurologic dise3ase, platelet disorders, enlarged lymph nodes; cancer; respiratory and eye problems; oral disease.

FeLV infection can be diagnosed through blood tests performed in veterinarians' offices. It is highly recommended to test a cat before introducing it to a household with other cats and to give the cat a FeLV vaccine. FeLV vaccine should not be given to FeLV infected cats.

A FeLV infected cat can sometimes live for years. Stress and exposure to ill animals should be avoided. FeLV-positive cats should be kept indoors both to protect them from exposure to disease and also to prevent them for spreading FeLV to other cats. Your veterinarian may select different vaccination protocols, diet, preventive care, and treatments of other diseases than for an uninfected cat. Supportive care such as fluids, good nutrition, and antibiotics for secondary infections are essential.

There are a number of FeLV vaccines on the market, however, none of them produce 100% protection. All cats should be FeLV-tested before they are vaccinated and adult cats who are entirely indoors may not need to be vaccianted agains FeLV. This is something you should discuss with your veterinarian.

In catteries and multi-cats households it is recommended to test all cats for FeLV; remove all FeLV-positive cats or totally separate them from the other other cats. Disinfect all dishes, litter boxes, and bedding. Remember, FeLV can be transmitted through saliva, urine and feces. Prevent or minimize the movement of cats in and out of the household or cattery. Test and quarantine all cats before introducing them into the household or cattery.