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Fluffy kitties are notorious for hairballs. (photo: photoexpress.com)

LOS ANGELES — Hairballs are normal in cats, but they’re a nuisance for cat-owners to deal with. There are a few things you can do, though, to reduce hairballs and other feline dietary upsets.

Cats ingest a lot of hair because their tongues have tiny tentacles (papillae) that act like brushes when they clean, explained Dr. Karen Halligan, author, TV consultant and director of veterinary services for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles.

When hair builds up in a cat’s stomach, it turns into balls or wads, causing the cat to vomit. Once a week is normal and nothing to worry about, “but more than once a week is too much,” Halligan said.

A number of over-the-counter dietary supplements such as Petromalt can be given to cats to help prevent hairballs, but Halligan uses a simple home remedy. She puts a dab of petroleum jelly on her fingertip and lets her cats, Kinky and Nathan, lick it off.

Lynea Lattanzio has a lot of experience with hairballs as founder of a sanctuary where 1,000 cats live called Cat House on the Kings, located on the Kings River in Parlier, Calif. “I give people a lot of advice on hairballs,” she said. “You can put mineral oil on their food to help them slide it out, or Vaseline on their shoulder so they can lick it.”

Just “don’t put it on their paws,” she added. “They shake and it gets all over the walls. Put it where they can’t shake it off.”

Halligan and Lattanzio agree brushing is probably the best remedy.

“I brush mine every day. It pulls out all the dead hair so they don’t ingest it when they groom,” Halligan said.

If your cat doesn’t like being brushed, you might be pressing too hard or using the wrong type of brush, she said.

At Cat House on the Kings, the 20-plus employees — including one who does nothing but change litter boxes all day long — don’t have time to brush all the cats, and the feral cats wouldn’t allow it anyway. But this is the time of year when cats are shedding their coats and getting ready for summer, so workers brush as many cats as they can each week, Lattanzio said.

“Their hair goes poof, it seems to come off them in clouds. If you don’t remove it by brushing, then they will remove it by grooming and then they will eat it and they will get hairballs,” Lattanzio said.

Lattanzio says older cats get brushed first because “they are less likely to groom and more likely to suffer the adverse effects.” She also gives some of the longhair cats what’s called a Himalayan cut, leaving hair only on their heads, feet and tails.

But Halligan advised caution in close cuts for light-skinned cats as they can get cancer from exposure to the sun, even if they live indoors and lie in front of a window.

If a cat is vomiting and there is no hair in it, hairballs probably aren’t the problem.

“The most common is kidney disease, then pancreatitis and then food allergies,” Halligan said. Even flea sensitivity can cause a cat to vomit — and go bald.

Some owners swear by grain-free food as a way to reduce tummy troubles, or by adding bran or fiber, pumpkin, prunes, psyllium hulls or slippery elm to the cat’s diet. But Halligan advises consulting with a vet before making dietary changes.

She’s added pumpkin to cat food to remedy constipation, but she noted that cats are carnivores, programmed to eat animal protein, and may have trouble processing carbohydrates.

On the other hand, she said, a diet of nothing but grain-free food is not necessarily good either. “Grain-free is low in carbohydrates and high in protein,” she explained. “Some of the cheaper foods use corn or other vegetables as the protein source, which is not good for cats. The grain-frees have done well because they have lower carbohydrates and essentially are a high-protein diet. But we are not sure how that’s going to affect the kidneys long-term because it’s a lot of protein. It might be too much. You can feed some grain-free but that shouldn’t be their main diet.”

Halligan’s cats eat only canned food. She recommends pet owners feed their pets at least 50 percent canned food — and believes 75 percent would be better. “The only benefit of dry is that it’s cheaper,” she said, adding: “My cat Nathan, if I give him regular dry cat food, he vomits like crazy. Once I switched over to canned, no vomiting.”

Excessive vomiting may require blood tests or X-rays to reveal the problem. Cats will eat catnip mice, needles and thread, buttons, earrings, erasers, tin foil balls, and almost any other small thing they can bat around, Halligan said.

“They will play with it, then swallow it. My cat has a fetish for rubber bands. Those things keep vets in business.”

Hairballs can also get stuck in a cat’s intestines. A cat that stops eating for 24 or 48 hours and repeatedly vomits is at risk for dehydration and liver failure. In as little as three days, jaundice can set in, with telltale symptoms of yellowing of the gums, ears and whites of the eyes. Fast treatment by a vet is essential.

“If you get them to us on time, we can probably save them,” she said.

[Source: The Seattle Times]

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The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) invites the public to nominate extraordinary animals and people for its annual Humane Awards and is seeking four-legged companions as well as exceptional people for consideration. Animals that have performed a heroic act and people who have demonstrated remarkable efforts to improve the lives of animals in the United States during the past year are eligible.

The ASPCA will begin accepting nominations via its website today at www.aspcahumaneawards.org.

“The ASPCA Humane Awards celebrates the human-animal bond and recognizes those who have dedicated their lives to making our world a kinder place for animals,” said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “This event allows us to thank individuals who have contributed to animal welfare by taking action to protect animals who cannot fight for themselves.”

Last year’s winners include a former shelter dog who saved earthquake victims in Haiti; a three-legged cat who inspired a series of books to help kids overcome their differences; an 11-year-old girl who helped birds affected by the Gulf Coast oil spill; firefighters who rescued animals from a pet store fire; an individual who founded a non-profit dedicated to rescuing unwanted and abused horses; another who trains rescued shelter dogs to become certified assistance dogs; and two airline pilots who voluntarily transport homeless pets to adoptive homes.

Winners will be invited to attend the Humane Awards Luncheon—sponsored by The Hartville Group, one of America’s leading pet health insurers—on Thursday, November 17, 2011, at the Pierre Hotel in New York City, where the awards will be presented.

Categories open for nomination include:

ASPCA Dog of the Year: for a dog who has performed a heroic act in the past year;

ASPCA Cat of the Year: for a cat who has performed a heroic act in the past year;

ASPCA “Tommy P. Monahan” Kid of the Year: for a child under 14 who has improved the lives of animals;

and ASPCA Public Service Award: for a member of the municipal police force, a firefighter, or other public service officer who has made a heroic effort to save an animal in the past year.

All submissions must include the following: the nominee’s name; street address; email address; telephone number; the category for which he/she is being nominated; and a short statement (400 words or less) of why this person or animal deserves the award.

The deadline for entries is Friday, June 17, at 12 p.m. (EST). Winners will be chosen by a committee selected by the ASPCA and announced to the public in mid-October. For more information, please visit www.aspcahumaneawards.org.

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Merrell Publishers is sponsoring a giveaway of Michael Kloth’s gorgeous book, Shelter Cats.

Entering is simple. Just post your best cat photo on the wall of Merrell Publishers’ Facebook page by noon GMT on Sept 30, 2010. The owners of the top ten photos will receive a book courtesy of Merrell Publishers. Complete rules are here.

About Shelter Cats

Cats are now our most popular pets, but every year growing numbers of lost or abandoned cats and kittens enter shelters. In this captivating new book, Shelter Cats, photographer Michael Kloth makes a passionate appeal to animal lovers everywhere with over 80 endearing portraits of shelter cats. Kloth’s genuine empathy with his subjects shines through in his enchanting images of cats of all ages, breeds and temperaments, whether curious, playful, proud or shy.

Above all, these photographs capture the irrepressible feline spirit, no matter what the individual circumstances of each cat. By documenting the unique characters and stories of some of the cats he has encountered in his volunteer work, Kloth raises awareness of animal rescue causes, and especially the need for more adoptive homes. His irresistible portraits and sincere commitment to animal welfare create a poignant and loving tribute to all cats.

A portion of the proceeds from US sales of this book will benefit the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®)

Check out Good Morning Northwest’s interview with Michael!

Click here to enter your cat’s photo in the contest.

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Filed under: Dogs, Pets News, Hero Pets

Emma Williams, Manchester Evening News Syndication

These two dogs are more than just best friends, they share a rare bond.

Ellie, a young King Charles cavalier spaniel in England, is almost completely blind. While her owner and a local animal organization are working to raise money for a vision-restoring operation, a German shepherd named Leo has taken matters into his own paws, and is protecting and guiding her.

“Ellie has cataracts on both eyes and is only aware of shadows,” explains Jean Spencer, manager of Rochdale’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in an interview with the Manchester Evening News. “But Leo, who’s an absolutely massive dog, has become her eyes. It’s touching to watch them together. She follows him around and snuggles up to him.”

Ellie was part of a litter of five puppies rescued from harsh conditions by the RSPCA, says Julie Lander, an RSPCA volunteer and Leo and Ellie’s owner. “As well as having cataracts, Ellie’s eye muscles haven’t developed as they should have as she’d been kept in the dark. The puppies had no light or heating. I felt so sorry for her when she arrived, and knew she’d need a special home. But I also knew she would be all right with Leo, as he just loves little dogs and they took to one another straight away,” Lander tells the Manchester Evening News.

Continue reading Blind Dog Has Her Own Seeing-Eye Dog

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Since 2004, drugs designed for use by people have been the leading source of poisonings among companion animals, according to the national Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, Ill.

Among cats, Adderall – a medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – has quickly become one of the most common and dangerous of these pharmaceutical threats*.

According to Salem Sreenivasan, Adderall is currently “the most widely prescribed medicine for ADHD in children, with almost 23 percent market share,” in the United States. This probably explains, he says, why the incidence of accidental consumption by pets has been rising steadily.

Adderal seems to appeal the feline palate, unlike most human meds. 152 cases of feline intoxication with the drug were called into the poison control center between January 2002 and June 2009. That number is probably the tip of the iceberg because it’s likely that most instances of Adderal poison are not called in to the center.

Once part of the University of Illinois, the center’s 24/7 poison hotline is now run by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It learns about intoxications when vets call into the crisis center to inquire about any risks posed by ingestion of a particular substance – and, when it’s a poison, how to treat it.

Most poisonings cases that the ASPCA’s center learns about involve dogs, Gwaltney-Brant says, because they’re fairly indiscriminate about what they’ll eat. Not cats. Out of curiosity, they might sample a pill or capsule – but seldom finish it, she says. As soon as they bite in and find its flavor objectionable, they tend to walk away.

But that’s not the case with Adderall. Cats not only bite in but readily finish every bit which suggests that there’s something about it that cats find unusually enticing.

And that’s bad news. A single 20 milligram capsule can kill the average size cat.

Owners may initially discover a cat’s intoxication by its distressed vocalizing. Then they may pick up on its anxiety, agitation, pacing, disorientation – even tremors. Cats can quickly become overheated and unusually disturbed by any type of sensory stimulation – sound, light, even physical touch. Vets will typically notice the poisoned pet’s excessively rapid heart rate and elevated blood pressure.

With quick, aggressive treatment, many cats recover. If owners call the center before symptoms develop (usually within 30 minutes of ingestion), they’ll be instructed to induce vomiting, then to take the cat to the vet for additional treatment, including the administration of activated carbon. With the extended release formula, treatment may need to be repeated.

If a cat comes in with symptoms of amphetamine poisoning, the docs will have to begin a more aggressive treatment, starting with sedatives (to control agitation and possible seizures), a cooling bath, and possibly medication to block one of the three neurotransmitters (serotonin) whose activity is enhanced by Adderall.

Always keep your medications (including Naproxen, Ibuprofen and other non-prescription drugs) out of reach of pets, and call the poison control center (888-426-4435) immediately if you suspect your cat has ingested your meds. Most consultations – and it provides an average of 140,000 each year – will come with a $65 fee.

_______________________
* Reported by Aiyasami Salem Sreenivasan at the 2010 Society of Toxicology annual meeting.

[SOURCE: ScienceNews.org; PHOTO: idothings.info]

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Filed under: Pets News

These odd-looking but cute fellas (pictured below) have an interesting story. A Londoner found the furry wee ones abandoned in a plastic bag. Alarmed, the kind-hearted, animal-loving passerby brought the adorable creatures immediately to the Royal Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Had she not discovered them and delivered them so quickly to professional care, they surely would have died.

At first, the rescued creatures were thought to be dog puppies. But further inspection revealed that they are, in fact, adorable fox cubs! The babies– Bobby, Buddy, Elliot, Lulu, and Tony — have been receiving care from the Fox Project Charity, specifically, from their experienced volunteer, Lyn Vaughan. We presume it was she who placed the cubs in their teacups, drawing squeals of delight from Internet users this week

And if you find these fuzzy animals cute, you might want to click through the rest of the gallery below featuring tiny creatures who for reasons we don’t clearly understand, have all been photographed sitting in cups. That’s right. There are puppies in jugs, hamsters in mugs, and kittens who are crawling into all manner of drink ware. Strange? Yes. Cute? Absolutely.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=556726&pid=556725&uts=1270830685

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

Pups in Cups

Adorable animals…in cups!

Flickr

Animals in Cups

“Yes, I am adorable. And yes, I fit in a jug.”

Flickr

“Get me out of here!”

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Still life with puppy. “How much longer do I have to stay like this?”

Flickr

“Oh, were you drinking this? My bad.”

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“It’s exhausting being this cute.”

Flickr

This pup’s cup runneth over.

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The Chinese Dwarf Hamster’s natural habitat? Tiny teacups.

Flickr

“What’s the matter? Haven’t you ever seen a cat in a cappuccino mug before?”

Flickr

“Have you heard the one about two hamsters walking into a bar?”

Flickr

“I may be small but my lungs are huge. Meow!”

Flickr

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