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A Note About Donations
by Cathy Shikler
It takes so little to help a shelter,
to help an animal. Even if you can't adopt a pet, so many homeless, abandoned
and needy dogs and cats can benefit from a small but thoughtful gift.
These are indeed hard and difficult times
for all of us. The stock market is at an all time low, many people are worried
about keeping their jobs, the housing market seems, ironically enough, on the rise, so how can one expect to pay any kind
of mind to helping out strays and unwanted animals? Actually, this is the BEST
of times to do so. We all need a lift, a little feeling of hope and optimism. What better way can we express hope and show our appreciation than to make a small
donation to a shelter, a haven of hope. Many people feel that if they can't make
a sizeable donation then they shouldn't even try. The truth of the matter is,
however, that if more people gave even the smallest amount, so many more animals would reap the rewards. Of course, larger amounts would be wonderful, but if you could give just a token, somewhere, someplace
a lonely and grateful creature would feel your generosity and love. Give the
gift of love and hope give to your furry friends!
Crazy About Cats
Deborah L. Murtha, V.M.D.
Cats
seem to be the most popular pet these days. How can you resist their sweet fuzzy
faces and endearing meows? They have such spunk, and they each have their own
personality. So how do we, as cat owners, keep our feline friends happy and healthy?
The
first thing that you should do when bringing a new cat into your home is have it tested for feline leukemia and feline aids. These are viruses that your pet could have been exposed to, either from its mother
or from other cats. All cats should be tested, even if they are from a private
breeder. It is important to know that your cat tests negative because these two
diseases can affect you cats overall heath, and are contagious to the other cats in your household. If you cat tests positive for either of these two viruses, it is advised that they are kept separate from
your other cats, and are re-tested in a few months. If there has been recent
exposure, or if the kitten was exposed to the virus through the mother cat, there is a reasonable chance that the infection
can be cleared.
It
is strongly advised to spay or neuter your feline. Intact male cats will spray
or mark, and may be more aggressive. Female cats will have a greater risk of
health problems if they are not spayed. A few of the medical problems that may
arise include unwanted pregnancies, uterine infections (pyometra) and uterine or mammary cancer. We typically spay or neuter cats at 6 months of age.
All
cats should be kept indoors. Although you may feel you are depriving your cat
of fresh air and exercise, the great outdoors holds many hazards. There is the
risk of being exposed to the multiple viruses (feline leukemia, feline aids, and feline infectious peritonitis), internal
and external parasites (ear mites, roundworms, fleas, and heartworm), as well as fungal infections (ringworm). Most of these are contagious to other cats and some contagious to dogs and humans (ringworm). Cat fights are very common and can result in bite wounds and abscesses.
Other possible dangers include being hit by a car, falling out of a tree, or being attacked by another animal. In my opinion, it is not worth risking your cats well being, but if you cat does go
outdoors please make sure it is protected. I would recommend yearly vaccinations,
flea preventative, and monthly heartworm medication. In addition, a collar with
a tag or a microchip will help in the return of your pet in the event that it gets lost.
Your cat can have a long and healthy life living inside. Even if your
cat does stay inside, it should have a yearly check-up and be vaccinated. To
prevent behavioral problems, such as urinating/defecating outside of the litter box, there are a few simple rules: having
a clean litter box is very important. Cats are very clean and particular animals
and may not go in an area that already has urine or feces in it. There should
be at least one additional litter box than the number of cats in the home. So
if you have 2 cats, there should be a minimum of 3 litter boxes distributed throughout your home. This will give them an alternative place to go rather than using the sink or rug. Cats will eliminate in inappropriate areas for a few different reasons.
In some cases, there is an underlying medical problem such as a urinary tract infection, kidney disease or diabetes. A second reason would be some new stressor in the cats life, such as adding a new
member into the family (new pet, baby, or spouse), or having someone leave (new job with longer hours, child going off to
school, etc). It is important to have your pet seen by a veterinarian to determine
if a medical or behavioral problem exists and what steps can be taken to correct the problem.
In some instances where stress seems to be the trigger, behavioral medications can help.
Our friendly felines hold a very special place in our heart. If you have
any questions or concerns about its physical or emotional health, I encourage you to contact your veterinarian.
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