Archive for the ‘Cat’ Category

MAF’s Cat Campaign Celebrates a Year of Better Cat Health

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Morris Animal Foundation’s Happy Healthy Cat Campaign celebrates its first anniversary today.

We’re happy to report that the Foundation has made significant progress toward improving cat health. In 2009, we began funding year one of three Helping Shelters Help Cats studies that will ultimately help cats stay healthy and stress free until they are adopted. Already, the studies suggest that stressful conditions dramatically increase the likelihood of upper respiratory infection, but simple housing modifications reduce stress and the spread of infection-making the difference between life and death for a shelter cat.

In 2010, the Foundation will launch a major feline genomic research project that will help researchers worldwide prevent and treat the most serious disease affecting cats today.

Please honor the cats who’ve made a difference in your life with a gift to improve feline health. Visit www.Research4Cats.org. Every dollar you give will be matched up to $500,000-that means $1 million to help save cats-to help fund the next two years of research.

Thank you for helping cats enjoy longer, healthier lives!

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When the Common Cold Becomes Deadly

Monday, November 16th, 2009

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When the Common Cold Becomes Deadly, Foundation-Funded Researcher Provides Hope

By Heather Grimshaw

Seeing cats in shelter cages is difficult for most people. Seeing sick cats in cages—and knowing that their illness is preventable yet may lead to euthanization—propelled Dr. Kate Hurley into action. A Morris Animal Foundation–funded veterinarian who specializes in shelter medicine, Hurley works tirelessly to improve shelter environments so cats have a chance to thrive.

“You can imagine that entering a shelter is, for some cats, the hardest thing they will ever have to face,” explains Hurley. “Either they were stray or they were out in a field somewhere hunting in the grass and out in the sunshine, and all of a sudden they’re in a stainless steel box about two feet by two feet in size. There are weird smells, they have nowhere to hide, there’s the sound of doors clanging shut, there might be dogs barking and they need to show the kind of friendly, outgoing behavior that is going to make an adopter fall in love with them and take them home. What a challenge for an animal.”

Hurley, who started her career as an animal control officer continues to work on behalf of cats as director of the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at the University of California–Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. With Foundation funding, Hurley has embarked on a series of projects to assess whether controlling stress in shelters will diminish the incidence of feline upper respiratory infections (URIs). So far studies suggest that stressful conditions dramatically increase the likelihood that cats will develop colds, or URI. And, due to fear of spread, these cats are often euthanized by cash-strapped shelters.

On a national level, statistics of sick cats in shelters are heartbreaking. An estimated 4 million cats pass through United States shelters, and URI is among the top reasons for euthanasia.

Yet, thanks to Hurley, there is light at the end of this very dark tunnel.

Her Foundation-funded national effort to assess shelter environments—including disease incidence, cage layout and sanitation methods—has already resulted in a significant reduction in reported infection.

“Our hope is that we’re going to find something that not only helps cats stay healthy but also helps them get out of shelters alive,” she adds.

Her research also shows that prevalence of feline URI varies wildly across the country.

“We’re talking about some shelters where 80 to 90 percent of the cats get sick in comparison to shelters where 5 percent or less of the cats get sick,” she says.

This vast variance indicates that environmental factors play a significant role in disease prevention and spread. Hurley hopes to answer the question of why there are such differences.

Environmental risk factors explain some of the massive variation and, so far, shelters with the lowest URI rates seem to be those with high-quality housing for cats.

Hurley’s current study, one of three Helping Shelters Help Cats studies funded through the Foundation’s Happy Healthy Cat Campaign, builds on her previous results and will assess the impact of multi-compartmental cages (with hiding spots and separate feeding and elimination areas) on feline URI and well-being. While these studies focus on shelters, findings are relevant to all pets.

“Shelter research is applicable to veterinary clinics, catteries and kennels when it comes to identifying and establishing methods for reducing URI and stress for animals,” Hurley says.

Watch video of Hurley talking about her shelter work.

Every dollar you donate to Helping Shelters will be matched by an anonymous donor. Learn more about the shelter studies as well as symptoms of upper respiratory infection and support this critical research at http://www.research4cats.org/health-research/helping-shelters-help-cats/.

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Identifying Drugs that Could Manage Obesity in Cats

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Suzanne Shaff Photography

Study Results:

Obesity in cats has reached epidemic proportions: An estimated 20 to 48 percent of owned cats are now overweight. Obese cats are more likely to develop health problems, such as diabetes, skin conditions, heart disease and severe lameness. Researchers at Auburn University investigated whether they could use drugs to act on two protein molecules in the brain, known as melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-4 receptors, to treat obesity in cats. They hypothesized that drugs targeting the melanocortin-3 receptor may decrease fat storage, whereas drugs acting on the melanocortin-4 receptor may decrease food intake and increase energy expenditure, resulting in decreased body weight. They successfully identified the sequences of these molecules and identified several drug compounds that bind to these protein molecules in a laboratory setting. These preliminary results will allow researchers to manipulate melatonin protein molecules in the brain that could help manage obesity in cats. The next step is to move this research into the clinical setting. D06FE-005

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Symptoms and Prevention of Upper Respiratory Infection

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

What Cat Owners Need to Know About Upper Respiratory Infection

Upper respiratory infection (URI) is a highly contagious and common viral condition in cats. It is a the most frequent cause of illness for shelter cats and can affect any cat, especially one that has spent time in a multi-cat environment. It is similar to the common cold in humans and usually clears itself within one to three weeks, though sometimes antibiotics are needed to treat secondary bacterial infections that occur. Occasionally it can cause chronic health problems following recovery from initial infection, though these are usually manageable.

URI can be a death sentence to shelter cats because organizations lack the resources to prevent its spread or care for sick cats. Even with treatment, many affected cats carry the virus for life and may have recurrent outbreaks when stressed.

The University of California–Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program provides the following information about URI.

Prevention

  • Vaccination: Standard one to three year vaccination programs for cats include a vaccine for the two most important viruses that cause URI; however, the vaccine isn’t 100 percent effective and usually only reduces the severity of disease.
    • Most cats need to be vaccinated at least every three years after completing the initial vaccine series.
    • High risk cats, such as pets that live in homes that provide seasonal foster care for kittens, may benefit from annual revaccination for the respiratory viruses. This is available as a subcutaneous or intranasal vaccine.
  • Isolation: Isolate cats showing signs of disease. Cats new to the household should be kept from other cats for 8-10 days to reduce the chance that they are contagious (always a good idea anyway to let cats get to know each other gradually).
  • Cleanliness: Always wash hands after handling sick cats, before and after visiting an animal shelter or pet store.
  • Stress: Reduce stress factors that could prompt re-occurrence of the virus.

Signs of URI

  • Sneezing
  • Runny nose
  • Red and or runny eyes
  • Sores on the tongue, lips, nose or roof of mouth
  • Fever
  • Lack of appetite
  • Decreased energy

How can you help a cat with URI feel better?

  • Offer the cat wet food that has been slightly warmed (this will help the sick cat smell the food, which will make her more inclined to eat)
  • Place the cat in the bathroom while you are showering or place a humidifier in a small room with the cat to help loosen respiratory secretions
  • Gently clean the cat’s nose and eyes with a soft cloth moistened with warm water if they become crusted with mucous

When should you contact a veterinarian?
If your cat has any of the following signs, contact your veterinarian.

  • Not eating for more than 24 hours
  • Green or yellow discharge from the nose or eyes (your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics for this)
  • Difficulty breathing, especially panting or breathing through an open mouth
  • Depressed or unresponsive cat: A slight decrease in activity is expected, but contact your vet if the cat is much less active than usual or than you would expect
  • Vomiting or diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours
  • Little or no improvement after a week of home care

How Can You Help?
To improve the health of shelter cats, Morris Animal Foundation established the Helping Shelters Help Cats program. Through this program – part of the Happy Healthy Cat Campaign – MAF will fund three feline health research studies that look at preventing upper respiratory disease in cats and reducing their stress while they await adoption.

AnimalNews and Enews keep you up to date on the latest Morris Animal Foundation research and success stories. Click here to subscribe.

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Cat Health Warning Signs

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Cats often hide their illnesses from us, so regular preventive care is important. A list of common feline diseases by age can be found at research4cats.org. If your cat shows any of the following signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.

  • Changes in chewing, eating and drinking habits
  • Drastic weight gain or loss
  • Withdraws from social interaction or avoids touching
  • Changes in activity level including sleeping more or hyperactivity
  • Increased vocalization
  • Increased urination and/or “accidents”
  • Inability to urinate (emergency situation)
  • Grooms less or grooms certain areas excessively
  • Acts out of character

AnimalNews and Enews keep you up to date on the latest Morris Animal Foundation research and success stories. Click here to subscribe.

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Signs Your Cat May Have Arthritis*

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Most cats appear naturally agile and athletic, easily jumping from their perches to the floor with an uncanny sense of balance. However, signs of arthritis can begin at any age, even in kittens. Watch for these early-warning signs of arthritis in your feline friend:

  • Reluctance to walk, jump, play or climb stairs
  • Lack of interest in climbing the cat condo
  • Difficulty rising from a resting position
  • Limping
  • Difficulty grooming hard to reach areas
  • Meowing (possible sign of pain) when touched
  • Personality changes that involve resisting touch
  • Sleeping more than usual

*According to the Arthritis Foundation and PetWellbeing.com

Please consult your pet’s veterinarian at the earliest signs of these or any other unusual changes in behavior. Your cat deserves to live a long, healthy and active life.

AnimalNews and Enews keep you up to date on the latest Morris Animal Foundation research and success stories. Click here to subscribe.

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PetSmart Charities® Helps Shelters Cats

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

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Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) received $25,000 from PetSmart Charities to decrease infectious respiratory diseases in shelter cats. Ranked as the No. 1 concern for shelter cats, upper respiratory infection (URI)—a highly contagious virus—can be a death sentence to shelter cats because shelters lack the resources to prevent its spread or to care for sick cats. Even with treatment, affected cats may have recurrent URI outbreaks when stressed.

The gift from PetSmart Charities will help fund two Helping Shelters Help Cats studies—part of the Happy Healthy Cat Campaign. These projects will evaluate shelter environments and how cage type, size and placement can affect the stress levels of cats. The findings will help shelter managers create the optimal environment for cats living in shelters, helping them stay healthy and stress-free until they are adopted.

ABOUT PETSMART CHARITIES®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. Since 1994, PetSmart Charities has funded more than $88 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations and, through its in-store pet adoption program, has helped save the lives of more than 3.8 million pets.  To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working to help find a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit www.petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS.

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Exciting Potential Asthma Treatment for Cats

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

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MAF Successful Outcome—Exciting Potential Asthma Treatment for Cats: Asthma in cats can be debilitating and occasionally fatal. Current treatments help but don’t cure the disease, which is caused by an abnormal immune reaction to inhaled allergens. Identifying allergens implicated in allergic asthma in pet cats is very challenging as skin and serum testing often yield false-positive and false-negative results. Scientists from the University of Missouri are investigating a treatment called rush immunotherapy (RIT), which has shown promise in turning off the abnormal immune response to an allergen. To date, the results indicate that both intranasal and injected RIT for treating feline asthma are safe and effective in relieving asthma symptoms. Even more exciting is the finding that a subpopulation of cats participating in this study appears to have reverted to being non-asthmatic—they seem to be cured. The second objective of this study is ongoing, and preliminary results suggest that there is cross-protection. This means that even if a veterinarian selected the “wrong” allergens for RIT, there might still be a positive benefit. The study has been given a no-cost extension and is anticipated to have final results by May 2010. During this three-year study, two MAF veterinary student scholars have gained valuable research experience.

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New Tool to Diagnose and Treat GI Disorders and Cancer in Cats

Friday, June 26th, 2009

photo courtesy of Patricia Olson

Study results:

Many cats suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, including inflammatory disorders and cancer. Proteins called trefoil peptides occur naturally in the GI tract and help to protect and repair it; however, abnormal levels of these proteins, whether high, low or even mutated, are associated with inflammation and cancer. With MAF funding, researchers successfully cloned these feline proteins, allowing them to measure the amount of these proteins in normal, inflamed and cancerous tissues. This new knowledge can now be used to better diagnose and treat cats with inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. (D04FE-026)

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More Realistic Diagnostic Ranges for Cat Nutrition and Health

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Photo courtesy of Suzanne Shaff Photography

Study results:

Veterinarians often use blood amino acid concentrations to assess feline nutritional health and diagnose certain medical conditions. Most of these concentrations were established in laboratory cats eating purified diets, which do not represent the household cat population. Funding from Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) enabled scientists to document and validate the largest and most complete blood amino acid concentrations published to date in household cats eating commercially available diets. This new information provides veterinarians with more appropriate ranges for pet cats, which in turn provides for better diagnosis of disease. (D08FE-048)

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