Cats
Preventing unwanted kitty litters
potential vaccines offer low-cost sterilization
Every year, more than 100 million feral cats are born in this country, and many must be euthanized because there are no homes for them. Sterilizing feral cats drastically reduces the number of unwanted kittens born each year, but surgery is an expensive, complicated method of contraception. Now, researchers have discovered that a single-shot vaccine could help prevent feline pregnancy for up to five years.
With Morris Animal Foundation funding, researchers at the University of Florida studied a contraceptive vaccine that can be administered just once to aid in population... Read more.
Posted by MAF on June 1, 2010
Categories: Animal health, Animal welfare, Cat health
PermalinkResearch Indicates Ways to Reduce Respiratory Infection in Shelter Cats
Study Results:
Feline upper respiratory infection (URI) is one of the most serious problems confronting animal control and humane shelters throughout the world. Many shelter cats suffer greatly from URI, and many are euthanized to help control outbreaks. Because infections are caused by a number of contagious microbes, controlling URI differs according to the microbe causing it. Previous studies concentrated mainly on the particular microbe or disease signs in individual cats, which may not be the most appropriate control method for the herd-like situations found in shelters. In this study, the first Morris Animal Foundation... Read more.
Posted by MAF on May 20, 2010
Categories: Animal health, Cat health, Upper respiratory infection
PermalinkHormone Information Shows Promise in Diagnosing Feline Diabetes
MAF Successful Outcome:
Diabetes and insulin resistance are common in overweight cats. Obesity in cats is increasing, and as a result, more cats are developing diabetes. Obese cats have significantly lower levels of adiponectin than lean cats do, but their hormone levels increase as they lose weight. Adiponectin improves insulin sensitivity in humans and mice and could hold potential as a new treatment or early screening tool for type 2 diabetes mellitus in cats.... Read more.
Posted by MAF on January 20, 2010
Categories: Animal health, Animal studies, Cat diseases, Cat health, Diabetes, Feline health, Obesity
PermalinkImm-purrfect Perceptions of Cats May be Costing Them Their Lives
Survey Identifies Negative Attitudes and Potential Groups for Ownership
Misunderstandings and myths often give cats a bad rap-and may even be costing them their lives. Although more cats than dogs live in U.S. homes, fewer of them receive veterinary care, less health research is conducted on their behalf, and most cats that enter shelters are euthanized. A recent online survey sponsored by MAF, the American Pet Products Association and Maddie’s Fund gathered... Read more.
Posted by MAF on December 9, 2009
Categories: Cat health, Feline health, Happy healthy cat campaign
PermalinkMAF's Cat Campaign Celebrates a Year of Better Cat Health
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... Read more.
Posted by MAF on November 17, 2009
Categories: Animal health, Cat health, Feline health, Happy healthy cat campaign
PermalinkWhen the Common Cold Becomes Deadly
When the Common Cold Becomes Deadly, Foundation-Funded Researcher Provides Hope
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... Read more.
Posted by MAF on November 15, 2009
Categories: Cat diseases, Cat health, Feline health, Happy healthy cat campaign , Upper respiratory infection
PermalinkIdentifying Drugs that Could Manage Obesity in Cats
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... Read more.
Posted by MAF on October 13, 2009
Categories: Animal studies, Cat diseases, Cat health, Feline health, Obesity
PermalinkSymptoms and Prevention of Upper Respiratory Infection
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... Read more.
Posted by MAF on September 14, 2009
Categories: Animal health, Cat diseases, Cat health, Feline health, Symptoms, Upper respiratory infection
PermalinkSigns Your Cat May Have Arthritis
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... Read more.
Posted by MAF on August 19, 2009
Categories: Animal health, Arthritis, Cat diseases, Cat health, Feline health, Pet health, Symptoms
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New Research Will Improve Life for Shelter Cats
MAF’s new Helping Shelters Help Cats program is funding three feline health research studies aimed at reducing stress and increasing adoption rates for cats in shelters. An anonymous donor will match every dollar given to this program up to $500,000. Learn more and support this research at www.research4cats.org.
Posted by MAF on August 14, 2009
Categories: Animal health, Cat diseases, Cat health, Feline health, Pet health
PermalinkCat Health Warning Signs
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. Morris Animal Foundation staff is unable to provide veterinary medical advice. If your cat shows any of the following signs or any other abnormal health signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Changes in chewing, eating and drinking habits
- Drastic... Read more.
Posted by MAF on August 13, 2009
Categories: Animal health, Cat health, Feline health, Symptoms
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Exciting Potential Asthma Treatment for Cats
MAF Successful Outcome
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... Read more.
Posted by MAF on August 10, 2009
Categories: Animal health, Arthritis, Cat health, Feline health, Pet health
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