A chimera (pronounced ky-meer-uh) cat is a cat that is made up of two distinct sets of DNA which occurs when one fetus reabsorbs its fraternal twin while in the mother’s womb. Interest in feline chimeras has recently grown due to the popularity Venus, Quimera and Narnia de la grace who have different colours on either side of their faces.
As a cat enters his or her senior years, a number of age-related diseases can develop. Many of these can be managed if they are caught early enough, but eventually, there will come a time where treatment is no longer an option and palliative care must be instituted. The goal of palliative care is to manage symptoms and keep the cat comfortable until the end.
As spring approaches for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, and the days become longer and warmer, many of us turn our attention to the garden. But, households that have free-roaming cats must consider which plants are safe to grow in the garden. This list looks at growing, easy to grow flowering plants that are safe for cats.
Monstera adansonii is toxic to cats. The toxic principle is insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that penetrate the oral mucosa causing acute pain, burning and swelling. Calcium oxalate crystals are produced by specialised cells known as idioblasts and are arranged in bundles known as raphides. They act as a defensive mechanism against herbivory.
What are omega-3 fatty acids? Omega 3 oils are a group of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids that are important for several functions in the body. There are eleven types of fatty acids, however, the two most important ones are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which are found primarily in marine sources including coldwater … Read more
Correcting unwanted behaviours in cats is a topic that is plagued with misinformation that is not only counterproductive but can also be abusive. Most pet lovers don’t want to harm their pets, which is why it is so important to use safe and kind methods when attempting to correct unwanted behaviours in cats.
While some feline behaviours can be frustrating, cats aren’t inherently naughty and they don’t engage in behaviours out of spite, no matter how much it sometimes feels that way.
Recognising the signs that a cat is dying isn’t always easy for caregivers as cats are hardwired to mask signs of pain and discomfort. This makes knowing when the right time to euthanise during an already traumatic period even more confusing. None of us wants our pets to suffer, but we also don’t want to … Read more
Also known as allergen immunotherapy (AIT), allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) or allergy shots, immunotherapy is a safe and effective treatment for airborne allergens (atophy) in cats. The immune system is responsible for defending the cat against infection from viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing organisms. An allergy is an inappropriate immune response to a harmless substance (known as an allergen). Some allergies can be managed by avoiding the allergen (such as flea bite hypersensitivity or food allergies). Immunotherapy can be of use for cats with atophy. Common triggers for atopic dermatitis include grass and tree pollens, dust mites, storage mites and mould spores.
Begonia is toxic to cats. The toxic principle is soluble oxalic acid which is rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and binds to systemic calcium causing blood calcium levels to drop suddenly (acute hypocalcemia) as well as the formation of insoluble calcium oxalate (CaOx) which accumulate in the renal tubules, leading to acute renal (kidney) failure.
Also known as stress coat, fever coat is an uncommon phenomenon where one or more kittens are born with a smokey grey coat. Fever coat is said to occur when the mother develops a fever during pregnancy and the unborn kittens(s) are exposed to an elevated body temperature in utero. Stress and certain medications have also been implicated as a cause.
