 Pet cancer is a devastating ordeal to go through. Knowing what to expect, what warning signs your cat might show, and how to deal with it can make things better.
There are over 100 types of cancer that can affect our pets. May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise both money and awareness to combat these terrible diseases. My experience with pet cancer As our cats get older, the risk of cancer increases greatly. As responsible pet owners, we need to be informed ahead of time on what to look for, what to do, and most importantly, how to help prevent. Sadly, three of my previous pets – all lovely Siamese – have succumbed to cancer. Catrina passed from breast cancer, which is the third most common feline cancer. Guenivere developed Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), which is a type of skin cancer that affects usually the mouth, jaw, and tongue areas. Maddie was found to have a mass either in her lung and chest region. One common thread between all of these different cancer experience: these ladies were all elderly and well into their teenage years. According to the Cornell University Feline Health Center, 30-40% of cats will have at least one cancer diagnosis in their life. Perhaps I stare at my cats too much, but when Maddie was 4 years old, one of her whiskers became puffy and looked similar to an ingrown hair. Immediately, I made an appointment with my veterinarian and a biopsy was done. Thankfully, the tumor was benign. Because I’m an overprotective cat owner, Maddie was left with a little whisker beauty mark instead of something more harmful. Knowing your cat and being familiar with their habits, routines, and body are all ways we can be proactive at detecting illness or cancer early. Of course, even the most attentive cat owner may not detect any early warning signs. Sometimes it’s just impossible to know if something’s wrong, so never beat yourself up if you don’t catch your cat’s cancer early. That being said, there are some other symptoms to look out for. Cat cancer symptoms While Maddie’s whisker tumor was noticeable, her lung mass was not. However, she did display symptoms that were not her typical rambunctious self. Some possible symptoms of cancer for felines include:
Both Guenivere and Maddie exhibited behavioral changes, including hiding. I noticed they were behaving oddly when they started hiding their heads under a blanket or curtain, which was very out of character for them. My veterinarian explained this odd behavior to me: cats are pretty simplistic and think that they can hide from the pain. How does cancer creep up so suddenly? After my girls were diagnosed with cancer, my guilt was overwhelming. I kept asking myself how did I not catch this and prevent it? In these difficult times it’s easy to blame ourselves or our vets. I remember thinking that I took Maddie for yearly checkups, so how did this slip past? My veterinarian explained this to me using cat psychology. Basically, since we’re a different species, no matter how much we love our cats we are still a ‘threat’ to them when they’re sick. The survival of the fittest instinct kicks in and they will mask it, hide and suffer until they can no longer handle it. By then, it can be too late. The best advice I can give is to be proactive with vet visits. It is even suggested by some to increase yearly visits to twice a year after age 7. Check with your veterinarian for what they recommend. There are also some methods of prevention. Some ways to prevent feline cancer include vaccinations, such as FeLV, early spaying/neutering, and maintaining a healthy weight. What kind of cancers are common in cats? Certain types of cancer are more common depending on species. Cats are more prone to certain cancers, including:
If you’re interested in learning more about the intricacies of pet cancer, take a look at the Pet Owner's Guide to Cancer, put together by the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
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 In celebration of National Chip Your Pet Month all May, we've decided to give you the download on all the ins and outs of chipping your pet.
In my perfect world, all cats would be housecats and stay inside where it is safe and cozy. However, the reality is that cats live outside, may escape, or don’t live in a stable situation. In my case, my Daphne is an indoor-outdoor cat and stays indoors at night while only venturing out for a few hours a day into her 2-acre kingdom. Many of us are familiar with indoor-outdoor cats and understand the risks that come with their outdoor roaming. However, it brings them such happiness that we’re unwilling to confine them to the house. Every housecat has a lion inside, after all. Why I Microchipped My Cat I’ve always had lazy indoor-only cats that lounge around in their climate-controlled environment all day and are provided with food and water. I never had to worry about them strolling across the road, running into a wild animal, or as Daphne has done, falling asleep in the backseat of a neighbor’s car. Since she showed up 7 years ago, learning to live with a true indoor-outdoor cat has been a bit of a learning curve. My vet was quick to explain to me that since Daphne was introduced to the outdoors very young, it is impossible to turn off that switch. She explained that some cats have been known to shred the door or door frame to attempt to gain access outside. In other words, I am now the gatekeeper/doorman for my cat! Over the years, it has been fine except for her once being accidentally locked in my neighbor’s garage all night (I was up all night waiting for her to come home!). Oh, and then the sleeping in the car incident. They told me that they were already down the street when she woke up and they turned around to bring her back home to me. I’m so lucky that my neighbors were that nice, but that experience is eventually what led me to call my veterinarian’s office and set up an appointment for her to be microchipped. What are Microchips? First and foremost, it’s important to know that microchips are not GPS tracking devices. They aren’t going to help you find your kitty in the forest. However, they can be especially useful if someone finds your cat wandering around and may prevent your cat from being brought to the pound and adopted by someone else.
It might seem scary or overly-cautious to chip your pet, but the process is surprisingly simple, painless, and cheap. Here are a few things to know before you decide if chipping is right for you.
As I mentioned above, the chips have RFID identifiers in them. The unique registration number associated with you and your pet will be read on the chip if your animal is lost.
For me, this was a no-brainer and brings me peace of mind should Daphne wander off again. I understand that an RFID chip in their animal may be alarming for some people, so I encourage everyone to do some research of their own and talk with their trusted vet about it. This isn’t the perfect solution of an indoor-only cat but, as with anything, one must find a way to adapt to their cat and their unchanging ways. In honor of National Chip Your Pet Month this May, please consider this low-cost option at your next check-up or ask for it upon an adoption.  The Invention of Cat Litter
What great event happened between the Great Depression and WW2? The invention of kitty litter! Before 1947, cats were using ashes, paper and even plain old dirt in boxes. At this time, most cats were still not considered house pets and remained outdoors. However, this began to change around the 1940s. Luckily for kitties, in 1947 a businessman named Ed Lowe and his neighbor, Mrs. Draper, were about to change the cat bathroom experience forever. One day, when Mrs. Draper asked for Lowe’s assistance with regard to the cat box he offered some absorbent clay. Lightbulb moment! She loved it. Soon, Lowe marketed his new invention and changed history with his Tidy Cat brand. Thank You, Mr. Lowe! Cat litter remained the classic non-clumping litter style for decades. Fast forward to the invention of scoopable clumping cat litter in the 1980s and the face of the cat litter industry changed for us all. Thomas Nelsen, an inventor, discovered that drying the clay caused it to clump. And thus, another main type of litter was born: the infamous clumping litter. Since Nelsen’s big innovation, the cat litter industry has become more competitive and saturated. Now, many brands are focusing on the newest goal of the millennium: environmental friendliness. There are now many options for eco-friendly litters. Which Kind is Right for You? Cat litter brands have a lot of varieties today, so it's good to know about all of the offerings. Read on to find out about some of the major types of cat litter. Traditional Absorbent Non-Clumping Clay Litter The dried clay has larger pieces that track less than small materials like sand, so it won’t stick to paws as easily and falls away in the box. However, it still tracks a bit and can make a mess. This litter is baked, which helps reduce odor, but it needs to be changed more often. This oldie but goodie can last for up to a week in a box (for one cat) before having to be dumped and completely changed out. Clumping Clay Litter Clumping clay litter can last a little longer, since you can scoop out the solid waste. Most brands recommend changing the litter fully every 2-3 weeks. This is now the gold standard for cats and litter boxes around the world! Environmentally Conscious Litters Many of these newer litters boast several attractive qualities, including being biodegradable and sustainable. Other than these plusses, many of these can also be flushed down the toilet if need be. It’s still recommended to toss the waste in the trash bin as with any other litter.
One of my personal favorites – and I have used it for years – is the paper-based formula. It is made of recycled paper, and I find the no dust feature is a huge plus. As with the above wood litter, it is absorbent but doesn’t clump. I never found there to be an odor issue but for others, they may feel it lacks the odor control they desire. The only drawback to my favorite here is the price. It is much more expensive than the classic clay litter. The texture reminds me of rabbit food pellets and didn’t bother my cat but stepping on one of these in bare feet was a reminder to sweep the floor. This is a great option also if your cat needs to have surgery and needs a larger granule and not a fine texture. Lastly, you could use soil but then every plant you have may become a toilet so be prepared for a surprise in your ficus tree pot! How to Pick the Best Litter for You To pick the best litter, first consider several factors including number of cats, amount of dust, desired odor control, how often you want to change the litter, how much you want to spend, and how important eco-friendliness is to you. For example, ff you have multiple cats, then odor and frequency of changing the litter are going to be high on your list of concerns. Keep in mind that scented litter isn’t always better since some cats simply do not like the artificially added odor and can leave little messages around to ‘tell’ you to turn off the extra odor! Quick Fact: Studies have shown that outdoor cats are most likely to cover their waste in the litter box. Indoor cats often lose this adaptation over time because they don’t feel threatened. If you have an outdoor cat (or a particularly instinctual indoor one!) consider using a low-dust formula. Many companies have studied and tested cats and their litter preference. The preferred litter style is the unscented clumping cat litter. Try out a few and ask your vet, your local pet store and friends what they recommend. You will know quickly if kitty does not like your purchase! Remember, this is as personal to your feline as your toilet paper is to you so give it some thought and hopefully we will never have a cat litter shortage.  For humans, the connection between a good diet and good hair, nails, and skin is well understood. We try our best to eat a well balanced and healthy diet, sometimes we even supplement our diet with vitamins. from the pharmacy. Luckily, we spend every day in our bodies, so we know when things aren’t feeling great or when we might need to change the way we eat. Read on below to find out more!
How are diet and health related? Cats are almost entirely dependent on us for their food. With endless options out there, it can be tough to find the right food. As with people, cats are unique and have different needs and issues. Two cats can eat the same food and have very different reactions to it. My cat Daphne is also indoor/outdoor so there also is a curveball as she does hunt and eat a ‘raw food’ diet occasionally. Different cat breeds also have varied skin and coat textures that require different upkeep. So, I asked my cousin (a groomer) for her advice and thus began my understanding of the connection between diet and grooming. My cousin explained that her customers often call explaining that their cat needs grooming or a bath because of a certain problem. Usually, the problem is something along the lines of tangled fur, dry skin or excessive mats. While a bath, trim and brushing certainly help, it doesn’t always treat the root issue. Excessive shedding, dandruff, matting, dry pads on their paws, bad breath and poor bathroom hygiene are often linked to inadequate diet. Luckily, good-quality and high-protein foods can be the magic bullet to solve many of these issues! How can I make better food decisions for my cat? Less expensive foods have by-products in them. By-products are essentially ‘fillers’ meant to bulk up the food without costing the manufacturers as much. Common by-products are grain shells and tissue leftovers, which are often not very nutritious. Quick Tip: visit your pet food company’s website to figure out what by-products go into their food. Sometimes, healthy tissues, like liver, are categorized as ‘by-products.’ Liver and other organ tissue can be great in a cat’s diet! When in doubt, do some research and consult your vet. These foods may also be heavy in corn or brewers rice which are low-quality ‘filler foods.’ Even poultry can be hidden as by-products so be careful and take time to brush up on food labels as you would for yourself. Learning how to read a cat food ingredient bag is actually pretty simple and a google search can really help you narrow down the list to what is best for your cat and their lifestyle. Some common questions to consider when choosing the right food for your cat:
The myriad of foods is endless but remember to ask your vet or local pet store. The training the pet store owners and associates have from the brands they carry would surprise you. They can guide you to the right food, amount and perhaps even feeding times. Quick Tip: To ensure you get accurate and unbiased information, it may even be best to visit several pet food stores. Some of them may have incentives to push certain brands over others, so visiting several stores gives you a wider range of information. What health issues can a better diet fix? Dandruff and matting are main concerns that I hear from customers. Greasy coats can cause fur to tangle easier and knot up, which results in matting issues. Dandruff can be another result of poor diet and is easy to spot. Of course, some cat breeds are just genetically predisposed to have dry skin or tangled fur, so don’t expect better food to be a miracle cure-all. However, you should expect to see a marked decrease – that’s how you know the new diet is working! Ever since I started feeding my sweet Daphne top shelf food, she only gets minor mats and dandruff and seems a lot comfier in her skin. I’ll admit it, years ago I was guilty of buying the cheap cat food and jumping brands just because they were on sale. It wasn’t until someone asked me if I’d rather eat steak or McDonald’s that it clicked for me. Skin and fur concerns aren’t the only things that can be helped with a better diet. Sticking to one brand also eliminates stomach and digestive issues. Another unexpected perk of quality food: Top quality foods can result in less aromatic cat box odors and less cat poop to scoop! Quick Tip: When you start to try new foods for your cat, don’t change it all at once. Cats’ systems get used to their diet, so abruptly changing it can upset their stomachs. Instead, gradually blend the new foods into your current brand before switching entirely. What about treats? Who doesn’t have a sweet tooth? Just like humans, cats love their treats. These are great occasionally. Sure, I would love an ice cream cone each day but is it healthy for me and do I really need it? Cats are the same way. Cats will beg for treats and usually deserve them since they are so cute and sweet. However, just like you restrict yourself from rewards, make sure you’re not overfeeding your cat just because you love them. Sure, a few treats are a great way to show affection here and there, but asking your vet and being vigilant on quality food is still important. Spending a little bit more on a quality cat food can save you stress and money in the long run. This is your cat’s health here so fight the urge to skimp on your fur baby. Cats with long fur or other tendencies to mat should be on a 4-6 week grooming schedule. A better diet can make these grooming visits easier and less stressful on everyone. Start by researching cat food ingredients and understanding food labels. Find a local pet store and ask one of the associates what they advise and have a chat with them about any issues and you may be surprised at how quickly your feline is suddenly frisky and glossy coated they become! |
AuthorWhen Cari has some free time from all the kitties, she likes to share her knowledge of all things cat in this bi-monthly blog. Enjoy the read! Archives
June 2024
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