Turmeric and Cats

We have been giving Butterscotch turmeric in capsule form once a day with his canned food ever since he had to have a lump removed from the back of his left leg a couple of years ago. Upon doing our research, we have read that this supplement (herb) has a lot of wonderful benefits for both cats and dogs alike. 

I have decided to share some information about it here which I had found on a couple of websites about using it for its' health benefits for cats. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a soft lump on Butterscotch's chin. As the vet had instructed me to do, I kept a close eye on it to make sure it did not get bigger. Now, it could well have been dermatitis (yes cats can and do get it) and I began giving Butterscotch turmeric again after I had given him a little break from it in his daily routine. Within days the lump on his chin not only had gone down, but appears to have gone away. Be that as it may, I will still continue to keep a watch on it. 

The following are links for further reading and an excerpt from one below:

Turmeric has become a household staple for many people, but this superfood has tremendous health benefits. Turmeric for cats helps support cats that may be fighting cancer, and also provides, arthritis support and also helps with digestion, skin issues, and is great for cardiovascular health.

Properties of Turmeric:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Anti-fungal
• Antibacterial
• Anticoagulant
• Antiseptic
• Astringent

Benefits of Using Turmeric Daily in the Diet

• Helps to scavenge free radicals
• Increases antioxidant enzymes
• Inhibits lipid peroxidation

Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause oxidative damage to cellular components such as proteins, lipids, and DNA. The free radical scavenging properties of turmeric supports the body in processing and removing these molecules, minimizing the damage they can do.

Healing Properties of Turmeric for Cats

• Helps arthritic conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties and COX2 inhibitors
• Autoimmune disease support by improving the signaling pathways of immune cells
• Anti-cancer support due to its antioxidant properties
• Support for liver disorders through detoxification
• Heart condition support through improved circulation
• Helps to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) which cats are prone to
• Helps reduce the risk of blood clotting

At NHV, we only use human-grade quality products as plant-based remedies. They are vet-approved and are safe to be given long-term along with any vet-prescribed medications.

Other Herbs and Spices That Are Healthy for Cats

In addition to turmeric, there are a variety of other herbs and spices that you can offer to your cat occasionally that are thought to help support their health. Here are other herbs and spices that your cat can eat:

• Ginger
• Catnip
• Dandelion Root
• Chamomile
• Valerian

These herbs and spices should be used like turmeric: sparingly. Just a small amount added to a meal or included in a snack or treat a few times a week or under guidance from a veterinarian.

References:

https://www.nhvnaturalpetproducts.com/TURMERIC-for-cat-cancer-symptoms

https://petcareadvisors.com/cats/can-cats-eat-turmeric/

https://askmycats.com/is-turmeric-safe-for-cats/

Merlin's Christmas present!!

Merlin is completely OBESEESED with running water! He dumps his water bowl on the floor two seconds after we fill it and he purposely dips his paw into the water bowl and licks his paws. So, this year my husband decided to purchase a water fountain for him off of the Chewy website ... 

He is still a bit apprehensive about it, but I am praying that he figures it out soon! LOL!

That's my boy!

Yesterday morning, Sir Leo had his annual check-up with Dr. Lila. Leo has been on a special CD diet ever since he was diagnosed with F.U.S. a few years ago and so he needs a prescription food. Because this food can not be bought in a store, we must either pick it up at our vet's office or order it through Chewy.com via his script. The script must be refilled once a year by our vet so in order to have it refilled, we had to get him in for his annual visit first.

He had a clean bill of health except for his teeth which need to be cleaned. He has at least one bad tooth that will need to be extracted as soon as we can get him in for his pre-surgery stuff - blood test, x-rays, etc.

She was VERY pleased that he lost 2 more pounds since last year. He was originally over 17 pounds (overweight) then after we began feeding him his special food, he slowly dropped down to 15. Now at 13.5 pounds, Dr. Lila feels that he is at a good weight for his large build. Leo's food portions are measured daily - he currently gets 1/4 cup of his CD dry food twice a day.

As Dr. Lila (as well as many other past vets we have seen) had stated, weight loss is an extremely "touchy" thing in regards to cats. Their systems are so delicate that if they lose weight too quickly it can actually damage their internal organs! It is imperative that they lose the weight slowly!

Sir Leo HAPPY to be back home!

In loving memory ...

Back in 2015, we needed to change veterinarians as our long-time vet passed away. VERY tough decision indeed because, in my opinion, a trusted vet is always hard to find - especially after you have had whom you considered to be THE BEST in the field.

On a referral from a very good friend, we decided to take our fur babies to Dr. Mike Comalli and his wife, Lila Comalli who started their own business, the Conrad Weiser Animal Hospital. Luckily for us, Dr. Mike is located only a few miles up the road from our old vet.

Dr.'s Mike and Lila Comalli

Sadly, I received an e-mail from the hospital that we lost Dr. Mike at the end of last year.

It was never revealed what his cause of death was, but one thing is for certain he WILL BE SADLY MISSED! His wife, Dr. Lila Comalli, is still with the hospital and she is actually the vet who saw Lady Tabitha last Friday. I am so very grateful that she is still with us! BTW, Dr. Lila is allergic to cats, but is such a good, caring person and dedicated veterinarian that she will see one cat a day. 

Thank you, Dr. Mike for taking care of our precious fur babies. Rest in peace!!

What is that?

 

Earlier this week, I noticed a very hard, bone-like object which seemed to be protruding from our cat Lady Tabitha's tail. So, my husband called our vet on Tuesday and the next available appointment was on Friday. I took her to her appointment this morning and after Dr. Lila Comalli gave her a thorough examination, she concluded that Tabitha had a scab with a lot of dry blood apparently from a wound she had gotten by either catching or pinching her tail somehow. Now, Tabby is strictly an indoor kitty so who knows what happened? 

She also has very bad dandruff, so Dr. Lila suggested that we shampoo her twice a month and generously sent a flea comb home with me to use.

As far as Tabitha's wound is concerned, Dr. Lila gave her an antibiotic shot of Convenia so that we did not have to give her oral pills/meds. It is a much better alternative than stressing both Tabby and ourselves out trying for force pills down her throat every 12 hours.

We will have to take her back in 10 days for a re-check, but in the meantime, she is resting comfortably in a safe holding cage in the cat's room. She is shown here yawning after a very busy morning! 

Feline Leukemia (FeLV)

The very first time I had ever heard about Feline Leukemia was back in 1981. I was in high school and still living at home with my parents and my dad discovered a little gray female kitten in his garage. My dad loved all animals and he immediately befriended her. She used to keep him company while he worked on cars. One time, she crawled up on top of my dad's back and laid there. I heard a knock at the back door and there was my dad - the cat had literally stayed on his back from the garage to the front door! I named her "Whiskers".

These are a couple of pics from my mom's Polaroid camera and they are of me and, Andy, a guy I was dating at the time and my mom ...

It was winter time and we would leave her in the house every day for a few hours then she would sleep in my dad's garage during the night. One day, I noticed that she was not acting right. She would sit at her water bowl and just stare into space and she could not longer hold her urine. My mom left me take a day off from school and we took her to our vet. They examined her and took tests. Later that day, they called us and told us that she had something called Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and that there was absolutely nothing we could do to help her. They said that there are vaccinations to help prevent it, but once they are diagnosed with it, it is too late. They also told us that she must have had it for a while and we actually helped put her into remission and prolonged her life. I was devastated! My mom never particularly liked cats, she was and still is very much a dog person, but even she was sad. That December for Christmas, my mom had an engraved ornament made for Whiskers and gave it to me as a present in my stocking. I was so touched that I cried.

I also remember that FeLV was at its' peak around the early '80's in our area. Due to the fact that my parents always had dogs and not cats while I was growing up (my mother would never allow me to have a cat in the house), I never knew much about cats at that time. Whiskers was my very first cat and this was one experience I will never forget. I vowed to never let another cat of MINE die like that - It was so AWFUL to see her suffer like that! I was so heartbroken.

So, what exactly is Feline Leukemia? 

Quick Facts:

• FeLV is a retrovirus that compromises a cat’s immune system.
• FeLV is a feline-only virus that cannot be transmitted to humans.
• Cats who test positive for FeLV can live for many years without serious symptoms.
• A positive FeLV test result SHOULD NOT be a death sentence.
• A vaccination for FeLV exists, but it is not 100 percent effective.
• In rare instances, FeLV can spread through the shared use of litter boxes and/or feeding dishes.
• A positive FeLV test in a cat is not necessarily a diagnosis. False positives can occur.
• We strongly recommend against testing community cats for FeLV.
• Spaying and neutering is key to preventing FeLV spread by minimizing biting behavior that is the main mode of transmission.

Why is it important to understand FeLV and how it is tested?

Consider this scenario: A cat with no signs of health issues is brought to an animal shelter. Shelter staff conduct a routine FeLV test, and the cat is found positive for FeLV. As a result, the cat is killed. Though she showed no symptoms of FeLV-related health problems, the test was still treated as a life or death matter.

This cat, and many others just like her, could have had a high quality of life in indoor homes with people or outdoors with their feline families. On top of that, the test may have been incorrect. FeLV tests are not diagnoses and can be unreliable for multiple reasons.

Whether you have a cat who has tested positive for FeLV, are trying to decide which tests to include for a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, or are answering questions from others on FeLV, the information below will help you save lives.

What Is Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)?

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus belonging to the coronavirus subfamily, which means it is a cancer-causing virus. FeLV only affects cats and cannot be spread to humans or other animals.

How Is FeLV Spread?

FeLV is spread primarily through cats’ saliva. It can also spread through blood, tears, feces, and urine.

Most cats get the virus from their infected mothers at birth or through prolonged direct contact with FeLV-positive cats, such as mutual grooming. FeLV also spreads through bite wounds, such as those caused by male cats fighting.

In rare instances, FeLV can spread through the shared use of litter boxes or feeding dishes.

How Can FeLV Transmission Be Prevented?

FeLV cannot survive for more than a few hours outside a cat’s body in most environments and is easily destroyed with soap and water.

Spaying and neutering cats helps prevent FeLV transmission by minimizing biting behavior. When cats are spayed or neutered, hormone-driven fights (and any resulting bites) associated with mating decrease dramatically. Spaying and neutering also ends the transmission of FeLV from mother cats to kittens.

It is important to know that a vaccination for FeLV exists, but it is not 100 percent effective. People should consult their veterinarians and determine their cat’s risk factors for FeLV when deciding whether to vaccinate.

What Happens When a Cat Is Exposed to FeLV?

FeLV can cause severe anemia and suppress the immune system, leaving the cat vulnerable to a variety of opportunistic diseases.

FeLV Stages

One of three things can happen once a cat contracts FeLV:

1. Abortive Infection and Immunity

The cat may experience a transient viral infection, fight off the virus, and develop future immunity. Kittens younger than 16 weeks old are much less likely to fight off FeLV than adult cats.

2. Progressive Infection and Disease

If the initial FeLV infection is not overcome, the virus replicates and the kitten or cat becomes persistently infected. The virus eventually moves to the bone marrow and compromises the immune system. Although a cat in this state may show no signs of illness for several years, FeLV-related diseases such as anemia, skin diseases, and leukemia typically develop within two to three years. Cats with progressive FeLV infection shed the virus in their bodily secretions (including saliva) and can infect other cats.

3. Regressive Infection and Immunity

Cats who become persistently infected do not always develop disease as a result. Some cats produce an effective immune response to the virus while continuing to harbor the virus in their bodies. This results in a regressive or carrier state—an FeLV-infected cat who has low risk of developing FeLV-related diseases. The regressive phase of FeLV infection seems to be temporary for most cats. They can actually become free of the virus within a few years. Cats in the regressive infection state are unlikely to shed or spread FeLV.

Unlike cats with progressive infections, cats with regressive infection of FeLV almost never shed or spread the virus. They do not infect other cats unless through a blood transfusion done by a veterinarian.

What are the Symptoms of FeLV?

Signs that a cat has FeLV include:

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Poor coat condition
• Persistent fever
• Inflammation of the gums and mouth
• Skin, urinary, and upper respiratory tract infections
• Persistent diarrhea
• Seizures, behavior changes, and other neurological disorders
• A variety of eye conditions

It is important to note that many of these symptoms may not be related to FeLV at all.

Other conditions FeLV can cause include:

• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Infertility

FOR FURHTER READNG PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK:

https://www.alleycat.org/resources/feline-leukemia-virus-felv/

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

A few years back, my husband and I had noticed a lot of little "uncooked rice-like" non-moving "things" left on the blankets and comforters of every place our cat Leo had laid. I called up our vet at the time and they told us to bring them a fecal sample from him to have analyzed at their out-sourced lab. In the meantime, I researched the issue via the pet vet sites (and people I know who also have cats) and everything pointed to tapeworms! How? I honestly do not know since all of our cats are completely and strictly indoor cats only!

A day later, the vet called us and said that he had isospora which is supposedly an intestinal parasite similar to giardia. Now, when I dropped off Leo's fecal, I also bagged up the samples of the "rice-like" dead tapeworms for them to look at as well. I asked them about it and they said he doesn't have tapeworm, just isospora and that they did not "know" what the rice-like things were. Seriously? Well, turns out they may have been right about the isospora, but they were completely wrong about the tapeworms!

Because these parasites are so contagious, we had to treat all five cats for both issues. So, the next morning I called up the vet to let them know that hubby was going to pick up the cats meds and they said they would have them dosed and ready for us. Then when my husband showed up at the vets office to pick them up, he was told some BS about our one cat Midnight had not been seen in the last six months so they couldn't give us his portion. WHAT? How useless is that? Why would we treat only four of our cats and not all of them as seriously contagious as the problem is? They told us that since we already had an appointment set for the following Monday night anyhow to have Midnight seen for three wart-like things on his tail, we should be able to pick up all the meds then ...

(What the tapeworms actually look like. They break off in segments via the cats anus. Although they come out live, they do not live very long outside the host cat's body ~ that is when they dry up and die looking like uncooked rice) ...

   

The very next night, we left Leo out by himself in the cat's room to stretch his legs a bit as we had to keep him in a cage and separated from the other cats until the problem was resolved. Two hours later, I went in the room to put him to bed and back in his cage and what did I see? EEKK!! A live, moving, disgusting tapeworm which had apparently just slithered out of his butt! That was it! I had had enough of the vet's BS and first thing the very next morning hubby and I drove over to the vet and demanded help! That is when they told us that he also had tapeworms as well as the isopora! Gimme a break, will ya? I was so upset and livid at that point that Dr. Heather had decided to take a break from a surgery she was working on to come out and straighten out their mess!

She maintained that she could lose her license if she dispensed meds to Midnight without the "six month check up." She also said that the tapeworms were more than likely from fleas ~ either ingested by one of the cats or caused by feces in the litter boxes. Now, our cats do not have fleas, but after further thought, hubby told me that he remembered seeing one on "Fancy Pants" (our neighbor lady's Siamese cat) the last time we watched her for her owner. AH HA!!! Made perfect sense at that point and, lesson learned! We will never take another stray cat in for any reason, temporarily or otherwise, that way ever again. I absolutely refuse to go through this nightmare again! Everything, including the water and food bowls, cats boxes, blankets, rugs, etc.) had to be completely washed and decontaminated as best we could. On top of that, we had to treat all of the cats for fleas!

Dr. Heather must have felt sorry for us and had decided to dispense the isospora meds after all so long as we still agreed to bring Midnight to his scheduled appointment on Monday night. For some ridiculous reason unknown to us; however, she did not give us tapeworm meds, only the meds the cats were supposed to get before their office screwed up.

And so we had to stop off at our local PetSmart and pick up tapeworm meds to give to all of the cats as well as giving them their isospora dosage. All of this because we tried to do the right thing thinking that we were helping to save a nice, sweet cat. As the saying goes, "No good deed goes unpunished" ... how true!

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A Leo update:

On Monday morning, I received a phone call from a nurse acting on behalf of the State of PA. She was just following up on the State required report I had to fill out paperwork for when I had to go to Patient First regarding my cat bites on my left hand. Later on that day, the PA Dept. of Health sent me a letter in the mail:

No kidding! Trust me, even if the State would have demanded I surrender Leo (or ANY of my cats for that matter), it will be a cold day in Hell before I let ANYONE take away my cat - it will never happen!

At any rate, my hand is slowly healing and I am still taking my prescribed antibiotics.

Leo's Diabetes

 

Back in 2019, I was feeding our cat Leo in the catio when I noticed that he had suddenly gotten weak and slowly fell to the floor. At first, I thought that perhaps he had jumped down from the tall cat condo and landed the wrong way - possibly injuring his leg. I tried to help him up and he still appeared too weak to stand. This concerned me greatly and so we took him to our vet for an examination in order to help us figure out what was going on with him. He exhibited what I could only describe as some type of "seizure". The blood tests originally showed him with a very high glucose level and therefore he was diagnosed with diabetes. Our vet, Dr. Mike, immediately called in a prescription for him for insulin, syringes, and lancets at our local pharmacy. He had been on a strict diet and we had to keep running him to the vet during the week to get his blood sugar checked. After a week, the vet told us that his blood sugar was back to normal and to stop the insulin injections for the time being. We were to keep the insulin in the refrigerator for six months in the event that Leo should ever need it again, but Dr. Mike said that Leo seemed to have gone into remission and was currently no longer considered "diabetic" at that point.  

That was the good news. However, we were still not sure exactly what had been causing his "seizures", but we had been keeping an eye on him and for the past couple of days afterward. he had not appeared to have had the episodes that we had witnessed. We were instructed to continue his prescription diet for the rest of his life, but that is not a problem at all as he seemed to be eating fairly well. And, per our vet's instructions, we also bought an Alpha Trak for cats and dogs so that we could check Leo's blood sugar at home from then on. The problem with that; however, was that my husband and I struggled horribly with the lancets. Yes, the vet technician gave us a quick "How To" on where and how to prick Leo for a blood sample and use the Alpha Trak, BUT it was an absolute nightmare as far as we were concerned! First of all I hate, allow me to repeat, HATE needles and I was so scared of hurting Leo. Then, one night after I had gotten home from work, my husband said to me, "You are going to have to try getting Leo's blood because I tried and accidently poked the syringe completely through his ear and he cried!" 

Now, we were told by the vet to use the small vein around the outside of Leo's ear to get the blood sample hence you had better get it spot on! This experience was so awful that we both refuse to ever do it again, Thankfully, Leo was also placed on a special CD diet food for weight control as well as his Urinary Care food and he had begun to gradually lose weight. Knock on wood, he has not had anymore glucose issues for about a year now.

Feline Urological Syndrome (F.U.S.)

 

The first I time I had ever heard of Feline Urological Syndrome was back in 1990 when I noticed one of my male cat's trying to urinate in the corners of rooms while crying as if he were in pain. At the time, we had four other indoor cats so I was not aware of exactly which cat urinated in which litter box. 

We immediately took him to our vet for an examination and he was quickly diagnosed with Feline Urological Syndrome and kept at the animal hospital for a day in order to have a catheter inserted. Feline Urological Syndrome can be brought on by several factors; however, the most common cause is a urethral blockage due to crystallization. Cat food containing high ash content, fillers such as wheat, soy, and corn which cause the crystallization are extremely dangerous and can kill your cat within hours if not caught in time! 

The seriousness of this medical condition can not be overstated! If your cat is diagnosed with this, they will need to be fed a special  Urinary Diet food prescribed by the vet for the rest of their natural life. 

This problem is more common in male cats than females. The reason for this is because males have a much narrower urinal tract than females. Our cat Leo has F.U.S. and once a week we must perform what I refer to as a "potty check". Meaning, I give him a completely fresh litter box using only the clumpy cat litter and separate him from the other cats by putting him in the catio after his dinner. This is imperative for keeping track of his urinary habits.  

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I have included a couple of links for further reading:

https://felineinstincts.com/feline-urological-syndrome-fus

https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/feline-urological-syndrome

Raw Meat for Cats: Good or Bad idea?

Recently, the subject has come up in our household regarding

 how healthy it is to give cats "raw meat." Actually, it was

 suggested by a good friend of mine to use raw chicken to catch

 our rather elusive outside kitty cat.

According to the vet, the answer to this quandary is "Good."

 Raw meat, although repulsive to most of us, is very healthy for

 cats. It is good for their teeth and overall fitness. They can even

 eat bones so long as they are NOT cooked or microwaved, etc.

 The reason for this is simple. When bones are cooked in any

 fashion, it changes their density. Cooked bones are very hard

 and brittle and will without a doubt either puncture your cats

 stomach or cause them to choke!

Further, you should never feed your cat raw meat and kibble

 (cat food) at the same time nor close together. Cats digest raw

 meat very quickly unlike kibble which takes cats a few hours to

 digest. Therefore, feeding them kibble too soon after giving

 them raw meat can be extremely risky as the raw meat gets

 digested quickly so the bacteria does not have enough time

 to become a hazard to the cat. Mixing both the kibble and the

 meat together will only slow their digestive system down,

 causing the actual risk of the cat getting sick!

I, myself however, would certainly never presume to debate

 these medical facts. After all, who am I to argue with Mother

 Nature? Apparently, she knows what She is doing. However, I

 must add that, personally speaking, I still do not feel completely

 comfortable feeding my indoor cats raw meat.

(resource: http://catlovingcare.com/1561/blog/should-cats-eat-raw-chicken-and-uncooked-meat/2009/08/)