Peanut's day at the dentist

Remember Peanut the hairless cat? He was here to have his teeth done. He is only 1 year old, and has bad gingivitis (swollen gums, as seen in the picture) and some recession of his gums on his back lower teeth. The doctor and technician are not sure yet if he will have to have any teeth extracted. They will not know until they perform an exam, probe his mouth and take x-rays, just like your own dentist/hygienist does to you humans. Only us cats have to go under general anesthesia.

Luckily his owners brought him in early to have his teeth cleaned and examined, to help lessen his chances of periodontal disease and tooth loss. Due to his genetic make up, he is prone to dental disease. His parents are going to have to work hard at keeping his mouth in good shape. Oral disease is the #1 disease of cats over 3 years. Good news it is treatable and preventable. Also us cats don’t have to do the work! The people have to brush our teeth for us. Sometimes a special dental diet can be fed, as well as a gel they can apply to our gums to keep the gingivitis swelling down. Ask one of our technicians, they would love to help you take better care of your ‘cats teeth.

I, Rufus, had my own teeth done, and I have lost many teeth, and I know from experience having my bad teeth extracted; makes you feel so much better. I don’t have this chronic pain in my mouth; my body organs do not work so hard to get rid of all that bacteria that enters my bloodstream.

Keep in mind February is Dental Health month.

A Preventative dental cleaning can go a long way to help our furry friends live a longer healthier life. Also to go along with our 30^th anni-FUR-sary celebration we are offering special promotions on our dental cleanings.

We are turning 30!

HAPPY ANNI –FUR- SARY

The Cat Practice is Turning 30 years this year!!!!!!!!

We opened in 1981; it was Michigan’s FIRST cats’ only veterinary practice.

We are all so excited and grateful to all of you for trusting us to care for your members of the family.

In the coming months we are having fun promotions, so check for them on Facebook, and twitter.

I am also working on stories of extraordinary cats and their people who have been clients with us with most of our 30 years!!!

Remember cats can be expected to live 20 years or more!

We are dedicated to provide advanced preventative and medical care, with an emphasis on early detection to help cats live longer, healthier lives.

Thank you everyone, we look forward to seeing everyone this year.

Look for our new logo coming soon.

Bald is Beautiful

Guest blogg from Rufus (The Cat Practice’s house cat)

“What is that?? I never saw a bald cat. Did you technicians shave him? Why is he here? Should I fear him?”

Turns out he is a Sphinx (he is a purebred). Bred to not have any fur. Think Austin Powers Mr. Bigglesworth

He is here today to have his teeth done.

But I will tell you about that in my next blogg.

The Sphynx appears to be a hairless cat, but it is not truly hairless. They have whiskers and eyebrows, also a peach like fuzz hairocat. They can also come in colors. The skin looks like the color they would be. Tabby, brown, black and white. Since they do not have hair coat they like to snuggle next to you to keep warm.

Sphynx's are outgoing cats, that have lots of energy, affection & they are smart.

Many people think since they do not have hair coat to take care of, they are maintance free. Quite the opposite. Since the hair on most cats absorbs the body oils, these cats tend to have a build up of body oils on their skin, especially in the folds around the nail beds. As well as more waxy build up in the ears. Which require regular cleaning of the ears, as well as baths. People also think since they do not have hair, they must be hypoallergenic, but it is not always the case for cat specific allergies. Allergies to cats are triggered by a protein found in the cat Not the cat hair!

Don't let any of this scare you away from these great cats who have wonderful personalities. It is just important to know about this before adopting one.

The breed does have instances of the genetic disorder hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ( a heart diease). Studies are being undertaken to understand the links in breeding and the disorder. But again with any pure bred cat you want to check the mother & fathers history, as well as the breeders. Also having an echocardiogram on all pure breed cats is a very good idea.

Now that I got to know my new hairless friend, I am in love.

Thanks Peanut for showing me bald is beautiful.

Great litterbox

Based on our January’s newsletter: The Scoop”. I took Linda's suggestion about the world’s best cat litter box and bought my cats a new litter box. I loved the idea of no corners for all the litter to “stick and clump to” My cats love it too. Here is a picture of one of them enjoying his new box. It is big, and price is right. I bought it at a home improvement store for about $6.00. (In the cement supply area)

Remember: the rule of thumb is 1 more box then you have cats.

You can never have too many clean bathrooms in the house, can you??

Another type cats like are the corner style box.

If anyone has any other great litter box stories let me know.

Cat's in Mexico

Mexican cat sanctuary wrestles with anti-cat sentiment

Guest Blog: Linda Wasche

The 100 or so cats at Pet Heaven sanctuary outside Puerto Vallarta, Mexico seem to have it made. They get to lounge around in the shade of graceful palms and flowering shrubs. Or they can escape to a variety of terraces and small out buildings to get away from the hot Mexican sun.

On a recent trip to Mexico’s west coast, I had the opportunity to visit Pet Heaven with founder Julie Bunker. The cats rescued by Pet Heaven are strays or are dropped off, usually at night, in front of the large iron gates. A veterinarian donates his services and a team of volunteers cares for the cats and kittens.

The only bad part – there is nowhere for these cats to go. As I learned, cats are not considered pets in Mexico; but instead viewed as undesirable pests. The chances of any of Pet Heaven’s cats finding a home are slim unless they are fortunate enough to be adopted by expats, tourist or guests. Now I know why my two friends who treated me to this trip have cats with names like Pedro and Emilio! It’s hard to resist bringing home “one more” and easy to do – all you need is proof that the cat has been examined and vaccinated by a veterinarian before leaving Mexico.

Pet Heaven is doing a great job caring for homeless cats. They are going to need a lot of help finding them homes. The sanctuary is on the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta, but definitely worth a visit. You can email founder Julie Bunker at julievallarta@gmail.com. But you may just be coming back from Mexico with more than souvenirs.

Linda Wasche is mom to 6 cats and 5 rabbits. She can be emailed at Lindaw@LWmarketworks.com

Happy New Year

We have a guest blogger today: Maria, one of our technicians.
Happy New Year! Time for Resolutions!
By Maria Glencer, LVT
　
January 1st brings thoughts of New Year resolutions. One popular resolution for many people is weight loss. What about our cats? Recent estimates indicate as many as 50-60% of cats are overweight and 40% are obese. The cause is simple – too many calories and carbohydrates and not enough exercise.
Before you and your cat go on a diet or out to the gym together, be sure to have your cat’s overall health assessed. All weight management programs should be closely monitored to ensure weight loss occurs in a gradual and safe timeframe. Rapid weight loss can lead to a life-threatening condition called fatty liver disease.
All cats (overweight or not) should be fed a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. As carnivores, cats use protein for energy but convert carbohydrates to fat.
Weight management guidelines:
*Feed more wet food (higher in protein) and reduce/eliminate dry food (higher in carbs).
*Feed on a schedule with measured-out portions instead of leaving food out all day.
*Feed multiple cats in separate rooms to prevent food stealing.
*Make one person responsible for feeding to prevent duplicate meals.
*Substitute extra food and treats with calorie-free rewards such as catnip, love, or petting.
*Schedule playtimes; include toys that make use your cat’s natural hunting skills.
Once we evaluate your cat’s ideal weight and specific needs, we can calculate a diet plan.
Let us help your cat live healthier by keeping it slim and trim, starting this New Year!

Those Holiday Hazards

A friendly reminder to all: Many of us are decorating for Christmas. For our cats this “its the most wonderful time of the year.” (Can you hear the song?) Unfortunately it also means Holiday Hazards. The ribbon you tie packages with they can chew on, and sometimes become stuck inside the intestines. This means surgical removal.

The plants all wrapped up in red foil: toxic, they could cause vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes kidney failure. As far as the tree, that is Disney Land for cats. I can’t tell you the last time I had ornaments on the bottom half of my tree. The lights, every year Ute (my eldest) must chew through at least 2 sets, he always finds a spot I don’t have protected. Don’t forget cats cannot eat all those treats either, chocolate can be toxic, and just as us people, we cannot load up on extra calories. Extra weight gain is not healthy; it could also lead to vomiting and diarrhea.

A little bit of turkey or other meat is fine, just don’t over do it.

Clink the link for more information.

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/news/HolidayHaz.htm

Have a fun and safe Holiday and New Year.