Aside from a hairball every once in awhile, most domestic cats are healthy animals. Caring owners who provide annual vaccinations and a safe living environment will find that their pet requires few visits to the vet for treatment of illnesses. But as a conscientious owner, you want to be able to recognize the symptoms of a cat illness so that you can get care in a timely fashion when needed.

I did not know, for example, that the most common infectious skin disease in cats is cat ringworm - a fungal infection caused by a microscopic group of parasitic fungal organisms known as dermatophytes (which means "plants that live on the skin"). Ringworm invades dead, outer layers of the skin, claws & hair. It is highly contagious and can be spread to other animals and people in the house.

There are three common types of dermatophytes that may cause ringworm: Microsporum gypseum comes from contaminated soil, Microsporum cani usually from other infected animals is the most common cause of cat ringworm, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes infects cats exposed to rodents.

What are the symptoms of cat ringworm?

Ringworm causes the loss of hair in a circular patch. It is more common in kittens, long haired cats, and cats under environmental or emotional stress. The site of infection may have flakey skin and may or may not itch. The edges of the circle of ringworm infection may be raised slightly. The most common locations for infection are the head, face, ears, tail, and paws. Although the disease may resolve itself in six to eight weeks in a healthy cat, cats with compromised immune systems should be treated with medication.

Cat ringworm may be diagnosed by your veterinarian using an ultraviolet light that shows the infected area hair with a green fluorescent glow. The fungus will also present under microscopic examination and can be cultured.

What are the treatments for ringworm?

Because ringworm is contagious to other animals and people, you will need to treat both the cat, other animals in the house, and the environment. You vet will probably recommend a shampoo or dip that includes lime sulfur. Bathing should be done every 4 - 6 days for approximately 2 - 4 weeks. Griseofulvin (Fulvicin®) is the most commonly used anti-fungal drug. Griseofulvin should not be given to cats with FIV and pregnant women should not handle Griseofulvin. Other drugs which may be used to treat ringworm include: Ketoconazole (Nizoral®), Itraconazole, Terbinafine - (Lamisil ®). There is also a ringworm vaccine made by Fort Dodge called Fel-O-Vax® MC-K.  for M. Canis that can be given to a healthy cat over 4 months of age.

To decontaminate the environment, vacuum daily and use diluted bleach to clean surfaces and grooming equipment. Carpets and upholstery should be steam cleaned and cat’s bedding washed with diluted bleach formula.

If you would like to learn more about cat ringworm and other cat disease symptoms, you can visit The Cat Lovers Only website which has a wealth of valuable information for cat lovers.

Posted by Barbara.

When we got our two kittens from the Humane Society, I tried – I really tried – to keep them indoors both for their safety and that of our birds. But, I lost the fight, as they cleverly figured out ways to get to and out the dog door, even with a shock mat in front of it. I guess some cats just need to feel the grass beneath their feet, smell fresh air, and play hide and seek in bushes instead of behind the furniture.

When Susan and Dan Gottlieb of Beverly Hills, California were confronted with this dilemma, they came up with a great solution – an outdoor cat run. After one of their cats got out of the house and was killed by a coyote, they hired a carpenter to build an enclosed run.

In the beginning there was only one entrance to the run, but after realizing the pleasure this outdoor opportunity provided their pets, they expanded the system to include five entrances and lots of space to run up and downs hills and through bushes. The Gottlieb’s run includes tunnel-shaped fencing stapled to the sides of a wood platform. Parts are carpeted or have rubberized matting like those used as kitchen drawer liners.

If you are a talented handy-person, you can create your own outdoor cat run with raw materials, a saw, and a staple gun. Or, for those with less skill or time, there are prefabricated outdoor cat runs made of galvanized and powder-coated steel like those from The Cat’s Den. The Cat’s Den outdoor cat enclosures are not cages or simple cat runs, but a unique modular system that includes tunnels, wooden perches, and floor materials. The Cat’s Den has seven different enclosure styles or your can work with them to design your dream cat run. You can even add customized features like awnings and hammocks if you want.

When you have completed your cat’s personalized run, you will have a happy and a safe pet – it is worth a try because cats that roam freely live much shorter and more danger filled lives than protected pets.

Posted by Barbara.

Did you know that cats are twice as likely as dogs not to get routine veterinary care? I find that difficult to believe. But, the source of that astonishing statistic is the reputable American Veterinary Medical Association. According to their U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, 36.3 percent of cat-owning households received no veterinary care in 2006 compared to 17.3 percent of dog owning households. One reason cited was that cats are independent and do not need special medical care.

Well a consortium of experts and cat lovers decided to do something positive for cat’s image and for their health. In February 2008, The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AFPA) in association with underwriting by Pfizer Animal Health held the first CATalyst Summit.

More than 30 concerned organizations attended this initial meeting with the goal of improving cat’s health. The attendees represented a cornucopia of important names in the pet game including: the American Animal Hospital Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Cornell Feline Health Center, Morris Animal Foundation, Winn Feline Foundation and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

As an immediate outcome of the Summit, the AAFP and the American Animal Hospital Association announced their plan to partner on developing feline life-stage wellness guidelines for veterinary professionals. There will be a second set of guidelines for owners, with recommendations for responsible medical care will be authored by Steve Dale, syndicated pet columnist and radio show host and Amy Shojai, founder and past president of the Cat Writers Association. They will receive support from Hill’s Pet Nutrition and the Winn Feline Foundation in creating the cat owner guidelines.

The Summit attendees identified four other actions it would like to see happen:

• Include information about cat care and cat comfort in veterinarian’s education. Examples given were considering:

          Separate waiting rooms for dogs and cats

          Soft surfaces in cat play areas

          Cat toys and treats

• Improve the image of cats to the population in general - try to make owning a cat seem cool. There was even talk of having masculine archetype, Robert DeNiro as a spokesperson - you know, "Real men like cats, too."

• Conduct a public education campaign that tries to dismiss some of the stereotyped beliefs about cats like, "they are so self-sufficient they don’t need special care."

• Create the CATalyst council to oversee carryout the Summit’s recommendations headed by, Dan Kramer, senior marketing manager at Pfizer Animal Health.

Posted by Barbara.