CAT HEALTH & MEDICINE

Among all threats to feline health, none is more fatal than rabies. The threat also applies to cat owners who are bitten or scratched by an infected animal. Rabies is caused by a bullet-shaped virus called a lyssavirus, and this microorganism affects many warm-blooded animals, most commonly in skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, bobcats and bats. However, notes Dr. Orla Wages, a specialist in internal medicine in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Tufts, the virus can affect all warm-blooded animals, including domestic dogs and cats that have not been vaccinated.

Spring and summer are on the way, and a lot of people are rejoicing. The weather may be extremely enjoyable for many of us - but it can be miserable for cats because warm and humid weather is paradise for fleas. The truth is that few creatures have had as much impact on world history as the common flea. From the black plague during the 14th century to the present, fleas have been the cause of much grief.

A normal kitten weighs three or four ounces at birth, and after consuming only her mothers milk, will typically gain as much as a half-ounce per day. She will double her birth weight during her first week out of the womb. By the time she is three weeks old, she will have tripled her birth weight. And while this rapid growth rate will soon taper off, the kitten will quickly blossom into feline adulthood.

There is a variety of bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal diseases that can affect both cats and humans. These zoonotic diseases can be passed from an affected cat to her owner through touching, biting or scratching.

Just as cats come in a broad range of shapes, sizes and colors, so do the various lumps and bumps that may appear on their skin. While such palpable swellings can be alarming to see or feel, theyre usually harmless, according to Michael Stone, DVM, clinical assistant professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

Among the disorders that can seriously impair the function of your cats cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, one of the most severe is feline heartworm disease, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by infection with a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis. This insidious disease is known to be most prevalent in geographic areas where a hot, muggy climate accommodates the proliferation of mosquitoes.

Over the winter, a rare strain of bird flu infected nearly 500 cats housed in New York Citys Animal Care Centers (ACC). At least two cats died after being infected with the H7N2 strain of the influenza virus, and a veterinarian with prolonged exposure to the infected cats tested positive, too.

I have a male cat who has suffered twice from stones in his urinary tract. His veterinarian put him on a Royal Canine urinary diet (chicken in gravy) and special diet of kibbles.

Youve probably already heard about the Tufts research which has shown that cats who live in households with cigarette smokers are at increased risk for oral and other cancers. It stands to reason. Our anatomy is much more similar than different, with rather closely related respiratory systems that have the same vulnerability to environmental assaults.

Research recently demonstrated that the novel drug, MYK-461, proved effective in a small study of five cats with a naturally-occurring form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), an incurable disease that also affects humans. The consequences of HCM include thickening of the walls of the heart ventricles and altering of heart function, and it frequently leads to fatal consequences. Cats with the disease can suffer blood clot formation, congestive heart failure and sudden death.

My son recently adopted an adult cat from a shelter, and I notice that Tigger likes to rub his cheeks repeatedly on the legs of the furniture. In fact, he started to do the same thing to my face the other day when I was petting him on the couch! What exactly does this mean? Is it the start of his becoming possessive and maybe aggressive?

I trapped two stray kittens last year and had them treated for ringworm. They were neutered and given two rounds of kitten vaccinations. They also had bad breath so my veterinarian cleaned their teeth and needed to extract some teeth. She informed me that one cats dental problems had migrated into the root.