Welcome to Weymouth Landing Cat Clinic's Newsletter

Mars Petcare US, the maker of pet food brands Pedigree, Ol' Roy and others, has announced a voluntary recall of products manufactured at its Everson, Pennsylvania facility because of potential Salmonella contamination.

While there have been no reports of pets becoming ill from the food, Mars Petcare US has voluntarily recalled the food produced between Feb. 18 and July 29 of 2008 at its Everson facility.

Owners can check the UPC code on pet food packages to see if the food is affected by the recall. For all Mars Petcare US products except Pedigree foods, recalled products will have "17" as the first two digits on the second line on the UPC information. Example:

Best By Feb 18 09
17 1445 1

Pedigree products have a slightly different UPC code and date format than other products. Consumers who purchased Pedigree should look for "PAE" on the bottom line - the sixth, seventh and eighth digits. Example:

PEDIGREE (R) Small Crunchy Bites
Best Before 02/2009
808G1PAE01 12:00

A complete list of recalled products and corresponding UPC information can be found at the Food and Drug Administration's website and at the Mars Petcare US website.

Symptoms of Salmonella in pets may include lethargy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. In some cases, animals can carry the Salmonella infection with no visible symptoms and potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product or has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

To prevent the spread of Salmonella, the FDA recommends pet owners follow the safe pet food handling guidelines outlined here. If you have questions about the recall, call Mars Petcare US at 1-877-568-4463 or visit www.petcare.mars.com.

A $24 million settlement has been reached in the 2007 Menu Foods pet food recall incident. Pet owners whose pets died or were sickened by the contaminated pet food are entitled to file a claim for a portion of the settlement following a federal court ruling on Oct. 15.

The settlement brings a partial close to the largest pet food in history. In March 2007, Menu Foods, a Canada-based pet food manufacturer, recalled more than 60 million units of pet food after the food was found to be tainted with melamine, an industrial chemical commonly found in plastics. Pets that ate the tainted food suffered kidney failure and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received more than 17,000 complaints regarding the food from pet owners. Though there are no official records regarding the number of pets killed by the tainted food, the Veterinary Information Network estimated the contamination caused between 2,000 and 7,000 deaths and cost pet owners between $2 million and $20 million in health care costs.

Pet owners have until Nov. 24 to file claims. Forms can be downloaded at www.petfoodsettlement.com. Following the recall, more than 100 class action lawsuits were filed in the U.S. and Canada against Menu Foods and approximately 30 other companies, including pet food distributors and retailers. Menu Foods claims it has spent more than $65 million so far as part of the recall. According to the Associated Press, more than 10,000 people have so far filed claims, with the average claim valued at $1,500. An independent arbiter will review all claims filed.

As part of the settlement, pet owners will be reimbursed for health care costs, including "veterinary screening or treatment bills, expenses related to our pet's illness and/or death, and other expenses such as lost wages and property damage," according to a statement on the settlement website. Documentation of these expenses is required. In addition, pet owners may also recover up to $900 for the "fair market value" of the deceased pet. According to a statement on the settlement website, any money left over in the settlement fund after all claims have been settled will be donated to pet-related charities. Not all pet owners involved in the suit were happy with the decision, though - according to the Associated Press, a few dozen owners formally objected to the settlement because it does not compensate pet owners for pain and suffering due to the loss of their pet.

Melamine-contaminated wheat gluten imported from China and used in the production of the pet food was found to be the source of the contamination. An investigation revealed that importers frequently add melamine to food products in order to increase the protein count of the food, which in turn would increase profits.

Though two of the Chinese companies responsible for the contamination were shut down and a U.S. grand jury issued 26 indictments related to the case, the pet food recall was just the first in a series of recalls involving products imported from China. Recalls of everything from childrens toys to toothpaste were announced in 2007, and in October 2008, the Chinese government ordered a massive recall of all liquid and powdered milk products made in September 2008 due to melamine contamination. While the FDA has instituted a pilot program to help alert pet owners should a future pet food recall occur, other reforms have been slow in coming.

When disaster strikes, having an emergency plan is essential. But as you plan for the worst (and hope for the best), don't forget about your pet's place in those plans. Thousands of animals were displaced by the storms and flooding that ravaged the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the recent floods in the Midwest have already forced thousands of residents—and their pets—out of their homes. Here are some tips to help you keep your pet safe in the event of a major emergency.

The first and most important step is to plan ahead. In the event of a hurricane, earthquake, flood or other natural disaster, you may be forced to evacuate your home. However, most disaster shelters, such as those maintained by the Red Cross, cannot accommodate pets, with the exception of service animals. Because of this, it's a good idea to work out some kind of emergency shelter plan for your pet. Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area and find out if they allow pets, either in times of emergency or on a regular basis. Friends and relatives outside the affected area may also be able to care for your pet. Many veterinary hospitals and boarding kennels also provide shelter for animals in an emergency. Some hospitals, especially those in disaster-prone areas, have emergency plans in place for pets staying at the hospital. For example, Crescent City Veterinary Hospital in New Orleans adheres to a special "hurricane policy" from June through November, prime hurricane season in the Gulf Coast. Whichever method you choose, keep a list of these "pet friendly" emergency accommodations on hand and make arrangements as far in advance as possible.

Whatever you do, do not leave your pet at home. Leaving a pet alone during an emergency is likely to result in your pet being injured, lost or even worse. If you are forced to evacuate and cannot make shelter arrangements for your pet, bring him or her with you and try to find shelter for them along the way. In the case of floods, hurricanes, major storms and other disasters for which warnings are often issued in advance, start making preparations immediately. Confirm emergency shelter arrangements, bring your pets inside, and be sure all of your animal companions are wearing some sort of ID tag. Microchipping your pet is also a good way to ensure that you are able to find your pet should he or she become lost during an evacuation.

Having a disaster supplies kit for your pet is also helpful. This kit should include medications, medical records and a first aid kit, leashes and harnesses, a supply of food and portable water, a photo of your pet (in case he or she is lost), and bedding and a toy or two to keep your pet comfortable, if easy to transport. Preparations for each pet depend on the species and age of the pet. For example, birds should be transported in a secure cage or carrier, while snakes can be transported temporarily in a pillowcase until more secure housing can be found. Farm owners or those caring for horses and other large animals must also make special arrangements for evacuating or sheltering their animals at home.

For more information and detailed examples of emergency plans, The Humane Society of the United States maintains a list of disaster preparedness resources for pet owners on their website. Additionally, the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have compiled a list of resources and tips for keeping animals safe during a disaster. Individual states may have their own disaster plans for animals. The American Veterinary Medical Association maintains a list of states with animal disaster plans.

Thanks to the creation and marketing of cat litter in the mid 1940's, more and more cats have become indoor-only pets. As such, cats are now leading longer lives, with some living 20+ years! Our homes offer a safer, healthier environment than life on the street. The average life span of an indoor cat is 10 years, whereas the average lifespan of an outdoor cat is just 2 years. There is no doubt that indoors is safer.

Yet, when we choose to make our cats indoors-only companions, we have a responsibility to provide the stimulation that was previously provided by the great outdoors. Scratching and climbing posts become trees; interactive toys become hunted birds, bugs and field mice. A rotating array of cat playthings provides excitement, unpredictability and exercise which, in turn, gives your cat everything it needs while extending its life inside. With that said, many cat lovers still prefer to commune with nature with their feline friends. Fortunately, there are several ways to minimize the risks.

Most importantly, while vaccinations are important for indoor cats, they are absolutely critical to the health of outdoor cats. The threat of rabies, FeLV, FIV, and FIP, transmitted through altercations with wildlife, or interaction with stray, un-vaccinated cats, should be enough to have your cat immunized in order to give you peace of mind. All of these diseases can be prevented and can provide your outdoor cat with proper protection should he need it.

If you feel as though your cat deserves the fun of being outside, but want to provide a safe way to experience nature, there are alternatives to opening the door and watching him go. Harnesses and leashes (gasp!) have been developed for cats. Either cat specific or small dog accessories fit well and are relatively inexpensive. Training your cat to walk with the harness takes patience (unless you start with a kitten, in which case it could take less time), but the reward is worth it. Your cat will be able to experience the joys of being outside in a controlled environment. How far he can travel is up to you!

Outdoor enclosures are another great alternative. Since outdoor enclosures are usually homemade, they come in all shapes and sizes. For durability, chicken wire or wire hardware cloth - secured around a simple wood frame - is preferable to ordinary window screening. The most successful structures usually feature climbing and resting furniture inside. A shaded area is necessary for warm or hot weather. Whether you choose an outdoor enclosure or add cat-proof netting to the top of traditional fencing, they are safest used only when you are at home able to check on them often.

Even with the option of training or providing your cat with an enclosed outdoor adventure area, you still need to consider identification. Lost cats result in heartache that can easily be avoided. Microchip and ID tags provide easy identification and may be what reunites you with your cat should he / she get lost or scooped up by a caring, but ignorant stranger.

When deciding whether or not to let your cat outdoors, it is important for you to consider the alternatives. As the pet industry expands and becomes more creative, more and more indoor/outdoor products are going to become available. Of course, there is nothing better than being outside. If you can provide your cat with the proper care and protection, allowing your cat to go outdoors can be a fun and healthy existence.

Many people believe they cannot own a dog or cat if they have asthma or allergies, but not all people with these problems necessarily have a reaction to dogs or cats, and some people may be allergic to dogs and not cats, or vice versa.

Some people believe that there are dog and cat breeds that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction in their owners but this is not always the case.

Most people who react to dogs and cats are allergic to the dander rather than the hair. Dander consists of dead skin cells shed by the animal. All breeds of dogs and cats shed dander.

Other people are allergic to a protein in the animal's saliva. This is more likely to cause problems to cat owners, as cats self-groom by licking their fur. A suggested remedy for this is to bathe the cat once a month. No soap is needed, merely soak the cat thoroughly. Done on a monthly basis, it may help to keep the saliva levels down to a tolerable level.

For those people who react to dog or cat hair, there are breeds which are non-shedding. Poodles, Bichon frise and Bedlington terriers have a wool-like coat which does not shed. Some of these non shedding dogs; however, have other requirements. These breeds need to be clipped on a regular basis and also require close human companionship. They are not suitable for owners who want a dog which will spend the majority of its time alone or outside.

Crossing the poodle, Bichon frise and Bedlington terrier with other breeds does not guarantee any puppies in the litter having a non-shedding coat. If you wish to be sure that the pup you purchase has the coat type you require, then it is best to buy a purebred.

The Cornish rex and Devon rex cat breeds also have a non-shedding coat but they need to be kept indoors.

There are some steps which you can take in order to minimize allergies to cats and dogs:

• Keep the pets out of the bedroom.
• Keep pets off the furniture.
• Clean and vacuum often.
• Groom and brush the pet (outside if possible) often so it sheds less around the house.
• Bathe the pet regularly.

Since some people are simply allergic to a new dog or cat, repeated exposure may diminish the allergic reaction. In other words, you may not be allergic to dogs or cats that you are exposed to regularly.

An allergy specialist can test you for allergies and then give you periodic injections to help you develop an appropriate immunity to them. Be sure to find a specialist familiar with dog and cat allergies as some doctors may simply recommend you get rid of pets.

The companionship of a dog or cat has many benefits for both children and adults and it is sad to deny ourselves these benefits without considering all the options. However, if you suspect a family member may have an allergy to a pet, it is best to seek medical advice before bringing one home. It can be heartbreaking to have to part with a loved pet because of a family member's allergies.

When have cats ever been treated as luxuriously as they were in Ancient Egyptian Kingdoms? Cats were actually considered to be the children of the goddess Isis, and spent their days roaming the halls and chambers of the palaces and temples.

Their indulgences included baths by handmaidens in pools filled with flowers and massages with extravagant oils. By night, cats prowled the grounds, chasing away mice and rats and making the palaces safe. They were loyal companions to the royal family - Cleopatra's cat was named Charmain and legend has it that she clutched her precious cat as she died from the bite of an asp.

It was said that the glow from a cat's eyes contained the shining rays of the sun and their purring held the rhythm of a heartbeat. Egyptian cats were so highly prized that upon the death of a pet, it was common for the owners to shave their own eyebrows as an outward sign of their grief. In fact, cat cemeteries filled with the tombs of beloved pets have been unearthed all along the banks of the Nile. Similarly, upon their owner's death, cats were often mummified and placed within the owner’s tomb, along with mummified mice and bowls of milk as sustenance for their long journey into the afterlife.

Cats were such an important part of daily Egyptian life that their images adorned everything from royal jewelry to everyday tables and chairs. They were revered as goddesses but also loved as lifelong companions.

Pet owners can't figure out why cats are friendly one minute and aggressive the next. Cat bites are very common and probably occur more frequently than dog bites; however, they are infrequently reported. Aggressive cats can be dangerous, so attempting to resolve a cat aggression problem often requires a specialist who is trained in animal behavior medicine.

There are several types of feline aggression. The list below includes some of the most common forms.

Aggression With Petting

This behavior isn't well understood, even by experienced animal behaviorists. Some cats will suddenly bite while they're being petted or held. For whatever reason, petting, which the cat was previously enjoying, apparently becomes unpleasant. Biting is the cat's signal that she has had enough. Cats vary in how much they'll tolerate being petted or held. Although people often describe their cats as biting "out of the blue" or without warning, cats do generally give several signals before biting.

You should become more aware of your cat's body postures, and cease petting or stop any other kind of interaction before a bite occurs. Signals to be aware of include:

• The cat becomes restless
• The tail begins to twitch
• The cat's ears turn back or flick back and forth
• The cats head starts moving toward your hand

When any of these signals become apparent, it is time to stop the petting or holding the cat. The best thing to do is put the cat down and stop petting her. Absolutely do not impose any physical punishment on the cat as she (or he) may bite. Physical punishment may make it worse the next time you try to pet her or pick her up.

If you want to try to prolong the amount of time your cat will tolerate petting, use a food reward. When your cat first begins to show an undesirable behavior (or even before), offer her a favorite tidbit of food. As you give her the food, decrease the intensity of your petting. In this way, she'll come to associate petting with something pleasant and may help her to enjoy petting for longer periods of time. Each time you work with your cat, try to pet her a little longer. Be sure to stop petting before she shows any aggression.

Play Aggression

Play aggressive behavior is usually observed in young cats who live in single-cat households. These cats are very active and generally less than 2 years old. This behavior provides kittens and cats the opportunity to practice the skills they would normally need to have in order to survive in the wild. Play incorporates a variety of behaviors, such as exploratory (explore new areas), investigative (investigate anything that moves) and predatory (bat at, pounce on, and bite objects that resemble prey).

Playful aggression often occurs when an unsuspecting owner comes down the stairs, rounds a corner, or even moves under the bedcovers while sleeping. These playful attacks may result in scratches and bites which usually don't break the skin. People sometimes inadvertently initiate aggressive behavior by encouraging their cat to chase or bite at their hands and feet during play. The body postures seen during play aggression resemble the postures a cat would normally show when searching for or catching prey. A cat may freeze in a low crouch before pouncing, twitch her tail, flick her ears back and forth, and/or wrap her front feet around a person's hands or feet while biting. These are all normal cat behaviors, whether they're seen during play or are part of an actual predatory sequence. Most play aggression can be successfully redirected to appropriate targets; however, it may still result in injury.

In order to correct this behavior, you need to redirect your kitten's aggressive behavior onto acceptable objects. Drag a toy along the floor to encourage your kitten to pounce on it, or throw a toy away from your kitten to give her even more exercise by chasing the toy down. Another good toy is one that your kitten can wrestle with, like a soft stuffed toy that's about the size of your kitten. She can grab this toy with both front feet, bite it, and kick it with her back feet. This resembles the way young kittens play with each other. Encourage play with a "wrestling toy" by rubbing it against your kitten's belly when she wants to play rough. Be careful and get your hand out of the way as soon as she accepts the toy.

Since kittens need quite a bit of playtime, try to set up three or four consistent times during the day to play with your kitten. This will help her understand that she doesn't have to be the one to initiate play by pouncing on you.

Fearful/Defensive Aggression

Cats that are fearful may display body postures which appear to be similar to canine submissive postures - crouching on the floor, ears back, tail tucked, and possibly rolling slightly to the side. Cats in this posture are not submissive, they are fearful and defensive. They may attack if touched.

In order to figure out the reason for the fearful behavior, you need to closely observe your cat to determine the trigger for this behavior. Keep in mind that just because you know that the person or animal approaching your cat has good intentions, this does not mean that your cat feel safe. The trigger for her fearful behavior could be anything. Some common triggers are:

• A stranger
• Another animal
• A particular person
• Loud noises
• A child

To help eliminate the fearful behavior, you need to desensitize your cat to the fear stimulus. Determine what distance your cat can be from the fear stimulus without responding fearfully. Introduce the fear stimulus at this distance while you're praising her and feeding her a favorite treat. Slowly move the fear stimulus closer as you continue to praise your cat and offer her treats.

If at any time during this process your cat shows fearful behavior, you've proceeded too quickly and need to start over from the beginning. Working too quickly is the most common mistake and short frequent adaptation sessions work the best. If you are not having much success with the desensitization process, you may need help from a professional animal behavior specialist.

Redirected Aggression

When a cat is aroused into an aggressive response by a person or an animal, but then redirects this aggression onto another person or animal, this is called redirected aggression For example, if two family cats have a spat, the losing cat may walk up and attack the family child.

Territorial Aggression

Cats are highly territorial animals and usually only feel the need to defend their territory from other cats. Territorial aggression in cats isn't commonly directed toward people.

Suggestions

Take precautions. Your first priority is to keep everyone safe. Supervise, confine and/or restrict your cat's activities until you can obtain professional help. You're liable for your cat's behavior.

You should never attempt to handle a fearful or aggressive cat. Cat bites and scratches become infected easily. If you do receive an injury from your cat, clean the wound carefully and contact your physician.

Check first with your veterinarian to rule out any medical reasons for your cat's aggressive behavior.

Seek professional help. An aggression problem won't go away by itself. Working with aggression problems may require help from an animal behavior specialist.

Punishment won't help and usually makes the problem worse. If the aggression is motivated by fear, punishment only makes your cat more fearful and more aggressive.

The cat population in the United States is more than 75 million.

The average cat gets 16 hours of sleep a day.

Big cats can roar, but they cannot continuously purr. Small cats can purr, but they cannot roar.

A cat has 250 bones in his body, compared to 206 in our bodies. Think about how much bigger you are than your cat, and you'll understand why cats have a lot more places where they can bend and twist than we do.

Cat Skeleton

A cat will almost never meow at another cat. Cats use this sound for their mothers and their human care-givers.

A domestic cat's sense of smell is about 14 times stronger than a human's.

A female cat can mate with more than one male when she is in heat, meaning different kittens in a litter may have different fathers.

The oldest cat on record was Puss, from England, who died in 1939 just one day after her 36th birthday.

Cats can make more than 100 different vocal sounds. Dogs can make about 10.

Cats purr at about 26 cycles per second, which is the same frequency as an idling diesel engine.

The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a pattern that is unique, just like the fingerprint of a human.

Cats seem to have an instinctive ability to find their way home; tests have shown that they use the earth's magnetic fields to navigate.

If cats could read, they would need reading glasses. That's because their close-up vision directly in front of them is fuzzy. Instead, they have super peripheral vision and can detect the slightest movement in prey that is yards away.

Pouncing is powered by a cat's thighs. These muscles are so powerful that if you had a cat's thigh muscles, your thighs would be as big as your waist and you could jump from the ground to the top of a house.

In the Siamese cat, a lower temperature causes more dark coloration in the growing hairs. This is why newborn kittens, warm from their mother's womb, are white all over. As they grow up in normal temperatures, the hottest areas of their body, around the stomach and back, remain pale in color, while their cooler extremities gradually become darker.

The domestic cat is the only cat species able to hold its tail vertically while walking. All wild cats hold their tails horizontally or tucked between their legs while walking.

Breeds that developed in cold climates, like the Siberian, Maine Coon Cat, and Norwegian Forest Cat, have slightly oily, water-repellent top coats and thick, insulating undercoats.

Maine Coon Cat

The taste buds on a cat's tongue are specialized to detect the amino acids in meats, but are less able than ours to detect the carbohydrates in plants and grains.

Cat's Tongue

Cats have three blood types: A, B and AB. The majority are type A.

Cats have twice as many smell-sensitive cells in their noses as we do, which means they can smell things we are not even aware of.

A Spanish stamp commemorating Charles Lindbergh's record-breaking flight from New York to Paris showed his cat Patsy watching as his plane took off. Pasty often accompanied Lindbergh on his flights, but did not go on the 1930 flight that made him famous.

Charles Lindbergh Stamp

Humans and cats have a similar range of hearing when it comes to low-pitched sounds, but cats have a much greater ability to hear very high notes-better, even, than dogs.

Cats can judge within three inches the location of a sound being made one yard away. This is an essential skill for a predator who needs to catch a mouse hiding in tall grass.

More than 20 muscles in each ear enable a cat to move her ears like radar dishes and pinpoint the source of a sound. The two ears can rotate in different directions, as well.

Cats can compress or elongate their spine, making them smaller to sleep in snuggly places or longer to leap across wide open spaces.

In ancient Thailand, it was believed that when a very spiritual person died, their soul entered the body of a cat, and then ascended to heaven when the cat died.