Is your cat urinating outside of the litter box or straining to urinate? Is your cat not able to pee? Any cat not able to pee (a blocked cat) must be brought to the veterinarian immediately as this is a life threatening situation. If your cat is blocked it will be immediately unblocked by the veterinarian. After your cat is unblocked, or if the vet finds that it is some other problem, the cat will undergo a through diagnostic workup. This workup will include a urinalysis, urine culture, complete blood count, biochemistry panel (liver, kidneys, electrolytes) ultrasound and possible x-rays.  This is the minimal testing necessary to diagnosis the cause of disease properly. A complete blood count will look for evidence of systemic inflammation/infection or anemia.  A biochemistry panel will help identify other co-existing diseases that might be exacerbating the clinical signs.  A sterile urine sample must be obtained via inserting a needle into the cat’s bladder to draw out the urine.  The urine is analyzed with a special machine and examined underneath a microscope for cancer cells, crystals, mucus plugs, white blood cells, red blood cells, protein and bacteria.  Not all bacteria can be seen under a microscope, which is why a urine culture will determine if any bacteria are present in the urine.  Urinary tract infections are uncommon in cats and occur 12% to 25% of the time. Radiographs are important to determine if stones are present in the bladder or in the urethra.  Ultrasound allows the vet to view the balder wall and determine if sediment  (crystals) or stones are present. 

With these test results the veterinarian will have a better understanding as to what is causing of your cat’s urinary tract issues.  The unfortunate part is that only a small minority of cats will have abnormal test.  So what disease might your cat have? Stay tuned for my next article.

at urinating outside of the litter box or straining to urinate? Is your cat not able to pee? Any cat not able to pee (a blocked cat) must be brought to the veterinarian immediately as this is a life threatening situation. If your cat is blocked it will be immediately unblocked by the veterinarian. After your cat is unblocked, or if the vet finds that it is some other problem, the cat will undergo a through diagnostic workup. This workup will include a urinalysis, urine culture, complete blood count, biochemistry panel (liver, kidneys, electrolytes) ultrasound and possible x-rays.  This is the minimal testing necessary to diagnosis the cause of disease properly. A complete blood count will look for evidence of systemic inflammation/infection or anemia.  A biochemistry panel will help identify other co-existing diseases that might be exacerbating the clinical signs.  A sterile urine sample must be obtained via inserting a needle into the cat’s bladder to draw out the urine.  The urine is analyzed with a special machine and examined underneath a microscope for cancer cells, crystals, mucus plugs, white blood cells, red blood cells, protein and bacteria.  Not all bacteria can be seen under a microscope, which is why a urine culture will determine if any bacteria are present in the urine.  Urinary tract infections are uncommon in cats and occur 12% to 25% of the time. Radiographs are important to determine if stones are present in the bladder or in the urethra.  Ultrasound allows the vet to view the balder wall and determine if sediment  (crystals) or stones are present. 

With these test results the veterinarian will have a better understanding as to what is causing of your cat’s urinary tract issues.  The unfortunate part is that only a small minority of cats will have abnormal test.  So what disease might your cat have? Stay tuned for my next article.

By Dr. Jonathan A. Yardley

As the holidays quickly approach, let’s not forget about your four-legged friend. If you plan any air travel with your cat this year, pre-flight preparation will be necessary as it is predicated to be a heavier holiday travel season than in past years.  First, you will need a valid health certificate from your veterinarian.  All airlines require a health certificate that is written no more than 10 days before the flight. Second, more airlines are using regional jets, so I advise that you call the airline ahead of time to determine if your cat carrier will fit on board.  If you are traveling by car, you might be required to have a health certificate depending on your final destination. 

All cats need to be up to date on their vaccines, especially Rabies, before holiday travel.  The distemper vaccine protects your cat against respiratory virus. So, it is an important vaccine when visiting a multiple cathouse hold or boarding your cat. Because other cats may not be vaccinated, it is important to give your cat the most protection. I also recommend an extra dose of Revolution for your cat to ensure that he/she is parasite free (for example, fleas, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, and ear mites) and will remain so for 30 days. Again, you can’t be sure that other cats have been protected or that the place you are staying is free from intestinal parasites. Did you know that 15% of indoor potting soil has roundworm eggs in it?

In addition to vaccines, we need to prepare cats for traveling. If your cat is not accustomed to travel, you will want to introduce him/her to his/her cat carrier a couple days before travel. This will save your cat undue stress.  One way to do this is to place your cat’s meals in the carrier prior to the trip so he/she has a positive association with the carrier. To prevent car sickness, you shouldn’t feed your cat the morning of your car trip. It is not possible to bring your cat, using a cat sitter is always an option. It is important that a cat sitter comes over at least once a day to make sure that your cat still has food and water and is acting normally. Still another option is boarding your cat. If you plan to board him/her you should make reservations early, as boarding facilities fill quickly during the holidays. For your cat’s comfort and well-being, you should try to board your cat in a window unit and purchase the additional play times. These extras will help reduce his/her stress and make the boarding experience more pleasurable.  Again, if you choose to board your cat, consult with your veterinarian about the best time to vaccinate your cat. Typically, shots should be given at least 7 days in advance of boarding to give the maximum protection.

If instead of traveling, you are having guests for the holidays, be cognizant that your cat may become scared and stressed by the arrival of your guests. Starting your cat on natural calming medicine such has Composure treats or Feliway a couple weeks before your guests arrive will be advantageous. Stress effects cats in multiple ways. The most common effect of stress that I see is urinary and litter box issues.  I will review these issue in great depth in our next issue so stay tuned.

The holidays are very stressful for both you and your cat, so take some time out of your schedule to pet and play with your wonderful cat. The time spent together will benefit your cat and you, research has shown that spending time with pets can lower your blood pressure and stress.

As the holidays approach, you may be expecting a new kitten.  Once you find a reputable breeder, it is time to choose your new kitten.  Kittens come with lots of responsibilities and one of them is finding a veterinarian.  How do you select a new vet?  What should you look for? 

One common mistake, is opening the phone book or Googling the closest vet to your home and just going there.  Before you settle on a vet, you should do some research.  Start with their website; do they use Facebook or Twitter?  While using Facebook or Twitter does not guarantee that he/she is a better veterinarian, it may show that the vet clinic is on the cutting edge and willing to adopt new technology.  Because veterinary medicine is constantly progressing, you will want to find a clinic that is remaining up-to-date on the newest advances.  Veterinarians spend anywhere between four and eight years after veterinary school becoming specialists in certain areas. 

Another key area to consider is whether the clinic you are considering has all the equipment needed to diagnose and treat your cat.  All general vet clinics should have radiograph (X-ray) equipment.  X-rays are used to diagnose problems with bones, heart, and lungs.  Clinics should also have digital ultrasound.  Ultrasound is an important diagnostic tool that is used to examine your cat’s stomach, small intestines, kidneys, liver, and bladder.  All of these are important to visualize in older cats. An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is an important diagnostic tool that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your cat’s heart.  All clinics must have an EKG to monitor your pets with heart disease.  Finally, the clinic should have laser surgery equipment.  Laser surgery allows your cat to heal more quickly and have less pain than traditional surgery.  Laser surgery is particularly important if you make the decision to declaw your cat. 

In addition to making sure that the clinic has all the necessary tools you will want to make sure that your vet is trustworthy and knowledgeable.  It is important that you feel comfortable taking advice and treatment from your vet.  While all vets complete the same medical education, they can vary in how much continuing education they do after completing school.  While this might be difficult to assess, if you feel comfortable with your vet and he/she seems to be doing the necessary research to best help your cat, you will have a good working relationship and this will help your cat receive the best possible care.  If you feel uncomfortable with your vet, it may be time to move on and find a vet with whom you can work easily and trust. 

Price may be a final consideration.   While everyone is feeling the pinch now, it is important to weigh the cost of the services with the quality of the service.  Paying a little more in the beginning for a good diagnosis may help your cat get treatment he/she needs and avoid additional costs (and suffering for your cat) later on.

Dr. Jonathan A. Yardley 

In this month’s blog I will be talking about the importance of vaccinating your cat against Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV).   The core vaccines that have been recommend by the American Association of Feline Practitioners are as follows:  Feline Panluekopenia, Feline Herpes Virius-1, Feline Calicivirus, and Rabies. FeLV is not part of the list but is still highly recommended. Feline leukemia virus infects domestic cats throughout the world and results in death in infected cats.  The prevalence in North America is less than 5%; but it may be as high as 25% in multi-cat households where no prevention (i.e., vaccines and testing) has been done. In America only 50% of dogs and 25% of cats receive vaccines, this puts your cat at greater risk of infection. The virus is spread through saliva, nasal secretions (mutual grooming, biting, sharing of food and water dishes), blood transfusion, in utero or through milk. With so many ways for a cat to be infected, it is vital that cats be vaccinated to reduce their risk. If your cat gets FeLV, the prognosis is poor as most cats are infected will develop the disease[h1] .  Of cats with FeLV, 70-90% die between 18 months and three years of infection.  FeLV causes immune suppression, anemia, and lymphoma.  Cats with FeLV have immune systems that are more suppressed than cats with FIV because FeLV affects more of the immune system. Because their immune systems are weaker, the risk of infection by bacteria, Toxoplasma gondii, Mycoplasma haemofelis is much greater. In addition to increasing risk of secondary infection, FeLV causes two types of cancer; lymphoma and leukemia. Taken together, FeLV and the associated illnesses shorten the life span of the infected cat. The good news is that we can easily test for FeLV.  We use a Snap test, which is a cage side test that uses a little blood from the cat, and results are known with ten minutes.

One question that comes up consistently is about timing of vaccinating cats. Kittens need to undergo a Snap test prior to their first vaccine to see if they have already been infected. Second, kittens get maternal antibodies from nursing from their mothers, at about 6 weeks of age, antibodies start to wean from the kitten’s system. Thus, we need to wait until the kitten is at least 6 weeks old so that the vaccines have the highest chance of being effective. So, in general, the vaccine series should be started at 8 to 9 weeks of age, but can begin as early as 6 weeks. Vaccinations should be spread out at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks between shots. Kittens need to continue to get booster shots approximately every 3 to 4 weeks, depending on when vaccines were started, until the kitten is 16 weeks old. You can begin to vaccinate your cat for FeLV beginning at 8 or 9 weeks of age and stop at 16 weeks. However, if it is has been more than 6 weeks between vaccines, you will have to start over and your cat will need to receive at least 2 additional doses of vaccine 3 to 4 weeks apart.  All cats must have a booster 1 year later. Vaccinating for FeLV should be part of your routine vaccines because it protects against a potentially life-threatening virus and the benefits outweigh the risks.  Also at FeederCreek Veterinary Services we combine core vaccine with the FeLV vaccine.  One less shot for your cat is safer for everybody.  If you chose not to vaccinate your breeding cat colony, you will a need a yearly screening program for every cat.

What happens if you have a cat with FeLV? It is possible for cats with FeLV to live normal lives until they become sick. They must be kept inside to prevent your cat from infecting other cars. In fact scientific studies have reported that the rabies vaccine is not effective in FeLV positive.  [h2] If your cat is infected, you should not have other cats in the home or they will also become infected. Cats with FeLV should be seen by the veterinarian every 6 to 12 months for blood work, complete blood count, biochemistry profile, and urinalysis. Infected cats (both male and female) will  will need to be neutered. I recommend that any kitten that tests negative for FeLV/FIV be vaccinated for FeLV and receive annual boosters depending on your individual cat’s needs. Please discuss all these issues FeederCreek Veterinary Services.

Dermatophytosis, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophyets, Microsporum gypseum.

Otherwise know as Ringworm.

Ringworm can affect dogs, cats, humans, horses, and cows. Ringworm can be transmitted between humans and animals but it is uncommon.  Ringworm is a fungal disease. It is called ringworm because of the pattern of lesions it produces; circular areas of hair loss with red, raised outer rims. This ring is caused by hair follicle damage and subsequent inflammation.  Cats, especially long-haired breeds, are more often infected than short-haired breeds. Some of them can become chronic carriers of the fungus even though they may not show any signs of infection.

If your cat has patchy or circular hair loss, scales (dandruff) and reddened skin you should bring your cat to FeederCreek. Your cat will only be itchy 50% of the time. Your vet at FeederCreek will most likely want to do a DTM test or a fungal culture to confirm the diagnosis. A Wood’s Lamp can be used but will only diagnose 50% of ringworm caused by Microsporum canis, the most common cause of ringworm.

Treatment of infected pets can be both expensive and frustrating, especially in households or kennels where several animals live.

After reviewing the most current published papers, I would like to summarize the most effective treatments.  Although each treatment protocol most be tailored to your cat and environment.  All cats in the household should be tested to determine if they are carriers even if they are not showing clinical symptoms.

The optimum treatment involves clipping your cat’s entire hair coat, twice weekly topical antifungal therapy, concurrent systemic antifungal therapy, and environmental decontamination. The best topical product is a Lime Sulfur dip, which should be done twice weekly.  Lime Sulfur should not be rinsed off your cat.  There are two commonly used oral systemic therapies. One is Itraconazole for 28 days, followed by pulse therapy of one week on and one week off for 4 weeks.  The second is Terbinafine; it is the newest drug and should be used for 28 days. Finally, the environmental decontamination involves using a 1:10 bleach to water mixture twice weekly to disinfect brushes, beading, and bowls. This combined treatment should not stop until three negative consecutive fungal cultures are obtained at bi-weekly intervals. 


Jonathan A. Yardley, DVM

If you suspect your cat has come into contact with any of these substances you should immediately contact your veterinarian. He/she will need to do a physical and neurological exam and possibly blood work to assess your cat’s health. The veterinarian will place an IV catheter and start fluids along with other treatments.  If your veterinarian suspects that your cat has ingested a toxin, he/she might give your cat medicine to make it vomit, or he/she may perform a gastric lavage (stomach pumping) If the cat has a skin reaction to the toxin, washing him/her in a luke warm bath with dish soap will help remove the toxins from the skin. Unfortunately, there are no “antidotes” in veterinary medicine for treating toxicity in cats, and therefore other treatments have to be used.