For many years, we have always recommended flat plates for our elderly cats.  It seems that many older cats, as their senses decline, are hesitant to put their face down into a deep dish and have their whiskers hit the side of the bowl.  Now this has a name; Whisker Fatigue.

It seems that this behavior can occur in any age cat, and applies to both food and water dishes.  You might want to play with different types of dishes for your cat and see if you can detect a preference for size, shape, height, and flatness of their dish.

One of our clients recently suggested dishes from Basis Pet, which is a Vermont company that has a great stainless steel bowl.  It is shallow, made of food grade stainless steel, and is very sturdy.  My cat Truman definitely eats better from this dish than the traditional, deep pet food dish.

So give it a try!  Remember Presentation is everything!

Some of you may have been following the reports about avian influenza in cats. For those who are interested or have interested clients…the National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed low pathogenic North American lineage avian influenza H7N2 (LPAI) in domestic cats (Felis catus) at several animal shelters in New York City (NYC). This is the first time this strain of influenza has been detected in and known to be transmitted among cats. CDC has confirmed one associated human infection in a person who had close, prolonged unprotected exposure to the respiratory secretions of infected, sick cats at an affected New York City animal shelter. The person had relatively mild illness and is recovering. No person-to-person spread of this virus has been identified at this time. CDC believes the risk to the public’s health from this virus is low.
 
The strain of H7N2 detected is quite similar to the virus that was circulating in the live bird marketing system (LBMS) in NY and NJ prior to 2006 and which caused an outbreak of LPAI in the Virginia poultry industry in 2002/2003. Approximately 20 chickens in the index shelter were tested negative for LPAI H7N2. A number of cats housed in multiple, epidemiologically-linked shelters in NYC were positive for LPAI H7N2. Most of the positive cats have mild respiratory symptoms, while 2 cats have died as a result of the infection. Cats are known to have moved from the positive NYC shelters to other shelters and rescue groups in NY as well as to 4 additional states (PA, NJ, ME, CT).
 
It is not known how these cats became infected with the virus. Testing among the dogs in the shelters has been negative, suggesting they are not susceptible. Because this virus is being recognized in cats for the first time, there is minimal information about the clinical course of this virus, duration of shedding, and transmissibility in felines.  All of the cats have been symptomatic with a respiratory illness consisting of any of the following signs: lethargy, anorexia, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, and sneezing.  Most cats had mild illness though some had moderate illness and one cat with severe pneumonia was humanely euthanized.  At this time, there is no evidence that H7N2 is circulating in pets outside of the shelters.
 
Stringent adherence to infection control is the best way to prevent transmission of influenza viruses. If you have rescue or shelter clients with questions, guidance on the development of an infection control plan can be found online with The National Association of Public Health Veterinarians Model Infection Control Program at  http://nasphv.org/documentsCompendia.html. Guidance on managing canine influenza can be applied, and can be found on the AVMA website athttps://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/Pages/Canine-Influenza-Backgrounder.aspx.    
 
You can find more complete information and ongoing situational updates at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluincats/index.htm.

This is an X-ray of our office cat Eddie, taken with our new digital X-ray system.  We have upgraded the Xray systems in both of our offices to a digital system which will allow us to get much improved X-rays of our feline patients.  These digital files can then be manipulated to enhance viewing areas of interest.  We can now send and receive digital X-ray files and we can even consult with board certified radiologists via the internet.  This system will definitely improve our look inside your cat if needed!

I just brought home a new Cat!  Truman, is a large, chocolate siamese marked, lovable male cat who now is adjusting to life with a veterinarian.  He is slowly getting used to being poked and prodded on a daily basis.  This past Monday, I travelled to the Arubacat factory in NH to purchase some nice scratchable furniture for Truman.  I have known Arty Mitchell, the owner of Arubacat for over 20 years and his factory is a marvel of feline engineering.  He produces cat furniture of many sizes and shapes, with  or without cubbies, feeding stations, ramps, etc!  The variations are mind boggling!  All of his furniture is manufactured in NH, and is built to last!  My last piece that I purchased from him was 20 years old!  I just thought Truman should start with new furniture.  My visit reinforced my belief that Arubacat is the best furniture on the market!

We were recently featured in an article about our office in New Hampshire homes.  If you are interested in reading the article just click on the link  for newhampshirehomes.com

A market research firm working on behalf of Royal Canin reported some interesting facts after polling 541 cat owners:

 -Nearly 50% brought their pet home without researching its lifestyle.
 -61% believed that cats adapt easily to an owners lifestyle.
-A majority of respondents were unaware that cats are active every day, marking                     territory,hunting, and hiding.
-Half did not think of their cat's health each day
-72% di not think of their cat's health when selecting food
-93% do not consider breed when selecting food.
-More than half ignored their cat's age when selecting food.
-42% considered flavor to be important when selecting food
-15% admitted taste-testing cat food.

In reality, a cat's ability to taste is not nearly as powerful as a human's ability, and aroma and texture play a much bigger role in how cats choose food.  Remember, choose, no grain, moist foods for the majority of the menu.  Use dry food for rewards, games, and hunting experiences!

Sara Gardiner, DVM earned her BA from Connecticut College and her Veterinary degree from the University of California, Davis.  She has a diverse clinical background in general practice, emergency and shelter medicine.  Sara appreciates the unique needs of the feline patient and is pleased to become part of a feline-only practice.  In the past she has participated in orphan kitten rescue groups and feline spay/neuter clinics.  Her professional interests include internal medicine, ultrasound and urgent care.