The deaths of two cats from what is believed to be the first documented case of toxic black mold poisoning in pets point to a new health concern for pet owners, according to a veterinarian who co-authors a report in the Sept. 1, 2007, issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Douglas Mader, a veterinary specialist in Marathon, Fla., was performing routine dental procedures on two cats when he noticed frothy blood within endotracheal tubes used to supply anesthesia to the animals. The veterinarian immediately stopped the procedures, but both animals died — one the following day, the other about two weeks later.

“The circumstances of these cases are just not heard of,” Mader said. “Anesthesia doesn’t cause pulmonary hemorrhage [bleeding from the lungs.]” These were healthy, indoor cats. Examinations conducted prior to the dental cleanings showed no indications of illness.

Blood collected prior to the cats’ death was tested and demonstrated the presence of the toxin produced by Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as “toxic black mold.” Exposure to the mold can cause respiratory-related health problems, pulmonary hemorrhage and death in people. It had not previously been associated with disease in pets, Mader said.

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- Q - I have had Musette for five years, and during that time traveled considerably with my job. Musette and I moved to Virginia in June 2002.  I do not travel as much, but must go hom to check on my Mother periodically in North Carolina.  Now when I travel, even though she has a pet sitter, she has started pooping on the rug once a day instead of the litter box (still pees in the litter box).

Since my last weekend trip, she has started pooping on the rug once a day even when I am home (usually at night when I am asleep).

Her litter is cleaned every day; she gets plenty of food and drinks plenty of water; she get s a great deal of play time. I need some advice on how to stop this new bad habit, or some advice as to why she is doing this.  If it was just when I am out of town, I would say it is because she does not like to be left alone at night; but now that it is happening when I am in the house, I am at a loss.Please help me to help her — she is a very sweet, very playful cat.
Paula J. Garber, Sterling, Virginia

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Pete has been involved in cat fancy for several years, breeding and showing LaPerms and Norwegian Forest Cats

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- Q - My husband and I adopted a cat from a local shelter 8 months ago. For 8 months we have been trying to curb his bad behavior of chewing on cardboard boxes. He has ruined many in our basement. We have no other room in the house for the litter box, other than the basement, so we cannot keep him out of there. What can we do to stop this behavior? We have tried all of the traditional means we can think of, and my husband is really losing patience with him!
Danielle,

- A -  You might try spraying the boxes with a hot pepper spray or a cheap cologne/perfume. It will only take a few tastes for him to associate cardboard with a bad experience. I would also look at the food you are feeding; is it a quality food or a bargain brand? He may not be getting the supplements he needs if the food is loaded with fillers such as ground corn rather than meat, vitamins, etc. There are also cat toys with leather laces you could provide to steer his chewing toward a more acceptable manner. All else failing, I would have your Vet take a look at him for his recommendations.

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Pete has been involved in cat fancy for several years, breeding and showing LaPerms and Norwegian Forest Cats

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Consider this, you have just got this cute little kitten, you are prepared, you have got a nice warm home for it, the litter tray is ready and waiting for action, the kitten’s toys are on standby and your cupboard is stocked with food and drink for the little one.

‘What’s it called?’ some one says, you stare expressionless at them, tumbleweed blows across your living room.
The naming of your cat is one of the first steps in creating a long lasting bond with your cat, it is not a decision to be taken lightly, give the matter some thought, and whilst you are thinking, read these tips, they may help you, they may not.

If you are going to choose a ‘Fifi Trixibelle’ type name for your cat, try to make sure that the name can be shortened, preferably to no longer than two syllables. Make sure that you are comfortable with the shorter version, as you will probably find that you use it more. A shorter name is also easier for the cat to learn.

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If you have ever lost your cat it can be an upsetting experience. Most cats don’t actually run away or stray from home. We all know cats like to explore new places, sometimes, though, this could end up with them getting trapped.

They can also get lost if they are investigating new territory, and even sometimes they can be taken away by circumstances not of their own doing. When a cat is ill or injured it may seek haven in a safe dark place but very rarely do cats leave their home, even if badly treated. Try not to panic too much if you can’t find your cat, but start a thorough search as soon as you realise as any delay could put your cat at risk.

It is sometimes advisable to take a minute to think like your cat; after all, you will probably know where it tends to be, and what it tends to do on a day-to-day basis. Cats are excellent at hiding so I would be advise that you look around the house carefully, then double check. Even in spaces you think that a cat couldn’t fit there is a chance that they can. Listen for any sounds of stress, as cats like to explore weird spaces and can be innocently drawn to dark places. If your sure the cat is nowhere in the house, then check your front and back gardens and in the shed or green house if you have one.

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(A) – A small peruvian aardvark? (B) – A term for a series of manoeuvres conducted by the Spanish Armada in the late 18th Century? (C) – An informal name for a cat?

If you answer A or B then please feel free to lower your head in shame. However if you have answered C then hold your head proudly in the air and walk with some kind of arrogance, because, frankly you deserve it.

MOGGY IS INDEED AN INFORMAL NAME FOR A CAT.

The definition of a MOGGY is a cat or a kitten that does not belong to any recognised breed. Here in the UK it is also an informal name for a cat whether the cat is a recognised breed or not. The lovely English Language – you can’t beat it. Get this amazing fact – Moggy was originally the pet name for a Cow. You think I am kidding? Pull the Udder One I hear you cry. IT IS TRUE.

Did you know that there are approximately 100 million pet cats worldwide and the vast majority of these are non-pedigree or crossbred cats; their parentage may be unknown or neither of their parents may be a registered pedigree.

Up until the late nineteenth century cats were mainly kept as rodent deterrents and looks were not a consideration. However as most owners know a healthy and happy moggy in the prime of its life can be every bit as magnificent in appearance and manner as a pedigree cat.

SOME SCIENTIFIC BUMPH FOLLOWS. STAY WITH ME.

Because the gene determining short hair is dominant, most crossbred cats are shorthaired, but there are no standard crossbred types. They come in every imaginable variety of coat and colour and for people with more imagination than others, that is a lot of coats and colours. Many of our crossbred cats are tabbies, which is the variety closest to the cat’s ancestors among African wild cats. The mackerel or striped tabby pattern is the original, but the classic blotchy tabby pattern is the most common, with the rarest being the spotted tabby, which strangely enough is being selectively bred in new pedigree lines. The aim of this is to achieve a wild look. Solid colours are also a plenty: black, white, ginger, marmalade and blue. The ginger colouring is sex-linked, being carried in the X chromosome, and marmalade males outnumber females by about 2 to 1. Conversely, the tortoiseshell or calico pattern of orange and black is only possible in females (with rare exceptions in sterile males). White is common, both on its own and in combination with other solid and tabby colours. Siamese-style points are rarely seen in crossbred cats but can certainly occur.

WELCOME BACK. NORMAL LIGHT HEARTED SERVICE WILL NOW RESUME.

Apart from colour and coat, crossbred cats differ much less from each other than pure breeds do. Most have the moderate build that is typical of the British and American Shorthairs, being neither slender like the Siamese nor large and heavy like the Persian or Maine Coon. Although random-bred cats from tropical climates tend to have a somewhat sleeker form than others, and those from cold climates are comparatively stockier, they have not acquired the extreme lines that have been introduced into pedigree lines by selective breeding. Wedge-shaped heads and flattened faces are unusual in a crossbreed but can appear if the recent family tree of one of the parents includes a cat with Siamese or Persian genes.

Random breeding means that the non-pedigree cat does not have a definite appearance or temperament. Yet the character traits of the domestic shorthaired cat make it universally loved and admired. Cats are wonderful companions and enjoy being part of a family, but still retain much more independence than domestic dogs. They can adapt to an indoor existence but will make the most of any freedom offered (deliberately or otherwise), for it must be said that the domestic cat is a relentless predator of small rodents and birds. Even when well fed, most crossbred cats will persist in bringing hunting trophies home, faithful to their thousands of years of heritage as pest-control specialists. You can’t teach an old cat new tricks.

The crossbred cat has hybrid vigour, nature’s way of selecting the fittest and most successful animals. Crossbreeds have much lower concentrations of undesirable genes. With proper care it is robust and should live a long life. The typical crossbred, if you choose carefully, is a beautiful, intelligent, playful, low-maintenance companion with an independent streak. It will be a devoted and loving member of your household. Who could ask for more?

Whether you are looking for a kitten or an adult, there is likely to be a huge selection to choose from in your area.
You will not need to contact a breeder. They can be obtained from local animal rescue shelters.
You have to pay very little. Most crossbreeds are given away free. However, a small donation to your local rescue shelter would be most welcome.
Crossbred cats are robust and long-lived.
They suffer from fewer inherited health problems than pedigree cats.
So if you are on the lookout for a cat, why not consider a Moggy.

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- Q - I adopted a domestic shorthair kitten about a year ago that had been abandoned near my sister’s house. She’s now a healthy, happy adult neutered cat, with a bit of a weight problem. We recently changed her diet to Science Diet Feline Maintenance Light, and she’s slimming down nicely already.

The problem that we’re having is that in the past two months, she has started licking things around the house. Her favorite targets seem to be a fossilized clamshell, a flowerpot coated with some sort of pebbly clay-like coating, and a ceramic tile. She will sit and lick them for several minutes at a time, and if I take them away, she tries to get back at them. Does this sound like OCD, or could she have a vitamin deficiency? Or is it something else entirely? Thank you, Janie

Janie V, Mobile, Alabama, USA

- A - Janie, My guess would be her diet. A Light blend is usually for older pets with different nutritional requirements than a growing young adult. My suggestion would be to consult with your Vet about the diet and start feeding her a blend more suited to her needs.

As for the weight, may I suggest getting a laser pointer? They project a red dot and cats love to chase the dot as you move it around the room.

Not only will this provide exercise for the cat but will reward you with some amusing quality time with her as you enjoy watching her acrobatics in pursuing this elusive “prey.” Our cats love this toy and come running as soon as they hear me pick it up (it’s on a key ring that jingles). Pete

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- Q - My cat pees everywhere and on everything! He’s been doing it years now. I thought he would break out of it eventually, but he continues to do it. He pees on my clothes, my school papers, and now he’s peed on my records and I’m fed up. I seriously thought about throwing him out and leaving him to fend for himself. I am at my wit’s end! I’ve tried physically reprimanding him, I’ve tried isolating him, I’ve tried everything! Now I am just trying to keep from seriously hurting him; what do I do?

Karl, Toledo, OH

- A - Is he a whole male or has he been neutered? It sounds more like marking than normal peeing. Have you tried caging him with food, water and a litter box as a retraining method? If he is whole, you might try neutering which helps most of the time. You might also want to read the article at:

http://www.cfainc.org/articles/litter-box-problems.html

Throwing him outside will solve your immediate problem, but then you will have your conscience to live with. Have you taken him to a Vet to see if there is a medical reason? Please explore these alternatives before you do anything drastic; after all, if he has been doing it for years what’s another few weeks or months to try and correct the situation?

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- Q - Hi. Yesterday we got some bad news from our neighbor. He had found our sweet, eight month-old kitty (Raul)dead in his bushes. We think maybe Raul was hit by a car, crawled in front of his house to rest, and just didn’t get up. His twin sister (Lupe) is also our kitty, and she has been very upset since yesterday, and keeps looking for him. She may have found him in the bushes before we did because she was trying to tell us something. (She’s a talker…)

Raul was a very special, loving kitty, and they had a very close relationship, so we were wondering if we should try to get another kitten for her to play with. …We thing that maybe she needs a playmate, but a friend suggested that she may reject the kitten and only further frustrate her emotional state. Please let us know what we should do! Thanks so much!

Claire Meadows, Austin, TX

- A - Claire, Lupe is probably grieving the loss of her playmate (yes, pets do grieve) but will soon forget Raul as she is so young. Just play with her and enjoy her to get her through this loss and she will soon be fine. As for getting another kitten, I have mixed emotions here.

It is my firm belief that pets enjoy life more, are happier, better socialized and live longer if they have a playmate of the same species to share their life. On the other hand, unless you are willing to keep the kittens inside to prevent another possible tragedy I would say no, do not get another kitten.

It’s not safe, or fair, to subject another kitten to the possibility of a similar fate. If you are not willing to accept that responsibility please do not get another kitten.

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Pete has been involved in cat fancy for several years, breeding and showing LaPerms and Norwegian Forest Cats

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- Q - I currently have a cat with FIV who I am having put down tomorrow.  How long can do I have to wait & is there any pecautions that I should take when I get another cat?
Christina, Essex

 - A -  “Feline immunodeficiency virus is fairly unstable outside the cat and will not survive for more than a few hours in most environments. In addition, transmission of FIV occurs primarily through bites, so a waiting period between cats is not required to prevent FIV infection.

However, FIV–positive cats are frequently infected with other infectious agents which may pose some threat to a newcomer, so precautions should be taken. Thoroughly clean and disinfect or replace food and water dishes, bedding, litter pans and toys. A dilute solution of household bleach (4 oz. bleach in 1 gal. water) makes an excellent disinfectant.

Vacuum carpets and mop floors with an appropriate cleanser. Any new cats or kittens should be properly vaccinated against other infectious agents before entering the household.”

The above was from the Cornell Institute website in an article concerning FIV; the entire article may be read by going to  http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/fiv.html

I know it is always hard to lose a cat that has been a member of your family and our hearts go out to you. I hope you find solace knowing your cat will be in no more pain or suffering from this debilitating disease. Also, understand this is a very sneaky disease, masking it’s symptoms until it is usually too late for treatment. Hope this helps.

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Pete has been involved in cat fancy for several years, breeding and showing LaPerms and Norwegian Forest Cats

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