Does catnip have any long-term effects on cats?

Catnip is quite the treat for many cats! Approximately half of all cats will be genetically predisposed to enjoy this herb. Catnip is a member of the mint family — actually there are several different types of catnip, but what makes cats so in love with this herb is a chemical in the leaves known as nepetalactone.

Young kittens, less than 3-6 months, will not be attracted to catnip, but once they pass that age, they will go gaga for it. When you first give your kitty some fresh or dried catnip, you may notice that he sniffs it, then rolls around in it, and then he finally eats some. It is really the smell that seems to give cats the “high” that they get from it.

Different cats react in different ways, again depending on their genetic predisposition. Some cats may become incredibly playful and others may become very mellow. It’s thought that catnip has a hallucinogenic effect.

But two interesting things: the effects are short-lived and don’t last more than 10-15 minutes AND catnip is not addictive to cats. They know when they’ve had enough and will walk away. If you give your feline some catnip and then offer some more a short while later, your kitty will not be enticed. And no, there are no long term effects from catnip on cats. So feel free to let your cat indulge!

The content provided on this site is for informational purposes only and
is not intended to constitute veterinary advice. The content is not be used for medical diagnosis, treatment, or any other veterinary service and should not be relied upon to guide the medical therapy of an animal. Further, the information transmitted does not constitute the establishment of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship between you and Dr. Teller. Always consult your family veterinarian in matters regarding the health of your pet.

Cat Scratch Disease

I got the phone call while away in college. “Your mom is in the hospital with cat scratch fever,” my dad lamented. At first I thought he was joking, but his serious tone convinced me that my mother really had this strange sounding illness. I must admit, I had heard the song with a similar name by Ted Nugent (Cat Scratch Fever), but I didn’t know anything about cat scratch disease.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes cat scratch “…as a bacterial disease caused by Bartonella henselae. Most people with CSD have been bitten or scratched by a cat and developed a mild infection at the point of injury. Lymph nodes, especially those around the head, neck, and upper limbs, become swollen. Additionally, a person with CSD may experience fever, headache, fatigue, and a poor appetite.”

I found out from my dad that our kitten had scratched mom during play, and that’s when my mom had become infected. Although complications like my mother’s are rare, cat lovers should still try to prevent contracting the disease.

The CDC recommends that you do not engage in rough play with your cats – play that promotes scratching or biting. Also, if you are bitten or scratched, wash the site thoroughly with warm water and soap. Health experts also advise controlling fleas on your animals.

Toxoplasmosis

I first learned about toxoplasmosis when pregnant for the first time. The doctor, knowing I had a cat, advised me to refrain from changing the litter box. Why? Because toxoplasmosis may be present in cat feces.

ASPCA explains that “toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which can be found in garden soil and raw meat. Cats can get toxoplasma infection by killing and eating infected prey. The disease can also be passed on from cats to humans. If a woman is infected while pregnant, the growing fetus can also become infected. This can result in cysts in the fetus’ brain, and can lead to developmental abnormalities, miscarriage or stillbirth.”

As outlined above, cats, especially those allowed to hunt outside, may end up with toxoplasmosis. In order to not become infected, women who are pregnant should not change litter boxes. Also, always make sure to wash your hands with soap and water after handling your pet and before eating.

Being the owner of cats is both rewarding and fun; however, make sure to understand that there are certain risks involved, including cat scratch disease and toxoplasmosis. If you understand what these illnesses are, you will be able to prevent transmission.

Although everyone celebrates Christmas in their own special way, a recurring theme I see amongst many families is the giving of gifts to the pets on Christmas.  I think it is a fun and creative way to involve the pets in family celebrations.  At my Dad’s house this Christmas, we gave our dog several toys as Christmas presents, and my uncle gave his dog some presents too.  Sadly, at my mom’s house, neither the chickens nor Gonzo got Christmas presents.  So, I was thinking about whether or not it is actually worth getting your pet a present.

1. It really depends on the species of pet you have.  I’m pretty sure that every time the chickens get human food, they consider it a holiday.  Gonzo is in a similar situation.  Every time he is fed, he is probably happy, and adding a new fixture to his tank may freak him out just as much as it could make him happy.  On the other hand, smarter animals like cats and dogs are excited to get new things and may actually make a connection with the festivities and gifts.
2. It also depends on what they are getting.  If you decide you want to give your dog a sweater, he may not be overly pleased with the gift du jour.  At the same time, my dog was very excited to get new chew toys and a blanket (he piles the blankets in his bed and sleeps in them).
3. Be careful with the festivities.  I know many people who have dogs who can unwrap presents and get the gift out.  This is all fun and games, but be careful to make sure that Fido doesn’t ingest any of the wrapping paper or ribbon.  This could make him one very un-jolly pooch.

With this in mind, have some Happy Holidays!

Joe, the oldest cat, has kept somewhat busy by helping me wrap Christmas presents. He especially loves tissue paper, as well as the thin curling ribbon. To keep him occupied, I’d place a piece of tape on the end of his tail, and he’d spend a few glorious minutes chasing it around and around.

Bear, the younger cat, seems to be suffering from the blues. He sleeps a lot, and he meows a lot. Poor little guy keeps forgetting it is still cold outside, no matter if he uses the front door or back door.  (He gets so mad he buries himself under the top blanket of my bed for hours on end).

So what’s a pet owner to do to help his or her stir crazy cat? Give them something to think about, of course. Here are a few ideas for helping your indoor/outdoor cat survive the rest of the winter ahead.

1. Boxes

Since Joe had such a good time helping me to wrap presents, I realized that he would be happy with an assortment of boxes to play in. With presents arriving from around the country, we were blessed with an assortment of box sizes, some in which he fit quite well, and others where he struggled to sit down. But each box brings intrigue into his life.

2. String

To help keep both cats happy, I play with them using the curling ribbon I mentioned above. I walk quickly through the house, the string trailing behind, and the cats love the challenge of catching it.

3. Furniture

This might not work for all cats, but my cats love when I change the furniture around. They spend time exploring the new layout, as it gives them something to occupy their minds. In addition, I always make sure they have a lookout. By this I mean that although they do not like being outside in the cold, they still like to watch the squirrels and birds, so I always have a special perch for them to do this.

4. Toys
I do invest in a few cat toys in the winter as well. Those filled with catnip make Joe and Bear especially happy. My cats also like playing with pens and the plastic circles that surround milk cartons; however, I let them play with these items only when I am around to make sure they don’t try to chew (or swallow) them.

She stated she has three cats, as she had just rescued another one from her friend’s house. She proceeded to explain how the kitten had shown up on her friend’s porch one cold morning, tired and hungry, in search of a home.

This story reminded me of my own cat rescues, including Muffy and Joe. My mom and I rescued Muffy from the lobby of a credit union where we both worked at the time, and Joe showed up on the door step of a local farmer, who was a friend of a friend.

By now you must be seeing the pattern? Cats are not dumb. I believe if they are in need, they will search out people in hopes of finding shelter, food, and love. Sometimes they are lucky, such as in the cases I described above, and they find a human who is a cat lover. Unfortunately, I am sure they find other humans who are not so kind.

Here’s another interesting example of a cat asking for help. Several years ago, I met an intelligent feral male. As if on a mission, he used to peek into the windows of my friend’s living room, and you could see he was meowing frantically. A gorgeous feline, his coat was jet black and sleek, yet his paws were white, just like he had on tube socks. Over the course of a few days, another cat, grey and fluffy, began to hang around Socks, not looking into the windows, but standing back a bit. Socks continued meowing for days, so my friend set a trap to find out what was going on with this pair. Unfortunately, he only managed to capture the fluffy one.

Renamed “Mama Cats,” the female proved to be pregnant, and in desperate need of vet care. Sadly, Socks ended up being hit and killed by a car about a week later, but Mama Cats – rescued from the wild – gave birth to seven healthy kittens. She now lives with a single lady – in a home fit for a queen. And the woman who rescued her found loving homes for all the kittens.

That is how my cat, Bear, came into my life. He was one of Socks and Mama Cat’s kittens, and I have been privileged to have known him his entire life – from hours after birth, until now…six years later. I have never had a black cat before, or one that meows quite so much!

That’s the great thing about cats…you never know when a new one might come knocking at your door – literally!

This story reminds me of the valiant dog, Ginny, who during her lifetime rescued hundreds of cats from certain peril. The Ginny website explains that after she was rescued from an abandoned apartment building, Ginny began a career that has been unmatched to date. She literally made it her life’s work to seek out the most frail and needy cats; those trapped and/or near death. And even though a canine, she connected with all of these felines immediately. Her devotion to these rescues was so astounding, that her owner even wrote two books about her adventures, and when Ginny died in 2005, 18 of her cat rescues were with her.

Closer to home, I witnessed another example of a dog’s love for a cat first-hand. When we first brought our kitten, Muffy, home she did her best to be brave in the unfamiliar surroundings. She puffed herself up into a round ball of frizzy grey fur, she arched her tiny back, and she let out a series of tremendous hisses. Our beloved mutt, Barnie Sue, didn’t let Muffy’s standoffish demeanor trick her. She knew what Muffy needed to feel at ease in her new home, a furry friend. With a few gentle licks followed by a several soft whimpers, Barnie quieted the kitten, and in a matter of hours, the two were fast friends, cuddling and playing as if they had always known each other.

For many years, Barnie relished her role as Muffy’s mentor and protector, and Muffy loved her “big sister” as much as she would have loved one of her own kind. So great was their love, that when Barney died, Muffy seemed lost, and she never acted the same again.

These examples all point to the fact that the old saying, “fighting like cats and dogs,” is not always correct. In many cases, dogs and cats live harmonious, loving lives, and they can care for one another. Yes, it’s true, some dogs absolutely love cats!

Maybe it’s because in all of these instances, the cats involved were kittens when they first met their canine friends, or maybe it’s because certain dogs tolerate cats better, but whatever the case, canine/feline love is possible.
What about you? Do you have an example of a dog that would rather love a cat that tear it to pieces?

There’s been an outbreak of feline calicivirus in our community – would it be a good idea to wash our cats’ things with a bleach solution?

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a virus that is one of the possible causes of upper respiratory infections and oral disease in cats. This disease cannot be transmitted from cats to humans.  Cats that are infected by feline calicivirus can have an acute infection, chronic infection, or may not show any signs at all.  Cats can become carriers of the infection after they contracted the virus, become sick, and recovered.  The virus can be transmitted in several different ways.  Direct contact from secretions from the eyes, nose, or mouth and in the urine from a sick or carrier cat is one mode of transmission.  It can also be transmitted via indirect contact with things such as food and water bowls, bedding, litter boxes, and carriers.  Calicivirus is resistant to many disinfectants and can live in the environment for long periods of time.  A 1:32 bleach and water solution can be effective against the virus.

To prevent infection it is important to keep your cat up to date on all vaccines.  The vaccine may not always be 100% effective, but it has been shown to reduce the severity of infection if a vaccinated cat does become infected.  If there are no new cats that have been brought into your household, there is no reason to disinfect your cat’s things with a bleach solution.

The content provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute veterinary advice.  The content is not be used for medical diagnosis, treatment, or any other veterinary service and should not be relied upon to guide the medical therapy of an animal.Further, the information transmitted does not constitute the establishment of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship between you and Dr. Baker.  Always consult your family veterinarian in matters regarding the health of your pet.

Most recently, Joe, my cat has been fascinated by pens. His favorite activity includes watching me work at my computer until the moment I reach for my pen. As soon as I pick one up, his eyes dilate, and he moves his body to the “ready” position. I can’t even finish writing one word, when with lightning speed he snatches the pen from my hand, and rolls onto his back holding it to his furry chest. After a few meaningful gnaws to the tip, he whips the pen onto the table, then swats it so it falls to the floor.

In his eyes, I wonder if the pen appears to be a dangerous snake. Whatever the case, he acts as if he must do what it takes to remove it from my grip, kill it, then remove the carcass from both our sights.

This obsession of his isn’t dangerous, but a few years ago, his curiosity almost cost him his life. At two years old, tree tops called to him. Maybe it was because he had spent the first year of his life in a two bedroom apartment, cooped up with only cat toys (and people) to entertain him, but whatever the reason, when we moved to a home in the woods, the world of trees mesmerized him.

Several times during that first summer I would hear Joe meowing overhead, and each time, I rescued him from the lower branches of scrub trees. It seemed as if he simply had no power over his desire to see what curious happenings occurred in the trees’ branches.

That winter, he made the mistake of climbing too high into a leafless oak – one on a hill, with mounds of snow piled at the base. I could not reach my shivering Joe. He was stuck, for what ended up being two terrible days and nights. When finally rescued by my dad, Joe ran into the house, ate and drank heartily, then took up residence next to the heat register for an entire day.

Since that time, he continues to enjoy the surrounding woods, including the variety of creatures that inhabit it, yet he hasn’t climbed another tree, and he stays much closer to me. His curiosity must have been tempered by those long hours in the tree, sub-zero temperatures embedding the experience into his memory for life.

Yes, my curious cat sticks close, whether I’m picking black raspberries, pulling weeds in the garden, or working at my computer. His eyes still gaze at the world in wonder, and he does go off now and again by himself, yet it seems as if he has more sense now. Well, at least enough sense to forgo tree tops so he can concentrate on the snake-like pens that threaten his owner!

As a cat owner, you need to expect to make visits like this one to the vet’s office. Of course I wasn’t happy about the price of the visit and the cost of the medicine, but in my heart, I know that owning an animal is a privilege, one not to be taken lightly. In essence, medical care should be a priority.

Consider these times when you need to take your cat to the vet:

1. Spay or neuter
When your cat is old enough, you need to make sure he or she is “fixed.” By having this procedure, you avoid any unwanted litters of kittens, and you also make your cat easier to live with – think decreased hormones.

2. Shots
Of course your cat will need his or her shots to prevent illness. These series of shots start when they are kittens, and are given yearly afterwards. There are several types of shots, including rabies vaccinations. In addition, you may be encouraged to give your cat a feline leukemia vaccination.

3. Illness
It is a no-brainer to take your cat to the vet if he or she acts ill. Symptoms to watch out for include: abnormal behavior, loss of appetite, foul breath, blood in the urine, excessive vomiting, choking, and aggressive itching of the ears. Also, if your cat has previously used the litter box, yet suddenly refuses to continue doing so, an illness may be to blame.

4. Injuries
This category is a little trickier. If your cat has obvious broken bones, or will not walk, you can safely bet he or she has an injury. In these cases, go to the vet’s office as soon as possible. Other issues, such as minor cuts, can be taken care of at home – if you can safely clean the injured area, and it does not become infected.

5. Pregnancy
If you are a responsible cat owner who intends to breed your pet, you will want to visit the vet during your cat’s pregnancy. The gestation period is approximately nine weeks. During this time, you will want to feed your cat extra nutritious foods, and the vet may prescribe vitamins. Also the vet will make sure that your cat is parasite free.

The above list is by no means exhaustive. Of course, there could be other reasons you may need to visit the vet. For example, they are helpful with behavior problems.

As a proud cat owner, understand appropriate health care should be a priority. Sure, I might have cringed at the thought of how much it cost to save Bear’s life, but since he is an important part of my family…the money was well spent.

Any discussion of iconic cats needs to include Garfield. This pudgy feline, drawn by Jim Davis since 1978, has won the hearts of millions. Who can resist Garfield’s low-key approach to life, where naps beat out exercise any day? And his love of spaghetti is equal only to his hatred of Mondays! Even though Garfield has appeared on television, in the movies, and in video games, he still amuses me the most in his continued appearance in comic strips, where he harasses his owner, Jon, and the family dog, Odie.

Another cat that comes to mind when I think, “popular,” is Felix. As a child I spent many happy hours following Felix on his many adventures in cartoon-land. Of special significance was his magic bag of tricks, from which he could pull anything he needed in order to save the day. If you remember the words, “you’ll laugh so hard your sides will ache, your heart will go pitta-pat, watching Felix, the wonderful cat,” you probably watched this popular cartoon as well.

The Cat in the Hat proves that “tricksters” remain a favorite of children. Like Felix, the Cat in the Hat, seems larger than life. In the famous book by Dr. Seuss, this cat causes turmoil in the house of two children while their mother is away. Looking dapper in his bow tie and striped top hat, the cat balances precious items in a precarious manner, even the children’s pet fish. This cat proved so popular, that a movie of the same name came out a few years ago.

Although the three cats I already mentioned achieved iconic status due to appearing in cartoons and even in the movies, the next cat achieved popularity mainly through cat food commercials. Morris…you know, the finicky eater, is also loved by millions who have witnessed his refusal of anything but the best. (I must admit, I do purchase the brand of cat food that Morris loves for my own tabby!) What I like best about Morris is that he has been portrayed by three cats rescued from shelters.

Of course, these four cats only hint at the immense effect felines have had on people throughout history. For instance, in ancient Egypt, cats were revered for their ability to keep vermin away from crops. Some cats even achieved god-like status, and there are even cat mummies.

It doesn’t surprise me that cats have not only been companions to humans throughout time, but that they serve as a source of entertainment as well. In fact, when I watch my own cats, Joe and Bear, I witness Garfield’s laziness, Felix’s humor, and The Cat in the Hat’s playfulness! How lucky am I?