Adopting From An Agency Or Shelter...Is There A Health Guarantee?

The answer to this is no.  There is never a health guarantee even if you go to a breeder.  There is absolutely no way to guarantee the health of any animal unless there is genetic testing and even then it's impossible to tell whether or not a recessive gene will rear it's ugly head and bring out the disease or illness.

Take Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) for example.  This is an ultimately deadly disease most common in the Maine Coon, American Shorthair, Devon Rex, Ragdoll, and British Shorthair breeds.  It is basically the heart not properly functioning and its inability to pump blood effectively.  The walls of the heart will also thicken as the disease progresses so symptoms will get progressively worse.  There is no cure but there are medications that your pet can take to potentially prolong their life.  HCM is a genetic disease and can be detected through genetic testing however, your vet may tell you that your pet has a heart murmur.  If you have any of the above mentioned breeds you will want to pursue this further with more testing to make sure it is only a heart murmur and not HCM.

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/cliented/hcm.aspx

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/Pages/06_Meurs_final.pdf

Another disease that is not able to be tested for is Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).  This too is a deadly disease that can come on very quickly and will take your cat's life.  FIP is caused by a coronavirus very common in cats but doesn't often result in FIP.  This is found often times in multi-cat homes, catteries and shelters.  This does not mean that people should have only one cat at a time or not adopt from shelters or rescue organizations or seek breeding options. 

This cat is exhibiting the sign of enlarged belly consistent with FIP

Is there a vaccine?  Yes, but it's safety and effectiveness aren't able to be verified so I personally would not risk it out of my own paranoia.  FIP is not common and if your pets are healthy then there is no real reason to worry about it but it is worth knowing about.

If your cat all of a sudden stops eating, is very lethargic but his/her belly continues to grow it is time to go to the vet quickly.  Again, THERE IS NO DEFINITIVE TEST FOR FIP.  I personally know of one vet who was set on a FIP diagnosis for a cat and was set on euthanasia but decided to do one more test.  This test found it was NOT FIP and that cat is alive today because of this $140 test.

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fip.html

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/Pages/FIP_Web_2010.pdf

I do not write about these two specific diseases to scare anyone but to bring up the fact that there are no guarantees when you either adopt or buy a pet.  You, as their parent, have to be diligent in their health care and not just keeping them healthy and providing the appropriate care needed but being your pet's advocate.  You are their voice.  Nobody can tell you about genetic disorders if you are adopting and potentially even purchasing from a breeder.  Just due diligence on you and your vet's part will help keep your pet healthy.  It is unfair but it is a fact.  Appliances come with guarantees, not animals.

Please give us your respectful comments and questions.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Flipbook!  As always, tell your family and friends about us and thanks for reading.

Do I Really Need To Get Kittens In Pairs?

The answer to this question is only if you want a well socialized adult cat.  Kittens need each other to learn how to be well rounded cats.  This can only be taught by being with other kittens or other cats.  They need the mental, social and emotional stimulation that they can only give each other.  If you think about it we can't learn how to meow from them anymore than we can teach them the English language.  We need other humans like they need other cats.  It just makes common sense. 

http://www.goathouserefuge.org/two-kittens-are-easier-than-one/

http://www.mchumane.org/documents/kittencare.pdf

The above links have some very good insight into kittens.  They are work and they are very, very, very busy.  They also, like human children, haven't developed their adult personalities yet so just because they are sweet and snuggly now doesn't mean they will be as adults. 

Having two kittens is actually easier than having one believe it or not.  Two kittens will keep each other occupied and they will play with each other instead of bugging you all the time wanting to play!  They will be tons of entertainment and will keep you laughing. 

These pictures are very cute and show part of what playing is for kittens.  If you only have one then this chewing and wrestling will happen on you instead of an appropriate playmate.  Yes, you can show them a toy instead of you, but they are very social beings most of the time and will keep coming back to you for interaction. 

They will pounce, jump and stalk one another as if they are prey which is very, very normal.  If you have just one then they will do this with you!  They may do this even if they do have a playmate, but redirecting them is easier if there is something else to focus their attention like another moving target that is their size and looks like them. 

Another plus is when you are away from home, ex. at work, then they will have each other to snuggle with and play with so they are not bored.  A bored kitten is like a bored puppy...destructive.  They do not have the eduction yet to know right from wrong but if they have an appropriate playmate and appropriate toys then the likelihood of them getting into trouble is much lower.

Kittens are cute but if you want a pet whose personality is already developed then you might want to consider an adult for many reasons but 1) you know what you're getting personality wise, and 2) the chances of him/her doing well alone (if you only want one) are higher. 

If you aren't sure what you want, then you might want to consider fostering until you know for sure.  Not only does it save a life, it gives you a chance to spend time with an animal and give it a good home until the right family comes a long.  It is definitely rewarding.  Check with your local rescue organizations or shelters for more information.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope this has given you some insight.  Tell your family and friends about us and if you have a topic you'd like to see discussed please let us know.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Flipbook!  Again, thanks for reading.

Kitten Season Is Here In Full Force...So What Does That Mean For Us?

So people are telling you that it's "kitten season".  What is that exactly?  Well about twice a year rescues and shelters are inundated with kittens and pregnant cats because unaltered cats are mating and having babies.  Seems pretty benign doesn't it, but if you think that just two cats (one male and one female) can have over 100,000 cats in a 7 year period then it might not seem so benign.  Then think that those 100,000 cats are having over 100,000 kittens who are in turn having over 100,000 kittens in 7 year periods of time.  That's a lot of cats that need homes, are going to shelters or rescues, are left outside to fend for themselves and potentially being abused or killed, or being euthanized in shelters to make room for the other animals being dropped off because the people don't know what else to do with them.

So what can we as humans do?  Well the best thing to do is alter your cats (spay/neuter).  This does a couple of things for the cat.  It not only prevents more babies that nobody has room for but it also exponentially lowers the possibility of cancer.  I know it sounds strange but it is true.  I have heard a number of vets tell me this very thing.  Here's a link from the ASPCA verifying this information:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/spay-neuter.aspx

Another things we humans can do is adopt from the shelters and rescue organizations rather than buy from breeders.  I'm not saying not to buy from breeders at all; however, there are a lot of unsavory breeders out there so if you do get your pet from a breeder please do your homework and don't just go for the cheapest price because there is a reason for the low price more than likely.  Even when adopting you should do your homework prior to taking your pet home so it really is no different.

If there are stray cats in your area then there are organizations who will manage the "colony" or will work with you if you are willing to feed the cats in order to spay/neuter the animals to keep the population manageable and show you how to make shelters, etc.  It's not as hard as you might think.  Here is a link to a great resource:

http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/HOW_TO_MANAGING_A_FERAL_CAT_COLONY

This is one type of feeding station for a feral cat colony.

We will probably never stop the cycle but that is what rescue people work towards.  What we humans can do to help is to spay and neuter the ones that are there and not only will it help slow the cycle but it will help the animals' health as well which is always a good thing. 

For those of you who haven't spayed or neutered your personal cats, talk to your vet about the consequences about that medically.  There are more pros than cons for having the surgery done and there are lots of low cost options around as well.  I'm sure your vet or local shelter can help you find one that is available to you.

Kittens are cute but they grow up and become adults.  Lets start looking at and talking about responsible pet ownership.  Educate the people around you because the people who read this blog and other blogs are already responsible pet owners.

As always, we welcome questions, comments and any topic you'd like to see discussed here.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and tell your family and friends about us!  Thanks so much for reading.

Adoption...Is It Really Better Than Buying?

Working with a rescue organization can be very taxing and very rewarding at the same time.  It takes a lot of time, energy, money (personal and organization) and emotions.  It is definitely not for everyone.  However, when you see an animal that has been thrown away by its former owners get a new home where you know they will be spoiled forever it is the best feeling in the world.  So my question to everyone is...do you think adopting a pet is better than buying from a breeder?

Well today is going to be a personal opinion type of day so here goes.  I personally do not think one is better than the other.  My friend Thor (whom you have already read about) is from a breeder and has arthritis, allergies, has had two elbow surgeries, and now we found out he has Wobbler's Disease (a cervical or neck spine issue where the vertebrae compress on the spinal cord and cause pain and eventually paralysis-the only cure is surgery).  His sister Megan (from a different breeder and litter) who is 19 weeks old hasn't shown any signs of any issues whatsoever.  Both from breeders. 

Rescued animals can have issues just like pure bred animals and I personally just believe it is genetics and what the animal has been through that creates who they are medically.  I've seen cats who were living outside, eating who only knows what, come into the rescue group and come to find out they have allergies to the commercial cat food. 

"Pitt Bulls" were originally used for nannies

This is actually what "Pitt Bulls" were bred for

Does either animal make a better pet?  Absolutely not.  It completely depends on the temperament of the animal.  I believe rescue animals appreciate the love, attention and a good home much more than those from breeders but that does not make them better pets.

What do you look for if you are adopting from a rescue organization?  Most importantly what medical care the fee covers.  I say this because if the fee doesn't cover at least 1 or 2 (depending on the age) distemper (FVRCP for cats) , a deworming, a FIV and Feline Leukemia or HW (heartworm) test depending on whether it's a dog or cat, flea treatment, heartworm prevent for dogs, rabies, spay/neuter and a microchip then you should really look elsewhere.  No matter whether you are looking for a dog or cat there are certain things that are a minimum for rescue groups to take care of medically and in my opinion that is really the very basic and should be done.

Another thing you should look at is whether or not the group has a facility where the cats/dogs are held or if they are in foster homes.  Dogs should really be in a foster home so the socialization is better.  Cats can be in either but, in my opinion, a foster home is so much better because it gives the animal the chance to learn how to behave in a home with a family and get used to certain things like family life, kids, dogs, other types of pets, etc.

However, breeders have their animals in a home environment more than likely (if they don't I would personally look elsewhere) so that is not an issue for these animals.  There should also be a minimum amount of medical care done on these animals as well and especially for large breed dogs and cats such as maine coons a cardiac check should be part of that process.  The breeder should be ready and willing to give you the information on this as well.  If they are not then be very skeptical and strongly consider going elsewhere.

Some people use pure bred animals as a status symbol and enjoy telling people they have a pure bred animal.  That is not what a pet is supposed to be so if that is what you want the pet for then I'd rather you not get one at all. 

So what should you do?  Consider adopting first if at all possible.  Thousands of animals are euthanized over North Carolina weekly and millions all over the United States because there are too many in the shelters.  They have to make room for the new ones being dropped off so they have to euthanize the ones that don't get adopted the week before.  Some of the shelters do not use very humane ways of euthanizing animals and will use a gas chamber where they pile in a bunch of animals and gas them to death.   Does that remind you of the Germans during Hitler's reign?  It's cold, harsh and not fun to think about but it's the truth.

If you have to have a pure bred animal then do your research first to make sure you understand the breed.  For instance, if you want a rottweiler then you should know they are stubborn, hard headed, solid muscle and should start training at a very early age so you don't have an unruly rottie on your hands.  Unruly rottweilers are dangerous and will probably end up in a shelter and euthanized.  Socialization is important for all dogs and other animals but especially breeds people tend to be afraid of and not understand like Rottweilers and Pitt Bulls (althought that name is a culmination of several different breeds in and of itself).  Also, regardless of the breed you choose the dogs should be temperament tested.

I hope I have given you something to think about whether you adopt or buy and as always please let us know if you have any questions, comments, concerns.  Also, if you want a topic discussed please send it to us and we will definitely get it on the blog. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and tell your family and friends about us!

FIV vs Feline Leukemia...Myths and Facts

Today I want to touch on another controversial topic...FIV and Feline Leukemia (FeLV) because there are a lot of websites out there giving misinformation and scaring people and getting the two mixed up.  Here is the basic difference; FIV is extremely difficult to transmit and FeLV is much easier to transmit.  FIV can only be transmitted through a very deep intramuscular bite as seen in unneutered feral males and can be transmitted from mom to baby.  FeLV can be transmitted by sharing water and food bowls and through shared grooming.  Unfortunately, some cats are double positive which means they test positive for both FIV and FeLV.  It doesn't mean they should be euthanized immediately either.

Now for the more indepth information and the clinical stuff.  First, neither of these viruses can be transmitted to humans or other non-cat species.  Second, if your vet calls FIV "feline AIDS" you should find another vet because he/she has antiquated thinking and is not up to date on the latest research.  FeLV is a retrovirus which means it's a family of viruses that can cause a variety of health issues and diseases and sometimes death.  FIV belongs to a different retrovirus family called Lentivirus which means they are slow-progressing and long-life.  However, with FIV the cats immune system can fight off the virus and the cat can eventually test negative as the cat ages and develops.  In my work in rescue I have personally seen two kittens do this as they grew to adults.  Their names are Bang and Tango (from the 80's big hair band Bang Tango) and they were recently adopted through http://www.calvinspaws.org/. This is just one group who has FIV cats.

This picture came up when I searched for FIV cats...cute huh

According to Winn Feline Health, there are 4 possibilities once a cat is exposed to to FeLV and each one depends on the cat's immune system and how it handles the virus.  Once exposure occurs the potential is for the virus to be completely fought off and the cat is resistant for an undetermined amount of time, it is not fought off and the cat secretes the virus through saliva, the cat does not produce an immunity to the virus immediately and it lies dormant in the bone marrow for an undetermined amount of time and these cats will either overcome the virus or the fact that they did not develop an immunity will allow the virus opportunity, and finally some cats will develop "latent or sequestered infection" which means they will not ever develop the infection and will not become contagious (winnfelinehealth.org).


http://www.v63.net/catsanctuary/vet_question.html

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/felv-fiv.html

FIV, in my opinion and the opinion of several vets in my area, is not a big deal although you should keep these animals as healthy as possible.  That being said, you should always keep your pet as healthy as possible no matter what.  Giving your cat the amino acid L-Lysine can help stop the replication of any viruses that may be going on (http://www.l-lysinebenefits.net/lysine-for-cats/).  This link mentions the herpes virus which is completely different than that in humans and another topic for another day.  L-Lysine can be taken by humans as well so if you have some at home you can sprinkle approximately 1/5 tsp on your cat's food and it will help.  It can be found at any health store or online.

FIV positive cats can also be put with negative cats without worry since it is so difficult to transmit.  These cats are often the sweetest cats and will often live long healthy lives without any extra care needed.  I personally have them integrated with my personal cats without incident.

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/felv.html

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/askDr/CW_FeLV.cfm

Please do your research and ask lots of questions before euthanizing a cat with EITHER positive test.  Since the initial test was more than likely a simple SNAP test, which only tests for antibodies and not the actual virus, do the more indepth testing (IFA and Western Blot) before making any decisions.  There is tons of research out there about both of these viruses and some things that can be done and you may find that nothing needs to be done.

I am more than willing to discuss this topic so please send me any question you have and if I don't know the answer I will find out.  I do have contacts at the local Veterinary School here and can ask them questions as well.

As always I welcome your comments, questions, and concerns about this topic or any others.  If you have a topic you'd like discussed please send it on and we will definitely put it out there for you and everyone else.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and tell your friends and family about us.

Fostering...How Do You Get Started and Who To Foster For?

Are you thinking about a new pet but not sure about the commitment?  What about fostering?  There are a lot of organizations in the area who are full to the brim with cats and dogs who need foster homes.  There are animals taken to the shelters every day that need either a foster home or adoptive home.

So what is involved in fostering?  Do you have to adopt the animal?  Well the involvement depends on the group and you.  Some groups pay for food and litter as well as vet care (for cats) and some do not.  Some groups will pay for training for dogs and some will not.  It just depends on funding and whether the group has a trainer involved or not.  As far as adopting the animal goes, you should never be required to adopt an animal as as foster parent.  If that is part of the requirement you should not foster for that particular group.

Fostering can be very emotionally demanding and very emotionally draining because the animals you are fostering often have emotional issues from being surrendered.  They are confused, scared and do not know what is going on.  They have to learn they are safe and may have been abused so they have to overcome the mental issues from that as well.  Some animals never overcome the demons from abuse depending on the level of abuse.  The type of abuse may have to be taken into consideration as well.  For instance, if a cat was used as bait for a dog fighting ring he/she may be afraid of dogs and may not be but that will be very easy to tell. 

This is a scared cat that will probably fight back

Medications may also be involved in fostering as well so it may be necessary for you to administer them for a cold or other infection if they have had an injury or ear issues, etc.  Like humans, though, it's important to follow the vet's directions and give the medications as directed.

Fostering is also extremely rewarding, though.  When a family finds your foster is the right one for their family and takes them home and they have already fallen in love with their new pet, you have a sense of pride and sadness at the same time.  Pride comes from knowing where they came from when you first got them and where they are now and the sadness comes from watching them 'leave the nest' so to speak.  I always ask for pictures and send follow up emails checking in to make sure things are going well.  It's very important to do that so the people do not feel they are alone and just got dumped with a new animal and they do not have any support if something goes wrong.

Here is more information about fostering:

http://fosterdogs.com/getting-involved.html

http://matadornetwork.com/change/beginnersguide-to-fosteirng-animals/

www.calvinspaws.org

http://www.wakegov.com/pets/foster/Pages/default.aspx

For those in the Raleigh, NC, USA area I've included two good groups to contact about fostering.  Anyone interested in those groups can either contact them directly or send me a note and I will help you get involved.  There are many ways to volunteer your time besides fostering as well, but that is the biggest need.

Please considering fostering a homeless animal or volunteering with your local rescue organization or shelter.  As always, we welcome your comments, questions, and/or concerns regarding any of our posts and if you would like to see a topic discussed please let us know.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and tell your family and friends about us!

What Do You Do If Your Pet Is Missing?

Accidents happen and sometimes your pet gets away from your home and gets lost.  So what do you do?  Who do you tell?  Well the first thing you can do is print out a picture of him/her on a flyer and post it all over your neighborhood and tell all of your neighbors.  Then what?  Here's some ideas and links:

http://www.missingpet.net/cgi-bin/statepage.pl?NC

http://www.spcawake.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Lost_FoundLOSTpet

http://www.lostmydoggie.com/index.cfm?source=10

Wherever you live, there are shelters that can post flyers and information about your pet and they may even have online information so you can post your pet there as well in case someone finds him/her and looks up lost and found information.

This is also where microchipping your pet is extremely important.  People can take your pet to a local shelter, rescue organization or vet to be scanned and your information will come up as the pet's owner and you can be contacted.  I've personally seen this happen and had some happy endings for some people.

There are quite a few companies out there that deal with microchips and your vet can answer any questions you may have as well as implant the chip itself.  It is not a surgical procedure and takes less than a minute to do.  The chip itself is about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted just under the skin.  It is worth the time you spend to have this done if your pet is ever missing because if someone finds him/her and you haven't had this done and they end up in the shelter they may not make it out because they might be put to sleep.

This is a microchip (on the left)

If you are interested in some companies that will register your chip send me a note or ask your vet.  If you got your pet from a breeder then he/she should have already given you some information about microchipping.

If you find a stray animal please do not assume it's mean or feral because it may be someone's lost pet.  If it's friendly and comes up to you call your vet and see if he/she will come out and scan the pet or if you can take the animal to your vet for scanning to make sure someone isn't missing their family member.

Again, if you would like more information on microchipping companies please contact me or your local vet.

We always welcome comments, questions, concerns and other notes.  If you have a topic you would like to see discussed please send us an email and do not forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!  Tell your friends and family about us as well.

Watching a New Family Get Their New Family Member

As you all know, I volunteer with an animal rescue organization (www.calvinspaws.org) and part of the job, so to speak, is getting to send an animal home with his/her new family.  I got to do that today.  This family has 3 daughters (two of them young) and the 7 month old kitten that they picked is simply perfect for them.  I could not have picked a better one for them.  Houdini is not phased by anything and loves to play better than life itself.  The girls just giggled loudly every time he grabbed at the toys.  They let the girls hold him in the very busy pet store and played some more with them in the back of the store where all the other cats are for the group.  The family just really fell in love with little Houdini.  Even the dad who said "I'm not really a cat person".  It was wonderful!

The mom said she'd need to think about it but I could hear the daughters begging and begging for Houdini.  Even the dad was convinced.  The mom didn't have a chance.  She came over to me and said "It looks like Houdini is the one".  The little girls just squealed with delight and everyone was grinning from ear to ear...even the parents.  It was obvious the love they already had for him. 

The dad picked out the toys, the mom got the litter and litterbox, we did the paperwork and off they went.  The girls informed me they would definitely play with him a lot.  I did ask for pictures because we, as a group, LOVE to see pictures of the happily ever afters.  I was assured there would be tons of pictures.

I love happy endings.

This is little Houdini.