Cats Flashcards by Tilly Lakie

What are the 5 roles of cats in our society?

Pet
Rodent control
Money making commodity - breeding
‘Fancy’ - show pedigree
‘On the Fringe’ of society - feral or free-living urban strays

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What is the estimated number of cats in the UK and how many households own these?

UK cat population: 9-12 million
6 million cat-owning households

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What are moggies and how many of the UK cat population consists of them?

Moggie are non-purebred cats
90%

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How much money is spent on cat food in the UK?

over £1 billion

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Are cats social animals?

Not particularly as they have inherited the desire to maintain independent territory

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Do cats have facial expressions to communicate?

No they had not developed this

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What sense do cats use to interact and to communicate with each other?

Smell

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Is stress evident in cats?

No they hide stress and avoid conflict if they can

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What name is given to the cats communication system?

olfactorial

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What methods do cats employ to communicate and keep territory through smell?

Rubbing, spraying urine and scratching

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When is the socialisation/sensitive period for cats?

2-7/8 weeks of age

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What are the 12 key categories of socialisation?

Gentle handling, people of dif. ages + genders, other pets, surfaces, sounds, scents, litter, food, scratching posts, toys, activities, outdoor environment

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Are cats predators or prey?

Cats are both predators and prey so can have two different reactions in stressful situation
Run away, hide, get up high
Fight (last resort response)

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Are cats carnivores or omnivores?

Obligate carnivores

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When do cats reach social maturity?

Between 1.5-4 years

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Why do cats become stressed at the vets?

Unknown territory and they cannot control the environment

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What are 5 indicators that cats consider themselves in the same social groups?

Allogrooming (mutual)
Allorubbing (mutual)
Touching whilst sleeping
Spending time in close proximity
Greeting each other with tail up and noses touching

What are the interactions called that animals have when they get along?

Appeasement interactions

Why do cats in the same house tolerate each other?

For valued recourses like food and warm places to sleep

Why should you slow blink at a cat?

Cats slow blink when they trust someone

What is a zoonotic disease?

A disease that can be transferred from animals to humans

What are 7 examples of common zoonotic diseases that cats pass to humans?

Pasturella multocida
Capnocytophaga canimorsus
Bartonella henselae (cat scratch disease)
Rabies
Ringworm
Toxoplasmosis
Roundworms

How is bartonella henselae transmitted?

Fleas and flea dirt

When examining a cat should you just get the invasive examinations out of the way first?

No, do the exam in a way that makes the cat feel as though its not being examined and leave the invasive checks till the end

What are the normals for cats: - temperature - heart rate - respiratory rate - mucous membrane colour - capillary refill time

38-39.5 degrees 110-180 beats per minute 20-30 breaths per minute salmon pink <2s (always take stress into account when measuring this)

How do you tell the difference between female and male cats?

Anogenital distance Testicles are hard to find especially in young male cats as they are small and mobile

When do male cats reach sexual maturity

Around 4 months of age, this can be identified by their testicles descending

What are the 5 usual routes of medicine administration?

1. Topical - skin (spot on), eyes, ears 2. Oral 3. Subcutaneous 4. Intramuscular 5. Intravenous

Where are subcutaneous injections administered?

Usually between shoulders but anywhere that the skin is loose enough

Where are the intramuscular injections administered?

Quadriceps and lumbar

Where are intravenous injections administered?

Cephalic vein, jugular vein (preferred), saphenous vein

What type of pill popper should always be used for a cat?

Soft tipped to avoid damage to the throat

Where would you find lots of cats in close proximity?

- shelter/ rescue facilities - breeding - boarding catteries - vet practices - farms with low level neutering - hoarding households

What are the different management approaches that rescue facilities take?

Remit (stray, feral, owned, confiscated) Control over entry (open vs selective) Operations (paid staff vs voluntary)

What is the veterinary input before rehoming?

clinical exam, treatment of illness, blood tests for FeLV & FIV, vaccination, treatment for fleas and worms, neuter, microchip

What are veterinary related protocols that might be undertaken in a rescue centre?

Neutering (if appropriate), FeL/FIV testing, dentals, euthanasia, infectious disease management (ringworm, flu)

What are the 5 principles of care for shelter medicine?

- Good housing - Good husbandry - Rehabilitation (physical and behavioural) - Veterinary care - Disease prevention policies

What is the sign that a at is getting closer to pouncing when its crouching?

Their back starts to arch more

What is the difference between a relaxed cats tail and an anxious tail?

A relaxed cat has its tail up, the end flicking to show affection then the closer the tail gets to the body and the more concave it becomes the more anxious the cat is.

What shape are the cats ears when its feeling... ... concentrated, predation ... fearful, frightened ... confident but threatened

Erect, facing forwards Flattened Erect, flattened backwards