Cats AHW Flashcards
What are the roles of cats within society?
- pets
- rodent control
- ‘fancy’ showing pedigrees
- a commodity to make money from
- strays
What are the two different theories about the domestication of cats?
- Wildcats were tamed and selected due to their friendliness
- Wildcats were drawn to human settlements due to the presence of rodents for food, so began to drift from their relatives
How have cats evolved
- still generally happy to live without other cats, have an inherent desire to be independent
- not developed facial expressions to communicate with each other
- use sense of smell to communicate
What is the socialisation period and when does it occur?
2-7/8 weeks of age
Defines what the cat sees as normal
Both good and bad experiences have an impact
Cats are more likely to be fearful of any experiences encountered outside this time of life
What are the two key characteristics of cats?
Territorial- usually happy on their own and like boundaries
Predator and prey- innate carnivores, fearful of the unknown
What factors affect the sociability of cats?
- genetics
- kitten socialisation
- social maturity
- previous experiences
- relatedness
What is the best way to approach/ handle a cat?
Work from behind or the side, eye contact can be intimidating
Calm them down with running
Invite the cat to approach us
Put in dark quiet place to calm down for at least 30 mins
What zoonotic diseases can be transmitted by bites and scratches?
- pasturella multocida
- rabies
- capmpcutophaga carnimorsus
Which zoonotic diseases can be spread by fleas?
Bartonella henselae
Ringworm
Toxoplasmosis
Roundworms
What are the different sites of medicine administration?
- oral
-topical - subcutaneous (between shoulders)
- intramuscular (quadriceps or lumbar, lower part of back)
- intravenous (cephalic, forearm)
Where is the best place to take blood samples from?
- jugular (in neck)
- cephalic (in forearm)
- saphenous (in leg)
What age can cats be neutered?
From 4 months
What are clinical signs of illness in cats
drinking more or less than usual
being off their food
sleeping more than usual
sudden weight loss
change in their grooming habits (for example, overgrooming or stopping altogether)
Panting
What is a normal rectal temperature
Between 36.7- 38.9C
What is a normal respiratory rate?
20-30 breaths per minute
What is a normal heart rate?
110-180 bpm
Why are most tortoiseshell cats female?
Needs XX chromosomes to get colouring
Male torties have an extra chromosome, XXY, so very rare
What are the advantages of grooming your long haired cat?
Reduces hairballs
May improve skin and hair quality
Good owner/ cat bonding
What are common characteristics of a Siamese cat?
Long face
Large ears
Delicate physique
Himalayan mutation, so coldest bits of fur are darker
What are some characteristics of Devon and Cornish Rex?
Big ears
Curly coat
Quite vocal
What are some characteristics of Abyssinian cat?
Indidiviual hairs have 2-3 coloured bands
Distinctive colours
What are some common characteristics of a Persian cat?
Short nose and squashed face
Long hair
Braceyphalic
Short limbed
Stocky body
What is the most common characteristic of Birman?
White feet
What breed related problems may Persians face?
haircoat disorder, dental disease, overgrown nails, and eye discharge. These breeds are also commonly born with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic condition where cysts grow on the kidney and destroy the organ over time.
Also bracyphallic
What problem do Siamese cats tend to get?
young feline leukemia-positive cats. They are also prone to intestinal adenocarcinomas (tumors).
What problem do Maine coons and rag dolls tend to get?
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, which can result in sudden death, the formation of abnormal blood clots, or heart failure with symptoms like weakness and difficulty breathing.
What are the pros and cons of a cat wearing a collar?
•Facilitates easy identification of an injured/lost cat
•If reflective may increase safety in the dark
BUT…
•Risk of getting it caught – use a quick release collar
•Collar wounds are common and difficult to treat
•Some collars are now effectively used for ectoparasite control
•Microchips are now widely available
Why must cats eat cat food?
They are carnivores, so must eat meat
•Need a balanced diet
The following components are only found in pet food:
•Amino Acids –Taurine and Arginine
•Vitamins – A, D
•EFAs – Linoleic and Arachidonic acid
Why is it important that cats eat?
Highly protein dependant
•High and constant rate of protein metabolism
• Often go go anorexic
•Quickly go into a state of starvation/protein deficiency
How long does a cat have without eating before big metabolic changes?
48 hours
Which cats are more likely to be obese?
Ones with obese owners
Indoor cats
Elderly cats
What are the complications from obesity?
Diabetes type 2
Arthritis
Hepatic lipidois (too much lipids in cells and blood)
Urinary tract disease
What are common mistakes with cat feeding?
Vitamin A toxicity (high liver diet)
•Vegetarian diet
•Human products – onions - toxic
•Cow’s milk – many cats are lactose intolerant!
•Overfeeding
How much will a cat Susa;oh drink?
•A cat on wet food will normally drink ~ 20ml/kg/day
•A cat on dry food will normally drink 60-100ml/kg/day
What is important when considering litter trays?
Cats often won’t share litter trays so need one per cat
Location is important as cats prefer privacy
Clean and disinfect regularly
What are the three steps when introducing two cats?
- Set up sanctuary room, for new cat with place to rest and hide
- Scent swapping
- Introduce from a distance
What are signs of cat flu and how to prevent it?
Rhinitis and nasal discharge
•Conjunctivitis and ocular discharge
•Sneezing
•Fever
Prevented by vaccinating
What are signs of dental disease in cats and how to prevent it?
Halitosis (bad breath)
•Hypersalivation
•Inability to eat/pain when eating
•Tartar
•Gingivitis (red, swollen gums)
•Fractured or missing teeth
Prevented by teeth brushing
What are some signs of feline lower urinary tract disease and how to prevent it?
Frequent urination of small volume (or none)
•Blood in urine
•Pain on urination
•Urinating in wrong place
•Repeated licking of perineum
•Repeated episodes
•If completely unable to urinate, quickly life threatening
Increase water consumption and clean litter trays
What are the 3 vaccines commonly given to cats?
●Cat ‘flu’ – mainly viral
●Feline herpesvirus (FHV)
●Feline calicivirus (FCV)
➢Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), also known as Feline Parvo virus
•Feline Leukaemia virus (FeLV)
How does the course of vaccines work for cats?
Starts 8-9 weeks
Then 2 injections 3-4 weeks apart
Then annual boosters
What age do cats reach sexual maturity?
4 months
How long is pregnancy in cats?
63 days
What does seasonally poleyestrous mean?
they have multiple cycles during the breeding season
What are the signs and length of time oestrus lasts?
loud vocalizing, rolling on the floor, elevating the hindquarters and possibly a decrease in appetite
1 week
How to tell if a cat is male or female?
Look for testicles
➢Skull/facial shape
•Female cats
➢Look for mammary development
➢Body shape
➢Pregnancy
➢Oestrus
How to tell if cat is spayed or not?
Genitalia give no clues
•Physique
-Body weight
-Mammary development
•Oestrus behaviour
-Calling
-Rubbing
-Rolling
-Lordosis and tail deflection
•Pregnancy
•Blood test
How to sex a cat
Look at anogenital distance
If longer- male
What is lateral recumbancy?
Take hold of forelimbs with one hand
Hold hind limbs in other hand
Legs are lifted up and away from handler, with minimum pressure applied to back and neck to restrain
How does the cats sense of smell affect their behaviour?
Highly sensitive sense of smell, so strong smells of perfume or other animals may startle them
Can detect information about people
How should you approach feral or street cats?
Don’t handle unless they are under sedation
Have low stimulation (lights off and crate covered)
How often to kittens aged 6-7 weeks need feeding
3-4 times a day
How much weight should kittens be putting on a week
100-200g
