lecture Flashcards
role of cats (5)
- pet
- rodent control
- showing - pedigrees
- commodity - breeding
- strays
3 ways they may maintain/mark territory
- rubbing
- spraying
- claws
attitudes towards conflict and stress
prefer to avoid conflict
very good at hiding stress
socialisation period in cats:
2-7/8 wks
(dogs = later and longer - 5-16wks)
what is the socialisation period?
- defining normal
- good and bad experiences which will impact cat’s behaviour and outlook
- likely to be fearful of new experiences
- broader range and greater no of experiences during this period = more adaptable cat as adult (all situations)
categories that are a part of socialisation period for cats:
Gentle handling – holding, stroking; ears/paws/nails/mouth, grooming, in carrier, in car
People - different ages + genders
Other pets
Surfaces – carpet etc.
Sounds – household
Scents – household
Litter – diff types
Food – assortment of flavours/types e.g. kibble and pouch
Scratching post – diff types
Toys – diff types
Outdoor environment – variation: grass/concrete/cars etc.
key behavioural characteristics: 3
- territorial
- predator (innate hunters - obligate carnivores)
- prey instinct? (natural fear of unknown, run away + up high to escape danger, aggression as last resort - not good survival tactic)
factors that influence sociability of cats:
- genetics
- kitten soc.
- social mature yet? (1.5-4yrs)
- prev experiences
- relatedness
- see each other as in same soc. group
indicators of being in same soc. group: 4
- mutual grooming (allogrooming)
- mutual rubbing (allorubbing)
- sleeping together touching
- communal nursing of young (feral cats)
cats and soc groups: points to note (3)
- same family ≠ same soc group
- NOT hissing/fighting ≠ enjoy spending time together
- WILL tolerate each other for a valued resource (e.g. sleep spot - on same bed but not together)
cat handling - 3 things to do:
- work from behind/side
- calm with rubbing/stroking
- invite to approach you (as opposed to other way around)
what if a cat has had enough/has become aggressive and unable to handle?
- dark quiet place to calm down, at least 30mins
- give up and try another day (with medication prior e.g. gabapentin – THINK OF KIKI teehee)
zoonotic disease transmission from cats (5 types)
- bites and scratches
- fleas/flea dirt
- ringworm
- toxoplasmosis
- roundworms
one thing you can assess by looking at cat whilst still in carrier:
resp. rate and pattern (NOT HEART - YOU CANNOT SEE THIS)
CLINICAL EXAMINATION: looking at…
Head to toe
Facial symmetry
Ear, nose and throat
Eyes
Open mouth
Neck
Anterior chest spring
Abdominal contents
Legs
Claws
Coat
Tail
Sex
Anus & genitals
Auscultate (stethoscope to listen to organs)
Respiratory rate
Palpate pulses
temp:
36.7 - 38.9 °C
(THESE are the most up to date values from SVMS so ignore others)
heart rate:
110-180 bpm
resp. rate:
20-30 breaths/min
handling during exam: 3 things that will serve you well
- LESS IS MORE
- 4 ON THE FLOOR (PAWS)
- LITTLE AND OFTEN (contact/handling?)
5 ROUTES of medicine administration (not sites):
- topical
- oral
- subcutaneous
- intramuscular
- intravenous
5 SITES of medicine administration (includes routes first so you know which site is for which routes):
- topical - skin (spot on), eyes, ears
- oral - worming tab?
- SC - between shoulders usually, can be anywhere where skin loose enough
- IM - quads, lumbar
- IV - cephalic (front legs), or jugular (?)
3 sites of blood sample collection
- jugular (preferred)
- cephalic (front legs)
- saphenous (back legs)
administering spot on medication:
- Cat’s rear end to your body (cat is facing away)
- One hand in front of shoulders
- Other hand to part fur behind the neck to expose skin
- Use same hand to squeeze liquid onto skin
administering eye medication:
- may need to cleanse eye before
- position cat so you behind/to side
- tilt head back (thumb on top of head and fingers under the chin)
- other hand (with bottle in), place curved little finger on top of head to steady hand
- drops from approx. 1 inch above eye
- do not touch eyeball
- wipe away XS using cotton wool
administering ear medication:
- cleanse ear
- hold ear flap in upright position or fold back (onto head) to expose ear
- medication into the ear canal
- massage outside of ear canal for a minute or so
- allow the cat to shake head
- wipe away dirt/discharge with cotton wool
- wipe nozzle clean + replace lid
administering oral medication: see ON for photo
- place hand across back of skull and hold zygomatic arches with thumb and middle finger
- tip head upwards
- hold the tablet in other hand between thumb and index finger (/pill popper with soft tip)
- middle finger to open mouth by gentle pressure over lower incisor teeth
- place pill as far back in mouth as poss and close mouth
- keep head tilted and stroke cat’s throat to encourage swallow
(licking lips = likely swallowed) - follow with small vol of water/wet food to keep down
