May June 13 | Cats & Kittens

Table of Contents


Aristocratic blue!
-by Amanda Bright
The aristocratic Russian Blue is the gem of the feline world. Is it any wonder they are rumoured to have been the pets of the Russian Czars and a favourite of Queen Victoria? Here's more about this amazing breed.


Preventing dehydration…
- by Sudhersena
Even cats can be dehydrated, especially in the summer season. Here's how to prevent dehydration in kitties.


Ask the Expert..
Dr KG Umesh (MVSc, MSc (UK)) is a Postgraduate in Clinical Medicine. He is working for WALTHAM as Regional Associate for South Asia.


Purrfect showing!
-by Blake Gipson
Most cat fanciers eagerly await the chance to share information, stories and histories of their chosen breed(s). Here's more about how a cat show happens.


Whiskas International Cat Show of India 2013


Precious purring hearts!
- by Cánie V Brooks
In the last issue, we learnt about the various heart diseases in cats. Here are few FAQs about the same.

Precious purring hearts!

In the last issue, we learnt about the various heart diseases in cats. Here are few FAQs about the same.

Mark D Kittleson, DVM, PhD, one of the foremost researchers on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), was asked a series of questions trying to sort out this disease and what it means for breeders. Excerpts:

Q: At what age in males and females can this disease 'actually' be diagnosed?

Mark: In Maine Coons, most males have evidence of the disease by two years of age and females by three years of age but we have seen it developed as late as seven years of age in females and have seen it developed as young as six months of age in kittens from mating two affected cats.

Q: Is there scientific proof that this genetic disease is 100 percent NOT diet related?

Mark: In Maine Coons, American Shorthairs and humans, HCM is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. There has been no evidence of a nutritional cause in any species.

Q: Can two parents 'test' negative throughout their lives and still produce some kittens who may have HCM?

Mark: Yes. This means that either one of the parents had whatever mutation but did not manifest the disease or the affected offspring had a mutation developed spontaneously in-utero.

Q: Does the word 'genetic' mean the kittens are born with it or just predisposed? As soon as the cat reaches adulthood, should it show at that time, since the organs are fully mature?

Mark: Genetic means there is an abnormality in the genome. This may be the form of one base pair mutation or may take the form of multiple abnormalities. The word for a disease that is present at birth is 'congenital'. For HCM, for example, in Maine Coons the disease is not present at birth but develops over time and so it is not a congenital disease in the classic sense.

Q. If a cat tests 'negative' for a number of years, and then reaches say 10-12 years of age, is there a 100 percent chance that she will never have HCM?

Mark: I suspect that there are a fair number of cats who have mild to moderate HCM all their life and then develop something like hyperthyroidism or high blood pressure when they are older and this exacerbates the HCM to become severe. So, it's theoretically possible to have a cat with mild disease (which would be difficult to detect on an echocardiogram) that developed hyperthyroidism when she was 15 years of age and all of a sudden showed up with what appears to be severe HCM.

Q. Is this an all breed cat condition in general or is it more towards specific breeds of cats?

Mark: It's a strange phenomenon. HCM is very common in cats, whether they are mixed breed or purebred, yet it's a rare condition in dogs. And it seems as things progress, more and more purebreds are recognised as having the disease. However, the disease is still most commonly seen in mixed breed cats. If the disease is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in all cats it would be passed on to 50 percent of all offspring, whether they were purebred or mixed so she would be easy to disseminate a mutation throughout a large population.

Q. Is this condition a game of Russian Roulette?

Mark: You're correct, echocardiographic screening is a bit of a game of Russian Roulette. If not all cats with a mutation manifest the disease, then it isn't seen in all cats on an echocardiogram that can pass on the disease. That's why I always tell people that echocardiographic screening is not going to rid a breed of the disease.

Breeding protocols

HCM can be treated if diagnosed early. There are various medications available to extend the life of our cats. It would be a much better solution to not breed cats who are HCM positive to begin with. To avoid HCM, breeders should note the following:

• A breeding male should be tested every six months if at all possible. Testing should begin when the male is about one year of age and before he is used in a breeding programme.


• A breeding female should be tested prior to each breeding or at least annually. As with a male, the first testing should be done when the cat is about one year old.


• All breeding cats should be tested as long as they are in a breeding programme.


• An affected cat should immediately be removed from a breeding programme, altered (unless clinically contraindicated), and treatment started as ordered by the breeder's veterinary specialist.


• Should HCM be diagnosed in a cat, the breeder of that cat should inform *all* pet parents of near relatives of that cat, including offspring of the affected cat, whether they were sold for pet or breeding purposes.


• Breeders are encouraged to maintain contact at least annually with the pet parents of all cats produced by their cattery. Such continued contact should include a report of any health changes in these cats. This information will assist the breeder when making decisions regarding his/her breeding programme.


• Breeders should make every effort to work with breeding cats who are as free as possible of this disease. Furthermore, it encourages breeders of cats to stress the importance of health for their breeding cats as well as type when breeding animals are selected and mating decisions are made.


• It is recommended that breeders include a warranty statement in their sales contract so both parties are informed of what will be expected should the cat or kitten develop HCM.

(Cánie V Brooks is a TICA All Breed Judge. Breeding and showing Bengals for 14 years, she is currently on the TICA Bengal Breed Committee, TICA Mentoring Committee, Past Officer for seven years in The International Bengal Cat Society.)

Ask the Expert.. May June 13

Dr KG Umesh (MVSc, MSc (UK)) is a Postgraduate in Clinical Medicine. He is working for WALTHAM as Regional Associate for South Asia.

Q: My cats are two and three years old. What is the best age to neuter and are there any side effects in terms of health?
- Ayush, Delhi

Dr K G Umesh: Spaying/castration is an irreversible means by which a cat is rendered sterile. Spaying at a young age prevents mammary cancer and neutering at any age prevents unwanted kittens, noisy heat cycles, roaming, fighting and possibly even urine marking in the house. The procedure entails complete removal of the uterus and ovaries in females and testicles in males. Surgery is preceded by a fasting period and requires general anaesthesia and hospitalisation. However, most hospitals/clinics discharge cats the same day as surgery. Complications are unusual/rare but may include post surgical haemorrhage or infection. Postoperative care includes restriction of exercise for a week, protection of the incision from contaminants, and daily monitoring of the incision for inflammation or discharge. The incision must stay dry and suture removal is usually performed 7-10 days after surgery. There are also hospitals/clinics, which conduct spaying with Keyhole or Laparoscopy methods, with minimum invasive surgery and on out-patient basis. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on what exactly is involved with the operation and also on the best time for it to be performed. The traditional age for spaying is six months. However, the last few years has brought us a great deal of research into 'early' spaying and we now know that there is no problem with spaying as early as eight weeks of age.

Preventing dehydration…

Even cats can be dehydrated, especially in the summer season. Here's how to prevent dehydration in kitties.

Some facts…

A healthy cat should be sufficiently hydrated. Water replaces fluid lost through urine, faeces and respiration and is essential to maintain appropriate health. It is interesting to know that 80 percent of a cat's body weight is made up of water. The amount of water your cat should drink depends on factors like the size of your cat, health condition, weather, food, etc.

Dehydration & its causes...

Dehydration occurs when the fluid levels are less than normal. During summer, your cat will drink more water to replace fluids lost due to heat. Senior cats, nursing cats, and cats suffering from kidney problem, cancer, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism are especially at risk for dehydration. Cats having fever, vomiting or diarrhoea are also prone to dehydration.

Symptoms…

You can know if your cat is dehydrated by lifting the skin on the back of your cat's neck or between the shoulder blades. For a well- hydrated cat, the skin should be extremely elastic and should immediately bounce back. If the cat is dehydrated, the skin will take a longer time to return to normal. If you suspect that your cat is dehydrated, immediately take her to your veterinarian.

Tips to follow…

• Always keep a fresh bowl of water everyday.


• Clean the water bowl daily to prevent from bacteria forming.


• Keep several water bowls around the house so that your cat can have easy access.


• Cats being fed dry food should drink adequate amounts of water.


• If you notice your cat is drinking water more or less than normal, take her to the veterinarian immediately.


• Keep your kitty indoors during hot days.


• If you are feeding outdoor cats, provide them some shade.

(Sudhersena is volunteer at the Blue Cross since 1998 and an avid animal lover, owns nine cats and three dogs. She is associated with a number of animal welfare campaigns and programmes.)

E-mail your cat's adorable pictures and stories at: info@dogsandpups.net or post it to: Dogs & Pups, 406, Sant Nagar, East of Kailash, New Delhi-110065.

Aristocratic blue!

The aristocratic Russian Blue is the gem of the feline world. Is it any wonder they are rumoured to have been the pets of the Russian Czars and a favourite of Queen Victoria? Here's more about this amazing breed.

Sheer elegance combined with intelligence make Russian Blue a winner in the show ring and in the home. They hold out hearts with their great beauty, incredible intelligence and amazing personalities. Once you've had a Russian Blue you are spoiled for any other breed – you will never want any other breed.

Beautiful looks…

[caption id="attachment_4695" align="alignright" width="260"] Aristocratic Russian Blue[/caption]

Also known as the Archangel cat, the Russian Blue's short, dense silver-tipped blue fur glistens and shimmers in the light as they move, providing an elegant setting for their glowing emerald green eyes. The deep, vivid green eyes engage your attention and draw you deep into their depths. Their beautiful faces have an enigmatic smile as they survey their dominion with satisfaction. The characteristic smile is emphasised by the crossing of the muzzle and cheekbone planes. The wide, high cheekbones frame the large, almost round emerald eye.

They are a medium-sized cat with fine boning and large, flared ears - all in wonderful harmony. They are lithe and muscular. The long legs are fine boned and the cat seems to know it as he often poses sitting high with feet crossed in a pose that accentuates the line of the cat. The head is a wedge with seven angular planes that create a pleasing look. The large, flared ears frame the exquisite face providing a pleasing balance.

Russian Blues come in one coat colour – Blue, and one coat length - Short. Watching a Russian Blue moving in sunlight is like watching poetry in motion! The dense coat stands out from the body and you can draw patterns in the coat that will stay until you smooth them out again.

Lovely companion…

The elegant, aristocratic Russian Blue has a keen intellect that makes him an engaging companion. They survey a situation before diving in and so rarely get into a difficult situation - he observes people to determine if they are worthy of his companionship. Sometimes people see this behaviour as shy or aloof when he is really just reserved with strangers until he has fully assessed them. Once the Russian Blue decides you are worthy of his attention, he is extremely affectionate and expects your loving attention to all his needs.

Living with them…

They will teach you how to play Fetch - bringing you their toy and demanding you throw it for them! Their quick intelligence has them learning all the time - and they will watch you until they figure out how to open that container containing their favourite treats! While they are generally quiet cats, they will talk to you if you talk to them and can develop a large vocabulary.

They are playful, loving companions who get along well with children and other pets. They are a great choice for the modern family because they are content with their own company while you are out but delighted to spend time playing or curled in your lap when you get home.

The age-old relationship…

I fell in love with this magnificent breed of cat many years ago as a child. I have bred cats for over 40 years and have had many different breeds throughout the years; however today my husband and I breed Russian Blues exclusively. They hold out hearts with their great beauty, incredible intelligence and amazing personalities.

(Amanda Bright has bred cats for over 40 years and has had many different breeds throughout the years; and she and her husband currently breed Russian Blues exclusively.)