Cats & Kittens July Aug 13 Issue

 

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200"] July Aug 2013[/caption]

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.

Ask the Expert.. July Aug 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: Polka, my Persian, keeps grooming himself. He kind of retches and vomits some fur too. How can we reduce his excessive grooming habit?
-Kavita, Mumbai

Dr KG Umesh: During the routine activity of grooming, cats swallow varying quantities of hair. Length of grooming is highly variable among cat breeds with short or long hair coat. If small quantities of hair accumulate in the stomach or small intestine, the cat can cough and retch until the hairball is vomited. Occasionally a large mass of entangled hair called trichobezoar accumulates and can be as large as nine cm long. Clinical signs include vomiting, anorexia and may lead to a potentially serious obstruction. This condition is very rare. Hairballs can be diagnosed by radiograph or endoscopy. Hair ball diets containing high fibre diets to bulk the lumen, or lubricant laxatives such as paraffin wax are prescribed to treat the obstruction. Itching in some cats, sometimes, manifests as excessive grooming behaviour. Fleas, allergies, mange or fungal infections that stimulate itching must be ruled out.

For queries about your cat, call us at 1800407112121 (Toll free) (toll free from all BSNL nos.) or email us at whiskas.india@eu.effem.com

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.