Cat Behavior

Does your cat often misbehave around guests, whether by jumping up on people, or even showing aggression? The holidays are swiftly approaching, so it is the perfect time to start pet behavior counseling or training! Ask us for our recommendations to help make your cat a well-behaved greeter of your holiday house guests this season.

Can owning a pet help you live longer?

People love their pets. More than 60 percent of U.S. households include pets, and those pet owners pour $41 billion a year into pet care. This may seem like a lot of money. But when you consider the fact that owning a pet could very likely add years to your life, a pet can quickly seem like a wise investment.

According to a study by the Minnesota Stroke Institute that followed more than 4,000 cat owners over 10 years, owning a cat can dramatically reduce a person's chance of dying from heart disease. Specifically, people who owned cats were 30 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack. Although those researchers cannot make the same conclusions about dogs based on the data they gathered, they suspect a dog study would provide similar results.

For whatever reason, pets certainly can have a special effect on their owners.


Adapted from an article originally posted on Animal Planet.

Feline Idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract Disease

What is feline idiopathic urinary tract disease?

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is a term used to describe a set of clinical signs associated with abnormal urination in cats. When the condition has no identifiable cause, it is called Feline Idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract Disease (iFLUTD) to indicate that this is an exclusionary diagnosis.

"iFLUTD is the exclusionary diagnosis made once all of the common or known causes of the clinical signs have been eliminated."

It is important to understand the difference between iFLUTD and Feline Urologic Syndrome or FUS. FUS is simply a description of the syndrome manifested by straining to urinate, frequent attempts at urination, and a partial or complete urethral obstruction. FUS is not a diagnosis but a term used to describe the cat's condition, just as you would say a cat is itchy or is vomiting. iFLUTD is the exclusionary diagnosis made once all of the common or known causes of the clinical signs have been eliminated.

What are the clinical signs of feline idiopathic lower urinary tract disease?

The most common clinical signs of IFLUTD are the same as those of FUS:

• Straining to urinate
• Bloody or discolored urine
• Frequent urinations
• Urinating in unusual locations
• Urethral obstruction or the inability to urinate

What causes feline idiopathic lower urinary tract disease?

By definition, in cases of Feline Idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract Disease there is no known cause. The conditions that should be ruled out include:

• Bladder stones and urethral plugs
• Bladder infections
• Trauma
• Neurologic disorders that alter normal urination by affecting the nerves and muscles of the bladder
• Anatomic abnormalities such as urethral strictures
• Neoplasia (cancer or benign tumors of the urinary tract)

Once all of the common causes of abnormal urination have been eliminated, a diagnosis of Feline Idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract Disease may be made.

How is iFLUTD diagnosed?

iFLUTD is diagnosed by performing tests to eliminate the known causes of abnormal urination. These tests include any or all of the following:

• Thorough medical history and physical examination - especially pay attention to any changes in environment, feeding, stress, etc.
• Blood tests - complete blood cell count (CBC) and serum chemistries
• Complete urinalysis
• Urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity tests
• Abdominal radiographs, which may include contrast radiographic studies
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Cystoscopy or endoscopic examination of the urethra and bladder
• Bladder biopsy

Your veterinarian will formulate a diagnostic plan based on your cat's specific clinical symptoms.

What is the treatment of iFLUTD?

"Since the exact cause of iFLUTD is unknown, treatment will be symptomatic, and is based on your cat's individual needs."

Since the exact cause of iFLUTD is unknown, treatment will be symptomatic, and is based on your cat's individual needs. Drug choices include:

• Propantheline
• Amitriptyline
• Butorphanol
• Phenoxybenzamine
• Pentosan polysulfate sodium
• Metacam® (meloxicam)

Corticosteroids, DMSO, antibiotics and methenamine have not been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of iFLUTD. Your veterinarian will develop a treatment plan based on your cat's needs.

What is the prognosis for iFLUTD?

"The number of recurrences tends to decline as the cat gets older."

Many cases of iFLUTD improve without medical intervention in four to seven days. However, recurrence is common. Medical treatment may help reduce the recurrence or improve clinical signs, thus relieving your cat's discomfort. The number of recurrences tends to decline as the cat gets older. While a frustrating disorder for both the cat and owner, iFLUTD rarely causes long term or serious consequences.

Ernest Ward, DVM

© Copyright 2009 Lifelearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license.

Cats & Microchipping

There are several ways of identifying your cat…but…did you know that there is one form that will always stay with your cat? At the Cats Only Veterinary Clinic, we recommend microchipping to ‘help your cat find their way home’ and ensure a permanent form of identification. The microchip contains information that will speed up the process of returning your beloved companion home, if lost or stolen. Call us at 604-734-2287 for more details about microchipping.

Mobilize the Earth for Earth Day 2012

The first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life to speak out against the deterioration of the environment and demand change. As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency was created, the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts were passed,and the modern environmental movement was born.

Today, more than 1 billion people in 192 countries participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. This year, in the face of global inaction on pressing environmental problems, we must harness that power.

Earth Day Network is calling upon individuals, organizations, businesses and governments to Mobilize the Earth™ and demand that environmental issues become a top priority.

Chick Falls Asleep on Cat

Pets & Easter Lilies

Lilies are a popular Easter flower, but did you know that they can actually be toxic to your cat? Like the Christmas poinsettias, lilies can attract the attention of your cat, and then have a toxic effect when ingested. Keep those Easter lilies far from your pet's reach this season, or look into artificial options. The art of artificial flowers have gotten so advanced that your guests won't be able to tell the difference...and your cat will be safe.