Elderly Cats

This blog is written by our wonderful receptionist Rhian who has a senior cat, she has written up some tips and tricks on how to help adjust your home to give the best to your elderly companion:

When I started working for Cats Protection I was shocked to learn that my cat of 15 years is classed as an elderly cat.  What!? But he’s still my little baby??  Once I recovered from my shock and did some research on this I soon came to realise that this is nothing to be sad or worried about, it just means there are some positive changes I can make to help improve my cat’s quality of life and further enhance our very special relationship.  Here are some of the handy hints I’ve learnt.

 

 Arthritis can affect many older cats.  It may get worse in the cold so I have provided additional warm and dry places for him to sleep on soft, padded bedding, some near radiators.  All areas are easily accessible but if this proves to be an issue in future with his mobility then ramps and stools can be an option.  Older cats can find it difficult to make calculations when jumping so this is a great excuse for me to go online and order some extra cushions to strategically place around the house.

Extra grooming is recommended in-case our OAP’s are struggling to get to all areas, this is great news as my cat will enjoy this and it’s a great stress reliver for me.  Regular play times will provide a nice routine for my cat, will help in moderating his weight which can help with arthritis, provide him with some mental stimulation, get me off the couch and release those happy hormones for both of us.



I have added an extra water bowl downstairs as I hadn’t considered the extra effort it was taking him to have to go upstairs just for a drink of water.  I hadn’t considered his ageing teeth and I wonder if this is why he likes his pate so much? Warming his food to enhance the smell and mushing this up may be something else I can consider; he already prefers having his treats and cooked chicken handed to him which is a good strategy to encourage eating.  A trip to the vet will be a big help to us in assessing his teeth and how best to help him with these.

My cat does not have a litter tray!  I’ll buy him a new tray as soon as possible, ensuring the sides are low enough for him to climb into, there’s plenty of space for him to move around and try a variety of litters that are soft enough for his elderly paws.  He might still prefer to toilet outdoors but he may feel intimidated by other cats in his old age so I could make a toileting area in the bedding close to the house which would make him feel safe or accompany him on his ablutions.

I have learnt that the vet need not always be a scary experience for me and my cat but that the vet can help me to find ways to improve my cat’s quality of life.  The vet can weigh my cat to help us with weight management, give me the option of a blood test to check kidney function and give me practical advice about how to manage his claws now that his wandering days are behind him.

For more information on Cats Protection Cats please check out our guide here:

https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/health/elderly-cats

Cats and Human Pregnancy

Some parents mistakenly believe they should give up their cat when expecting a baby. In a survey carried out by Cats Protection in April 2018, 54% of expectant parents have concerns about having a child when they owned a cat.  But owning a cat when you are pregnant can have a positive impact your mental health, your cat can be a calming companion during your pregnancy but cats need help adjusting to the change of routine when a baby arrives.

Please see some tips to help you through your pregnancy and after your baby arrives. Anyone worried about owning a cat can call the charity’s national helpline on; 0300 12 12 12 for advice.

 

 From three months pregnant:

 

 

·      Get someone else in the home to change the litter tray, if this isn’t possible wear disposable gloves and apron when changing the litter tray. Cat litter and cat poo can contain a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, studies have shown that cat owners are statistically no more likely to get toxoplasmosis than non- cat owners. The chance of catching the disease from your cat is very slim in fact you are more likely to get it from handling raw meat and good hand washing should be practised for more information please visit (www.cat.org.uk/toxo).

 

·      Start playing baby sounds.

·      The room that you will make the nursery keep off limits to the cat,   (if you need to, move resources out of the room do this slowly not straight away).

 

·      Take your cat to the vets for an up to date vet check to make sure your cat is healthy and there are no underlying health problems that need treating, get flea  and worm treatments up to date and if needed get your cat neutered and microchipped.

 

At six months pregnant

 

·      Introduce your cat to the new baby equipment (eg the pram and nursery furniture). Do not let your cat climb on it and keep the equipment off limits.

·      Reduce the amount of lap time you have with your cat by doing this your cat will start getting used to having less time with you.

·      Encourage your cat to use interactive toys and feeders so they can learn to entertain themselves.

 

Just before baby arrives

·      Plug in a pheromone diffuser (eg Feliway www.feliway.com) this will help to manage your cat’s stress levels and reduce the risk of unwanted behaviours.

·      Brush up upon your knowledge of your cats body language so you can recognise signs of stress when baby arrives. For more information please visit www.cats.org.uk/behaviour.

 

 

After the baby arrives

 

 

 

·      Make sure the cat has lots of hiding places to escape if they feel stressed.

·      Introduce your cat to your baby gradually. Don’t force interaction or leave your baby and cat alone together.

·      Finally make time to give your cat daily attention, this will help them relax and relax you.

Useful links

www.cats.org.uk/ncac/adopt-a-cat/cats-and-pregnancy

www.cat.org.uk/toxo

www.cats.org.uk/behaviour

www.feliway.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skin Cancer in Light Coloured Cats

With the sun starting to shine it is very important that light coloured cats are monitored closely as they can get skin cancer on their sensitive parts such as ears and nose.

Here is a post all about skin cancer in light-coloured cats, what the look out for and the best ways to prevent it:

Some skin cancers in cats are caused by exposure to the sun. White cats and cats with lighter coloured fur are more susceptible to sunburn than dark coloured cats and thirteen times more likely to develop skin cancer. This is because their skin is more vulnerable to UV-light due to the lack of melanin in the skin. The most common skin cancer caused by sun damage is called Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), it is a very aggressive cancer that can be fatal but can also be treated effectively if diagnosed quickly.

 

Symptoms and diagnosis

SCC is most commonly found on the tips of the ears, the nose and the eyelids, this is due to the lack of fur protecting the areas. Initially the cancer looks like small black scabs on the skin, it can easily be overlooked by owners for a small scratch. Other indications to look for are red sore ulcerated areas that continue to bleed with no signs of healing. A vet will need to take a biopsy in order to diagnose SCC.

 

SCC on Nose (img via)



SCC on eyelid (img via)



SCC on ears (img via)

Treatment

Depending on the location of the cancer and how advanced it is, the cancer can be removed surgically. For example, a pinnectomy (removal of the ears) is a very effective way to treat SCC on the effected ear tips. Other options such as cryosurgery (freezing cancer cells), radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy can also be affective.

Prevention

The best way to prevent SCC is by avoiding prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, especially during the summer months. However, this can be difficult as cats love to bathe in the sun and owners can’t always be around to keep an eye on them. There are special feline sunblock’s that can be purchased from a vet that the owner can apply directly to the susceptible areas. It is recommended to get a high SPF (30+) and apply frequently as cats are prone to groom themselves regularly, washing away the protection.

Fruity’s Story

Fruity came into Cats Protection when his owner became too ill to care for him. Because of this, Fruity spent most of his time outdoors where he enjoyed bathing in the raise of the sun. Unfortunately, his white tipped ears became victim to the damaging affects of the UV-light and therefore had to undergo surgery to remove the majority of his ears, preventing the possible spread of the cancer.

 

 

Fruity at the centre after ear removal

 

After his recovery Fruity went up for adoption and it wasn’t long before he found his forever home with his loving new family where he spent his retirement.

 

 

Fruity (changed the Lenny) at home

 

 

If you are concerned at all regarding any new marks of lumps on your cat then please call your local vet immediately.

Cats and Allotment - tips and tricks.

Our wonderful receptionist and resident green thumb Donna has written this blog full of tips and tricks for allotment owners and keen gardeners on how to deal with cat visitors:

Spring is in the air, allotment holders are weeding, digging and preparing seed beds – it takes a long time!

Digging over area in winter, adding manure, forking over in spring then rake, rake and rake again.  You may have prepared the perfect conditions for growing – for a cat you have actually created the best litter tray a cat could ask for! A nice clear safe area (so potential predators can be spotted), light substrate easy to cover and far away from a potential water or food source.

I love cats – I work for Cats Protection as a receptionist, one of the great joys of my job is seeing a cat leave for their forever home. I greet every neighbourhood cat with a cheery ‘good morning’ as it strolls through my little patch (I know they deter pesky rats, mice, rabbits, birds and voles from eating my newly emerged veg).

Creating gigantic litter trays not a joy! So I got my thinking cap on and over the last few years have managed to deter cats off my seed beds, without causing cats stress.
Cats prefer a nice large area – I put little stakes in across the seed bed and wind a temporary criss-cross pattern over the bed.

 

On small areas I place shallow dishes of water. When shoots emerge there may still be room for a cat to do what cats do, so I place rubber snakes on edges of beds- snakes represent a possible predator and so cats will avoid if possible.

 

 

I also place a metal cat on no go areas, it looks real enough at a quick glance to deter cats (cats are very territorial will avoid other cats if possible).



I am also lucky that there is an area on my allotment that won’t grow a thing so it’s been raked and cleared and I just get the rubber gloves on and clean up!

So basically thinking like a cat can actually help deter them from areas that are no-go. It does take a little extra work and planning to keep your allotment from becoming the best cat rest room in the locality. The methods I use can also be easily adapted to use in gardens, however green fingers crossed - soon there will be no room for a cat to cause any bother!

I try and be a mindful gardener when it comes to all wildlife, and cats, how far you take it is a personal preference. In particular, rat poison and slug pellets can be a potential hazard to all domestic animals and wildlife so I don’t use them.

I will finish by saying please at the end of your gardening day, before you shut the door for the night check your cosy shed with its hiding places and high shelves, at this time of year it might provide a safe haven for pregnant queens about to give birth, or curious young cats out on their first adventure.

Happy gardening folks!

Fearful Cats: How to Minimise Stress.

For many cats that come into Cats Protection’s care it can be quite an unnerving experience. The majority of cats relinquished come from previous homes, for a wide variety of reasons, but we also take in stray cats, cats that have had minimum human interactions, pregnant cats and new mothers and their kittens. All of which find being in a centre environment stressful in different ways.

Cats are inherently solitary animals (unlike other domesticated pets). Being in an unfamiliar setting; with the scent, sound and sight of other cats and contact with unfamiliar faces can be highly stressful and frightening to some. Add to this that they cannot roam freely outside and ‘escape’ from their surroundings. Unlike humans, cats live in the moment and have no concept of the future. Whereas we know it will only be a matter of time before they leave us to go to their forever homes, for them being in a pen environment is indefinite. 

It is important to take into consideration that some cats will likely feel scared and unsettled in a new home once adopted, for the first few weeks. It is important for us to understand the common signs a cat will exhibit that is experiencing fear and anxiety.

·         Hissing/ Growling

·         Excessive grooming

·         Dilated pupils

·         Staring fixed gaze, reduced blinking, avoidance of eye contact all together

·         Ears turned out to the side, or ears flat

·         Hiding

·         Tail flicking

·         Tense body with an arched back. Fur raised.

·         Walking with a hunched posture, tail and head down

Before

 

It is very important that when a cat is exhibiting any of these behaviours, not to ‘flood’ the cat. Flooding means to expose an animal to a fear eliciting stimuli without the opportunity to escape. Cats like humans can have a flight, fight and freeze reaction when scared.

Ways we can make a fearful cat feel more relaxed and secure:-

1.      All cats need a hiding place. In CP we use a feline fort. At home this could be a box, or an igloo bed.

2.      Cats need the opportunity to get off the ground and get up high. In CP we use a feline fort. You could try cat trees or shelving for your cat.

3.      It is important a cat builds up its own scent, so using two blankets so one can be washed when needed.  A pheromone spray called Feliway. (You can purchase this from CP centres, or online).

4.      Most importantly only approach a fearful cat when necessary to begin with. Think less is more, and aim to limit noise as much as possible. Cats often slow blink as a sign of being relaxed, so you can try to mimic this behaviour.

One of our cat carers recently engaged in what we refer to as ‘Desensitisation’ with two fearful cats at the centre; Teddy and Mickey. Both cats came from separate homes, but lived similar lives prior to arriving. Both cats had been kept indoors and were only pets. Initially, both cats would hide and give warnings upon entering the pen such as growling and hissing. It is important to first let them see you and smell you without you attempting to touch them.

During

 

She did this numerous times, and often placed new toys and food in to associate my presence with a positive experience. Slowly, they both gained confidence and came out to greet her and let her stroke them. They both made huge improvements and now enjoy interaction with us.

 

After