by Nomi Berger
 
Despite its name, ringworm is NOT caused by a worm but by a fungus.
 
Known as dermatophytes, these fungi can infect the skin, hair and nails of any cat anywhere and is highly contagious, easily spreading to other household pets as well as to people.
 
Classic symptoms of ringworm or dermatophytosis include skin lesions on the head, ears and forelimbs. It can cause flaky, bald patches that sometimes appear red in the center. Milder cases may present either as localized areas of redness or simply as dandruff, while in more severe cases, the infection can spread over a cat’s whole body. Some cats can even carry ringworm spores and show no symptoms at all. But these spores are notoriously hardy and can survive for more than a year.
 
While any cat can develop ringworm, young kittens under the age of one and senior cats, longhaired cats and immunocompromised cats are most susceptible. Ringworm is transmitted through DIRECT contact with an infected animal or INDIRECTLY through contact with anything – from food and water bowls to blankets and cat beds, cat trees and cat toys -- that has been contaminated with the skin cells or hairs of an infected pet.
 
If you suspect your cat may have ringworm (and because it’s so contagious), you should quarantine that cat from any other pets in your household until you see a vet, and wash your hands thoroughly after touching your cat. To ensure an accurate diagnosis, vets may use an ultraviolet light and/or examine a fungal culture taken from your cat’s hair and/or skin cells. Skin biopsies and microscopic exams are sometimes performed as well.
 
Treating ringworm depends on the severity of the infection. Your vet may prescribe a shampoo or ointment containing a special medication to kill the fungus. In some cases, oral medications will be necessary. To make certain you’ve eradicated this stubbornly resistant fungus, your cat’s treatment may continue for several months or longer with fungal cultures rechecked periodically. It’s also important to sanitize your cat’s environment to contain and ultimately prevent a recurrence of the infection.
 
This includes:
• Bathing your other pets with a medicated rinse or shampoo.
• Washing the infected cat’s bedding and toys with a disinfectant that kills ringworm spores.
• Discarding items that are impossible to thoroughly disinfect (e.g. carpeted cat trees). Vacuuming daily to rid your home of infected hairs and skin cells, since the fungus can survive on the hair and skin your cat sheds, while the spores themselves can live in your carpeting for up to 18 months.
• Wearing latex or rubber gloves and continuing to wash your hands thoroughly each time you touch or bathe your cat.
 
Ringworm treatment is usually continued until your cat has had two negative cultures one week apart.

by Nomi Berger
 
Are you for cats but your allergies are against them? Don’t despair. There ARE solutions. Although not purr-fect, they are certainly more paws-itive. 
 
But first: Allergies 101.
 
What is the culprit behind your sneezing and itching, coughing or wheezing?
The protein Fel D1 in cat saliva. When cats lick their coats, the allergen-laden saliva dries, becomes airborne, and like a warmth-seeking missile, will head straight for your sinuses.
 
Low allergen or “hypoallergenic” (NOT to be confused with “non-allergenic”) cats produce fewer allergens than other cats. Note the word “fewer”. But, saliva aside, all of these cats must be groomed frequently, which includes brushing and wiping them down, to keep their dander (like dandruff, dander is composed of skin cells and can cause allergies in people) to a minimum.
 
Listed below are seven breeds best suited to allergy sufferers:
 
Balinese
Often referred to as the “long-haired Siamese”, they are intelligent, inquisitive and very social. Despite their appearance, they produce less of the notorious Fel D1 protein, causing fewer allergy symptoms. 
 
Javanese
Playful, devoted, and “chatty”, they, like the Balinese, sport a medium-long, single coat that doesn’t mat. And because they have no undercoat, they have less fur, meaning fewer allergens.
 
Oriental Shorthair
As members of the Siamese family, with their distinctive wedge-shaped heads and almond-shaped eyes, they are active, outgoing and happy, with coats that produce fewer allergens.
 
Devon Rex
Active, curious and people oriented, they have both shorter fur and less fur. And while their paw pads and ears need frequent cleaning due to oily buildups, they require fewer full baths than either the Cornish Rex or the Sphynx.
 
Cornish Rex
Curious and friendly, they get along easily with people and other pets and have no fur except for a fine undercoat. Like the Sphynx, they need frequent full baths due to the oily buildup on their skin.
 
Sphynx
Fearless, energetic and friendly, they may be hairless, but they require frequent full baths to remove the gummy buildup on their skin. Their nails and overly large ears also require frequent cleanings.
 
Siberian
Loyal, energetic and playful, they have thick triple coats with a surprisingly low concentration of Fel D1 in their saliva.
 
BUT before you consider inviting any of these breeds into your life, you MUST spend time with them to test your reaction to them. If your allergies should flare with one, remember that you still have another six from which to choose. 
 

By Guest Author, John Cho
John Cho is the founder of Moving FC, a site he created to help others find free moving boxes in their area. John got the idea to create this infographic after he forgot to do a few important things when moving his pet to a new home. As a pet owner, it's important to remind yourself that moving isn't just stressful for you, it's also stressful for your cats as well.

Are you a cat owner who will be making the move soon to a new home? Well, don't forget that moving will be a stressful experience for your feline friend as well! Cats by nature are territorial animals so moving to a new environment can be overwhelming for them. Fortunately, there are steps you can take before, during, and after the move to help your cat adjust. In the following infographic by Moving FC, you can get some quick tips on what to do for your cat.


Before the Big Move
Research is an important step to making a seamless move to the new home. Even if you do hire a real estate agent to find a new home, you should still spend some of your own time to research things like pet ownership regulations and new vet hospitals. Once you have located your new home, make sure you confirm with building management that cat ownership is allowed. Some places may want you to register your cat first before you move in so don't take any chances and confirm those details with the landlord.
If you are making a long-distance move then make sure you also invest in a sturdy travel crate for your cat. A few weeks before the move, start to help your cat adjust by putting him or her in the crate and traveling around the neighborhood for one or two hours.

During the Move
Find a friend or family member who would be willing to take care of your cat while boxes are being moved out. If that's not an option then keep your cat well away from the moving mayhem by keeping him or her in a quiet, secure room.

Also, once the time comes to travel with your cat, don't feed him or her right before departing. Rather, feed your cat a few hours before. This will reduce the chances of your cat having an upset stomach during the journey.

After the Move
Congratulations! You have finally made it to your new home but your responsibilities don't end there. Before you introduce your cat to the new home, spend some time inspecting the house or apartment for any cat hazards like household chemicals. Make sure those items are kept well away from your cat's reach. Once you have fully moved in, don't forget to visit your new vet to give your cat a post-move health check up.

by Nomi Berger
 
As fascinating as felines are, and as fanciful as some features seem, these chosen fifty prove that sometimes facts are stranger than fiction.
 
1. Cats are North America’s most popular pets: 88 million cats compared with 74 million dogs.
 
2. The most popular pedigreed cat is the Persian, followed by the Main Coon and the Siamese.
 
3. The eyes of newborn kittens are always blue, changing color over several months until they reach their final color.
 
4. One of the reasons that kittens sleep so much is because a vital growth hormone is released only while they’re sleeping.
 
5. A group of kittens is called a “kindle.”
 
6. Contrary to popular belief, cats don’t see the world in black and white, but can see variants of red, green and blue.
 
7.  Most cats don’t have eyelashes.
 
8. Cats have three eyelids.
 
9. Cats are the mammals with the largest eyes.
 
10. Cats usually have about 12 whiskers on each side of their face.
 
11. Cats use their whiskers to gauge whether or not they will fit through an opening.
 
12. A cat’s taste buds cannot detect sugar, due perhaps to a mutation in a key taste receptor.
 
13. Cats can drink seawater to re-hydrate themselves due their kidneys’ ability to expel the salt.
 
14. Cats lack sweat glands on their bodies and sweat through their paws.
 
15. A cat’s heart beats at a rate of 110 to 140 times per minute.
 
16. Cats purr around 26 times a second -- much like an idling diesel engine -- and they purr continuously.
 
17. Cats can vocalize close to 100 different sounds.
 
18. Cats spend nearly 1/3 of their waking hours cleaning themselves.
 
19. The technical term for a cat’s hairball is a “bezoar.”
 
20. Cats spend 2/3 of every day sleeping, meaning that a nine-year-old cat has been awake for only three years of its life!
 
21. Cats dream, and begin dreaming when they are a week old.
 
22. Cats lack true collarbones, allowing them to generally squeeze their bodies through openings the size of their heads.
 
23. Cats have five toes on each front paw, but only four toes on each back paw.
 
24. Female cats are mostly left pawed and male cats are right pawed.
 
25. Cats cannot climb headfirst down a tree because their claws are curved the wrong way, and therefore, must back down.
 
26. Cats can jump up to five times their height (app. 5 feet) in a single bound while their footpads absorb the shock of each landing.
 
27. Cats can run at a speed of 31 mph.
 
28. Some cats have survived falls onto concrete from over 32 stories up due largely to their “righting reflex.”
 
29. Cats seldom “meow” at other cats as they do with people, but will typically spit, purr, or hiss instead.
 
30. Cats can hear ultrasonic sounds, and since rodents use ultrasonic sounds to communicate, cats make perfect mouse catchers.
 
31. Cats are extremely sensitive to vibrations, and are reputedly able to detect earthquake tremors 10 or 15 minutes before humans.
 
32. The physical structure of the brains of humans and cats is very similar.
 
33. Cats have 230 bones in their bodies; humans have 206.
 
34. Cats’ backs are extremely flexible with up to 53 loosely fitting vertebrae, compared with humans who have 34.
 
35. Cats have 32 muscles that control their outer ear while humans have only 6.
 
36. A fingerprint is to a human what a nose is to a cat.
 
37. A group of adult cats is called a “clowder.”
 
38. A female cat is called a “queen” or a “molly.”
 
39. While most females give birth to litters of between one and nine kittens, the largest known single litter born to a cat was 19 kittens, of which 15 survived.
 
40. A cat named Dusty holds the breeding record for having more than 420 kittens in her lifetime.
 
41. The oldest cat to give birth was Kitty who, at the age of 30, gave birth to two kittens, after having already given birth to 216 in her life.
 
42. A healthy cat can typically live up to 20 years, which is the equivalent of about 96 human years.
 
43. The oldest cat on record was Crème Puff of Austin, Texas, who died on August 6, 2005, three days after her 38th birthday.
 
44. Ancient Egyptians shaved off their eyebrows to mourn the death of their cats.
 
45. A cat was the mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska for over 15 years.
 
46. One very lucky cat in Italy inherited a $13 million fortune from its owner.
 
47. The first cat in space was a French cat named Felicette (a.k.a. “Astrocat”) in 1963.
 
48. The first cloned cat was called “CC” short for “Carbon Copy.”
 
49. Approximately one third of cat owners think their cats can read their minds.
 
50. A cat lover is called an ailurophile, (from the Greek: ailuros (cat) + phile (lover), as well as felinophile, philofelist, and philogalist.

by Nomi Berger
 
Has your puss-in-boots lost the spring in her step? Has he turned tail and taken off at your approach? Has she given her food a sudden “paws down”? Has the love light dimmed in his eyes?
 
Then, perhaps all’s not well in kitty town.
 
The more attuned you are to your cat’s daily routines and behavior, the sooner you’ll notice even the subtlest of changes. While some may be minor and easily managed, others can be life threatening, requiring a vet’s swift attention.
 
Consider the following (in alphabetical order):
 
ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR
Your friendly, affectionate and playful cat abruptly stops interacting with you or the other pets in your home.
 
BLOOD IN THE URINE
In a young cat’s urine, it can be a genetic issue or a sign of cancer, while in older cats, it can signal blood clots or disease. It can also be the result of a blockage caused by crystals in the urine or a urinary tract infection in both young and old cats.
 
CHANGES IN GUMS
Often accompanied by bad breath, red, swollen gums indicate gum disease. Before starting your own cleaning regime, ensure that your cat doesn’t need professional treatment first.
 
COAT OR SHEDDING CHANGES
This includes sudden grooming changes, excessive shedding or the blowing of most of your cat’s minimally groomed coat.
 
CONSTIPATION
If your cat cries, behaves differently or can’t defecate in the litter box, constipation due to a blockage, change in diet or urinary tract disease may be the culprit.
 
COUGHING OR DIFFICULTY BREATHING
A change in your cat’s breathing that is NOT due to exercise can be caused by dehydration, toxicity, asthma, respiratory disease, heart disease (CHF), worms or tumors.
 
DIARRHEA
Whatever the cause, if the diarrhea persists for more than a day, or appears either black or bloody, see your vet as quickly as possible.
 
DIFFICULTY MOVING OR WEAKNESS
Although both can be signs of arthritis or muscle atrophy, they may also be signs of some neurological issues, and should be explored more thoroughly by your vet.
 
DISORIENTATION
Failing to complete routine tasks, walking about aimlessly, forgetting people, using odd places as litter boxes and misjudging distances may be signs of neurological disorders or cognitive dysfunction syndrome.
 
DRAGGING REAR LEGS
Typically caused by a blood clot passing from the heart to the lungs, these clots can also travel to other areas, causing such problems as seizures and kidney failure.
 
EYE OR NASAL DISCHARGE
These discharges may also be accompanied by sneezing, panting or shortness of breath – all signs of a possible illness or respiratory infection.
 
FEVER
If your cat seems out of sorts, use a digital rectal thermometer to check your cat’s temperature. Any reading above 102.5 degrees F is considered a fever, and organ damage starts closer to 106 degrees.
 
GROWTH OR LUMP
Among the possible causes for this are an infected cat bite, an injection reaction, a hernia, a cyst, a benign tumor, or cancer.
 
INCREASED THIRST OR URINATION
Drinking more water than usual or taking more trips to the litter box may be a sign of diabetes, kidney problems or other conditions.
 
ITCHY OR FLAKING SKIN
Either can be signs of dermatitis or an allergy, and the most common causes of allergies are reactions to a medication, changes in diet or parasites.
 
LETHARGY
This includes unusual laziness, drowsiness, delayed reactions and excessive sleeping for more than a day, and should be checked out by your vet.
 
LOSS OF APPETITE
Although reputed to be finicky eaters, any dramatic changes in your cat’s regular eating habits are cause for concern.
 
REPEATED GAGGING OR VOMITING
When self-grooming has less to do with ingesting small fur balls and more to do with having swallowed a larger foreign object that may be causing an obstruction.
 
WEIGHT LOSS OR GAIN
The cause can range from simple stress to more serious conditions such as diabetes, parasites, viruses, gastrointestinal problems, hyperthyroidism and cancer.
 
As your cat’s loving guardian, you are that cat’s closest observer, best advocate, and first line of defense. When in doubt, no issue should seem too small before you visit your vet for an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan if needed.