by Nomi Berger
 
September 28th not only marks World Rabies Day, but the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist who developed the first rabies vaccine.
 
Rabies in cats
 
As a living virus, the goal of rabies is to infect, replicate and survive, and it typically enters a cat’s system by means of a bite from an infected animal. Since the virus is transmitted through saliva, a cat can catch rabies through even the smallest cut or scratch on her own body.
 
Once inside, rabies works swiftly, gathering strength and replicating in the muscle tissue before traveling through the nervous system to the brain, causing it to swell beyond the skull’s capacity to contain it. Such extreme inflammation and pressure bring about drastic physical and behavioral changes in the infected cat.
 
Rabies in cats has two major forms -- furious and paralytic. Furious rabies causes snarling, instinctive aggression, paralytic rabies causes disorientation, confusion and immobility, with furious rabies often progressing to paralytic rabies.
 
Symptoms in cats
 
The incubation period is rapid and symptoms can manifest themselves within a week to 10 days of infection. With furious rabies, a calm, mild mannered or friendly cat may suddenly become irritable and antagonistic. With paralytic rabies, a normally active and playful cat may start moving slowly or erratically and her lower jaw will hang open.
 
Owners of cats spending even the smallest amount of time outdoors – particularly in areas where there are stray cats, foxes, raccoons or skunks -- should always check them for signs of a physical struggle, including scratches and bites.
 
Vaccinations as prevention
 
Vaccinations against rabies are readily available, safe, effective, and relatively inexpensive. It is vitally important when adopting rescue kittens or cats to ensure their long-term protection against rabies by giving them a rabies vaccination as soon as possible, then scheduling them for periodic booster shots. As with any medical treatment, side effects are possible, but for the overwhelming majority of cats, the only consequences of a rabies shot are a few days of soreness or itching at the injection site.
 
YOU can help stop rabies
 
Cats contracting rabies, whether furious or paralytic, frequently face untimely deaths. A deadly danger for centuries, there are, in fact, parts of the world that have been declared rabies free, and yet entire populations remain at risk. Why allow YOUR cats even a remote possibility of infection? Please join the World Rabies Day crusade and have your precious pets vaccinated.
 

by Nomi Berger
 
Outstanding in any cat crowd, orange-colored cats are anything but ordinary.
 
Whether obliging or obstinate, outspoken or observant, most are as outsized as they are openhearted, and their orange-obsessed owners most often concur.
 
For others, however, we offer these observations:
 
Most orange cats are males. In fact, there are 80 males to every 20 females, making them the most common of cats. To be orange, a male needs only one orange gene, which he gets from his mother (orange, calico or tortoiseshell). This is because the gene that codes for orange fur is on the X chromosome, and like humans, females have two X’s while males have an X and Y.
 
Tabby refers to pattern. While the origin of the name remains a mystery, tabby historically refers to a type of striped silk fabric produced in the Middle East. Mistakenly considered to be a breed, the term “tabby” refers instead to the coat’s distinct pattern, of which there are four: mackerel, classic, ticked and striped.
 
They have several nicknames. Orange tabbies’ most common nicknames are ginger and marmalade, which are, once again, derived solely from the distinctive, warm colors of their coats.
 
There are many breeds of tabby. They can be found in numerous breeds, among them, the Exotic Shorthair, Somali, Persian, Munchkin, American Bobtail, Abyssinian and Devon Rex. In short, almost every breed of cat has its own version of the orange tabby.
 
They have freckles. Fabulous, fun and ever so cute, most orange cats develop black freckles along their faces, a trait for which they are famous. Those who don’t, maintain their same soft pink noses, which in itself, makes them oh-so-adorable.
 
They can be overweight. Anyone familiar with the cartoons’ favorite “fat cat” Garfield knows that orange cats LOVE to eat, leading them inevitably towards obesity. And because obese cats are prone to a variety of serious health issues, it’s essential that caring owners not allow their orange cats to overindulge.
 
They’re lazy. Is it the orange that makes them loath to leap and jump and play? Rather than chase a laser or tussle with a toy, they prefer to sniff around for a snack or curl up comfortably for a catnap.
 
Some are aloof. While most are friendly -- whether they’re loving and calm or outgoing and busy – several of the breeds that produce orange tabbies seem to disdain human affection. They may crave a pet now and then, but THEY will let YOU know when and for how long.
 
They’re brave. Purr-haps it’s due to their inner make up, but orange tabbies LOVE getting into mischief (read “trouble”). They seldom shy away from the company of others outside their species -- including children, other small animals and even dogs.
 

by Nomi Berger
 
Cats can experience nosebleeds (epistaxis) for a variety of reasons. It doesn’t require that great a trauma for a cat’s delicate nasal blood vessels to begin bleeding as a result of a blow to her nose or face.
 
The most common reason for nosebleeds is fighting with other cats and being struck by a moving vehicle. Whereas some cats are prone to nosebleeds, most only get nosebleeds when there’s a problem. Ranging from simple to serious, these problems should be taken seriously by cat owners with either a prompt phone call or an immediate visit to the vet.
 
Some of the more serious reasons for nosebleeds include: a foreign body that’s gotten lodged in the nose and is irritating it; parasites that have make their way into the nose; nasal infections; dental problems; ingestion of rat poison; hypertension (high blood pressure); blood clotting disorders such as hemophilia, and nasal tumors.
 
Whenever something negatively affects a cat’s nose, it’s usually accompanied by a sneeze or a series of sneezes. So it is with nosebleeds. Cats with nosebleeds often begin to sneeze frequently, and this repeated sneezing only exacerbates the situation. Such sneezing can slow down the blood’s natural tendency to clot, and any cat losing a great deal of blood is a cat in crisis.
 
Only a thorough physical examination by your vet and, if needed, a progressive battery of tests can determine the cause – common, simple or serious -- of your cherished cat’s nosebleeds. Only then will you have your answer, and a comprehensive plan to deal with it.

by Nomi Berger
 
September is Happy Cat Month and what better way to show your feline friends how special they are than by dedicating a full MONTH to making them happier than happy!
 
As toppings on your celebratory “cat cake”, purr-haps you might consider the following:
 
Feed Kitty the Highest Quality Food
 
As carnivores, felines are happiest when feasting on protein-rich food. If yours aren’t already on a diet where the first ingredient is meat – including various varieties of fish, chicken, turkey, lamb, duck and pork – treat them to some starting now. And if yours are usually fed dry food, remember that canned food is higher in protein and has the extra water cats require.
 
Keep Kitty Entertained
 
Most curious cats have their own form of feline reality TV. And it’s as near as your nearest window. If yours crave the sights and sounds of the great outdoors, simply set up a perch or a cat tree beside a window to keep them both comfortable and safe while they watch the birds, squirrels and butterflies “purr-form.”
 
Teach Kitty Some Tricks
 
While some guardians may be skeptical, with patience, clicker training and paws-itive reinforcement, your cats may welcome the added mental stimulation and the joy of working for treats. Some of the most popular “tricks” -- touch a stick or your hand; sit; high five; jump on a chair or a stool, and jump through a hoop.
 
Let Kitty Try Hunting
 
Having long been used to eating from bowls, a cat’s natural hunting instincts may long to see the light of day. Now soft food pods have been manufactured that allow you to hide their dry food inside small, hidden pockets before placing the pods throughout your home. This allows kitties to literally hunt, track down and consume their “prey” as a novel way of eating their regular, daily meals.
 
Provide Kitty with Boxes
 
Definitely a feline fixation, boxes allow cats to cuddle up safely and securely in a private place of their choosing. A box is a cat’s form of a child’s security blanket, and some studies have suggested that boxes reduce stress and help calm shelter cats not yet acclimatized to life in a home.

Stimulate Kitty’s Senses
 
Catnip, long known for producing euphoria and happiness in a majority of cats, has recently been joined by several other plants that produce a similar effect. To tickle your feline’s fancy, consider trying Tartarian Honeysuckle Sawdust, Cat Thyme, Silver Vine Valerian or Indian Nettle.
 
Keep Kitty Warm Inside
 
As the days of September grow shorter and cooler, kitties may start to miss the comforting rays of the summer sun. To replicate this healing heat, provide your sun-starved sweetie with a warming blanket to nap on, or ideally, your own warm lap to snuggle in.
 
Given a month to fill with HAPPY, every loving feline fancier’s imagination should be happily limitless.