July 15 is Pet Fire Safety Day!

Fire Safety for Cats

It's every cat owner's nightmare: you arrive home to find your home burned to the ground or seriously damaged by fire. What has become of your precious feline companions? July 15 is Pet Fire Safety Day, so it's a good time to review how to keep your cats safe.

Hopefully someone would save your cats if the unthinkable were to happen, but how would they know to do so? A smoke alarm will alert you to a fire if you're home, but not when you're gone. By taking a few precautions ahead of time, you can help avoid cat-astrophe (see what I did there?) and keep your kitties safe.

Preventing Fires

This may seem like common sense, but we likely all have a few fire risks around our homes. Periodically checking for them can keep not only your cats safe, but all your other possessions, as well. The National Fire Protection Association says that over 1,000 house fires each year are started by pets!

Can your stove be easily turned on by your cats walking on the countertop? Be realistic: even though you've supposedly trained your cats to stay off the kitchen counters, you know they're exploring up there when you're gone. According to the American Red Cross, "a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire." If they can turn on the burners of your stove, make sure nothing flammable is sitting on or near those burners. And even if it's not, a cat can easily knock a flammable toy onto a hot burner. If you can remove the knobs so the cats can't turn them, do so. Stash them in a drawer so the cats won't use them for batting practice. Can't remove them? Find some type of protective cover to place over them so a cat can't accidentally turn on the burners while walking there. Or get an induction cooktop, where the burners stay cool.

It stands to reason that it's never a good idea to have open flames around your cats. If you use a fireplace, a glass door in front of the open fire will keep a curious kitty from getting too close and knocking out embers. Playful cats can easily knock candles over, starting a fire before you even realize what's happening. Kitty may not even knock it over intentionally; tails can be unpredictable. If you love candles, Old Maid Cat Lady sells several types of flameless candles you can use instead.

Other sources of fire danger are space heaters and halogen lamps. Both of these burn hot and can easily start a fire if tipped over. If you use either of them, never leave them with your cats unattended. It only takes a moment for disaster to occur. Consider using something like a sealed oil heater instead of an open space heater; this looks like a radiator and has no exposed heat coils.

Watch for electrical cords that may have been chewed by cats. Teething kittens are especially prone to chewing anything rubbery, such as an electrical cord. Keep electrical cords out of your a kitten's reach or put a protective sleeve you can find at the hardware store over any exposed cords. If you have a litter of kittens, keep them in a large crate when you're not monitoring their activities. Keep cords from dangling enticingly like a cat toy, and never use an old cord as a substitute cat toy. Check all your electrical cords periodically to make sure there are no exposed wires that could start a fire. Remove and replace any damaged cords. Unplug cords when not in use. Using surge suppressors throughout your house, not just for computer equipment, can also prevent a power surge from starting a fire in your home when you're away.

A danger many people don't consider is a glass bowl of water left on a sunny wooden deck. The glass bowl can act like a magnifying glass to focus the sun's rays on the deck and actually start a fire! If you leave a dish of water outside for outdoor or neighborhood cats, make it a ceramic or stainless steel one. And putting that bowl in the shade will keep the water in it cooler and more enjoyable for the cats, anyway.

Plan Ahead

Making a fire evacuation plan is important not only for your family, but also for your cats. If you have a written plan that includes a map of your house, include your cat's typical hiding places on that map so you know exactly where to look. More than one cat? Assign certain cats to the family members they're closest so that everyone is covered and the cat is most likely to be found by the person who can best reassure them. Include the cats in your evacuation rehearsals so they understand what's going to happen. Cats are highly intelligent creatures and can learn behaviors if you take the time to teach them. Explain to them in your mind what to do and envision them doing it; their ability to learn may surprise you!

Can you train your cat to go to an always-available carrier when afraid? If so, that could be a good way to make sure you can find kitty in the event that you have to evacuate the house quickly. Place the carrier somewhere protected and not in your way, but where you could easily grab it as you head toward a safety exit. The last thing you need in an emergency situation is a cat you can't find, who's hidden in an inaccessible place in your home where you can't find him! Having the cat inside a closed carrier will also be good once you've evacuated, so kitty doesn't flee in fear but remains with you so you can comfort him.

Placing your cat's crate or carrier near an exit is also a good idea in the event that firefighters have to enter your home when you're away. If your cat is in a crate or carrier near the door, they'll be more easily found.

Make up an emergency kit that contains some of your cats' food, vet receipts showing vaccinations, prescription meds, and even photos of your cats that will come in handy if they go missing after a disaster. This will be helpful not only for fire safety, but also in the event of a quick storm evacuation. Keep this kit where you can quickly grab it and make that someone's responsibility during a fire evacuation.

During a fire, you'll be running on adrenaline and in a highly excited state, and your cat will pick up on that. I can tell you to try and remain calm, but it's not always easy to remember such things in an emergency. Your emotional state and fear will likely be frightening to kitty, and may cause unexpected behavior that could be hostile. If you have to evacuate the house without your cat, leave the door leading outside open. That way, if the cat gets a rush of courage, she can run to safety with you. Call kitty's name once outside and hope that he's not frozen in fear and will come to the familiar sound.

Microchipping your cat is a good way to make sure that a frightened kitty who may run far from home when frightened can find its way back to you. A harness or collar with an ID tag including your contact information is good backup, just in case whoever finds your traumatized kitty doesn't think to take them to a vet or shelter that has a scanner for your chip.

Alarm Yourself

Make sure there are smoke detectors on each floor of your home. Smoke kills more people than fire. If you have a large one-story home, place them strategically throughout it, as well. Check or replace the batteries in them twice a year: put it on your calendar so you don't forget.

Smoke alarms are great...if you're home. But what if you're gone when fire breaks out? Luckily, many home automation systems are now available to alert you if a fire should start in your home when you're away. Alarm systems can notify your monitoring service. Some also send you a message on your cell phone. Keeping these detectors and services current and functioning could save your cats' lives.

Tell Firefighters About Your Cats

Making sure firefighters know you have cats in the house is another important step to saving your cats' lives. While a sticker in a front-facing window is one way, a sign in the yard, similar to the alarm company signs you see, is even better. Then if that window gets broken, they'll still be able to see the sign. Make sure the sign tells them how many cats you have in the house, and if possible identify where they may be hiding if frightened.

While nobody can prevent a lightning strike from causing a fire in the home, many other causes are preventable. Taking the above-listed precautions and making sure you have a plan in place will help you rest easier knowing that your cats are safer, even when you're away from home

Purrs!

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It's Hug Your Cat Day!

Hug Your Cat Day 2014

I've always been a cat hugger. And my cats have always resisted this! Something about being held, they just tend not to like it.

Except for one, and even then only during about the last month of her life. When my little Vixen (pictured above) had just turned 24, she used to come over and sit at my feet while I was working. Now, she had a bed underneath my desk, so she was often close by me as I worked, anyway. But this was something different.

By this time, Vixen and I had grown so close that we almost communicated with each other telepathically. She would walk into the room and sit on the floor next to my chair, and "ask" me to pick her up.

This was no insignificant thing. Once she was past age 20, Vixen had experienced vertigo, and didn't like to be up off the floor because it made her dizzy. So for her to ask me to pick her up was unusual. But she knew our time together was growing short, and she wanted to be as close to me as possible.

I'd pick her up and hold her close, and she'd just purr so loudly. Those were tender moments, but they also made me a little sad, because any unusual behavior in an elderly cat is typically cause for concern. And about a month after she'd turned 24, Vixen was gone.

I always think of my little Vixen on National Hug Your Cat Day, which is today. And, funny thing: as I was writing this post about her, my Captain came over and stood between my feet on the little footstool I use in my office. He let me pick him up in my lap and hug him - twice! - purring all the time. He doesn't usually like being picked up and hugged, either. Did little Vixen's spirit tell him to do that? I like to think so.

So hug your kitties today, even if they resist it. Because on some level, they do enjoy that bond between you. Even if it takes them until the end of their lives to admit it!

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It's National Pet ID Week!

It's National Pet I.D. Week!

If your cat gets lost how will kitty find his/her way home? Sure, cats like to explore and if you let yours outdoors (or if your cat accidentally gets outside), we can sometimes have some sleepless nights wondering if our beloved cats are okay. Who's to know whether kitty is just on an extended hunting trip, has been injured or trapped somewhere, or if some ne'er-do-well has absconded with him?

Many dangers await cats outdoors. There are toxins like antifreeze, lawn chemicals, and slug bait. Even some of the lovely flowers in our spring gardens, like lilies, can be toxic to them. There are dogs who'd like to chase or even kill them. There are pests like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes who want to make a meal of them, and possibly also transmit parasites or diseases to them. There are cars and trucks on busy highways to injure or flatten them. Worst of all, there are people who hate cats and would either do harm to them, or steal them to sell at a flea market or to research labs.

Yes, the world is a dangerous place for cats. Indoors is the safest place for them. But not all cats take well to a completely indoor life. In my experience, boy cats especially like to get outside and explore their wider territory. You can take them outside on a leash and harness, or in a stroller. What they really want, however, is to be able to roam freely about their territory, to explore every nook and cranny unimpeded by human interaction. Many folks feel that it's perfectly fine to let their cats roam outdoors. Without a safe enclosure, those kitties can get lost. And here come those sleepless nights!

But you can minimize that worry by making sure your cat can find his way home to you if he becomes lost. Did you know that less than 5% of the cats who go into shelters are reclaimed by their owners? It's true! Yet many are the tales of cats who traveled miles to find a beloved owner who had moved. Or who are reunited with their families after years of being lost. You have several options on making this a more likely outcome in the event that your cat gets lost while outdoors.

The Microchip Option for Cats

The reuniting element in a lot of these stories is a microchip, embedded into kitty's shoulder area and scannable at a shelter or veterinarian's office. Shelters often microchip all the animals they adopt out these days. My Golden Boys both have microchips that were inserted into their shoulders when they were just tiny babies. The chips are about the size of a grain of rice.

But don't be lulled into a false sense of security by thinking that all shelters or veterinarians automatically scan every animal that comes into their facilities. Many do not. And if someone finds your cat and decides to keep him, the chip is not visible and they may never take him to any place that would think to scan him for a chip. The chips can also migrate within your cat's body, or even fall out if not completely inserted properly. In these instances, they wouldn't show up during a scan.

Additionally, there are different types of microchips. Four different technologies are in place in the US, and most scanners can't read them all. Choose one that's not the same as your local veterinarians' or shelters', and your cat may still not be locatable if scanned. A Canadian chip maker is now marketing its product in the US, and their chips can't be read by any of the US scanners. So be aware of the type of chip being put into your cat.

All microchips can interfere with an MRI, a type of medical test that's increasing in frequency for pets as veterinary care becomes more advanced. They're still not cheap, however, and most of us won't be having one done on our cats. It's up to you to decide if the benefits of microchipping outweigh the risks.

At least one chip maker, Merck, is being sued with the claim that their chip caused cancer in a cat. The cat in question was a nine-year-old neutered male who developed a fibrosarcoma like those some cats develop at the sites of vaccinations in the area where his microchip had been implanted. Apparently, such cancers are being discovered at an increasing rate. So if you do elect to have your cat microchipped, it may be a good idea to have the shelter or vet tell you what brand of chip they're using.

And one final caveat: if your cat is microchipped, it's also important to make sure that your contact information is updated with the chip registry company whenever you move. Otherwise, your kitty may still not get home safely. Do you even remember where that paperwork or website is, so that you can update it?

The ID Tag Option for Cats

For those who aren't crazy about the microchip, you can always put an I.D. tag on your cat. This requires that your cat wear a collar, however, and as you know cats need collars that are easily escapable to avoid choking. If the collar with the ID tag comes off, it won't do a lot of good in getting kitty home. Some municipalities require that cats, as well as dogs, wear ID tags if they go outdoors. If your cat is microchipped, you can also get a tag to tell anyone who finds her that she's chipped.

The problem of the tag coming off with a collar could be addressed by putting your cat's ID tag on a harness. Cats will adapt to wearing a harness fairly easily, and one that fits snugly won't come off while the cat is out on an adventure. Harnesses are also easier to spot than a collar, readily identifying your cat as one that is owned and not a stray or part of a feral colony.

PetHub's ID tags are high-tech in that they have a QR code on them. You register your information on the PetHub website and associate it with the code on your cat's tag. Anyone who finds your kitty wearing one of these tags need only scan the code with a smartphone to report that they've found your cat. It works just like an external microchip! The line of PetHub tags for cats is being added within the next week to OldMaidCatLady.com, as soon as their new catalog is released! This post will be updated with a link to them as soon as they are available.

But even on a harness, an ID tag is not fool-proof. Someone who intentionally steals your cat can easily remove it. Your cat may get lodged somewhere and cause the tag to come off accidentally. When used in conjunction with another method, its effectiveness goes up considerably.

The Tattoo Option for Cats

We're not talking alternative culture-style ink here for kitty; these types of tattoos used to be commonly used to identify valuable show cats and racing dogs, but have fallen out of favor with some cat owners in recent years. They involve a number that is registered to the owner, so that someone finding the cat with that tattoo can know that it belongs to someone. Supposedly, half of all cats with a tattoo get safely returned to their owners when lost.

Tattoos take 5-10 minutes to apply to the cat, and may cause some local pain and scabbing when done. They should always be done by a veterinarian, not a regular tattoo artist. The number is typically placed on a cat's ear or the inside of the back leg. And just as with a microchip, you must register it with one of the tattoo registries so people can find you when they find your cat. There are multiple companies in this business, so you have the same problem as with the microchips: which do you choose? (Tattoo-A-Pet is the largest registry service.) And will the person who finds your cat know that?

The tattoos are not always easily visible, either; they may require shaving to find. Those in the ear are easier to see, but aren't especially pretty, so they would mar your cat's beauty. Ears can also be easily cut off by an unscrupulous person who might steal your cat for nefarious purposes. And tattoos feature no information about where to call or email with the number, so someone unfamiliar with this system would have no clue what the number means. Just like with tattoos on human skin, they fade over time. And you wouldn't want to have one done on a kitten, because growth of the cat will make the tattoo illegible by the time he's an adult.

In the state of Virginia, being in possession of a tattooed cat that does not belong to you can even cost you some money: if you're discovered, the fine is $1,000 or a year in jail! Virginians apparently take their cat ownership very seriously.

There's also another way tattooing is protective for your cat: federal law states that any laboratory found to be in possession of a cat that has been tattooed will lose their license. So someone who may have been stealing your cat for sale to a research lab won't be able to do so. It's awful to think of, but this happens all the time.

Some shelters still use tattoos on the inside of a rear thigh to indicate that a male cat has been neutered. Once the hair grows in over them, they're not visible, either. My little Frankie had one from the local humane society that was revealed when my vet shaved his tummy to check for a spay scar, since we thought at first that he was a girl! And females don't always get the tattoos because their spaying scar is easily identified, but some shelters give them a tat, as well.

Ear Tipping

This method of identification is typically only used in managed feral cat colonies. It indicates that the cat has been trapped, spayed or neutered, usually vaccinated against rabies, and returned to the colony. For cats that are eventually adopted, it's always a reminder that they were once feral, and it does mar the cat's natural beauty of having two whole ears. It used to be that only a small tip of the ear was taken, but the more recent practice is to lop off about half of one ear to make the ear-tipping more visible to a colony caregiver.

An owned cat would not be a candidate for ear-tipping. And it also wouldn't help your cat get home if he's lost because it doesn't give a rescuer any information about you or how to contact you. It may, in fact, cause someone to think that your cat is still part of a feral colony.

New High-Tech Options for ID'ing Cats

Now it's possible to have DNA samples on file for your cat. Other companies offer nose-print registries, although these are mainly for dogs. Cats' noseprints are also as unique as fingerprints.

PetLynx is a Canadian service that will accept registries of all types: microchips, tattoos, or any of these other methods, to identify your cat. Australia has the National Pet Register. At this writing, there's no comparable service in the U.S., although there are several that allow someone with a lost or found cat to register there.

Whichever method you choose, it's a good idea to give your kitty some type of help in getting home in the event that he or she gets lost outside!

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2014 Global Pet Expo Report

Here's the Latest from Global Pet Expo!

Boy, do my feet hurt, but I've spent three days walking the huge show floor at the 2014 Global Pet Exp, finding the latest and greatest cat products for you! Here's a rundown of some of the things you'll hopefully be seeing on OldMaidCatLady.com within the coming months:

Trends in Cat Products

Every year at GPE, I meet with my existing suppliers and find new ones. There were a few definite trends I saw at this year's show:

• More attention being paid to cats' unique needs. Cats are often misunderstood, which leads people to fail to provide for their needs. This leads to the cats exhibiting normal feline behavior that's channeled into the wrong place because they don't have an appropriate outlet for it, and people mistakenly thinking that the cat is being "bad" or is doing something to get "revenge" against them. But when appropriate outlets are provided for a cat to behave like a cat, it makes both cat and owner happier. Several new products addressed this. They include the Kitty Connection modular cat play furniture, where owners can customize their cat's playground by combining different modules.
• Prettier designs in cat furniture. Gone are the days when all you could get was a carpeted pole to sit in your living room! Now there are artfully created cat trees that will blend seamlessly with your decor, as well as mini-sofas, wooden crates, coordinating storage pieces for toys and other kitty accoutrements, and beautiful scratchers in more furniture-like designs. You'll be seeing more of these on OldMaidCatLady.com soon.
• New trends in cat litter. It seemed like every company that makes cat litter was showing a new lightweight line. The one from Tidy Cats is already on the market. Smart Cat and Cats Pride were some more I saw here. Natural litters made from wood and other waste items in the food production industry were also popular, many of these dust-free for cats' respiratory health. Oko Cat, Smart Cat, Plains Hemp, and EcoLife were some of these brands. And litters or litter additives that change color to indicate urinary tract infections were also new. Bramton Simple Solutions had one of the most obvious color-changing litter additives. It's still proving difficult for me to find suppliers who can ship individual orders of litter directly to OldMaidCatLady.com's customers. Most of them are set up to ship in pallet-loads, not individual containers.
• More options in walking vests for cats. Most cat clothing has to be adapted from that made for dogs, and it doesn't always fit properly. Cats have longer, narrower bodies and are less barrel chested than dogs. They need clothing that fits tighter to the body so they can't wriggle out of it or get a paw caught in it. And companies that make harnesses are finally realizing that a lot of people would like to walk their cats on leashes, or at least have vests they can wear so they can be tethered into strollers and car seats. Two in particular stood out there: the Kitty Holster from Crazy K Farms and the new line of cat harnesses from Sturdi Products.
• Alternatives to veterinary care. People who own cats still take their cats to the vet less often than do those with dogs. Many don't even get an annual checkup. Cats are notoriously good at masking their symptoms of illness. It's a survival tactic in the wild, but in a home it can mean the difference between catching an illness early enough to treat it, and its becoming a death sentence for the cat. One company I found at GPE makes kits where people can take a sample and send it off to them for testing, at a much lower price point than a veterinary visit. Some others sell skin healing products that can be used at home to clear problems like mange. These could be a godsend for many rescues taking in cats afflicted with skin problems. While these can't take the place of an ongoing relationship with your veterinarian and a good well-care program, they may help people who have more cats than they can afford to regularly vet.
• More ways to interact with your cats. Far from being aloof, our cats actually crave interaction with us. Web cams can not only allow you to see what your cats are doing when you're away from home, but some now have devices that allow you to speak to your cats, play with them using a remote-operated toy, or dispense a treat to them! Others can be set on timers to begin operating throughout the day so kitty doesn't get bored while you're away.

The Newest Cat Fashions

One of my main goals at this year's GPE was to find some cat clothing items for an upcoming TV appearance on pet fashion that I'll be making in a couple of weeks. Sadly, I saw no exhibitors showing clothing made exclusively for cats, other than the walking vests and several new knockoffs of the Thundershirt calming garment for them. 

And dog clothing just doesn't always work on cats. Cat have longer, narrower bodies than dogs. They're less barrel-chested. Their legs are longer and thinner than on dogs with a comparable body size. Cats also will tolerate less clothing than will dogs. It needs to fit tighter to the body so they won't get a paw caught in it while squirming to try and escape from it. They don't like noisy clothing that may take away their ability to stealthily creep up on their prey. And most cats just aren't as frou-frou as those little yappy dogs that everyone seems to love dressing up and carrying around under their arms.

I've found that most people who make clothing specifically for cats tend to be cottage industries: just one person working from home. They have to not only know the measurements of different types of cats, but also understand cats to really do it well. Once they get an Etsy store and start selling online, they can no longer still meet the demand of supplying customers of sites like mine along with the orders they're getting from their own stores. Yet, they're not at a point in their growth yet where they can expand to add more sewers. It's a catch-22 situation that results in a dearth of cat fashions available.

What I'm left with are people who make custom clothing for dogs or cats using their actual measurements, or those whose fashions are designed for the thinner breeds of dogs like whippets, so they're made longer and narrower to fit their thinner bodies. There were some of these suppliers at the show, and I'll be following up with them this week to get some items for the TV segment, as well as getting them added to OldMaidCatLady.com.

All in all, it was another great Global Pet Expo! If the show gets any larger, as it seems to every year, they'll need to expand it to four days in order to make it possible to see everything. And I'm not sure my poor old feet will take that! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to soak them...again...in a nice tub of water. Visit Old Maid Cat Lady's Facebook page to see photos and some video of some of the new products from this year's Global Pet Expo.

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Spotlight: Asthma in Cats

Spotlight: Asthma in Cats

Many of us humans who have asthma will get it when we're around cats; I know I do. Luckily, they have better drugs for that these days than when I was a child, so I can live with a limited number of cats. Two seems to be my maximum!

But what about cats? Turns out they can get asthma, too, and an increasing number of them are being diagnosed and treated for it.

Only about 1% of all cats are affected by asthma. Doesn't seem like a lot of them, but if yours is one, that's enough! And asthma diagnoses do seem to be increasing as our environments become increasingly polluted. Cats who develop asthma generally start showing symptoms between the ages of 2 and 8 years but the disease will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Females are slightly more predisposed to it than are males. Purebred Siamese and Himalayan cats also seem to have a higher incidence of asthma than other breeds or plain old alley cats.

How Asthma Affects Cats

Asthma is considered to be an obstructive lung disease because it restricts air flow to the lungs. A cat's lungs operate pretty much the same way as a human's. In a healthy cat, the lungs are two expandable bags that fill most of the chest cavity. Inside these bags are airways (bronchioles) through which air is inhaled and exhaled. There are also tiny sacs (alveolae) that extract life-giving oxygen from that air and pass it into the bloodstream, then extract carbon dioxide from the blood that is then exhaled through the airways. A normal cat breathes 24-30 times per minute while relaxed and sleeping.

Just as in humans, asthma causes the small air passages in a cat's lungs (the bronchioles) to become inflamed. The swelling makes it harder for kitty to breathe. Muscles around the bronchi in the cat's lungs constrict and spasm, worsening the problem. The breathing tubes leading to the lungs (the bronchi) slough off cellular matter that gets in the way of air passing through them to and from the lungs.

The lungs of an asthmatic cat also produce mucus, causing the cat to cough and wheeze. Air will become trapped in the lungs, unable to escape due to the swelling. This further restricts the available lung space for fresh, oxygenated air to enter the cat's lungs. During an acute asthma attack, a cat's normal respiration rate can go up to 40 times per minute. These breaths will also seem more shallow, as the lungs are already filled with old air that can't escape and there isn't as much room for fresh air to enter.

In between attacks, an asthmatic cat may appear perfectly normal, enjoying all the things a normal cat does. But when the thing that triggers the cat's asthma is present, an attack will ensue. Asthmatic cats will have chronic, ongoing inflammation in the lower portions of their lungs all the time. Cats are adept at hiding any symptoms of weakness; it's a survival method going back to their wild days. So you may not notice milder symptoms of asthma in your cat, and your first clue that something is wrong will come during an acute attack.

What Causes Asthma in Cats?

Asthma triggers cause the airways leading to the lungs to become inflamed, as described above. These triggers can be any number of things, many of which are also triggers of human asthma:

• Poor air quality due to pollution, aerosol sprays, or cigarette smoke
• Physical exertion
• Cold, dry air
• Severe heat
• Allergens: pollen, mold, cat litter dust, cigarette smoke, fragrances, or some foods
• Obesity
• Stress

Why some cats have asthma and others don't in the same conditions is as mysterious as why it happens in people. There's likely a genetic factor that causes the cat to be sensitive to certain allergens. Exposure to those allergens produces a bronchitis condition in the cat. Sometimes it's a combination of factors.

An organism called Bartonella has shown in some studies to trigger a type of chronic respiratory infection in cats that looks a lot like asthma. If this is the cause of your cat's symptoms, a simple test can determine this and appropriate treatment can be administered. Asthma itself is not the result of an infection, but a response of the cat's immune system to certain triggers. This is why, in humans, allergists and immunologists typically treat asthma.

Symptoms of Feline Asthma

Cats who have severe asthma are pitiful to observe. They will be wheezy and coughing, just like with humans. You may at first mistake this coughing for the cat trying to hack up a hairball. But no hairball will emerge.

Asthmatic cats may breathe in a distressed manner, hunching their shoulders and extending their neck in what's called a "praying position" as they gasp for breath. Or he may sit up tall to try and "reach" for breath. You may hear a gurgling sound when the cat breathes and his sides may heave in and out. Kitty may breathe with an open mouth in an attempt to get more air into the lungs. Breaths will be fast and shallow, up to 40 breaths per minute.

The cat's chest may look larger than normal due to excess air trapped inside the lungs. When an asthmatic cat coughs, the discharge is typically foamy and mucousy. The cat may even vomit. You'll likely sense panic in your cat, as he knows something is wrong with him. Not being able to breathe is scary for anybody! An asthmatic cat's lips and gums may even turn blue due to oxygen deprivation (cyanosis). A severe asthma attack can be life-threatening.

You may notice the cat's symptoms are worse at certain times of the year, when allergens to which your cat is sensitive are more prevalent. Lack of oxygen will also cause kitty to be weak and lethargic year-round, not just during the season when allergens are present. Over time, this grows worse. During a severe attack, a vet listening to the cat's lungs with a stethoscope may hear cracking and whistling noises from the constricted airways.

Many of these same symptoms can also be indicative of other feline health issues like hairballs, heartworms, hernia, heart disease, third-stage FIP, respiratory parasites (lungworms), pneumonia, or lung cancer. So if your cat exhibits any of the above symptoms, especially in combination, a trip to the vet is in order. While there's no one medical test that confirms an asthma diagnosis, a combination of diagnostic tests that include X-rays of the lungs, blood tests, and perhaps a tracheal saline wash of some cells can reveal telltale signs of it, as well as rule out these other possible causes of the symptoms. Once a proper diagnosis is made, treatment can begin. The cat's reaction to treatment can also help confirm an asthma diagnosis.

Not all cats with asthma suffer severe symptoms, however. Some may only have mild wheezing and a slight cough. This is usually true in all early stages of asthma. But if left untreated, these mild symptoms can develop over time into a more severe form of asthma. Progression from a mild stage of asthma can escalate to an acute attack within hours or months.

Treatments for Feline Asthma 

If your cat has a severe asthma attack, it's critical that you get kitty to the vet as soon as possible. Your vet may give the cat a shot of epinephrine to counteract the allergic reaction. Do not give your cat any human asthma medications, as they are too strong and could prove fatal. Antihistamines and cough suppressants, even if for a cat, may also make the condition worse, so don't try to self-medicate kitty if an acute asthma attack is in progress. 

A vet will likely also put the cat in an oxygen chamber to help him breathe and relax. The stress of fighting for breath can often exacerbate the asthma attack, so just being in an oxygen-rich environment that's free of pollutants is relaxing to a cat undergoing an asthma attack. Vets can also give a bronchodilator like albuteral or aminophylline to dilate the bronchial tubes through an inhaler mask. One brand name of these is Apo-Salvent®.

Again, just as in humans, there is no "cure" for asthma in cats. But the condition can be managed effectively. Believe it or not, there are home-use inhalers specifically designed for cats! Both bronchodilators and corticosteroids such as terbutaline, fluticasone propionate (Flovent®), and cortisone are often administered this way. One brand name of kitty inhaler is Aerokat. It contains a mask and spacer system, just like the systems used for small children or babies. Terbutaline specifically targets the smooth muscles around the bronchi that tend to constrict during an asthma attack, and can be injected under the cat's skin during an acute attack.

A corticosteroid such as prednisone or prednisolone can also be given in pill form every other day for a couple of weeks to minimize inflammation, then tapering off afterward. Corticosteroids help combat inflammation of the cat's airways, but oral versions affect the entire body, sometimes with side effects that can include diabetes and pancreatitis. For this reason, if a cat will accept an inhaled version, those are preferred because the effects of the drugs are localized to the lungs themselves, avoiding the systemic effects. It may take up to two weeks for the full benefit of inhaled corticosteroid treatment to become apparent. Treatment needs to continue, even when the cat appears to be normal again.

Some vets give asthmatic cats shots of methylprednisolone acetate every 2-4 or 5-7 weeks to help reduce inflammation and keep the airways open. Others may give an antihistamine such as cyproheptadine as a continuing treatment. The causes of your cat's asthma will determine which treatments are tried, along with the cat's response to them.

If your cat is overweight, a loss of weight will help, and an exercise program that gets kitty up and moving around will improve lung function. Start slowly, and gradually increase the cat's activity level. One of the side effects of long-term corticosteroid use is a tendency to put on weight, so be mindful of this if your vet prescribes a continuing treatment of such drugs.

Changes to the cat's environment are also called for. Reducing the cat's exposure to cigarette smoke and other environmental pollutants is extremely beneficial. If you smoke, consider switching to an electronic cigarette, which doesn't produce the toxic fumes that will kill your cat (and you!). Avoid having your cat in the room while your fireplace is burning, as the smoke from it can also trigger an asthma attack.

Find a dust-free type of cat litter and avoid those that have an added fragrance. Don't use any litter additives touted as odor-controlling, for the same reasons. You may even have to use shredded newspaper litter for a while, as you rule out additional asthma triggers. 

Change the filter in your air conditioner/heater monthly. Remove air fresheners from your house and use only unscented or natural cleaners. Don't use a carpet deodorizer, which often is a powder that creates dust and adds a fragrance to the rug that can irritate your cat's asthma. 

In winter, a humidifier can help add moisture to the air, making it easier for your asthmatic kitty to breathe. If your cat's asthma is triggered by severe cold or hot air, keep your cat indoors during those times of year.

Vacuum your carpets frequently, and use a machine with a HEPA filter. Empty it after vacuuming each room to avoid transferring any allergens from one part of your house to another. You may even consider adding a whole-house HEPA filter to your heating/air conditioning system to help your entire family breathe easier.

If your cat shows symptoms of asthma, it's important to get it diagnosed and treated. If left untreated, damage to the lungs will be worse (just like in humans!) and result in pulmonary fibrosis (fibrous tissue filling the lungs) or atelectasis (an inability of the lungs to inflate). The cat will grow progressively weaker until the condition proves fatal. Even with ongoing treatment, sometimes a more severe (acute) attack will happen, just as in humans. As you learn to recognize those symptoms, you'll know how to treat them and your asthmatic cat can enjoy many more happy years with you!

Sources: "Asthma", ASPCA.org; "Asthma in Cats (Feline Allergic Bronchitis)", WebMD; "Feline Asthma: Chronic Bronchitis in your cat", 2ndChance.info; "Feline Asthma With Fritz the Brave"; "Lung Ailments: A Widespread Source of Feline Woe", Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine; "Feline Asthma", Wikipedia; "Asthma in Cats", PetMD.com;

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Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Ideas, Day 4: Kitty Fashions and Note Cards

Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Ideas, Day 4:

Kitty Fashions and Note Cards!

We wouldn't be old maid cat ladies if we didn't like to dress up our kitties! There are always a ton of fashions out there for dogs. Some will work on cats, but cats are really shaped differently. They have longer bodies, thinner legs, and are less barrel-chested than dogs. And most cats will not tolerate the same amount of clothing dogs will. So we're at a bit of a disadvantage.

Some cats actually need to wear clothing when it gets cold. The Sphinx and Peterbald breeds don't have coats to keep them warm, so they need a sweater or some flannel jammies on chilly days and nights...like The Cat's Pajamas from Meow Wear ($14.95) that are shown above. Even on sunny days, they can sunburn, so it's a good idea to put either some sunscreen (yes, we sell that for cats, too) or some type of clothing on them to protect their skin from UV rays. Older cats may also benefit from a warm sweater on a chilly day.

It's tough to find companies making garments specifically for cats. Many are cottage industries, and if they have their own Etsy store, they can't handle the additional volume of selling through retailers like Old Maid Cat Lady. But I've been able to find some items that work and look cute, as well. Here, then, are several ideas for those who either want or need to dress up their cats. You may be amazed at some of the options! (Prices shown for all items do not include shipping.)

Day 4 Gifts for Cats: Sweaters and Kitty Fashions

Festive party collars always help set a holiday mood! These tend to sell out early as bricks-and-mortar retail stores buy up our supplier's inventory, but they were still in stock as of last week, when one customer bought a couple. We offer them in Christmas Stars, Jingle Bells, Christmas Trees, and Christmas Snowflakes, as well as many other styles and colors. They're elasticized for safety. And at only $5.95 each, you can afford several for all of kitty's holiday parties! But act quickly because the closer to Christmas it gets, the scarcer these will become.

Collars may look pretty, but they won't keep a kitty warm. For those hairless breeds, Meow Wear makes this spectacular sweater they call The Cat's Meow! It'll keep out drafts while also looking quite fashionable, all for $19.95:

The Mousin' Around cat sweater ($19.95) has also been very popular with Old Maid Cat Lady's customers this year. And, as you can see, even cats with coats can enjoy the extra warmth:

Kitty going outdoors? Perhaps a lovely jacket like this Meow Wear Quilted Vest ($19.95) would be the perfect wardrobe choice:

Some cats will walk on a harness and leash, so a good harness that fits comfortably would make a wonderful gift for one of these kitties. Harnesses are also good for tethering a cat into a carrier, stroller, or car seat. We carry many harnesses, including the Choke-Free Collars ($14.95) from Leather Brothers. They come in eight metallic colors and five non-metallic colors, as well as croco-texture ($17.95) or faux ostrich ($19.95) texture, and they even have matching leashes available! All are soft, high quality leather with a paw print ornament on each side. They're easy to get on and off your cat. Here's one in blue metallic on a kitten:

This denim harness vest by Doggles is made for dogs, but fits cats just fine! My Golden Boys each have one, and are shown below wearing them in October at the No More Homeless Pets national conference. Gilly's even smiling and Captain's so comfy he's snoozing in his! The detailing on these harness vests is very nice, including a D-ring on the back to which you can attach the leash or tether:

The same company that makes these also makes a very popular Black Biker Harness Vest and Dress, for those tough kitties. All of the harness vests and dresses sell for $11.95 each.

If your cat will be going out in rainy weather, a raincoat may be a welcome wardrobe addition. This Base Jumper Raincoat from Puppia is another item that's made for dogs, but will work okay on cats. A hole on the back allows you to attach a leash to the cat's harness underneath. They sell for $35.95 and have a coated nylon outside and polyester mesh inside for comfort. Available in two sizes and six colors, plus camo:

If you don't think your cat would like the hood, we also offer several of the Avant-Garde harnesses by 26 Bars and a Band ($21.95). They're made from a water-resistant polyester fabric and have a D-ring on back for attaching a leash. Although made for dogs, they have adjustable sides and front, so you can get them to fit your kitty quite nicely. Shown here is the London Calling design, and it's also available in a pink argyle Prep print, houndstooth print Sherlock, brown with Leopard print belt, a Couture Princess pink-and-black print, a cool Death Star print, sophisticated black-and-white Fifth Avenue print, feminine Floral Fling print, a Freebird print for those rockin' kitties, and Green Day print for the eco-minded.

Going boating with your cat? You'll want to keep kitty safe with a life vest from Paws Aboard! Another item that's made for dogs, their sizing chart has them running a little small on cats, so you may want to add an inch or so to your cat's measurements to get the right size. They're available in regular ($24.99) or neoprene ($29.99), shown below. Each has a handle on the back so if kitty falls in the water you can fish him out with a hand or a boat hook. And you'll see from this photo that they're supposed to fit snugly and a little high on the shoulders:

Want to see where your cat goes when he's outdoors, or what he does while you're at work? Simply attach the EYENIMAL pet video cam ($79) to his collar and record up to 2.5 hours of kitty's day! It only weighs 1.2 ounces, so your cat will barely even know it's there!

You'll find many more options in Old Maid Cat Lady's Catwear section, including traditional cat safety collars, jeweled cat collars, and even collar charms like the one shown below. There are two pages filled with great items to put on your cats this Christmas!

Day 4 Gifts for People: Cat Note Cards

There's just nothing like a good old-fashioned handwritten note. One very successful lady I know in the business world suggests sending one each week to one of your old business contacts to touch base and see if they're working on anything at which you could help. It's good to have some blank notes on hand for sending thank-you notes, words of sympathy, or just a how-ya-doin' to a friend. And what better way for a cat lady to send those notes than on a cat-themed note card? So here are some that make great gifts for all the fellow cat ladies (and gents) on your gift list. Some are even pretty enough to frame!

Artist Karen Olsen combines colorful abstract cat designs with sayings in several blank note card designs. Shown above is the Extraordinary Cats design. Also available are the Dancing Cats, Purrfect Cat, and Sit and Be Admired designs. All of her cards are available in packs of 5, 10, or 25, priced from $9.95 to $39.95.

If your taste in art runs more toward the traditional, we offer a lovely assortment of Artful Cat note cards featuring classic paintings of cats by artists including Renoir, Heyer, Marc, and Valadon. Four each of five images make up the box of 20 cards and envelopes that sells for $14.95:

If you're seeking a gift for an aficionado of a particular breed of cat, one of these Cat Crest stationery packs ($10.95) may be just the thing! They come in a set of 10, and are available for Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Birman, Maine Coon, Persian, Scottish Fold, and Siamese. All cards within each pack are the same. Each features artwork of the cat with the breed name and a statement about the breed's nature.

Paper Russell's Grrreen Boxed Notecards come in sets of 6 printed on premium recycled paper, tied with a silk ribbon, and packaged inside a gray box. Available in a Russian Blue (shown here) or Brown Farm Cat for $8.95.

Kate Larsen's quirky cat art is featured on the Box of Cats GreenNotes note cards that feature 8 each of two different images in the box of 16 blank-inside cards for $11.95. They're boxed in corrugated cardboard and tied with a twine tie and gift card, so your wrapping's easy:

You'll find these and many more cat cards in Old Maid Cat Lady's Stationery & Paper Goods section. More gift ideas to come tomorrow!

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Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Ideas, Day 3: Warm Beds & Cat Shirts!

Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Ideas, Day 3: 

Warm Beds and Cat Shirts!

Now that Thanksgiving weekend is drawing to a close, Advent is beginning, and we're into December, it's time to seriously focus on Christmas. Hanukkah continues for a few more nights, as well, but if you're celebrating it, you've probably already bought your gifts for each night. So let's take a look at some gift ideas that are in that wintry holiday mood!

Today, we'll focus on warm beds for cats and cat shirts for people. The former because, well, it's cold outside! And the latter because there are just so many designs and a lot of them take a few weeks because they're made to order.

Day 3 for Cats: Warm Beds

Cats love warm places. This is because their normal body temperature is a few degrees higher than a human's. So if a room feels comfortable enough for us, it's likely a little chilly for our feline companions. When we turn down the thermostat in winter to save a little on heating costs, those kitties can really be chilly, despite their fur coats!

Heated beds are especially good for older cats who may be feeling achy from arthritis. Just like our joints start to get a little more painful as we age, so do our cats'. This is especially true for those poor kitties who have been declawed; as they shift their weight onto the back of their feet to avoid the pain of walking on amputated toes, it causes problems in their shoulder alignment as they get older. So a heated bed can provide welcome relief on these chilly mornings.

Hairless breeds like the Sphinx and the Peterbald can get cold in winter. You may already put a sweater on yours, but a heated bed is another option for keeping them toasty.

Heated beds are also a great way to keep a litter of kittens warm. While spring is traditionally thought of as "kitten season" there are still kittens being born in cold weather. Keeping them warm helps keep them healthy.

K&H's Kitty Sleephouse, shown below, is a great-looking option for a bed that's both heated and covered. It comes in both unheated ($50) and heated ($74) versions. The snazzy leopard print on the top and inside will look great in your home, too!

If you have any outdoor cats, be they ferals or barn cats, a nice warm spot could be very welcome to them. These heated beds use only 20 watts of electricity, too. One customer ordered a couple of the Lectro-Soft Heated Cat Beds ($56 for the small size, or $78 for the medium) for his outdoor cats, then ordered two more the day after he received them for some additional shelters he'd built for them. Here's a photo he sent of four outdoor kitties in the shelters in which he'd already placed the first two:

When he took this photo, it was only 12 degrees outside, but his cats were all cozy and warm in their sturdy shelters. He's obviously a great caretaker because they all look very healthy!

If your cats like getting inside a cat sack, there's a Thermo-Kitty heated version that also has a crinkly sound cats love, like a paper bag! It comes in a relaxing Sage color, uses 4 watts of electricity, has a soft fleece inside with an orthopedic foam base, and sells for $59.95. Your kitty will love snuggling in it!

Try a splash of color with the Thermo-Kitty Fashion Splash! It comes in Red, Mocha, or Blue (but the blue won't be back in stock until after Christmas). At $36.95, it's also a great value in an electrically heated bed:

For a heated bed that provides an open or sheltered option, the Thermo-Kitty Hut ($61) lets your cat choose whether to snuggle under the hood or not. It comes in both Mocha and Sage. Both have a comfy fleece lining and are 18 inches across:

Turn any bed into a heated bed with K&H's Microwaveable Bed Warmer ($39)! It provides kitty with up to 12 hours of warmth, and the bed doesn't need to be near an electrical outlet:

But cats don't need electricity to be warm in a bed! With that high body temperature, they can snuggle into a self-warming bed on a chilly night and be plenty toasty if they like the cooler weather. Available in Mocha or Gray, the Kitty Kup is plush and snuggly. The small size is $24 and the large $31:

The Lazy Lounger ($25.95) comes in fashionable Zebra or Leopard prints, and has bolsters on three sides to block cold drafts and help your kitty feel more secure:

For the ultimate in luxury in a self-warming bed, try the Tiger Dreamz Beddy Ball ($74.95)! It comes in three color options (shown here in Ocelot), each of which is the softest faux fur you've ever felt. Your cat won't be able to resist it and will be snoring quickly!

Day 3 for People: Cat Shirts

Our gift suggestion for people today is a fabulous cat shirt! Old Maid Cat Lady has many, many designs to suit all tastes. Here are a few favorites:

You've likely seen these big-face cat shirts from The Mountain, and we have an excellent selection of them. Shown here is the Brown Tabby. There are over two dozen designs available, featuring both house cats and big cats. Available in short-sleeved style in adult sizes Small - 5XL, they start at $18.95 and go up in price starting at the 2XL size. A couple of striking new designs for this season include the Sphynx and Saber-toothed Tiger. Most definitely attention getters! These shirts are all hand-dyed to order, so they take a little longer than some other shirts to arrive once you order.

If you have a devotion to a particular breed, you may find these Cat Breed Shirts of interest. They're available for Abyssinian, Brown Tabby, Himalayan, Maine Coon, Persian, or Siamese, and feature a little of the breed's history in addition to a handsome portrait of a representative kitty. You can get them in a T-shirt ($12.95) or sweatshirt ($19.95), in children's sizes S-L or adult sizes S-XL, and they come on an Ash Gray, White, Blue, Black or Red shirt. Here's the Siamese design:

For some artful holiday design shirts, Karen Olsen's art is available on short-sleeved tees ($17.95), sweatshirts ($25.95), long-sleeved tees ($19.95), and tank tops ($17.95) in white or natural colors, in adult sizes S-XXL. There are six available designs, including the Bow-Wowy, Meowy Christmas one shown here (for those mixed households):

If you've got a cat-loving ballerina on your shopping list, she'll love this shirt with a kitten and a ballet slipper! It's available on a white or ash gray T-shirt ($12.95) or sweatshirt ($19.95), in children's sizes S-L or adult sizes S-XL. We have this and several other cute cat shirts of similar design:

You'll find many other beautiful cat shirts in our Shirts section and we're adding more all the time, so take a look at them all to find just the perfect gift!

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