Find Your Cat at Night

Having trouble tracking down your cat in the wee hours of the morning. We may have a solution in sight.

Scientists in South Korea have genetically manipulated a cloned cat so that it will glow in the dark.

Too bad they didn't get it out for Halloween, but there's always next year.

But you may need a cat with superpowers soon. Other scientists in Japan (and how 'bout them Asian scientists? They sure do have a lot of time on their hands) have created mice that are not afraid of cats.

This is either good for the cats, or very bad news if the mice get organized.

Holiday Dangers for Pets

December probably means you've got a lot of things in your house that normally aren't there. Such things as:

* a pine tree in the middle of your living room

* bizarre cooking ingredients like yeast and acorns

* the same relatives that made you move to Arizona in the first place

With these new and unusual items come dangers that you might not have realized. Here's a few holiday specific things that can pose a danger to your cats and the symptoms that may indicate they ingested something more than kibble.

Yeast Dough
- drunken appearance, abdominal pain, respiratory depression, cardiac arrest

Macadamia Nuts
-weakness, vomiting, lack of coordination, tremors

Coffee
-vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures

Liquid Potpourris
-oral and esophageal burns

Decorations
-injury to the mouth or gastrointestinal tract

Batteries
-corrosive injury to the mouth or gastrointestinal tract

Poinsettia Plant
-mild gastrointestinal upset

Christmas Cactus
-gastrointestinal upset

Mistletoe
-gastrointestinal upset, lowered blood pressure, cardiovascular collapse

American Holly
-gastrointestinal upset, depression

Acorns
-gastrointestinal upset, foreign body obstruction, kidney failure

Human Cough, Cold, or Flu Medicines
-may affect one or more body systems, life-threatening conditions possible

Ice Melt Products
-vomiting, diarrhea, disorientation

Antifreeze
-vomiting, drunken appearance, excessive drinking and urinating, seizures, kidney failure

Your Relatives
-kvetching, threats to run away, mocking laughter, repeated use of the phrase "so glad I'm not human"

Happy Holidays, everyone. Keep those cats safe.

Autumn Client Seminar

Our first ever Client Seminar was held this past Thursday. Thanks to all who came out to learn about feline dental health. We had a nice discussion--with graphic photos and gleaming instruments--about all the horrible things that can happen to a cat's teeth. Then we had cupcakes and cookies. It seemed the right thing to do.

Clients saw our dental x-ray machine in action, learned how and why to brush your cat's teeth, and were entertained by a young three year old who demonstrated the many different ways folding chairs can be rearranged.

Our next seminar will be in mid-winter (or whatever this season is we have in Scottsdale). We will focus on the care of senior cats.