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.

Your Cat's Teeth

If you are like most owners, you probably haven’t given much thought to your cat’s teeth. But like us, their teeth need care and regular check-ups.

Good oral health care can increase your cat’s life. Gingivitis and dental lesions can, of course, cause pain and discomfort for your cat, but it’s not just your cat’s teeth that are at risk. Inflammation and infection of the gums can lead to heart, kidney, and liver problems as bacteria and toxins travel through the bloodstream and to your cat’s organs. 70% of cats have gum disease by the time they are three years old.

Come learn how you can improve your cat’s life through proper dental health at the next Scottsdale Cat Clinic seminar. We will explain the procedure used for a proper professional cleaning, from x-rays to scaling and polishing of the teeth to application of a sealant. We will also discuss the procedures used to ensure your cat’s safety while under anesthesia, including blood work, intravenous fluids, constant monitoring, and pain relief administration.

Finally, we’ll discuss what you can do at home to keep your cat’s teeth healthy. Home care is vital to maintaining your cat’s oral and overall health. You will learn about the various methods and products available to keeping your cat’s teeth clean on a daily basis.

The seminar will be held at the Scottsdale Cat Clinic on Thursday, November 29th,6:30pm. Please bring along any friends or family who are interested. Light refreshments will be served.

This is the first of a quarterly series of client seminars at the Scottsdale Cat Clinic. Our seminars are a chance for you to learn more about the health care options for your cat as well as to meet the Scottsdale Cat Clinic staff on a more informal basis. We hope to see you soon.

Meet Your Match

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has developed a new way of matching up pets with prospective owners. The new program, called Meet Your Match, tries to match personalities of the cats with personalities of the adopters. Cats are color coded green, orange or purple depending on their tendency to adapt quickly, lavish affection on owners, or need time for adjustment.

The program further categorizes (their's a pun in their somewhere) the animals with names like the Party Animal, the Sidekick and the Secret Admirer.

We're not sure if any local shelters are yet using the program, but you might ask if you are looking for a new cat. You can always take a look at the ASPCA's personality types and see if the shelter can help you find the cat that best fits you. In the long run, it's better than just going for the one that matches the furniture.

Autumn Memorial Service

The Scottsdale Cat Clinic remembered all our friends that passed through our doors and were laid to rest. We had a small service, with a candle lighting and brief memorial poem. We remembered Abby and Haley, our own cats, and read the names of all the other cats that were our patients. Godspeed little ones.

Memorial Service, November 8th

The Scottsdale Cat Clinic will be having a Memorial Service to honor all of the cats that we have lost from our lives. We wish to remember our patients who have passed on in our first several months of the clinic opening. However, we also welcome all cat lovers who wish to remember any of their dear departed cat family. During the service there will be an opportunity for each person to relate a short story or feature about their cat. Please bring a picture of your cat if you wish to add to our collage of honored cats.

The service will be 6:30pm, Thursday, November 8th at the Scottsdale Cat Clinic. Light refreshments will be offered after the service.