Just because a cat is scared...

Two months ago a married couple brought their cat to me, and the experience was so depressing, that I still haven't been able to shake that bad feeling.

At the start of the day, I reviewed my appointment book, and was caught off guard to see that we had a client coming to the clinic for the first time, and they were requesting euthanasia. Ending a cat's life is tremendously taxing emotionally, and I cannot imagine doing so without knowing why. However, within seconds of looking at the cat later that day, I had no doubt that this cat needed to be put to sleep. She was a walking skeleton with a low core body temperature and a dull mentation. I knew it was the proper move, so I didn't inquire as to the course of events preceding the visit. She was on course to pass away within days, but was obviously suffering, so I had the staff get ready to perform the procedure.

What I didn't expect was the look I got when I looked into one of the owner's eyes. She wanted to be sure there was nothing that could be done. I confidently assured her that was the case, but what I couldn't say was that if she had only come sooner, we would have likely been able to avoid this day. That just brakes my heart. From examination, it was clear to me that the cat's condition was brought on by an uncontrolled endocrine disease called hyperthyroidism. This is something we now have the opportunity to CURE with just one injection, yet this cat was dying from it.

Now, hyperthyroidism is not necessarily a walk in the park, and there is money and other factors to consider, but this family never gave themselves the opportunity. Once upon a time, someone told them their cat was a bad cat, and they should never bring that cat back to their clinic. And they did just that. They loved their cat, but they never had it examined again at any veterinary clinic because someone suggested that it was "mean."

There are no mean cats, just scared ones; and just because a cat is scared, it shouldn't be deprived of medical care if that is what the family wants. Seeing that couple cry their hearts out in front of a complete stranger tells me that they wanted just that. If you have a cat who behaves defensively in the veterinary clinic, don't fret over it. A good vet is going to know when to reach for a little chemical restraint (with your permission of course), and you'll be able to keep your beloved companion healthy into their golden years.

If your pee pee hurts, what would you do?

My mother left me a voice mail this week asking if I could take time to call a friend of hers and offer advice about a cat. From what I gather from my mother, this cat has been urinating on items throughout the house rather than using the litter box as it had for years prior. Mother’s day is just around the corner, so I figure I’d try to be a good son and call the friend. I get an answering machine and a four day course of phone tag ensues.

Since I haven’t been able to directly talk to this peson, I figured I’d write to everyone who has had this problem and wasn’t sure what to do.

Cue the title: if your pee pee hurts, and you’re a cat, what would you do?

In its daily routine, a cat’s most common activity is sleeping. The second most common activity is grooming. In the cat’s mind, cleanliness is akin to godliness. So urinating around its kingdom is against the code. Watch a healthy cat in the litter box from time to time. They walk up to the area, access the situation, and sniff around for the right spot. They manage some complicated pose so that tinkle doesn’t taint their prized coat, and then spend a minute covering their waste so they don’t have to stare at it. (You with the cat who has never covered its waste, we’ll get to you later)

For me to imitate a healthy cat in a litter box, I would have to start off by contemplating the contours of my toilet. Then I’d have to stand on the tank and aim for the water, after which I would flush and pull out the scrub brush so that no one knew I was there. My wife can only dream of this scenario.

So a cat never WANTS to not use a litter box. The cat must be trying to tell you something, right? Yes and NOOOOO! I say “NOOOOO!” because before a veterinarian is allowed to speak during a urinary consult, they have to listen to the person rationalize what the cat must be mad about. It MUST be mad. It’s my new lover…it’s that I’m going out of town too much…it’s that it hates me…it’s my new dog… They then think that if they don’t dump their significant owner, or stay at home all the time, or get rid of the dog, then the problem will never go away.

This is almost never the case.

Your cat is trying so tell you something, but it’s more akin to when your car engine makes a funny noise. It would better to view it as follows: my cat (or car) is doing something differently, so it’s time to have things checked out.

Here is an incomplete list of problems that would explain urination on the couch (and many include pee pee pain): 1. interstitial cystitis 2. Urinary crystals 3. Urinary stones 4. Arthritic pain 5. Diabetes 6. Kidney disease 7. An undesirable litter box that we put up with for years but just can’t stand anymore 8. Another cat claims it as territory 9.. Urinary tract infection

Why is urinary tract infection last on that incomplete list? It’s just not that common in cats. Retrospective studies suggest that urinary tract infection accounts for less than 3% of all cases in cats under the age of four. If antibiotics appeared to help out your young cat, brace yourself for the problem to resurface within the year.

Here’s an incomplete list of diagnostic tools used when a cat urinates on a couch: 1. Proper history collection 2. Thorough physical examination 3. Urinalysis 4. Radiography 5. Ultrasonography 6. Urine cultures

Here’s an incomplete list of therapies that might help (dependant on the problem): 1. Anti-inflammatories 2. Increasing water consumption 3. Pain control 4. Getting a large, non-mechanical, non-hooded litter box far away from the dryer you just put your tennis shoes in 5. Insulin 6. Amitriptylline 7. Surgery 8. Antibiotics

So, if your cat is peeing around the house, please consult a veterinarian (in person). This is one of the most common reasons for cats to come to a veterinary clinic, and if you are patient and allow the clinic to properly work up the case, most of the time you’ll be able to get a return to normalcy.

Why is the network down?

No room for me...

Well, I suppose I'll post an update finally.

First up, an explanation for the photo. Amanda snapped this one a few days ago as we were getting ready for work. This image explains why I sometimes great my morning appointments with droopy eyes. Where's one supposed to sleep with conditions like these? We bought a new mattress a short while back from one of those places which apparently keeps the mattresses on the delivery truck circling you neighborhood so they can deliver it before you could possibly return from the store where the order was placed. We had a decision to make...queen size, or ridiculous size. We'll we didn't anticipate the above, and queen was elected for (settle down my frugal heart). Shortly there after, this started to happen. I guess the old mattress really was that bad. That's Pinky on the right, so you know where I sleep. She seems to prefer my knee caps...I don't know why. Mabel's orientation above is deceiving as well because in that position there is no feasible way for her to kick me thru the night. It's nice to see them getting along though.

I've hit my word goal already, so hooray! Maybe I won't be so tardy next time. Can you believe I actually considered trying to make a post per day for the new year? I would like to throw out another book recommendation though, because this one was so compelling I finished it in just three sittings. It's called Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam by Pope Brock. Yes, Mrs. Jay, I know that should be underlined by I have no earthly idea how to do that. Man that book is great. It's about this quack in the early 20th century who, despite not having a legitimate medical degree, got thousands to people to allow him to surgically "implant" goat glands into their nether regions and made something equivalent to $14 million a year doing so. This guy was dangerous, and 42 known deaths were reported at his clinic up thru 1930...more surely occurred because the accounting doesn't go beyond 1930 and also doesn't include people who went home to die. He was also pivotal in the development of some modern day political campaign techniques (narrowly missing being elected governor not once but twice), radio advertising, and the dissemination of country music through North America (I'm talking to you Big and Rich). Fascinating stuff.