Scratching The Surface on Cat Scratching Behaviours

Cat showing normal scratching behaviour

Scratching is normal cat behaviour, serving to sharpen and groom the front claws and leave markers of the cat’s presence. They are not trying to modify the look of your favourite sofa because they prefer the tattered, shredded, distressed look in furniture. They are not destroying the living room drapes in a vindictive action against their owner. No, they are just doing what cats do and have always done.

To live in harmony with a cat, though, it will likely be necessary, to achieve some sort of understanding and accord with the cat and control the potentially destructive consequences of scratching behaviour. Proper training to scratch on appropriate surfaces, combined with nail care and providing acceptable scratching posts may be able to manage the issue.

The Animals of the Nativity

There are many people in our modern world who love animals. We enjoy their companionship and value their friendship. We marvel at their skills and appreciate how they improve the quality of our lives. We cannot imagine life without them.

We sing about them, we read and write about them, we study them, and we strive to better understand them. We have quite a wonderful relationship with them. They are very much a part of our lives and have been so, for a very long time. Not much wonder then, is it, that they are important participants in, The Christmas Story. Think about the Nativity Scene that is such a familiar part of Christian celebrations around the birth of Jesus. Animals are very much a part of that scene. I thought it might be interesting to think a bit about those animals gathered around the manger in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.

 

Camels were there and for those of us living in this part of the world they are surely one of the more exotic and interesting species present. We are told they brought wise men from the east bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the baby Jesus. In fact, it is thought that camels were first domesticated by frankincense traders many thousands of years ago. Camels were used by these traders to make the long arduous journey from southern Arabia to the northern regions of the Middle East. Later they went on to become the desert dweller’s primary source of transport, shade, milk, meat, wool and hides.

The camels in the Holy Land would have been one-humped camels, sometimes called dromedaries. Dromedaries were domesticated and began their close relationship with humans about 5000 years ago or about 3000 years before they appeared in the Nativity.

Another animal always pictured in the stable in Bethlehem is the donkey.  A donkey, also known as an ass, is a close relative of the horse and zebra. Donkeys are probably derived from two wild species of ass each native to Africa. They are more sure-footed than the horse. They live longer and they are more tolerant of hot arid environments than their larger equine cousins.  The ass was domesticated by the Egyptians about 3000 BC. Therefore, like camels, they had a well established and long relationship with humans at the time of Jesus’ birth.

 

The Bible reports the Holy infant lay in a manger. It was probably a cow’s manger.  Cattle are always depicted as animals present in the stable where Mary and Joseph found lodging. The cattle were probably members of the Anatolian Black breed. They are brown-black to dark gray coloured, shorthorned cattle that have been present in Asia Minor since the Hittite period over 4000 years ago. They are hardy, disease resistant, tolerant of a meager diet and adverse climate and are used as a work animal and cows provide milk. Remains of domesticated cattle dating to 6500 BC have been found in Turkey and other sites in the Near East. Cattle had been important friends for some time before the event in discusssion.

Finally, in every crèche, there are sheep, accompanying their shepherd. Today, there are well over 250 different breeds of sheep in the world.  We cannot know, for certain, the breed of sheep present those many years ago, but, it could have been they were Jacob sheep. Jacob sheep are a primitive, domestic, multi-horned, black or lilac sheep with white spots (piebald). The Biblical story of Jacob’s striving to achieve spotted sheep and goats is thought to be the earliest record of selective breeding of animals. Sheep were among the first domesticated animals, tamed from wild species by hunter-gatherers, about 9000 years ago. We would want sheep to be with us, at such an important moment for humankind, as the birth of baby Jesus.

Well, there you have them, the animals of the Nativity, gathered with their human friends, with whom they have had such a long fruitful relationship, to celebrate the birth of a Saviour. However, I believe, there must have been at least two more kinds of animal in that gathering. Somewhere nearby, calmly observing the event, probably stretched out on a beam overhead, was a cat. Cats, you see, were likely derived from Felis silvestris libyca, a subspecies of the African wildcat, and they began living with us between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago.

Finally, on such an occasion, there surely would have been a dog – interested, attentive and excited to be there. Remains of domesticated dogs have been found in a cave in Iraq that dates to 12,000 years before the present. Remains of domestic dogs have been found at other sites dating 10,000-15,000 years ago. For the past 6500 years dogs have been found everywhere that humans have been found. Our “best friend” and earliest animal companion, with us for over 10,000 years at that time, would have been with the worshippers in Bethlehem.

Ontario Veterinary College: Celebrating 150 years of excellence in education

The year was 1862. The major event in the news, at least on this side of the Atlantic, was the American Civil War. South of the border, it continued to rage. Several major battles were fought and in September, President Abraham Lincoln announced the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. In British Columbia, a smallpox epidemic ravaged the First Nations people. Ultimately, it would wipe out about one-third of the native population. The rest of British North America was becoming very concerned that eventually the United States would again try to take over all of North America. These worries were primarily responsible for the act that led to the creation of the Dominion of Canada, five years later.

In a somewhat less profound moment than some of those mentioned above, in that same year, in Toronto, Andrew Smith gave a series of lectures on ‘the veterinary art’.

Physiotherapy for Pets: An age-old practice gets a new twist

Cain is an eight year old male Rottweiller. He is healthy, strong, well-muscled and at 38 kilograms (83.6 lbs.), a proper weight. He is a very fit and active fellow. One day, recently, after a vigourous run in the park, he returned to his owner slightly lame in one of his rear legs. When there was no improvement in the following few days he was taken to a veterinarian. It was determined that Cain had a complete rupture or tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee joint. He needed to have surgical repair of the damage in order to correct the lameness and lessen future arthritic disease in the affected joint.

Fashion or Function: Are coats really necessary?

A reader of this column recently suggested she hoped I might say something that would encourage more people to get sweaters or jackets for their dogs. She reported that throughout the harsh season of winter she was greatly distressed to see dogs chilled and shivering when outside for a walk or some exercise.

A quick response might be that dogs don’t really need protection against the cold. We have all seen pictures of their close relatives, wolves, tracking through deep snow quite oblivious to freezing temperatures in their search for food. Veterinarians will tell you that unless exposed to extreme conditions for extended periods, dogs are unlikely to suffer from frost bite or hypothermia. Many dogs seem to quite enjoy playing in the snow, gulping great mouthfuls of it as they plow into the snowdrifts. Why then would you bother with cumbersome, constricting wearing apparel for a dog going outside?

Driving Miss Kitty: Making your cat’s veterinary visits more pleasant

Surveys show that, over their lifetime, dogs make more frequent visits to see a veterinarian than do cats. Does this mean cats are healthier than dogs? Do they require less medical care than dogs? Well, many of those same surveys suggest cats go to veterinary hospitals less often, not for these reasons, but rather because their owners are reluctant to travel with them. Cats, in general do not enjoy travel and as you might expect, owners do not like to do things that cause their pet anxiety or stress. The problem with this, of course, is that cats may be missing out on the best of health care. Regular physical examinations and the benefits of wellness testing and other preventive health care measures are as important for cats as for anyone.  Here then, are some things to try to help your cat have pleasant veterinary visits.

Another Hairy Tale

If your pet is completely or partially missing hair in areas where it is normally present, it has alopecia. Alopecia sometimes remains in relatively small localized areas, sometimes these small localized areas are found in multiple sites and occasionally it may be generalized, affecting most of the body.

Alopecia is not a disease, rather it’s a problem, like a fever, that may be caused by a number of specific causes. In previous columns there has been discussion about how alopecia may develop and some of the things a veterinarian needs to do to try to identify some of the more common causes of the disorder. In this column I want to mention a few more causes for alopecia.

A Hairy Tale

What better says Golden Retriever than its thick, full, golden haircoat? What would a Persian cat be without long, flowing locks of hair? Would you even recognize a Dalmatian without that distinctive black and white hair coat colour? Yes, indeed, there’s no doubt many breeds of dogs and cats are defined by the distinctive hair that covers their body.

Not much wonder then, is it, that pet owners are often very distressed if that hair starts to go missing. The condition is called alopecia and it can affect any breed of cat or dog. Even though male pattern baldness commonly affects human members in a family, if baldness is noticed in a pet, it’s a reason to visit the veterinarian. It may be a primary problem, the result of trouble affecting the skin or hair follicles only. However, it may be secondary, caused by disease or disorders in other parts of the body.

One of the first questions the owner of a balding pet will be asked is whether it’s itchy.

The Tale of Aston the Schnauzer

While his family was on vacation, Aston was staying with friends. A handsome, always obedient, 4 year old neutered male Schnauzer, he was no trouble at all and his caregivers were happy to have him visit them again for a few days. However, they became very concerned when, two days after arriving, he vomited four times during the day and seemed in considerable discomfort. When consulted, his veterinarian agreed that Aston needed to be examined. Aston had been seen at the veterinary hospital ten days earlier for occasional early morning vomiting in the previous two weeks. Blood tests had revealed no abnormalities and anti-nausea medication had been prescribed for a few days of treatment.

This time when Aston was given a general physical examination, besides being a bit more quiet than his usual cheerful self, the most significant finding was that he seemed to be painful when the forward part of his abdomen was gently palpated. An x-ray that was taken did not reveal any foreign material that might have been swallowed. Aston was admitted to the hospital for further care. Blood tests were repeated and an abdominal ultrasound was performed. Changes now in the blood values that had been normal earlier and the ultrasound examination were consistent with pancreatitis being the cause of Aston’s illness.

Diet A New Options for Hyperthyroid Kitties

Maisy is a 17 year old silver grey and white domestic short-haired cat. She had enjoyed good health and had not been seen by a veterinarian for several years before her visit to an animal hospital recently. Her owner was concerned that she might have a mouth problem. She had lost some weight and now only weighed 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs). Her appetite had waned over the last few months and she was now reluctant to eat any dry food. A check-up, given by her examining veterinarian determined that indeed Maisy did have mild dental disease. However, in order to be sure it would be safe to address those issues and to be sure there were no other complicating health concerns, it was recommended some blood and urine tests be performed.

The results of those tests showed that Maisy, with one exception, had essentially normal findings for a cat of her age. She had a mildly elevated thyroid hormone level that suggested she did have  hyperthyroidism. It was recommended to Maisy’s owner that this problem should be addressed first before treating her dental problems.

Hyperthyroidism is a disease that often affects cats. It is the most common hormonal disease in cats. Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to congestive heart failure, intractable diarrhea, kidney damage, retinal detachment and death. Until recently there have been only three ways to treat the disease. There are antithyroid drugs that can be given to counter-act the harmful effect of increased thyroid activity. These medications need to be given by mouth daily and are not without potential side effects. The surgical option for treatment of hyperthyroidism is to perform a thyroidectomy, removal of the thyroid gland. Finally, the best, but also the most expensive treatment, is to administer radioiodine therapy. While permanent, this therapy is often outside of the average client’s financial means.

Now, for cats like Maisy, another treatment method can be considered.