FFARQ Mews Bulletin - FURRY FRIENDS ANIMAL RESCUE QUEENSLAND

Tackling the “Feral Problem”

2/3/2020

Feral felines are domestic cats that have reverted to natural hunting instincts. They are cats that have persisted with limited to no human contact, and survive on their carnivorous diet of birds, lizards, rabbits, frogs, and insects. According to Pest Smart, feral cats can ‘take down prey matching their own body size’ and can easily adapt to many different habitats.

Feral cats are one of the main stressors that affect Australia’s native wildlife. Some figures in 2014 have reported that feral cats have contributed to the deaths of over 20 billion Australian native species a year. This was proven to be ‘unverifiable’ by the ABC News Network:

‘There is no consistent figure on the number of feral cats in Australia, but estimates range from 5 to 23 million. Experts say the number is impossible to calculate because of density variation…the way the population fluctuates with prey availability and climate.’

Furthermore, recent research published in a new book, Cats in Australia: Comparison and Killer (2019), has compiled findings across hundreds of studies that suggest that feral cats could kill ‘more than 3 million mammals, 2 million reptiles and 1 million birds every day.’ Domestic cats are also not excused from the equation, as they can roam and track down prey to satisfy their own natural hunting instincts. Many cat owners have the misconception that their own beloved companions do not kill wildlife, yet GPS trackers suggest that cats can roam further than originally thought. Domestic cats that are allowed to roam have reportedly been able to kill more than 75 animals a year.

In 2015, the Australian Government enacted a target to cull 2 million feral cats by 2020. It was reported that 211, 560 cats were culled during the first 12 months of the plan. This plan was met with some criticism and remarks of animal genocide.

Nonetheless, the feral population is a result of human behaviours. The topic of feral cats have particularly made a strong reappearance due to the recent Australian bushfires, as many native species are currently under threat. The message of responsible pet ownership, including desexing and keeping cats indoors, has become significant now more than ever.

Organisations such as the Australian National Desexing Network have initiatives that give pet owners access to low-cost desexing. This not only is beneficial for the environment and the economy, but also addresses the huge pet overpopulation problem within our own pounds and shelters. Desexing is the single most humane thing we can do for the cat population in Australia.

Written by Claudine Prior for FFARQ.

Visiting the Vet: How One Trip Can Improve Your Cat’s Life

19/1/2020

By Tyler Smith for FFARQ

While a human can pick up a phone and book a doctor’s appointment to have their medical concerns taken care of, our feline companions lack the ability to easily access healthcare this way. By taking your cat to the vet every year for a check-up from nose to tail, you can help them live a long and healthy life purring beside you. Here are some things that make this trip important:

Teeth

Wild cats take care of their teeth by eating meat from carcasses, the bones of their prey acting like a toothbrush and removing debris and plaque from their mouths. However, domestic cats’ diets of biscuits, wet food and treats often forget to take care of their teeth. Providing cats with dental treats and brushing their teeth regularly can prevent your cat from developing dental problems, but it is always best for a professional who sees kitty teeth every day to check them and make sure your friend’s teeth are ready for more food.

Vaccinations

Keeping your cat’s vaccinations up-to-date is vital to ensuring preventable diseases don’t stop your cat from chasing their favourite toy. Top-ups of cats’ vaccinations are needed to keep them effective. Whether your cat spends their time inside your home (as we recommend) or outside, vaccinations can save your cat’s life and your bank account from the expensive vet bills associated with treating diseases. Furthermore, most boarding facilities require up-to-date vaccination records of your cat before you go on your holiday. So if you plan to take a trip this year and send your cat on a vacation of their own, make sure they’ve had their shots.

Weight

Keeping a cat on the scales in the vet’s examination room long enough to weigh them often proves a challenge, but the task is just as important as everything else in the check-up. Most cats love food and find it easy to overeat and become overweight, however if too much weight is gained they can find it difficult to move and have issues breathing. Underweight cats often have an underlying health issue that is decreasing their appetite, and a visit to the vet can ensure that nothing sinister is going on under your cat’s fur.

Coat

Almost every breed of cat is covered in a coat of fur. This seemingly mundane part of your cat’s body can actually hold a great deal of insight into your cat’s wellbeing. A coat that is dirty, full of loose hair and hasn’t been cleaned in a while by your cat can indicate that your cat is feeling down, while anxiety and boredom can lead to an overgroomed coat with bald spots. Having a vet check over your cat’s coat can show them what’s going on in your cat’s mind and can help you discover how you can improve their happiness just by paying a little more attention to their coat.

5 Craziest Ways to Cat-Proof your Christmas Tree

14/12/2019

Nothing says Christmas more than an artificial Christmas tree to celebrate the season of giving. After all, where would Santa Paws leave his treats for all the good little kittens and cats of the world?

From the sparkling ornaments, to the impressive twinkle of an LED fairy light, you could almost understand the appeal to scale the synthetic and scratchy limbs of a pine branch to a feline who is up to no good.

Don’t let a cheeky ball of fur curb your Christmas cheer! Here are 5 crazy ways to keep your Christmas decorations safe and sound this holiday season.

1. The Upside Down Christmas Tree
Not the most convenient, we’ll admit, but this little trick will definitely keep the toe beans at bay!

Source: Imgur

2. The Plastic Wrap Christmas Tree
All paws will definitely be off this festive season with this genius hack!

Source: Pinterest

3. The Bottomless Christmas Tree
A minimalist approach that is both cat- and child-proof.

Source: Meowingtons

4. The Caged Christmas Tree
Keep your cats off the naughty list with this clever hack.

Source: Animal Channel

5. Festive Cat-mas Tree
When all else fails, make your beloved companion the star!

Source: Imgur

Regular Sponsor Needed for Ringo

5/11/2019

Ringo came into our care towards the end of August 2019 from a remote pound with his two brothers Hamish and George. Prior to rescuing this band of brothers, we were told that Ringo’s throat was hoarse from him choking on some food and that he was on antibiotics as a preventative measure to keep him from infection. No worries, we thought. We will be sure he is healed and healthy and we’ll find this loving boy the forever home he deserves. Unfortunately, Ringo’s need for antibiotics went way deeper than a little cough from an irritated throat.

Ringo has been struggling with his health the entire time he has been in our care for over 2 months now. Both his brothers were healthy and found their forever families long ago, but poor Ringo has only found himself at specialist vet appointments time and time again. He has been on countless rounds of antibiotics, and at one point we feared for his life as his carer frantically reported one day that he was hot to the touch and could barely lift his head.

Numerous vet visits, multiple rounds of antibiotics and thousands of dollars of care later, we have finally found an answer to what has ailed poor Ringo for so long. He has Chronic Rhinitis, and most recently was diagnosed with E Coli and Pasteurella bacteria infections in his sinuses. While he is improving on medication, he will continue to need ongoing management to keep his respiratory issues at bay. This means pulse treatments of antibiotics for the rest of his life to manage any infections he gets as his immune system cannot fight the bacteria. In addition, he will also require occasional procedures to completely flush his sinuses to aid in the management of his illness.

While all this sounds terrifying and tragic, you must look past the medical jargon and see Ringo for the beautiful soul he is. He has been a loving kitty since day one: not only charming his foster carer with his unique “bangs” look, but also with his playful, cuddly personality. He loves playing with toys and running around just like every other kitten, and will happily jump on your lap for pats and kisses. He is so cheerful and happy to be alive often it is easy to forget that has been dealt the unfortunate hand of having a chronic illness. The illness does not define him, his strength and courage does.

We are now asking for your help to sponsor Ringo and give him a better chance at a second life. For just $10 a fortnight, your support will ensure that Ringo continues to receive the necessary care for his chronic condition and help us to get him prepared for finding a family that will accept him for who he is, not what illness he has.

Black Cat Awareness Month

1/10/2019

Natasha

The black cat is a feline with a long list of unfortunate associations. The superstition that such cats are bad luck continues to steer many a prospective adoptee away from an otherwise perfect pet in favour of other breeds. This phenomenon—known as ‘black cat syndrome’—has led to the creation of Black Cat Awareness Month. Every October shelters around the world spend the month promoting their black cat rescues in order to improve public perception and help black cats find their forever homes.

In lieu with this fantastic cause Furry Friends is sharing a number of our black cat success stories. Without further ado meet former Furry Friends foster kitty: Natasha.

At just five months old, Natasha was a playful pound transfer surrendered to the Animal Welfare League in the Gold Coast, Queensland. Saved from death row with another kitten, Natasha was suffering from ringworm, an inability to fully retract her tongue, and a cold she had caught in the pound.

The Werewolf Cat

1/10/2019

The Werewolf Cat

Cats are a beautiful, clever species that have long held our fascination and love. There are several breeds of felines that are particularly intriguing, and perhaps no breed of cat suits this term better than that of the Lykoi: commonly referred to as, ‘the werewolf cat’.

The Lykoi is a lean cat with wide ears and a hairless face. While the amount of hair varies from cat to cat the Lykoi’s fur is a blend of black and white (known as a roan) that is unique to the breed.

A Lykoi’s mixmatch of hairlessness and colouring contributes to its scruffy appearance, which is caused by a natural-occurring mutation. This mutation affects the cat’s hair follicles causing both continued hair loss and an inability to grow a complete coat of fur, which is why the breed does not have an undercoat. The lack of hair is the leading theorised cause, as to why there is not a flourishing Lykoi population in the wild – without a coat of fur to protect them Lykoi cats are unable to survive in the cold winter.

Although the mutation has been found in feral domestic short hairs for over twenty years, the Lykoi’s journey as a recognised breed began after a litter of supposedly mutated Sphinx kittens came into the care of one Patti Thomas. DNA testing by Dr. Leslie Lyons proved the kittens did not possess either Sphinx or Devon Rex genes. Without the resources to further test and establish the breed, Patti chose to entrust the litter to Tennessee veterinary, Dr. Johnny Gobble. Dr. Gobble’s extensive testing confirmed that the kittens did not possess any genetic disease or skin condition, and they were instead a new breed.

Two litters were eventually presented to Dr. Gobble and his wife, Brittney: the first, from Patti born approximately in July 2010 and found in Virginia. The second, born approximately in September of the same year and found in Tennessee. Dr. Gobble selected two cats to breed—one from each litter and thus unrelated—and on 14 September 2011 the first intentionally bred Lykoi was born.

Six years later, Australia’s first ever Lykoi kittens were born in Tasmania thanks to the tireless efforts of breeder, Emma Vernon. Back in 2010, Emma contacted the Gobbles, and became Australia's official Lykoi breeder. In 2015, Emma was able to import a male Lykoi—named Vukasin—from America. Emma was also fortunate enough to discover one male Lykoi here in Australia, and after breeding him with the daughter of Vukasin (a female domestic black shorthair who carried the recessive Lykoi gene) became the happy owner of four kittens – two of which have been confirmed as Lykoi.

Dr. Gobbles credits Patti Thomas for the breed's name. Lykoi is a play on the Greek word, ‘Lycos’, which translates to ‘wolf’ – hence the loose translation of Lycos cat to ‘wolf cat’. Like their namesake Lykoi are loyal, cautious, and predatory with their play. The International Cat Association describes how the Lykoi, “appear to have dog-like attributes because they will fetch, hunt, and chase as a wolf would on the hunt.” According to Dr. Gobble, Lykoi cats also have surprisingly soft fur, are driven by scent, and are extremely intelligent.

Research into the relatively new breed’s genetics, origins, and mannerisms continue to this day.

Million Dollar Cats

2/9/2019

The 1970 animated classic The Aristocats tells the story of a family of cats who will eventually inherit their wealthy owner’s fortune. As strange as the concept might seem there have been several cases of wealthy cat-owners leaving their beloved felines their millions after they have passed on.

Aged 59, British singer Dusty Springfield died in 1999. Of “Son of a Preacher Man” fame Springfield made headlines when it became known that she had named her cat, Nicholas, a beneficiary of her will. While the extent of the bequest was not known, the singer left strict instructions as to how her 13-year-old California ragdoll was to be cared for. The will stated that Nicholas must be fed specially imported American baby food, live in a 7-foot high indoor tree house, and “marry” a 5-year-old English blue breed.

American author, Ellen Frey-Wouters is among those whose cats inherited money after their death. Out of her $3-million estate the New York native bequeathed $300,000 to her cats, Troy and Tiger. Two of the author’s former health aides now care for the cats by use of a trust fund, which reimburses them after submitting purchases made for the felines.

In 2005 a reclusive bachelor left his fortune to his cat, Red. David Harper of Canada—who died at the age of 79—left his entire estate to his ginger tabby cat. While the reported $1.3 million estate was officially left to the United Church of Canada the fortune comes to them in the form of an $80 a month that provides for Red’s care, feeding, and veterinary bills.

Guinness World Records holder until 2018, Blackie earned a $12.5 million inheritance at the time of his owner’s demise. Ben Rea was a British antiques dealer and recluse who lived with 15 cats. Instead of remembering his family Rea split his fortune between the only surviving feline (Blackie), and three cat charities who were tasked with the cat’s care.

Perhaps one of the more recent cases is that of a Burmese named Choupette. Companion of the late Karl Lagerfeld the cat inherited part of Lagerfeld’s multimillion-dollar estate upon the Chanel’s designer’s death. Incidentally the “pampered pussy” has over 286,000 followers on Instagram with a massive 119,184 likes alone for Choupette’s post—complete with mourning veil—for her beloved “Daddy Lagerfeld”.

Astounding as it might seem, Choupette is not the wealthiest feline in either history nor the world. A black Italian cat named Tommaso inherited his 94-year-old owner’s entire estate after her death in 2011. The massive portfolio of widow, Maria Assunta, was valued at over $13 million and includes properties in multiple countries. While laws in Italy prevent the former stray from inheriting the fortune directly his nurse known only as, ‘Stefania’, was named trustee for the feline and his millions.

Dental Care for Cats

2/9/2019

Dentists recommend humans brush their teeth twice a day and to have at least one dental check-up a year. Tooth decay, gum disease, and plague build-up are just some of the problems that are easily prevented by a dental hygiene routine – and it is the same for cats.
The seriousness of maintaining dental hygiene cannot be ignored. According to the team at Flinders View Veterinary Surgery, all cats from the age of three are “80% more likely to develop a serious dental disease.” Tartar on the teeth is the main problem vets attribute to these high figures. When tartar or plague is left on the surface of a cat’s teeth the feline’s gums can swiftly become inflamed with a condition more commonly known as gingivitis. Left to further develop gingivitis can result in periodontal disease, which can result in bleeding gums or the loss of teeth. Eventually if bacteria is left unchecked it can spread from the teeth to your cat’s kidneys, heart, lungs, or liver causing irreversible damage.

There are thankfully several points where an observant cat owner can intervene before such damage takes place. Noticing the signs of dental disease is the first line of defence against it. Symptoms include bad breath, drooling, pawing at the mouth, red gums, or a change in eating patterns such a refusing or dropping food.

Vets also recommend a regular hygiene routine that includes brushing your beloved pet’s teeth. It is also important to ensure you do not forget to massage their gums in order to reduce the risk of gum disease.

Brushing your cat’s teeth can be difficult, as cats are usually reluctant to let owner’s do so. It is best to introduce brushing slowly to your pet: start by simply using your finger to ‘brush’ your pet’s mouth. Once they appear willing to allow this you can begin adding tooth paste and eventually a brush – a cat toothbrush or a child’s toothbrush can work well given their size.

It is important to remain patient throughout. Be gentle and reassure your pet whenever possible.

If tartar remains present on their teeth booking a professional descale and polish is the best course of action in order to prevent both pain and further dental disease. Many veterinary practices have free dental checks or discounted cleans for such a purpose. Further recommendations include dental toys and a dental diet with dry biscuits both designed to remove tartar and maintain teeth cleanliness. Please remember that all dental diets should be given only at the advice of your vet.

The Celtic Cat

20/8/2019

Cat Sith

A cunning spy, guardian of the Otherworld, dark spirit, witch, or fairy: these are just a few of the roles that felines play in the legends and tales of Celtic mythology.

The cat was the guardian of the Celtic Otherworld (the Celtic version of the Ancient Greek or Roman Underworld). To the Celts, cats exhibited a vast intelligence, and were said to guard their secrets for all eternity.

With a reputation for intelligence and secret-keeping, the cats of Celtic mythology supposedly possessed the ability to steal souls – an unfortunate characteristic that contributes to the idea that cats are ‘dark’ or ‘evil’. In order to protect the soul of the recently deceased, Celts would distract the cat with unanswered riddles. The idea was that the curious feline would ponder the riddle, and either forget about the soul or waste the time available to collect it. Another method was to place catnip away from the body to lead the cat away, or to entertain the cat by playing a “coronach” or funeral lament.

One interesting tale is that of the King of Cats. There are numerous stories in Celtic mythology depicting its various incarnations including a brief mention by William Shakespeare, but one well-known depiction is titled, ‘The Farmer’s Cat’. The story goes that one evening a farmer was travelling home when he witnessed eight cats carrying a coffin. The coffin beheld a royal shield, and the cats were chanting that the King of Cats was dead. When the farmer arrived home, he told his wife what he had seen, and their cat promptly cried, “Old Tom is dead? Then I must be King!” And the cat vanished up their chimney.

Another prominent feline figure of Celtic mythology is Cat Sìth or Cat Sidhe (both pronounced ‘caught shee’). The cat—whose name translates to “fairy cat”—is said to appear in the form of a large black cat with a white spot on its chest. Folklore explains that the cat was in fact a witch who could transform into a cat eight times. Upon transforming the ninth time the witch was trapped in her cat form – a tale that most attribute to the legend of a cat having ‘nine lives’. It was also said that on Samhain (or Halloween) that leaving out a saucer of milk for Cat Sìth would result in a gift from the mythical feline. If Cat Sìth were to pass your house and found no milk the cat would instead curse your cows.

Most speculate that the legend of Cat Sìth is based on a real-life species of cat: the Kellas cat. Native to Scotland, the Kellas cat is a hybrid between the Scottish wildcat and the domestic cat, and was named for the village where it was first found. Originally thought to be pure folklore, the cat features a large stature and black fur – the latter thought to have contributed to its mythical associations. Several specimens of the Kellas cat can be seen today at the National Museum of Scotland.

Heartworm in Cats

12/8/2019

Heartworm can infect many different species including lions, foxes, sea lions, dogs, and cats.

With a simple mosquito bite larvae or microfilariae transfers into the animal's bloodstream. In a process that can take 6 months, the larvae matures, and then finds its way to the infected animal’s heart. By mating the adults continue the cycle, which can result in heart and lung disease for the host animal. Mosquitos can flourish in warm weather making many Australian pets high risk candidates for insect bites.

Although heartworm is more common in dogs than in cats the feline species can still contract the disease. The unfortunate side affect of this misconception is that many cat owners are not aware of the acute dangers heartworm can have for their felines.

One reason dogs have a greater risk of contracting heartworm is that a cat's immune system is extremely good at defending itself against heartworm larvae.

A cat's immune system naturally attacks heartworm larvae meaning it does not have the opportunity to grow and infest other parts of the cat's body. The problem with this is that if a cat does have heartworm proteins—that alert vets to the presence of heartworm in the blood stream—are often absent, which can mean an infected cat’s condition goes undetected until it is too late to act.

Surgery to remove heartworm from an infected cat is dangerous and often impossible. There is no current approved treatment for the removal of heartworm in cats making preventative measures—such as heartworm tablets and spot-on applicators—one of the only defences against the disease.

While there is a large market for dog heartworm preventatives the market for feline equivalents is considerably less. Administrating cat tablets and other treatments can also be difficult for owners. Unlike dog heartworm treatments those for cats are usually difficult for the unwilling cat to swallow, and are usually unpleasant in appearance and odour.

Due to the difficulties and lack of options available to cat owners vets recommend routine examinations, consultations with a regular vet, and taking the time to observe your pets.
Symptoms can present in cats in the following ways:
• Increased thirst.
• Lethargy.
• Nosebleeds.
• Respiratory distress such as coughing or difficulty breathing.
• Weight loss.
• Sudden collapse.

Vets can assist not only in the administration of heartworm preventatives, but can complete tests to ensure a cat has not been infected. While a blood test can prove ineffective vets can complete x-rays and ultrasounds instead.

Hopefully with time researchers can achieve a better understanding of heartworm in cats, and create better products and methods for not only preventing but treating the disease. For now at least it is the cat owners vigilance that will best protect their pets against heartworm.