Mar2012_Old Mill Veterinary Surgery
On CATS ARE NOT SMALL DOGS
The feline lovers amongst us would be familiar with sayings such as “dogs come when they’re called, cats will take a message and get back you”, or “dogs have owners, cats have servants”. It is obvious to cat owners that they are not small dogs, but you’d be surprised how many people treat them as though they are. Not only are their temperaments and behaviour different, but so are their nutritional needs and the diseases they are prone to.
The feline lovers amongst us would be familiar with sayings such as “dogs come when they’re called, cats will take a message and get back you”, or “dogs have owners, cats have servants”. It is obvious to cat owners that they are not small dogs, but you’d be surprised how many people treat them as though they are. Not only are their temperaments and behaviour different, but so are their nutritional needs and the diseases they are prone to.
Cats are pure carnivores while dogs fall into the omnivore category. This means that dogs will do well on a diet composed of protein and carbohydrates, but cats require up to twice as much protein in their diets in comparison to a dog of a similar size. Dietary protein supplies amino acids, which is needed for the manufacture of important antibodies, enzymes, hormones, and tissues. Cats also lack certain enzyme systems that dogs have and which allows dogs to metabolically process some vegetable-based proteins. Therefore, cats need higher levels of essential amino acids and vitamin A in their diets. This all means that cats can quickly develop serious health problems when they stop eating or are fed the wrong food. In fact, some very common and potentially life-threatening diseases in cats, such as urinary obstruction, are caused by eating the wrong type of food.
Of course, the unique needs of cats don’t end with nutrition. They have their own diseases, and even if they share a particular condition with dogs, the feline version may have a different presentation, and a very different treatment protocol. Cats are very good at hiding their disease, so subtle changes in their weight, eating habits or toileting can be very significant. For example, dogs with heartworm disease usually tend to cough, alerting you that something is wrong, whereas cats usually have no signs at all, they may just suddenly die from their disease – so yes, treating cats for heartworm disease is as important as in dogs. Also, some drugs that are perfectly appropriate to use on dogs may in fact have severe and even fatal side-effects in cats. One good example of this is the flea and tick treatments commonly used in dogs, the regular ingredient pyrethrin is in fact highly toxic to cats, causing seizures, coma, and death. Same goes for some human over-the-counter medicines, such as panadol.
Treating cats and their ailments requires special understanding of their behaviour and specific needs. Cats can suffer many diseases as a result of stress, such as cystitis and over grooming, and sometimes the causes of stress are not immediately obvious, needing special treatment protocols and investigative work in collaboration between the owner and the veterinarian. At The Old Mill Vet Surgery we have all the cat friendly paraphernalia, everything from cages with door covers that offer a quiet and secure place to recover, to tiny blood pressure cuffs, or even pheromone diffusers to keep them relaxed and avoid them getting stressed. Most veterinarians would rather treat a snarling Rottweiler than an angry cat, as they have 5 weapons of mass destruction, so knowing how to handle a cat and treat them with minimal stress is very important. So while dogs believe they are human, and cats believe they are God, they are not invincible, and need some special care and attention.
If you have any questions regarding your feline friend, don’t hesitate to call the staff at the Old Mill Vet Surgery on 3425 2222, we’d love to hear from you.
Of course, the unique needs of cats don’t end with nutrition. They have their own diseases, and even if they share a particular condition with dogs, the feline version may have a different presentation, and a very different treatment protocol. Cats are very good at hiding their disease, so subtle changes in their weight, eating habits or toileting can be very significant. For example, dogs with heartworm disease usually tend to cough, alerting you that something is wrong, whereas cats usually have no signs at all, they may just suddenly die from their disease – so yes, treating cats for heartworm disease is as important as in dogs. Also, some drugs that are perfectly appropriate to use on dogs may in fact have severe and even fatal side-effects in cats. One good example of this is the flea and tick treatments commonly used in dogs, the regular ingredient pyrethrin is in fact highly toxic to cats, causing seizures, coma, and death. Same goes for some human over-the-counter medicines, such as panadol.
Treating cats and their ailments requires special understanding of their behaviour and specific needs. Cats can suffer many diseases as a result of stress, such as cystitis and over grooming, and sometimes the causes of stress are not immediately obvious, needing special treatment protocols and investigative work in collaboration between the owner and the veterinarian. At The Old Mill Vet Surgery we have all the cat friendly paraphernalia, everything from cages with door covers that offer a quiet and secure place to recover, to tiny blood pressure cuffs, or even pheromone diffusers to keep them relaxed and avoid them getting stressed. Most veterinarians would rather treat a snarling Rottweiler than an angry cat, as they have 5 weapons of mass destruction, so knowing how to handle a cat and treat them with minimal stress is very important. So while dogs believe they are human, and cats believe they are God, they are not invincible, and need some special care and attention.
If you have any questions regarding your feline friend, don’t hesitate to call the staff at the Old Mill Vet Surgery on 3425 2222, we’d love to hear from you.
