Caroline took a week’s holiday and went to Holy Island. She has shared a couple of photographs with us – the first is a picture taken at sunset of the Pilgrim’s causeway. Look at a close-up of a lobster she ate. You can see where the horror movies get their ideas from!
Just a quick photo to share with you of Oliver, our vet Sarah’s new baby. He went to Caffe Nero in Durham for his first family meal out. I think he would prefer his milk to coffee though! He’s so cute!
Claire
As we all probably know, cats can be quite particular about what is in their food bowl. Most cats will have a favourite food, texture or flavour and will often turn their nose up at anything different.
By swapping and changing your cat’s routine or by tempting them with titbits if they reject a food in their bowl. They will quickly learn how to manipulate you into feeding them the tastier food rather than a healthy and balanced diet.
To avoid fussy cats, it is best to stick to a routine.
Sometimes, fussiness is more down to the way you serve food rather than the food itself.
Cats generally prefer to eat in private and don’t appreciate an audience. Try and provide some privacy for your cat at meal times.
- Ensure your cat’s bowl is clean. Several cats will not eat out of a bowl that has some old food in it. Try and get into the habit of washing the food and water bowls after every use.
- If your cat usually eats dry food but has become fussy, you may have to replace the food. Dry food absorbs moisture and therefore becomes stale, particularly in warm weather.
- If your cat usually eats wet (tinned/pouched food) it may be because it is cold. Cold wet food doesn’t have much smell, and cats often won’t eat what they cant smell. Wet food can be made more appealing by warming it up until warm to “mouse temperature” (warm to the touch) this releases the aroma and therefore stimulates the cats appetite.
- If your cat has access to outside, he/she may be having an unscheduled snack on the other side of the cat flap and come dinnertime he/she just may not be hungry.
- Cat’s don’t have psychological eating disorders and unless there is an underlying reason for a lack of appetite, your cat will most likely eat when they get really hungry. When your cat does eventually eat, offer lots of praise and affection as soon as they have finished eating.
- If your cat continues to be fussy try an alternative high quality cat food, often a change in recipe will prompt your cat into eating again.
- Where is your cat’s food is positioned, is it near a busy thoroughfare or next to the washing machine?
- Does your cat get bullied when eating by other cats/dog/children?
- Is the food on a raised level and is there an easy way for arthritic cats to get to their food?
- What type of material is your cat’s bowl made out of? Cats do not appreciate plastic bowls as they can taste the residue, they prefer ceramic, glass or even metal bowls. The larger surface area the better.
- Is your cat’s food bowl next to the water bowl? Food and water should always be placed in seperate areas, and do not feed from a “double diner” as your cat can be put off the food by the presence of water and will drink more water if food is not near by. In the wild if a cat catches food in the wild near a water supply, the act of killing and dismembering the food will lead to contamination of the water, so cat’s will always seek out another water source.
It is important to remember that if your cat refuses to eat for 24 hours or more, contact us at SimplyCats for an urgent appointment. Refusal or reluctance to eat can indicate a serious complaint and dental problems.
If you notice your cat’s gums are red or swollen, or if the breath is unpleasant please ask us at SimplyCats for a dental examination.
Claire
I have just returned from a lovely holiday to USA. We went to Memphis to visit the home of Elvis Presley (I am a HUGE fan) and have previously been in 2007. We had planned to go back again this year with my Mam and Dad but very sadly, I lost my Mam last July so we decided that my husband Keith, my Dad and myself should still go, as that is what Mam would have wanted. It was strange without her but we managed to have a good time and remembered her every day. We moved onto Las Vegas after Memphis and that really was something to see…..an experience you could say 
. We also went to the Grand Canyon, which was spectacular.
I have eaten too much but I suppose that’s what holidays are for and I am now trying to lose the extra pounds I have put on.
My best friend’s Mam and Dad looked after my two cats and my Dad’s cat while we were away. They only live 3 doors down from my Dad so she just came up to the house to feed and clean them all.
When we arrived back, my Dad’s house looked like a bombsite! My Dad’s cat Tibby had broken through the cat flap and my oldest cat, Maisie had followed him out…problem being, Maisie is a house cat and dosen’t go out. Anyway, when my friend’s Mam came the next morning and discovered the cat flap broken, she panicked, but to everyone’s suprise Maisie came trotting up the garden path and straight into the house.
My kitten, Megan had been such a good girl and hadn’t made any attempt to go out, she was just curled up on the settee. Only problem was they had been in Dad’s cupboard and pulled all sorts out, there was ornaments all over and hairs on everything….oh well the joy of being a c at lover I suppose.
Joanne sitting outside the house where Elvis was born
Joanne and Dad in Las Vegas
Joanne
Cats will drink water from the strangest of places – puddles, the toilet, bath, sink, even the shower tray.
Being guilty of all of the aforementioned, Caroline decided to purchase a cat water fountain for her cats.
This was especially for Maisey who is the worst offender, climbing into the sink while Caroline was getting washed and licking the water from the tap as it is flowing.
Here is a picture of Maisey licking the actual fountain, rather than drinking out of the reservoir itself.
Caroline can now get washed in peace and can recommend the use of water fountains for similar offenders.
Caroline
I’m off to pastures new…so to speak.
I’m joining a multi-discipline veterinary referral practice, to expand my nursing knowledge and skills. I will be working at a practice we often use for our out of hours cover if Sarah and Paul are unavailable.
I will still be working at SimplyCats a couple of days a month. So I’ll still be at SimplyCats just not as much as usual. You can’t get rid of me that easily.
I’ll still use my SimplyCats e-mail daily as usual, even on my days off so please feel free to still e-mail me and bend my ear if you have any queries as I’ll still be available as usual for all of you.
Claire
Maisey strikes again at Caroline’s house sleeping where she shouldn’t.
This time on the piano stool which is covered in a velvet-like fabric, perfect for attracting cat hairs! Despite pushing the stool halfway under the piano.
Maisey still manages to squash herself in and deposit the required hairs, ready for the posterior of the next piano-playing victim!!
Caroline
It’s time for Caroline to share some more nature photography shots – the close up of the bee on a foxglove was taken in July after much waiting and near misses from stings!
The photo of the poppy field is above Rainton Meadows. For those of you who live locally will know that is is a nature reserve created from the old pit works.
Caroline
Some interesting cat facts for you to ponder
- Sir Isaac Newton invented the first known cat flap. While he was in his attic trying to conduct light experiments, his cat kept nudging the door open and letting the light in, spoiling his experiments.
- Cats have more bones than a human being; humans have 206 bones and the cat has 230 bones.
- Cats have the largest eyes of any mammal.
- Airlurophile is the word cat lovers are officially called.
- On average, a cat will sleep for 16 hours a day.
- A domestic cat can run at speeds of 30 mph.
- The life expectancy of cats has nearly doubled over the last fifty years.
- There are approximately 60,000 hairs per square inch on the back of a cat and about 120,000 per square inch on the underside.
- When a cat rubs up against you, it is marking you with its scent claiming ownership.
- Purring does not always indicate that a cat is happy. Cats will also purr loudly when they are distressed or in pain.
- The cat’s tail is used to maintain balance.
- Cats see six times better in the dark than humans.
- The ancient Egyptians were the first civilisation to realise the cat’s potential as a vermin hunter and tamed cats to protect the corn supplies, on which their lives depended.
- Cats like to be stroked as it reminds them of when they were kittens and were licked by their mothers.
- Cats see so well in the dark because their eyes actually reflect light. Light goes in their eyes, and is reflected back out; their eyes actually work as built-in flash lights.
Claire
Animals in all shapes an sizes never fail to amaze and often humiliate vets
This image below shows the back of a Flea, obtained with a very high power microscope.
If you look very carefully you can see the flea being parasitised by tiny mites under the scales.
So you see that eliminating fleas from your cats has a double effect. Even more interesting do the flea mites have parasites?
The picture was taken while Sarah and Paul were at a conference in Prague late 2007 on cat diseases, and was taken to emphasise the importance of flea control in cats. Cat fleas carry a bacteria called Bartonella which can cause a very serious illness in humans. The bacteria, we think is transmitted via flea dirt (faeces) that infects the human by a skin wound.
So please make sure your flea control is robust and up to date depending on your animals life style and habits.
Claire
I found this video online and just had to share it with you
Claire
The team at SimplyCats would like to congratulate our vet Sarah, who has given birth to a gorgeous baby boy on 27th July 2010 at 8am, called Oliver who weighs 8lb 4oz.
Claire
Claire
Here at SimplyCats we have some exciting news…our vets Sarah and Paul are soon to be hearing the pitter patter of tiny feet and are expecting a baby boy on August 13th 2010.
Alistair Moir, our regular locum vet will be covering Sarah’s maternity leave.
You may have met Alistair before when he has worked at SimplyCats whilst Sarah and Paul were on holiday or at conferences.
Sarah will be back with us as soon as her maternity is finished. We will keep you updated with photos when the baby arrives.
Claire