Nursing home cat predicts deaths of patients

Animals have some truly remarkable abilities. Recent discoveries that dogs are able to accurately detect many forms of cancer and illness in people are amazing scientists and doctors alike. So what happens when we take this a step further? … A cat that can predict death in people may sound like science fiction, but it isn’t.

Oscar was adopted as a kitten from an animal shelter by staff from the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre in the US. Growing up in the third floor dementia unit where patients are treated for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses; Oscar has accurately predicted the deaths of 25 patients. At around six months of age, Oscar began making his own rounds of the hospital, just like the doctors and nurses do. He'd sniff and observe patients, and those he curled up next to and stayed with would wind up dying a few hours later. Oscar is so accurate that staff members notify the family of patients if Oscar indicates they might not have long.

Nobody knows exactly how he does it, however there are several theories. One is that Oscar can smell subtle chemical changes in the bodies of dying patients. Another theory is that Oscar reads the body language of the nurses attending to terminal patients and has learned when patients are close to death. However, at the end of the day nursing home staff are not concerned with explaining Oscar’s ability, so long as he gives families a better chance at saying goodbye to their loved ones.

Cats & Stats

A study has been published by a team from Sydney University on cat ownership in metropolitan Sydney. A random survey of over 2700 homes collected some interesting statistics:

• 33% of households had one or more cats



• of the cat owning households, 76% had only one cat, and 19% had two cats



• there were more female cats (55%) than male cats (45%)



• the avergae age for a cat was 7 years



• 97.3% of cats were desexed (spayed / neutered)



• Crossbred cats (moggies) outnumbered pedigree cats by a ratio of 3.3:1.



• The Burmese was the most common pure-bred breed, followed by the Persian.



• Only 5.8% of cats had never visited a veterinarian.
  

More detailed statistics are available in the article, published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2009). Click this link to go to the article: Demographics and husbandry of pet cats living in Sydney, Australia

Looks can be deceiving!

In my work as an animal behaviour consultant I see many cases where people make inappropriate decisions when choosing their pet, basing their decision on looks alone. While most people find puppies and kittens simply irresistible, many do not stop to think; how well will this animal fit in with my lifestyle when it’s fully grown? Choosing the right breed or breed type is more important than most people think and can minimise the chances that the pet will end up in a shelter later in life.

Consideration must be given for characteristics such as size at maturity, coat length, exercise and nutritional requirements. In addition, owners need to take into account how much time they will have available to provide companionship, training (if they want a dog), grooming and exercise. Adults are often easier to care for than puppies or kittens because they are already toilet trained and have passed the destructive juvenile stage. An added bonus is that many dogs already know some basic obedience. For people looking for a pet that is less fuss from the onset, a shelter cat or dog may be the most appropriate choice.

Research (and lots of it) is the key to deciding on the most appropriate pet to suit your lifestyle, budget and living situation. Reading books, surfing the internet and joining chat groups is a great place to start. Select-a-pet is an online questionnaire that can help you select an appropriate cat or dog for your lifestyle. See SELECTAPET for more information. Also consider speaking to breeders and people who own the breed or breed type you are considering. The more knowledge you gain on the particular type of pet you are interested in, the more informed your decision will be and the greater the likelihood that you and your new pet will be a perfect match!

Much Loved Moggies

Amongst the many varieties of cats available as household pets, there's no doubt which one reigns supreme in the popularity department - the moggie! And the much-loved mog is top of the pops for a very good reason. For this basic, no frills feline with its unsophisticated charm has been part of the very wallpaper of our lives for as far back as we can remember

Most of us grew up with a moggie, or at least shared our neighbourhood with one or more. They welcomed us home from school and played with us in the backyard - sometimes even suffering the indignity of being dressed up and wheeled around in a doll's pram! Many an Aussie photo album would bring back fond memories of family rituals which routinely included Puss in the proceedings.

Often we didn't purchase the family moggie - a kitten would be given to us by a neighbour or friend, or an adult cat would just wander into our yard one day and adopt us. Regardless of the lack of pomp and pageantry surrounding these cats, there was always something reassuring, not to mention downright comforting, about seeing them curled up contentedly in front of the fireplace or sunning themselves lazily on the windowsill or the front verandah. They reminded us of home - and life's simple pleasures.

Times have changed, but happily the knockabout Aussie mog is still very much a popular feature of our backyards and households. (It has been estimated that some 90% of Australia's 2.9 million pet cats are moggies). Although moggies do not conform to any standards –coming in a range of shapes and sizes plus a riot of attractive coat colours and patterns - there are certain common denominators. More often than not Aussie mogs are shorthairs (sometimes "fluffies", but seldom with much length of coat). Many are mackerel (striped) or blotched (blobs and swirls) tabbies, which tend to be medium sized and with a reasonably solid build.

Moggies are invariably extremely robust, hardy creatures. Their breeding, based for the most part on natural selection (unlike pampered purebreds there are few arranged "marriages" amongst mogs!) has left a legacy of hybrid vigour. Survival of the fittest has ensured a strong healthy lineage based on natural form and function.
This self-assured, no-fuss feline makes an undemanding pet. Easy to look after and easy to love, moggies fit well into our laid-back Aussie lifestyle - whether there just snoozing in the sun, playing with the kids, or joining the family for a backyard "barbie". Nothing if not adaptable, they are just as much at home in the city or country, making delightful companions for folk of all ages.

The nick-name of moggie is variously attributed to a British dialect variation of the word "Maggie" which originally meant a disheveled old woman, or the name given to a scruffy scarecrow. This tie-in may have had some relevance years back when moggies were more often than not unowned cats, but today's sleek specimens tend to be as well cared for as any of their pedigreed cousins. Nowadays moggie is just an affectionate term used to denote any nonpurebred domestic cat.

Owners may not be aware that they can in fact show their much-loved mogs. For further information about cat shows and exhibiting pet cats, people should contact their local cat club or feline controlling body.

One thing is for sure however, the moggie's lack of aristocratic ancestry will never stop it being "top cat" in the hearts and minds of millions of Australians.

The Cat that was made in Australia! The Australian Mist

The delightful Australian Mist proudly wears the label 'Made in Australia".

This home-grown Aussie cat breed has evolved from a predominantly Burmese background, with Abyssinian and domestic shorthair input. From this combination has come the most confident and companionable of cats with the loving personality of the Burmese, the intelligence of the Abyssinian and the vigour of the Domestic tabby.

The breed's hallmark spotted jacket comes in a wide variety of attractive hues, from warm brown to blue, chocolate to lilac and gold to peach - with the misty background colours highlighting its delicate but distinctive spots.

A personality-plus puss with a penchant for fun, the Australian Mist thrives on human companionship. Tolerant of even the youngest of children (and not inclined to scratch), these friendly felines enjoy playing games and being part of the hustle and bustle of a busy household making entertaining companions for people of all ages.

Their enjoyment of family life also makes them happy to remain indoors at night, or even lead wholly indoor lives. Some Mists can also be trained to go for walks on leads.

Independent, intelligent and self-assured, these charming cats know exactly what they want out of life - and how to go about getting it!

A purrfect conversationalist

Most cat owners are able to interpret the range of meows their cat makes and believe it to be the means cats use for communication, but meows are directed almost exclusively at humans. In cat-to-cat communications the meow is used mainly between mother and kitten and not between adult cats.

Cats which live with humans have learnt that a small amount of effort achieves maximum results and have become highly skilled at managing humans to get what they want - food, shelter and human affection.

When cats first began wandering into Egyptian households thousands of years ago, it was probably the pleasant sounding cats that were accepted into human society. Even today it is the pleasant sounding cats which are the most likely to be adopted from pounds and shelters, while the demanding ones risk being left behind.

Scientists have detected sixteen distinct feline vocal sounds and believe there are many others inaudible to humans. It is known that cats can change the inflection of the voice to indicate whether they are happy, sad, anxious, lost, looking for someone, surprised, or even just keen to announce their arrival.

Humans can assign meaning to cat sounds because through long association with cats, they have learnt the connection between various sounds and behaviours.

As well as using the well known “meow” cats use a range of other vocalisations to express their opinion. Hisses, growls and screams are usually made by a frightened or angry cat that feels threatened and wants to discourage attack.

Cats that are permanently confined indoors make chirping and chattering sounds, often accompanied by rapid clicking of the teeth, when looking through windows at birds which are beyond reach.

The way a cat makes its purr is a mystery to scientists but it is thought that it is meant as a means of communication, although scientists are now considering whether it may have a deeper meaning - a type of cat ‘mantra’. Mother cats purr while feeding kittens and the kittens purr along with her. Purring is most often heard when the cat is being petted or stroked by a human and so is interpreted as being the sign of a happy cat. However, cats also purr under stress or when they are in pain. The pitch of the purr varies according to the cat’s mood. Scientists have measured the cat’s purr at a frequency between 25 and 150 Hertz which are the sound frequencies shown in medical tests to improve bone density and promote healing.

Cat owners who feel relaxed and happy with a purring cat on their lap may just be gaining more than companionship.

The Cornish Rex – a most intelligent lap warmer

The Cornish Rex is a quaint but chic-looking cat, having a long narrow head with a prominent Roman nose, large flared ears and a muscular body rather akin to that of a Greyhound. Its spectacular crimped coat looks and feels like cut velvet.
The Cornish Rex is an intelligent and playful cat with boundless curiosity and makes an enchanting pet for gentle children. It craves human company and affection and gets on well with other cats and dogs.
The only problem with a Cornish Rex is that it has such a mind of its own. It is intelligent enough to get up to mischief, no doubt knowing it is being naughty. But once people have owned a Cornish Rex, they seldom go back to another breed.
Its intelligence makes it adapt easily to car travel, moving house and apartment living, and it is an ideal pet for elderly people as well as families.
Their low allergenic "Poodle-type" coat is low maintenance, sheds minimally and means that many asthma or allergy suffers who are unable to enjoy ownership of other breeds, may be able to live with a Rex.
While the Rex's coat is extremely low maintenance, it does not afford the same protection as a normal coat, so these cats need to be kept warm and dry. To compensate for their lack of guard hairs, the Cornish Rex has a slightly higher surface body temperature than other breeds - making them wonderful lap and foot warmers.

The Birman – an ideal indoor cat

The Birman, or sacred Cat of Burma, is a strikingly beautiful and unusual breed. It has a pale coloured body, dark face, ears, tail and legs, a semi-long coat and white "gloves" on its paws. Its eyes are a beautiful, deep sapphire-blue.

A famous legend is the only explanation we have for their colouring: one hundred pure white cats lived in the Burmese temple of Lao-Tsun. One night the temple was raided and the oldest priest was killed. His pure white cat, Sinh, jumped on the body of his master and the priest's soul entered the cat, and as it did so the white hair of his body became golden (like the Temple goddess), his legs, face, ears and tail became earth coloured and his paws remained white as a symbol of purity.

Birmans have soft voices and are more active than Persians but less active and talkative than Siamese. The coat is more silky than fluffy, and for that reason it rarely mats and is easy to groom and keep in order. However, regular grooming is still a must. They are recognised in most colours with sealpoint and bluepoint being the most common.

Their history is romantic, their looks exotic and they make an ideal companion for owners desiring an indoor cat.

More information on obtaining a Birman

The 2008 Royal Easter Show

March 20 – April 2, 2008

All creatures great and small are waiting to meet you at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show.

From baby bunnies to huge horses, animals of all shapes and sizes are making an appearance.

Get up close to the action during a performance or learn about various breeds in one of the many interactive displays including:

• Grand Parade and Horses – one of the traditional highlights of the show
• The Sunday Telegraph Animal Walk – entertaining, educational and interactive. Suitable for all ages, but particularly great for the kids
• Dairy Farmers Farmyard Nursery – hugely popular – baby bunnies, cuddly calves, little lambs and perfect piglets.
• Milking Barn and Working Dairy – interact with the animals first hand; learn about milk production and dairy farming.
• Dog and Cat Shows – over 3000 dogs strutting their stuff and lots of kittens, cats and laughter.
• Yard Dogs – watch gifted animals working and performing at the Show with demonstrations running throughout the 14 days.
• Dog Flyball – an exciting spectator sport that draws massive crowds to cheer on the dogs while they race.
• Shearing Demonstrations – fun and fast world champion shearers will be showcasing their skills every day at the show in exciting displays.
• Chook Washing – good, clean fun! Watch these cheeky chooks be preened and styled to look their very best.

The Royal Easter Show is internationally renowned for being fun, energetic and educational! So why not take the family? They’ll love you for it!

For more information click here.

Cat Adoption Weekend

If you’ve been keeping up to date with our “i-pet blog”, you’ll know that cats are the purrfect pet for busy families!

Cats offer loving companionship and are easy, relatively low maintenance pets, just wonderful for a child’s first introduction to the joys and responsibilities of pet ownership.

There are also many cats available through adoption. Giving a pet a second chance at a happy home can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences

With all this in mind, you might like to give a fabulous feline friend a home by visiting the “Cat Adoption Weekend” at the Keysborough Animal Shelter

If you don’t live close to the Australian Animal Protection Society in Keysborough, why not try your local shelter .

As anyone who has gained a pet this way will tell you, your pet will never let you forget how much they love you for it!

When: Saturday, 15th March, 10.00am to 3.30pm & Sunday, 16th March 2008, 11.00am to 3.00pm

Where: The shelter premises – 10 Homeleigh Road, Keysborough, Victoria.

Website: http://www.aaps.org.au/

If you have any enquiries, telephone the shelter on (03) 9798 8415 or (03) 9798 8044.

The British Shorthair

The British Shorthair has a rags to riches story. Cats introduced into Britain in Roman times were primarily "working animals" that provided a useful service to man by reducing the mouse population. Centuries of "living rough" produced a line of strong, hardy, self-sufficient and street-wise cats with a stamina borne of exposure to all kinds of inclement weather conditions.

Nineteenth century author and artist Harrison Weir so admired these cats’ natural sturdiness and intelligence that he started selectively breeding the most outstanding specimens he could find. Today those same knockabout qualities ensure that the British Shorthair remains among the most versatile and popular of all cat breeds.

A true no-frills, no-fuss feline, the British makes a perfect pet for busy households. Undemanding and untemperamental, it is easy to care for, easy to live with and, most of all, easy to love!

This "gentle giant", with its massive rounded head, thickset cobby body and short legs has a teddy bear appearance and makes a handsome addition to any home. Its dense but easy to groom fur comes in a comprehensive range of beautiful colourings and coat patterns. The most popular is undoubtedly the classic British Blue. Apart from the more traditional solid colours, the British Shorthair now also comes in attractive new hues and patterns such as lilac and white bi-colour and silver spotted tabby, as well as "Siamese style" colour pointed markings.

British Shorthairs generally get on well with other cats, plus dogs and pets of just about all kinds. They are also extremely resilient when interacting with children. In fact, their placid, easygoing, unflappable nature means that they will take virtually anything in their stride.

The British Shorthair gravitates towards the comforts of home and hearth where it enjoys snoozing and lounging around the house. Having "fallen on its feet", this cool, calm and collected cat nowadays quietly embraces family life, while making a decorative, dignified and much-loved member of the household.