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Louise Burgess, a Veterinary Nurse, who delivered the kitten with Vet George Hubes, said she had never seen a two faced kitten in 12 years of working in animal health.

“I have seen cats with two tails and extra legs, but not this”, she said.  “It has a full tummy and survived the night, so that is a good sign.  It seems content and it meows and purrs”.  She added “This is the result of a congenital deformity.  Something has gone wrong in the early embryonic development”.

The owners plan to keep the kitten and are considering calling it Mr Men or Quasi Modo, according to the Australian website InMyCommunity.com.au

Another two faced kitten was born in Texas in February last year.  In August a kitten with four eyes, two noses and one mouth was born in Ohio, but died after five days.

Seven cats were trapped in a burning house in High Wycombe, Bucks and were found lying unconcious in the smoke filled building.  Luckily for them help was at hand in the form of some quick thinking firemen.  They used oxygen masks designed for babies to revive the cats.  Six of the cats survived, unfortunately a seventh cat, who was sheltering in the bathroom above the kitchen, where the fire started, was overcome by smoke and later died.

A spokesman for Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews battled their way into the burning room to recover the animals.

“We were told about the cats and ran around the house in the thick smoke trying to locate them all”, he added.  “We took them outside and fitted them with baby oxygen masks.  A few of them were unconcious or a little woozy but they soom came around.”

The cause of the fire was thought to be an overheated multi plug adapter.

A Firemen fits a mask to one of the rescued cats

 Picture from the Daily Mail, London

If you have a real tree, you should be aware that the needles are toxic to pets, so you don’t want them chewing on them.  Spray the tree with anti-chew repellent.  Water it well so that you reduce needle shed.

Always use shatterproof decorations, not glass.

Here are some tips to prevent the tree being ravaged by your cats.

Christmas tree BEFORE the cats get at it!

• Put the tree up and leave it un-decorated for a few days.  This should satisfy their curiosity and get it out of their system.  Then you can decorate.
• Shut them out of the room completely (very difficult)
• Put a baby gate on the door to the room, so they can see but not touch 
• Don’t put shiny, hanging decorations at the bottom, leave the bottom branches empty
• Put a tree skirt around the bottom to cover up any cables or pot and/or spray the cables with repellant
• Spray the tree with Smartykat of Boundary
• If it’s a small tree, put it on a table
• Put tin foil under the tree, cats don’t like the feel and the sound of it
• Put some plastic carpet runner underneath with the spikey bits up, cats won’t tread on it
• Give your cat a piece of tinsel to play with.  But only while you are watching.  Never leave your cat alone with such a plaything.
• Try putting orange/lemon rind under the tree and on the pot
• Tether your tree to the wall or ceiling
• Don’t put presents under the tree
• Don’t put chairs etc. next to the tree

If you catch them up the tree -

Try shouting NO and spraying them with a water spray

If plain water fails, try adding a few drops of lemon and/or eucalyptus oil and shake well

HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Edgar, a four year old female cat, had her face surgically re-attached by a Boston Vet on Tuesday.

It’s believed that she may have hidden under a car bonnet to escape the cold weather.

She was missing for three days and was found at home, in her litter box, with her face skinned and hanging from her head.  She was rushed to Angell Animal Medical Centre, where Dr Michael Pavletic re-attached her

Edgar the cat, who had her face re-attached - photo Associated Press

 lacerated face.  It’s not known exactly how Edgar got her injuries.

Safety in bad weather is especially important.  It’s a good idea to tap loudly on the bonnet of your car or sound the horn before starting the engine.  Also, look under the car for any animal sheltering there before setting off.

Onions (raw, cooked or powder), garlic, tomatoes, raw potatoes, grapes, raisins, milk and other dairy products, chocolate, baby food, alcohol, bones, coffee, tea, caffeine, citrus oil, dog food, fat trimmings, vitamin supplements containing iron, large amounts of liver, macadamia nuts, marijuana, cannabis, mushrooms, mouldy or spoiled food, garbage, persimmons, rhubarb, tomato leaves, potato and tomato stems, raw eggs, raw fish, salt, sugary foods, table scraps, tobacco, yeast dough.

Persimmon fruit

The symptoms include:

sneezing, runny nose, general lethargy, excessive salivation, loss of appetite, nasal discharge and conjunctivitis.

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection is also referred to as Feline Upper Respiratory Infection Complex, and refers to an infection in the nose, throat and sinus area.  If cannot be caught by humans.  Feline chlamydia, a bacterial infections, can also result in URTI infections.

There a two known viruses - Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR) and Feline Calicivirus (FCR).

A kitten with URTI

There are no drugs available to kill these viruses, so treatment is aimed at the symptoms and maintaining the cat’s overall health to bolster the immune system and help a speedy recovery.

This can be a serious disease and can be fatal, especially to kittens, elderly cats, nursing mothers and kittens and any cat whose immune system in already compromised because of other illnesses.  Eyes can be affected very seriously.

The best advice is GO TO SEE YOUR VET and then get your cat or kitten vaccinated.

Mary Springer, Executive Director of Paw Paw’s Chamber of Commerce said the Phoenix was so tiny that she wasn’t expected to make it. 

Phoenix appears to be quite comfortable in her daytime surroundings in Mary’s office.  She’s either curled up on Mary’s desk and curled up on the chair beside it.

This is one cat that has really landed on her Paw Paws.  (Sorry I couldn’t resist it)

Phoenix the cat relaxes on a desk in the Paw Paw Chamber of Commerce - photo by Jill McLane Baker - Kalamazoo Gazette

As with humans, the life expectancy of cats is increasing and with this longer life runs the greater chance of developing dementia. Studies show that good diet, mental stimulation and companionship
can reduce the likelihood of dementia in cats (and in humans, too).

Signs your cat has dementia:

- Getting disoriented and confused; can be shown if cats keep getting trapped in corners, or failing to find their litter tray

- Loud crying, especially at night

- Changed social relationships; becoming more aggressive or attention-seeking than previously

- Increased irritability or anxiety, or less interest in stimuli, such as games

- Altered sleeping patterns

- Changes in activity; aimless wandering, pacing or reduced activity

- Altered interest in food; usually eating less, sometimes eating
more, after forgetting they have eaten

- Decreased grooming

This list probably doesn’t cover everything, so if you see these or any other signs that you cat isn’t himself, then please visit your Vet.

Can can we do to help?

If the condition is picked up early enough, then the following may help

• food fortified with anit-oxidants and vitamins
• stimulationg environment with toys and playtime with their favourite human
• medications prescribed by the Vet

However, cats with advanced dementia need to feel safe and might not cope with changes to their food or routine that could frighten or confuse them.

Your Vet is the person to consult at all times.

Charley the cat climbed on his owner’s face and clawed at him until he got out of bed and ran from the burning house.  John Griffin, who escaped the fire, along with the family dog, said Charley was a ‘good cat’.  None of them were injured.

Flames shot 45′ into the air and the entire area was lit up.  “It was pretty spectacular” said the Dunedin Fire Department.