Free-roaming cats may experience numerous hazardous encounters in the outdoor environment, including: vehicular accidents, aggression from other animals and exposure to infectious disease. This research quantitatively examined the outdoor activities of 55 owned cats by monitoring pets outfitted with 'KittyCam' video cameras. KittyCams are a type of Crittercam, designed by National Geographic to...

OBJECTIVE To gather data on cats living in US households, document their neuter status, and identify demographic characteristics associated with neuter status. DESIGN Cross-sectional, random-digit-dial telephone survey. SAMPLE POPULATION 1,205 adults in the continental United States contacted between April 24, 2007, and May 14, 2007. PROCEDURES Information was gathered by means of compute...

BACKGROUND The contribution of fat loss versus muscle wasting to the loss of body weight seen in hyperthyroid cats is unknown. OBJECTIVES To investigate body weight, body condition score (BCS), and muscle condition score (MCS) in hyperthyroid cats. ANIMALS Four hundred sixty-two cats with untreated hyperthyroidism, 117 of which were reevaluated after treatment. METHODS Prospective cross-s...

Cat predation is a prominent issue in New Zealand that provokes strong and opposing views. We explored, via 1011 face-to-face questionnaires, public opinion on (a) support for a National Cat Management Strategy (78% support); (b) concern regarding predation of wildlife by owned and un-owned cats (managed stray, unmanaged stray, and feral cats); (c) the acceptability of management techniques for...

Cats have been shown to provide the only known reservoir of Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch disease. To determine the prevalence of Bartonella bacteremia and antibodies in Dutch cats, blood samples from 113 cats from shelters (sheltered cats), 50 pet cats, and 25 specific-pathogen-free (SPF) cats were analyzed. Culture and subsequent PCR-restriction fragment length polym...

OBJECTIVES To retrospectively evaluate the outcome of internal fixation of trauma- related pelvic floor fractures using a ventral abdominal approach in cats. METHODS Clinical examination and radiographic findings at presentation, after surgery, and at follow-up were assessed. Information gathered included concurrent injuries, surgical technique used, lameness and pain scores, and radiographic...

The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) was discovered in 1964 in a cluster of cats with lymphosarcoma. The observed clustering of cases of feline lymphosarcoma suggested that FeLV was an infectious agent for cats. The development of a simple immunofluorescent test for FeLV permitted a seroepidemiological study to be undertaken on the distribution of the virus in cats living in their natural environme...

This study sought to quantify in vitro antiproliferative effects of pamidronate in feline cancer cells and assess feasibility of use of pamidronate in cats by assessing short-term toxicity and dosing schedule in cats with bone-invasive cancer. A retrospective pilot study included eight cats with bone invasive cancer treated with intravenous pamidronate. In vitro, pamidronate reduced proliferati...

BACKGROUND Hemoplasma species (spp.) commonly cause infections in cats worldwide. However, data on risk factors for infections are limited. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hemoplasma spp. infections in cats in Southern Germany and to assess risk factors associated with infection. RESULTS DNA was extracted from blood samples of 479 cats presented to different veterinar...

OBJECTIVES To describe the characteristics of unowned, free-roaming cats and their caretakers who participated in a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program and to determine the effect of the program on free-roaming cat colonies. DESIGN Prospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION 101 caretakers of 920 unowned, free-roaming cats in 132 colonies in north central Florida. RESULTS Most (85/101; 84%) caretak...