Cat Lovers Blog

The Cat Lovers Blog has Been Consolidated

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 03:26:00 +0000

I've consolidated my blog/RSS efforts into one RSS feed on the main cat site. Any posts that I would have made here will now be made there.

Head on over to the home page and you'll see the RSS/XML links on the left side of the page. There's a help file there if you are not familiar with RSS. If you are, go ahead and subscribe!

If you want the RSS feed xml link and you know what to do with it, here it is... http://www.cat-lovers-only.com/cat-lovers.xml

Cat Lovers Only RSS Feed

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 02:50:00 +0000

RSS Feed Now Available from Cat Lovers Only!
I'm now experimenting with an RSS feed for the main cat web site. Perhaps you'll subscribe and check it out. I'm not sure how long I'll keep it up, so you'd better hurry if you'd like to see how it looks. You can easily add it to My Yahoo, or any RSS reader like Pluck by copying and pasting the cat.xml link.

For the moment, I'm simply adding in pages that I've already created. I've been toying with some new ideas. Over the next few months, I may change the format all together for my blogs/feeds. My Alexa ranking has much improved, as my site is now steadily getting over 120 unique visitors per day.

I'll be adding some significant content sections soon. Look for them!

Thanks for reading.

USATODAY.com - A first: Cash register jingles at Genetic Savings & Clone

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 03:06:00 +0000

USATODAY.com - A first: Cash register jingles at Genetic Savings & Clone

Well, they've done it. They've sold their first cloned kitten. The article says that the owner declined to be mentioned by name. Odd, since it appears that on the company's web site, they have her picture, along with the cloned cat, named Little Nicky. At least their pictures are on the company's home page as of this writing.

I first mentioned the cloned cat subject back in October, of 2004. If you haven't read my original post, or need a refresher, you can have a look.

Little Nicky is the clone of the owner's other cat, Nicky, who died earlier in the year. Apparently, the kitten is not only the spitting image of the donor, but also has similar behavior traits. Not too much of a surprise there.

There are 5 more clones in the works. So, at least 6 people on the planet have way too much money, and need counseling on what to do with it. These clones are reportedly $50,000 each.

You can adopt a cat from a local shelter in almost any city in any state in the US for less than $50. Hmmm...

And they won't stop at cats. The original inspiration for all of this centers around a dog named Missy. Dogs are harder to clone than cats, but they are hopeful that they will overcome the difficulties and start offering cloned dogs in 2005.

Cat Lovers Only : Site Map

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 04:35:00 +0000

Cat Lovers Only : Site Map
If you haven't checked out my main cat site lately, things have grown quite a bit. Go have a look at the site map, and you'll see that I've added a number of pages on various subjects. I'm trying to add pages on a more regular basis, but this of course interferes with my blogging habit! Go have a look

Cat Web Sites : Internet Links and Resources for the Cat Lover

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 04:26:00 +0000

Cat Web Sites : Internet Links and Resources for the Cat Lover
The cat web sites page is my new links page. I'll be adding more links pages to specific sub-categories of sites as time goes on, and I find decent link partners.

I've tried to organize it so that it makes sense, and I've given it a table of contents. That way, as it grows to multiple pages, you should be able to easily navigate to the page with the links on the web site topic that you are interested in.

I'll be adding to the links pages as I find more useful sites related to animals.

Webmasters/Publishers...

If you have a web site related to cats of any kind, or other animals, and would like to link to my site, then please do. If you would like a link back, be aware that I only link to tightly themed web sites with topics close to mine(cat, pet, or animal), or one that is closely related, such as lifestyle, health, or science.

I would prefer that you join Value Exchange prior to linking. I think that Value Exchange is one of the best ways for the web to grow properly. You'll find all kinds of link partners for your theme there.

You do have a theme based web site, right?

If not, go and get one!

Cat Lovers Only : Site Map

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 03:58:00 +0000

Cat Lovers Only : Site Map
Cat lovers should like this bit of news. I've done some major updates to the cat site recently, so hop on over and take a look. One of the first things you might notice is the Site Map page. This should help you better get around the site. If you're looking for a page on a particular topic, check this page first, as it has all of the current pages listed.

I hope that a site map helps you. You'll also be able to use it to see at a glance what I've added to the site. Hopefully, all this adds up to a better web surfing experience, and easier access to information on cats.

I am trying to add more pages as well. If you have a topic you want covered, post a comment here in the blog, and I'll see what I can do to get a page up about it. Lead time is probably several weeks right now with what I have in the pipeline, but I'll try.

Next topics to research: cat immune system, autoimmune disease in cats, cat litter box problems. I'll be putting up pages whenever I can.

The Mows : Daily Cat Cartoons

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 03:39:00 +0000

The Mows : Daily Cat Cartoons
The Mows are too funny, and if you haven't seen them, you're missing something.

Every cat lover will be a fan of The Mows strip. Every cat lover I know tries to figure out what a cat is thinking. Whether it is our own cats, someone else's, or one we see on TV or on the street, it doesn't matter. We always like to guess at what they mean when they do or "say" something, and what they might say to each other.

Well, now we know, since The Mows does that for you, and quite well.

The Mows (pronounced like "cows" - you know, like the meow sound that you get sometimes when you break out the tuna can, but don't deliver), tell a story about real life. The real life (sort of) of a cat owner and his three cats, with an added twist of craziness that makes it way too much fun.

Jay Dyke has masterfully (IMHO) taken his observation of his cats a little farther than most of us have. He's combined his ability to translate exactly what's going on in the minds of his furry friends with his talent for creating art on the web.

The result is a very funny, very likeable comic strip, known as The Mows. Judging by the number of visitors he is getting, other people agree. Check it out, I don't think you'll be disappointed (no pressure, Jay).

Enjoy...

Note : I own no copyright interest in The Mows. You may not use any of Jay Dyke's material without his express consent. Visit his web site for publisher's information if you wish to use his strip.

Cat Milk : A Healthy Alternative for Your Cat?

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Sun, 14 Nov 2004 02:54:00 +0000

Cat Milk : A Healthy Alternative for Your Cat?
I've just updated my cat milk page, so please have a look. In case you don't know what cat milk is, I can tell you that it is not milk from a cat.

Cat milk is essentially a cow milk product that has been made "cat friendly." What that means is that the lactose has been removed, and vitamins have been added.

You see, first, cow's milk is not at all a nutritionally sound part of a cat's diet. Second, most adult cats are lactose intolerant, so they can't properly digest it.

Cats who drink cow's milk often end up with diarrhea and discomfort - so instead, give them cat milk. Cat milk products, like Cat-Sip, have been treated with lactase, an enzyme which breaks down the lactose that your cat can't digest. Essentially, the lactose is pre-digested for your cat.

Cat milk products are also fortified with nutrients that are beneficial to your cat. Cat-Sip has taurine in it, which is vital to the health of your cat's eyes. In fact, without enough taurine in your cat's diet, she could go blind.

So, if your cat is craving milk, you can offer a healthy, lactose-free form of milk to her. As with any addition or change to your cat's diet, start slowly, and don't over do it! Think of cat milk as a special treat for your cat, and give it to her accordingly.

Halloween Pet Safety

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Fri, 29 Oct 2004 22:25:00 +0000

For many of us getting ready to celebrate Halloween, there is a strong temptation to include our pets in the festivities. Some people want to take their pets with them as they go trick-or-treating, or get a costume for their pets. The Humane Society of the United States warns us against it, with the following article on Halloween Pet Safety.

Since pets enjoy a regular routine, Halloween and other holidays can be a particularly stressful time. Strangers constantly ringing the doorbell and yelling "trick-or-treat!" is probably not your cat's idea of a good day.

The HSUS has a Halloween recommendation - that you keep your cat behind closed doors with a toy and some soothing music, and away from trick-or-treaters. This will also help to prevent your cat from slipping out an open front door when she shouldn't as well.

I've noticed a lot of interest in a halloween costume for pets. According to the HSUS, this is a bad idea. Most animals, especially cats, don't like being confined in clothing. The closest many cats will usually come to tolerating being dressed up is when they are wrapped up in a blanket, and even then, it usually has to be their idea, not yours.

Please follow the HSUS recommendations for Halloween pet safety. Even seemingly innocent holiday decorations can lead to tragedy. Read this article only if you are ready to read a sad account of a real Halloween horror.

I hope you and your pet have a safe and happy Halloween!

Cat Lovers Blog: Signal Noise: Cat Got Your Brain?

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Sun, 24 Oct 2004 13:02:00 +0000

Cat Lovers Blog: Cat Got Your Brain?
Just to let you know, I've added a little update to my cat toxoplasmosis blog post. I've been researching zoonotic diseases, and came across some information relevant to this discussion.

In addition, if you haven't browsed my website lately, I've made a number of updates....

The pages on Cat Health and Cat Illness Symptoms have been updated, as has the Interesting Cat Facts page. I've added several other pages as well. I am currently focusing on cat parasites, cat diseases, and cat behavior problems before moving on to some more general cat health topics.

I'll also be working on some cat behavior topics such as litter box problems, spraying, and the like. I am still planning on puting together a breed specific information guide, but there just isn't enough time. Sorting through all the information and misinformation out there about cats is taking all of my time.

I've noticed that a number of websites seem to take only one source for their information and publish that, but that doesn't always tell the whole story. Even authoritative sources have conflicting information. In addition, some websites will cite a particular authoritative source for data, but that data is not easily found at that source. Worse, it sometimes is either incomplete, out of context, or just plain wrong!

The toxoplasmosis issue is a case in point. There are a number of websites out there with what I would consider out of context references to authoritative sources. What ends up happening is that I have to create two, three, or four pages on the same or similar topic in order to describe what I consider to be a more complete picture of the issue.

So, if you've been waiting for a particluar topic to show up on my website, please be patient! I am making every effort to get those pages up there for you!

Thanks for reading!

Cloned Cats To Make First Appearance At NYC Cat Show

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Fri, 08 Oct 2004 12:09:00 +0000

Cloned Kittens To Make First Appearance At NYC Cat Show
Cloned cats? You must be kidding. Nope, I'm not kidding. Two cloned kittens will be on display at the Cat Fanciers' Association Cat Show in Madison Square Garden, NY, this weekend.

"Created" by a California based company called Genetic Savings & Clone, the two Bengal kittens will be on display at the show, but not available for handling.

The cats, named Tabouli and Baba Ganoush, are clones of a beautiful cat named Tahini. Tahini is owned by the son of the company's CEO, Lou Hawthorne.

This is not the first time a cat has been cloned, but these clones are "better." The story is that the method used to clone these cats, who were born to separate surrogate mothers, is "safer and more efficient" than other cloning methods. Chromatin transfer, as it is called, supposedly produces clones that more closely resemble the donor, and are "healthier" (read, not deformed).
Reportedly, they are going to clone more cats and sell them to the public at $50,000 each. Ironically, the most expensive cat ever sold was also a Bengal cat, at about $42,000 US. It has been reported that the record has been broken, but these cloned kitties may end up holding that record as well.

Side bar: that reminds me, I've recently updated the interesting cat facts page, but I haven't included the clone info or the most expensive cat on record either. I'll get to that soon.

Presumably, clones would give pet owners the ability to have departed cats cloned. The promise, of course, is that you would have a pet that is identical in appearance, and in some ways, behavior, to the original pet. The pictures on the wall would tell the story...

This is "Fluffy" - this is "Fluffy1" - this is "Fluffy2" - and so on.

As a cat owner, and as a cat lover in general, I never want to see any of my cats (or anyone else's) pass on. I wish they could live forever. But, at the same time, I wouldn't want a "copy" of any of my cats either. Each one of my cats is a unique creature, and can never be replaced. If I want another cat that looks like the one I have now, I'm sure I can find one in the sea of cats that are homeless and waiting for adoption.

In addition, I think that the moral and legal implications of cloning pets should be enough to make us stop and think. The one question we need to ask ourselves is this... when it becomes more advantageous to have a cloned cat than it does to have a non-cloned cat, what then?

Yes, it's expensive and therefore only for a select few right now. But that was the case with TV's, computers, vcr's, and cell phones. Now, households often have more than one of each. I know, those are technological devices, but so is cloning!

When the price comes down, the demand will go up. What people will use cloned cats for, I don't want to know. And what about the discards? What about the cats that are no longer interesting or useful because they are not clones? What happens to them?

What about the clones that don't quite cut it? What if there is some difference between the clone and the donor that makes the animal not useful (for whatever the intended purpose)?

"How was your day at the cat factory today, honey?" "You don't want to know."

Stop scaring me. I need another cat nap.

CNN has a report on the subject...

CNN's take on the cloned cats

BBC News reported in February of 2002 that the first pet ever to be cloned was a cat - appropriately named, CopyCat...

BBC News on the first cloned pet cat

Cat LifeCare Program

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 04:49:00 +0000

Cat LifeCare Program
Seen it all? Not yet. For the right price, the California Cat Center, Inc. offers lifetime housing and health care for cats whose owners can no longer care for them.

Basically, what this means is that if you become ill, disabled, or die, your cat can live out her life in a "luxury cat-only living" facility with lifetime veterinary care. According to their web site, this includes weekly veterinarian visits.

It also includes a "stimulating feline environment with playful catwalks, music, bird-watching and lots of love. Peace of mind for the cat lover who can no longer care for their precious pet."

For the "ultimate in luxury," expect to pay around $5,000 per year for the life expectancy of your cat, which they consider to be 15 years.

Sounds great! Good thing my cats can't read or they'd sign me up for this one and then bump me off.

Why Do Cats Purr?

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 05:28:00 +0000

Why Do Cats Purr?
Why cats purr has long been the subject of debate and speculation, both among cat lovers and scientists alike. Researchers, however, may now have an idea as to why cats purr.

Your cat may be doing a bit more than just saying "I'm happy" when she purrs. It is widely known that cats purr when they are happy. What may not be so widely known is that they also purr when they are in pain or distress. In those cases, they may be purring just to make themselves feel better, but research has shown that it may be a lot more than that.

While controversy exists over why cats purr, there is also some disagreement as to exactly how the purr is created in the cat. Neither the area of the brain responsible for the purr, nor the exact mechanism in the body that produces the purr are known for sure.

One school of thought is that purring is a vibration of the diaphragm and/or throat, another claims that it is the vibration of blood vessels in the chest area. I've also seen the theory that it involves bones in the face and head.

Now for the really interesting part. Researchers have done a number of studies on the effects of low frequency vibrations on physiology. It has been discovered that vibrations between 20-140 Hz are therapeutic for bone growth and fracture healing, pain relief and wound healing, muscle growth and tendon repair, joint mobility, and the relief of dyspnea (abnormal or uncomfortable breathing). Some of this research includes humans as well as other animals, such as chickens.

By recording and analyzing the purrs of various cat species, it was discovered that the frequency range of the study animals was between 20 and 140 Hz. A number of the species had purr frequencies that were either close to, or exactly on, a frequency that had been shown to promote one of the physiological changes discussed here.

By the way, I have seen a number of times, websites that have stated that only the domestic cat species purrs. This is NOT the case, according to my research.

I have also read on some websites that cats supposedly purr at the same frequency as a diesel engine, stated on those sites at about 26 Hz. Again, acccording to my research, this is NOT entirely true. Different cat species purr at different frequencies, with various harmonic frequencies as well. I'll ignore the diesel engine variations for this discussion.

But I digress.

Most of us have heard that cats have nine lives. This is an obvious reference to their resilience. Veterinarians will tell you that cat bones heal relatively easily, especially as compared to dogs. In addition, it has been shown that cats suffer relatively few bone and joint disorders, and fewer postoperative complications than dogs.

There is a veterinary tale that says, by various accounts, that if you put a cat in a room with some bones, the bones will heal. A variation on this is that a cat can reconstruct itself if all of its parts are placed in the same room.

While that may be a bit much to ask, it just may be that a cat's extraordinary ability to heal comes from that mysterious cat behavior, purring.

Cat Ring Worm Symptom List

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Mon, 04 Oct 2004 05:41:00 +0000

Cat Ring Worm Symptom List
Ring worm is the most common infectious skin disease in cats. It is contagious, and can be spread to humans and other animals. As part of my weekend update to the website, I've added this page on feline ring worm symptoms.

As a result, I've also updated the following related web pages...

Cat Illness Symptoms Guide
Cat Health
Cat Ring Worm

Additional updates to the web site over the last few weeks include new or updated pages as follows:

Kitten Names
Catnip Oil and Its Effects
Ear Mites in Cats

and a major update to the Interesting Cat Fact Guide.

I've got a whole collection of new cat facts that I'm going to be incorporating into that page within the next month or so - please look for it.

I hope you will have a look at the site when you get a chance.

Cat Names

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Sun, 03 Oct 2004 03:23:00 +0000

Cat Names
Looking for a name for your new cat or kitten? Would you like 5,000 suggested cat names to choose from? Here's a cool site that let's you search their database for kitten names by category and sex.

They have an easy to use search function with a ton of categories and subcategories. You can search for name suggestions in categories such as appearance and color, personality, and many others like TV, places, and even cars.

If you've got a new cat or kitten at home, then here's what you need to do. Go take a look at my page on kitten names and follow the recommendations. Then go to the kitten names database and choose your name!

A new resort complex threatens a Japanese paradise

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Fri, 01 Oct 2004 20:21:00 +0000

A new resort complex threatens a Japanese paradise

Well, the following quote from this article by Jeff Shaw says it all...

"The Iriomote cat is a survivor. For centuries, it employed the surest survival technique of all -- avoiding humans"

The yamaneko ("mountain cat") lives on a sparsely populated island in southern Japan. It is a relatively small animal, about the size of a domestic cat, with a relatively long body and short legs.

The species taxonomy information is under discussion, with some saying that they are a sub-species of the leopard cat, and others pointing out differences that would make them cousins, instead. While some controversy over their status as a separate species (Mayailurus iriomotensis) exists, these wild cats are said to have existed for two million years. They closely resemble ancient felines, perhaps more than any other living cat.

Since monitoring began in 1982, their numbers seem to have remained stable at somewhere less than 100, but all that could change quickly if their habitat is further diminished by development. Previously, their most serious threat has been competition and interbreeding with feral domestic cats. In addition, about 10 cats per year are killed by automobiles.

But now, with a new resort open on the beach, in an area so important to their habitat, the Iriomote cat faces a possible big change to an ecosystem it depends on. Some are fearful that the shy cats will not return to the area near the resort any longer. Ironically, locals on the island who make their living from ecotourism are some of the strongest opponents to the kind of growth this resort represents. They want to do minimal harm to the environment.

More Information including some species taxonomy information on the Iriomote cat can be found here:

International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC Canada)
Lioncrusher's Domain
BBC - Iriomote cat

MSNBC - King of beasts on road to extinction?

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 20:42:00 +0000

MSNBC - King of beasts on road to extinction?
Cats (domestic cats, that is) are so common in the US that one sometimes forgets that other members of the cat family are either already extinct, or are on the endangered species list. After all, we seem to be literally overflowing with cats. House cats obviously have a big survival advantage over the wild cats in that they have access to excellent medical care, nutritionally balanced premium cat food, and are less subject to dangers (at least from natural events like weather, drought, etc.).

That doesn't tell us all of it, though, because even in situations where domestic cats roam free and don't have good medical care, or premium cat food, and are out in the elements, they seem to flourish. Even in cities where there are dangers from cars and machinery, disease, and other animals, roaming cats can develop quite a large population within a relatively short period of time. In addition, big cats, such as lions have existed for years without any of the above advantages.

Well, it could be genetics. It could be that house cats have developed a better survival mechanism, or it could be that they simply procreate more than the wild cats. Even if the mortality rate were the same, the cat species that procreated faster and more often would end up the winner. I actually don't think any of that factors in. Unfortunately, I think the problems for the big cats are mostly caused by the most dangerous of all predators - the one that claims not be a predator - the human.

Resources on cats and endangered species status:

International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC)
International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC Canada)
The Tiger Information Center
Felidae

ABCNEWS.com : Mexican State Recruits Cats to Fight Rats

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 05:13:00 +0000

ABCNEWS.com : Mexican State Recruits Cats to Fight Rats
One more reason why cats are better than humans...

Here's a brilliant plan that obviously needs a cat to mastermind it. You've got a town with a rat population of close to half a million (so we are told). Some of the homes are infested with 200 rats. You've tried poison, but the poison killed the cats that would have preyed on the rats, and not the rats themselves.

So, what do you do? You try to round up 700 cats and ship them off to this town where the cats will, hopefully, begin reducing the rat population. But there doesn't seem to be a coherent plan set up to care for the cats and ensure their health and well being.

According to the article, a member of the Animal Protection Society in Monterrey, Mexico is not thrilled with this plan. Let's hope that some smart cat puts a hold on this plan until a number of animal care and control issues can be worked out.

Yahoo! News - Cats, Cockroaches, Dampness, Fungi Linked to Asthma

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 04:56:00 +0000

Yahoo! News - Cats, Cockroaches, Dampness, Fungi Linked to Asthma: "The strongest predictor of high indoor fungi levels, compared with outdoor levels, was having a cat live in the home within the last six months. "

They've found it! Apparently, researchers have discovered a closely guarded secret - the cat fungus connection! In case you don't know, cats are my favorite non-human animals, and I will defend them every chance I get. In this case, however, I'm afraid the cat is finally out of the bag. There is nothing I can say or do, as the experts have spoken.

Unfortunately, the article does not explain exactly how a cat is responsible for indoor fungi levels. Well, I'd like to know. If anyone can tell me how this ties together, other than the fact that high fungi levels coincided with the recent presence of a cat in the dwellings in question, please let me know.

MSNBC - Cat of the year Colin Powell meets his namesake

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 04:41:00 +0000

MSNBC - Cat of the year Colin Powell meets his namesake
Usually, I would say that cats and politics don't mix, but this cat is already a star, and you know how celebrities like to get political.

I thought this little bit of nonsense might amuse you, so have a look at this rather short article about a prize winning cat.

Cat Health... Your Cat's Health is Your Number One Concern

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 04:38:00 +0000

Cat Health... Your Cat's Health is Your Number One Concern
I've updated the all-important cat health page with some new links and information, so please have a go at it.

Ear Mites in Cats - A Common, But Treatable, Condition

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 20:14:00 +0000

Ear Mites in Cats - A Common, But Treatable, Condition
Here's a recent page I created on ear mites in cats. This is a common problem, and I've seen a lot of questions about it. Make sure that you take your cat to the vet if you suspect ear mites. Proper diagnosis, as well as proper cleaning of the ears is important. You could damage your cat's ears if you don't clean them right.

Interesting Cat Fact Guide - Learn About the Fascinating Feline

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Tue, 28 Sep 2004 20:05:00 +0000

Interesting Cat Fact Guide - Learn About the Fascinating Feline
I've updated the interesting cat fact guide quite a bit. It now has a totally different format, a menu, and some new facts. As I've said in an earlier post, I'll try to add to it once per month. I hope you like it!

Signal + Noise: Cat Got Your Brain?

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 05:24:00 +0000

Signal + Noise: Cat Got Your Brain?
I thought this was an interesting bit of discussion on cat toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is something I know a little bit about since I recently researched it for the cat lovers website. The post at the link above references an article concerning a study on cat toxoplasmosis and human behavior modification. In short, it basically says that having toxoplasmosis alters your personality. Interesting concept.

The personality altering possibilities of cat toxoplasmosis were discussed here as well, so I thought I'd respond to both posts.

Part of my response is in my page on toxoplasmosis and also my page concerning the toxoplasmosis pregnancy issue.

My concern for the safety of our personalities aside, I was interested to see how much misinformation there still seems to be out there about toxo, so I thought I'd add some comments in addition to my toxoplasmosis pages on my website. Below is my collective response to the various posts that I have seen in some of the blogs discussing this topic...

The facts and conclusions of the study about the effect of the parasite in question aside, here are some points about cats and toxoplasmosis...

The primary means by which humans contract toxoplasmosis is NOT cats - it is by eating raw or undercooked meat. This is exemplified by the extremely high rate of infection in France. It also may be through contaminated soil, although this is more likely in developing countries.

According to the Virginia Beach (VA, USA) SPCA, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that there is no correlation between cat ownership and toxoplasmosis infection.

Cats have become the number one pet in the United States, eclipsing dogs, with an estimated 30% of all US households having at least one cat. Let's assume, that some have claimed here, that cats ARE responsible in a large way for infecting humans with toxo. Let's further assume that there have been no substantial measures taken by the cat owning public to prevent toxoplasmosis infection (there haven't - in fact, people who used to give cats away during pregnancies because of misinformation by medical professionals now keep them). Then over the years, as more and more people adopted cats, the rate of toxoplasmosis infection should have gone up.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, this is not the case. In fact, toxoplasmosis infections are decreasing!

Hygiene for your cat does play a role here. Cats commonly get toxoplasmosis from eating raw meat, just as humans do. That is one reason why the so called "raw meat diets" are not a good idea for your cat. They also can contract toxoplasmosis from contaminated soil, and from catching infected prey (rodents and birds). Keep your cat safe and indoors.

Cats typically only shed the infective form of the disease (oocysts) for about 2 to 3 weeks after their first infection. This is a small window of opportunity. For example, if your cat has not been fed undercooked meat or allowed to roam outside in the last 4 weeks, then your chances of getting infected from your cat are almost 0!

The oocysts need 24 hours or more to "ripen" - until then, they are not infective. If you clean the litterbox daily, you dramatically reduce the window of opportunity even more.

The risk during pregnancy is not the only risk for women. Some sources tell us that an initial infection occuring up to six months prior to pregnancy can also be damaging.

People who are immunocompromised are at high risk as well. Toxoplasmosis is the number one opportunistic infection in AIDS patients. But, the majority of these cases are prior infections that resurface due to a compromised immune system.

All that having been said, you should follow the links to the precautions stated on the websites that I recommend you use for toxoplasmosis resources.

Update: In researching cat toxoplasmosis as well as other zoonotic diseases, I came across the following information published by the American Association of Feline Practicioners (AAFP):

Source of Infection
"ingestion of undercooked meat, transplacental, ingestion of oocysts after 1-5 days of sporulation"

Relative human risk from cats
"Rare; common in people but not usually associated with individual cats becasue of short term oocyst shedding and sporulation period"

In addition, they recommend certain precautions for preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases, such as toxoplasmosis from cat to cat and cat to human. Among those are only feeding cats cooked or commercially processed food, and cooking meat for human consumption medium-well.

Kitten Names : Difficult Choices Made Easy

noreply@blogger.com (catlover) — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 05:37:00 +0000

Kitten Names : Difficult Choices Made Easy
I put up this new page on kitten names. If you know anyone getting a new kitten, they might want to have look at that page.

Other recent updates concerning the cat lovers website include:

My cat behavior problem page is now number 8 on Yahoo!
My pages on toxoplasmosis are doing well also, as are several others
The Interesting Cat Fact Guide that I mentioned in previous posts debuted at number 1 on Yahoo! out of 1,980,000 sites! It is also number 1 on 3 other engines! Wow!

All I can say is, "Thanks, SBI!" - SBI! works, and it works like nothing else!

The tricky part, as far as the search engines go, is that the rankings can jump around a lot for some search terms. I am expecting that when my site becomes better established that my pages will be more stable in the rankings. For now, I'll just keep creating content.