Cat Breeds, History & Physiology: PDF Guide

0 Cat Breeds, History, Physiology, and Health 0 1 History of Cats  Historically, its hard to determine the changes (evolving) of cats. These were forest dwelling animals and this made fossilization difficult.  Some records suggest that skins...

0 Cat Breeds, History, Physiology, and Health 0 1 History of Cats  Historically, its hard to determine the changes (evolving) of cats. These were forest dwelling animals and this made fossilization difficult.  Some records suggest that skins of big cats (predators) were used as clothing (6500 BC)  Cats were first domesticated 4000 BC by Egyptians 0 2 1  0 History of Cats  Cats were venerated to Egyptian culture as the believed that these animals were reincarnated gods  They domestication correlated to agricultural development. Stored grains attracted small rodents and cats were employed for vermin control  Cats continued to be absorbed into society and trained to hunt birds 0 3 History of Cats  In the early history: Europe cats were used to keep pest down (i.e., to control plague)  Eliminatinglarge numbers of cats likely assisted in spreading bubonic plague  1665: Mayor of London ordered the extermination of cats and dogs to control ‘plague’. Human incidence of plague rose as rat populations continued to climb over summer. A reduction in plague in fall as the flea 0 populations began to die in fall. 4 2  0 History of Cats  During the dark ages: cats were considered as ‘familiars’: an animal, as a cat, that embodies a supernatural spirit and aids a witch/warlock in performing magic (Spiritism and demonology)  Familiars were thought to be gifts from Satan or were inherited from other witches. Familiars would carry messages, go on errands, and assist in black magic rituals. Sometimes the witches would take on the form of their familiar so that they could travel about freely. 0 5 History of Cats  The domestic cat: 1 of 38 specie member of the cat family (Felidae)  Largest cat: Siberian tiger 10 feet 5 inches length and 42 inches at the shoulder (660 lbs.)  Smallest cat: (Africa) Black-foot cat (3.25 lbs.) 0 6 3  0 Cats Breeds 41 Total 0 7 Cats Breeds  Pedigree cats: ancestry has to be recognized breed that been recorded for at least 4 generations. Fewer than1% of household cats are a pedigree heritage  Most cats are mixed breeds (household or domestic cats) 0 8 4  0 Top 10 cat breeds 0 9  Persian cat  Maine Coon cat 0 10 5  0 Cat Breed  Persian cat: long hair, sturdy and good disposition. Brought from Persia by an Italian traveler (1617- 1621). Considered the cat of nobility and affluence in Europe  Maine Coon cat: know for its large size and good- temperament. Agile, strong brave cats: known to excel in rodent control. It's believed to be a cross of Persian cats (i.e. from Marie Antoinette own cat collection [trying to escape to the USA) and bred with American domestic cats 0 11  Exotic cat  Siamese cat 0 12 6  0 Cat Breed  Exotic cats: Breed was developed crossing: Persians with American and British shorthair, Burmese, Russian Blue,  Are considered good temperament  Siamese cat: the Royal cat of Siam (Thailand) and lived in places and temples for over 200 years.  Boisterous (rough) temperament 0 13  Ragdoll cat  Abyssinian cat 0 14 7  0  Ragdoll cat: developed in 1960 by crossing Persian with Birman and Burmese cats. Only most docile were kept form breeding  Cats are characterized by becoming limp and relaxed when be picked up off the ground 0 15  Abyssinian cat: likely originated from Egypt, but was raised for 1000s of years in Abyssinian (Ethiopia)  like people- but not good ‘lap cats’ 0 16 8  0  Birman cat  American shorthair cat 0 17  Birman cat: Sacred cat of Burma.  Good household pets that are stocky and intelligent  American shorthair cat: originated from native American working cats.  Good for rodent control, strong and agile good climbers 0 18 9  0  Oriental cat  Sphynx cat 0 19  Oriental cat: originated form Siamese crosses. Similar temperament to Siamese  More colorful coats and patterns than Siamese  Sphynx cat: developed in Canada 1960 (aka ‘Canadian Hairless cat’). Kittens born with fine hair that is lost in adulthood  cat owners like that these adult cats don’t shed hair once the fine hair growth is gone 0 20 10  0 Cats: A top predator  Agility and speed make this an excellent predator  Can quietly hunt both day and night  Good sense of smell and excellent hearing (smell 200 x106 olfactory receptors and ears can rotate 180° along vertical axis)  A tail acts as a rudder giving the cat better body control while running and jumping (used for adjustments)  Use sight at long distances and whiskers for close contact (close quarters): helps target the cats head to bite  Receptors in the mouth will help close the jaw  Canine teeth punctures tissue (vessels and trachea) and carnassial teeth tear flesh 0 21 Cat Anatomy and Physiology (Special structures)  Its spine is also very flexible allowing it to allow quick adaptations of its body in 3-D space  The cat lumbar spine is 6 times more flexible of rotation of bending than humans  The cat has a small muscle attached clavicle (floating clavicle) and this allows for easier longitudinal motion of the shoulder joint 0 (Innuzi et al 2009) 22 11  0 Washington State Veterinary School 0 23 Cat Anatomy and Physiology (Special structures)  Cat see 6 times better at night than people  1) Larger pupils allows more light in  Tapetum lucidum (Latin: ‘Bright tapestry’): Located behind the retina. It reflects images back on to the retina, enhancing low light images and thus allows cats to see at night 0 24 12  0 Tapetum lucidum Tapetum 0 25 Cat Anatomy and Physiology (Special structures)  Cat balance and orientation: very effective at falling and turning around in mid-air to land on its feet (cats have 9-lives)  its believed it has a highly developed vestibular apparatus 0 26 13  0 Washington 0 State Veterinary School 27 Vestibular Labyrinth 0 www.unmc.edu/physiology Orientation in Space detection 28 14  0 Cat Anatomy and Physiology (Special structures)  Cat Whiskers (vibrissae): These are used to detect the environment around them (i.e. feelers) especially in the dark.  If cats have lost vibrissae, they are more tentative and cautious to move around  Usually, 30 whiskers in sets of 4/row along mouth and above eyes 0 29 Cat Anatomy and Physiology (Special structures)  Pads of feet: these are soft and allow for quite movement  Retractable claws: an elastic fiber ligament system between the distal phalanx (P3) and the second most distal phalanx (P2) that when relaxed the claw is retracted. When needed a digital flexor tendon contracts and pulls the claw from its sheath 0 30 15  0 Cat Anatomy and Physiology (Special structures)  Feline bites:  Tiger: 1525 PSI, Jaguar 1014 PSI, Leopard 467 PSI  Short lower (mandible) and short upper jaw (maxilla) and strong temporalis and masseter muscles gives very strong bite. Tongue has no effect  Canine teeth (eye-teeth) puncture wounds and carnassial teeth (premolar teeth, upper jaw and molar of lower jaw) tear tissue 0 31 Cat: Metabolic diseases (Taurine deficiency)  Cats: obligate carnivores.  Cats: require allot of food nitrogen.  Unlike other animal species cats have a difficulty in regulating the activity of hepatic enzymes involved in amino acid catabolism.  Unable to adapt protein catabolic pathways and activities such as urea cycle 0 32 16  0 Cat: Metabolic diseases (Taurine deficiency)  Taurine is only found in animal tissues and thus cats obligate carnivores.  Other species synthesize taurine from sulfur rich amino acids (methionine and cysteine). The enzymes involved in these pathways are in very low quantities in cats  A disease prior to the 1980’s (now have supplemented taurine in cat food preparations).  Can still see in farm cats fed table scraps (or other home cooked diets) or dog food  Pathology: heart, eye, mouth, hair coat and immune function (respiratory burst of granulocyte) 0 33 Cat: Metabolic diseases (Taurine deficiency)  Dilated Cardiomyopathy 0 34 17  0 Cat: Metabolic diseases (Taurine deficiency)  Progressive retinal degeneration that leads to blindness 0 35 Cat: Endocrine Disease (Hyperthyroidism)  A ‘new’ disease: First recognized in Boston and New York (1979) and now considered the most common endocrine disorder of cats  See in middle age to geriatric cats  95% of cats with hyperthyroidism have benign thyroid adenomatous hyperplasia or adenomas (hyper-functional). Excess levels of T4 hormone  Less than 2% are carcinomas  70% of most cases are associated with both lobes of the thyroid gland 0 Peterson, Ward, Vet clinic of NA 2007 36 18  0 Cat: Endocrine Disease (Hyperthyroidism)  Brief review  Thyroid hormone (T4 longer lasting in blood/ T3 [active form] is derived from T4 and is more potent) effects almost all cell types. Increases metabolic rate of body (increase cellular activity). Uses more oxygen consumption by cells  increases protein synthesis, fat and carbohydrate metabolism (catabolism, breakdown)  Modulates calcium homeostasis 0 Peterson, Ward, Vet clinic of NA 2007 37 Cat: Endocrine Disease (Hyperthyroidism)  Breed: purebred cats and Siamese and Himalayan cats: lower risk  Possible etiologies (causes):  Antibodies (initially believed there as similarity to Graves disease in people); disproven  Environment: indoor cats: one study cats that used lots of cat litter had higher incidence of disease  Diet: cats on canned food (fish, liver, giblets) and with plastic linings: more incidence of disease  Diets with high iodine: daily fluctuating levels of iodine are associated with higher incidence of disease. Constant iodine levels may modulate disease 0 Peterson, Ward, Vet clinic of NA 2007 38 19  0 Cat: Endocrine Disease (Hyperthyroidism)  Cardiovascular effects:  Increased heart rate (tachycardia) and heart contractility (i.e. strength of contraction)  Increased in blood pressure, by increased water retention) (i.e. sodium reabsorption): increased preload of the heart  Increased erythropoietin secretion (i.e. increase more red blood cells) 0 Syme, Vet clinic of NA 2007 39 Cat: Endocrine Disease (Hyperthyroidism)  Consequences of hyperthyroidism:  Long-term increased heart rate  Heart murmurs  Increased respiration (stressed… visit to veterinary clinic)  Heart arrhythmias  Hypertrophic congestive heart failure 0 Syme, Vet clinic of NA 2007 40 20  0 Cat: Endocrine Disease (Hyperthyroidism) 0 41 Treatment  Drug treatment: (Methimazole): ~90% effective but reversible  Radiotherapy: (Radioiodine): >90 %effective and curative  Surgery: ~ 90% effective and curative 0 Trepanier, Vet clinic of NA 2007 42 21  0 Cat: Infectious Disease (Feline Infectious Peritonitis: FIP)  FIP is caused by Feline coronavirus (FCoV): Group I coronavirus. This virus can survive for 7 weeks in a dry environment.  Virus is prevalent in domestic and wild cats and occurs more frequently in crowed cat areas.  1:9 cats infected with FCoV will progress to FIP (a fatal disease) and manly seen in young cats (most of FIP are in cats less that 1-year of age)  Contact virus: usually fecal-oral contact (litter box), rarely by saliva (water bowls) or in utero  Stress: (i.e. surgery, overcrowding etc.) will increase the chance of progressing to FIP 0 43 Cat: Infectious Disease (Feline Infectious Peritonitis: FIP)  Virus will induce chronic immune stimulation: will result in pyogranulomatous vasculitis (neutrophils, macrophages infiltrating blood vessels)  2 forms: dry (non–effusive) and wet (effusive) form  Dry: characterized by pyogranulomatous lesions of organs  Wet: polyserositis (lining of body cavities) will exude fluid 0 44 22  0 Cat: Infectious Disease (Feline Infectious Peritonitis: FIP)  Pathogenesis:  Weak or absent cell mediated-immune response.  If partial (effective) cell mediated-immune response: dry form  If absent (effective) cell mediated-immune response: wet form  If develop an antibody response (i.e. to S-protein) disease and death progress quickly. 0 45 Wet form Markedly distended abdomen 0 46 23  0 Wet form- pleural effusion 0 47 Wet form –peritoneal effusion (ascites) 0 48 24  0 Dry form – Renal inflammation 0 49 Dry form –Ocular changes 0 50 25  0 Treatment/Management  Supportive (possible short term): NSAIDS  Euthanasia: the disease is always fatal:  Control: Hygiene, clean and disinfect area. Try to prevent cats from wondering in areas with known FCoV infections  If you had an FIP infected cat: It's recommended that at least 2 month before bring a new pet into the home 0 51 26