It's Finally Spring!
(Though it was still snowing here last week!)
Flea Season! Ack!
Speaking of spring, for a lot of the world, this means flea season is upon us! Here are some strategies to keep those biting little buggers away!
Treatment for FIP cats coming to the U.S.!
For decades, a diagnosis of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) has been a death sentence. But a drug called GS-441524 has been used for a few years to treat—and cure—FIP in cats around the world. In the U.S., it has been challenging to obtain. But starting June 1 (tomorrow!) veterinarians will be able to prescribe it thanks to a partnership with Stokes Pharmacy and Bova, a London-based pharmaceutical company. Check it out here!
Just try to get some work done… I dare ya!
Breed-Related Mortality?
A recent article in The Guardian discussed the typical lifespans of various cat breeds in the U.K. The Sphynx came in last place, with an average lifespan of only 6.7 years, with the longest average at 14.4 years for Burmese, Birmans, and mixed breeds.
To me, these are horrifyingly short lifespans all around. There’s no reason why most cats can’t live for 15-20 years or more with proper care. But there are a lot of pieces to that puzzle!
One factor, especially in the U.K., is that cats tend to roam outdoors. We know that unfettered access to the big wide world is dangerous. (See Indoors or Outdoors?, as well as ways to make the outdoors safe for cats.)
Add to that: over-vaccination, epigenetics, cancer, and for many indoor cats, boredom.
Nutrition is a major factor, and most cats are not getting an optimal diet. Here are some tips for creating a more optimal diet for your kitty!
My cats typically live 15-20 years, and yours can too!
Why Cats Love Tuna
Tuna are big fish, and they live in deep water. Given that cats evolved in a desert environment, their intense attraction to tuna seems a little weird! This paradox intrigued some scientists in Japan, and they set out to figure out why. As it turns out, cats have taste buds for umami, a savory, meaty flavor. There are five known tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. Cats have a limited ability to taste sweet, and fewer taste buds for bitter than people, making their famously finicky habits logical. But now we know that they, as well as humans and dogs, also taste umami. Tuna is especially high in molecules that provide that umami taste.
All that said, while tuna is a good source of protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, it is not a great choice for cats. It has a high addiction potential—some cats who taste tuna then refuse to eat other foods. As a top-line predatory fish, tuna accumulates mercury and other toxins. Along with other fish, it can also predispose or even trigger an episode of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), also called feline interstitial cystitis, including inflammation, urinary crystals, and even bladder stones. It is also high in histamines, which can cause an allergic reaction. (Click here to see all the reasons why I don’t recommend fish for cats.)
Tuna is fine as occasional meal or small treat, but it should not be the mainstay of any cat’s diet.
New: Paid Subscriber Perk!
I’ve been thinking of how I might thank paid subscribers, and here’s the first step!
I’m updating my best-selling ebook, What Cats Should Eat. (It’s a constant process—with ebooks, you can update any time!) But when you’re old like me, things take a little longer than we might prefer! So I’m going to be sending all our paid subscribers the current version as a gift! (But give me a day to get it together!) Hope you enjoy it, and please please please feel free to let me know what you think, or if you have questions! Reader feedback is the best way for me to update and improve on it!
So, thank you for your support! It’s truly and greatly appreciated!
Lost and Found Resource
Uses facial recognition to compare lost vs found pets.
TO SUBSCRIBE: littlebigcat.substack.com