Common Eye Problems in Cats
Some Signs to Be Aware Of 

Eye problems in cats can be extremely painful and if not treated correctly could result in life-long problems or even blindness.  Knowing what to look for may make it easier for you to recognise the symptoms so you can get the appropriate care for your cat. The cat’s eye is similar to ours with a few significant differences, the most obvious being the nictitating membrane, or ‘third eyelid’, that helps protect the eye. Some breeds have naturally watery eyes because of their flat faces.  These can usually be kept clear by gently wiping with warm water.  If the watering becomes greater than normal or any of the following signs occur you should seek veterinary advice.

Warning Signs
·        Red inner eyelids
·        Third eyelid visible and coming across the eye
·        A half-closed eye or squint
·        Cloudiness within or on the eyeball
·        Excessive discharge or crustiness around the eye
·        Pawing at the eye
·        Bulging or sunken eye

Common Causes
·       Injury or scratch to the eye    If you notice the cat’s eye is half-closed this could be an emergency.  The cat needs to see the vet as soon as possible.
·        Conjunctivitis                  The tissue around the eye becomes inflamed due to allergies or infection.  A yellow-green discharge is often seen.
·        Blocked tear ducts                   This is a common problem for long-haired cats, especially Persians.  Although not painful, if the duct becomes blocked completely an anaesthetic may be required to unblock it.
·        Cataracts      Mainly seen in old or diabetic animals, where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and if left untreated will result in blindness.
·        Progressive Retinal Atrophy Where the retina of the eye steadily degenerates, leading to blindness.
·  Glaucoma     Where too much fluid builds up within the eye causing pressure on the retina, leading to blindness.

 

 

Foster Horses

Jade has been living on a farm in Silverdale where they foster horses for the SPCA until they can be re-homed.

Mary and Follie Forse

When Mary arrived at the farm in October last year she was pregnant, very underweight, had sore hips and major hair loss.

Initially we kept Mary in a paddock close by to ensure she was eating and getting the attention she needed.  When we could see she was putting on weight we introduced her to Bailey (an adopted SPCA horse), Rocky and Khan and she was happy to go into the bigger paddock with them.

Bailey and Mary got on really well, buy we had to separate them when foaling time approached.  Follie Forse was born in February.

In August Mary moved to another foster home and is doing very well.  Her hair has fully grown back and she is at a healthy weight.

Bailey took Follie Forse under his wing when Mary left and is very protective of her.  Follie Forse is now nine months old and has been adopted by Bailey’s and Khan’s owner.

Frodo and Spike

Frodo and Spike arrived from the SPCA in September 2010 malnourished, with very bad teeth and wary of humans.  They stayed in the house paddock for the first few weeks then moved in with the other horses.

Not long after they’d been moved into the big paddock Spike ran into a tree branch and got a large cut above his eye.  The horse vet sedated him and gave him four dissolvable stitches, as we couldn’t really get near enough to remove them.  The vet returned in December and both Frodo and Spike were neutered, and their teeth done.

Frodo is the quieter one and likes to follow his brother around, whereas Spike is more aggressive and very stubborn.  In July a horse trainer came to work with them.  Spike was his normal self at first but then started to co-operate and learnt quickly.  It was Frodo who was the naughty, stubborn one!

We have been working with these two a lot, and we’ve seen some amazing results, though there’s still a long way to go in the training department.  Frodo and Spike are now at a good weight and are both looking great.

Staff Notes

Bruce and Linda enjoyed their holiday in Canada, with a road trip through the Rockies from Vancouver to Alberta and back during June this year. Unfortunately summer was late arriving so they had to endure cool temperatures. Bruce also attended a veterinary conference in Denver Colorado for 4 days, catching up on the latest medical progress for cats and dogs.

After a recent burglary Andrea decided she was no longer happy leaving a high window open for the cats.  It was time for a cat door! Andrea microchipped her cats some time ago, so they could be registered with the NZ Companion Animal Registry in case they got lost or hurt.  She didn’t want neighbourhood cats coming in, so googled ‘microchip cat door’.  Now she has a cat door which only lets her cats through it!  She has also put deadlocks on all her windows, so hopefully there will be no more burglaries.

Geoff is again sailing north up the coast for three weeks in November.  He is hoping not to rendezvous with any of the Rena’s lost containers!

Barbara has had a very busy year with the highlight being the birth of her first grandchild, Lily, in July.  Mother and baby have been staying with her until they can join Barbara’s son in London in the New Year, so this has been a wonderful opportunity for Barbara to get to know the newest members of her family.  She is now planning a trip to see them all in London next year.

Kylie has taken on board an abandoned young cat and her four beautiful babies!  They are definitely keeping her busy and entertained, and will be ready for homes just before Christmas.  In October Kylie went down to Queenstown to visit her brother for his birthday.  She had a magnificent weekend in ‘Paradise’, and the weather was amazing!  Kylie is looking forward to going down there again in the summer holidays.

Jade is the newest member of our team, having started in August this year.  Previously she has worked as a vet nurse in a busy West Auckland vet clinic, and as a kennel assistant in a boarding kennels and cattery.  Jade has three cats; Turbo, Sylvia and Tigger.  She is very much looking forward to Christmas as her brother is flying home from Australia on Christmas Eve.

Have you had your cat de-sexed?

 

It’s that time of year again! Kitten season, when the toms are out on the prowl, looking for unspeyed female cats from the young age of just five months!

 

Like many areas, the North Shore has a high population of stray and abandoned cats, who roam our streets looking for food and shelter.  Many of these develop into feral cat colonies where more homeless kittens are born to fend for themselves.

 

This is just a reminder to everyone how important de-sexing is.  The SPCA and other feline rescue charities are overflowing with kittens and adult cats.  Please spread the word to friends and family of the importance of de-sexing their pet, and also that taking on a kitten is usually a 16 year responsibility.

 

How else can you help?

 

If anyone is interested in getting a cat or kitten, the following charities rescue and re-home cats:

 

·        Forgotten Felines   www.forgottenfelines.co.nz

·        Lonely Miaow          www.lonelymiaow.co.nz

·        Cats n Care             www.catsncare.org.nz

·        SPCA                       www.spca.org.nz

 

Some Feline Funnies...

Why don't cats play poker in the jungle?
Too many cheetahs.

What is a cat's way of keeping law and order?
Claw enforcement.

What is the name of the unauthorised autobiography of the cat?
Hiss and tell.

What is a moggy's favourite colour?
Purrrrrrrrrple!

What do you call a cat that has swollowed a duck?
A duck-filled fatty puss.

What does a kitty like to eat for breakfast?
Mice krispies.

How many cats can you put into an empty box?
Only one.  After that, the box isn't empty.

Why is it so hard for a leopard to hide?
Because he's always spotted.