April 2023

Inside this issue:

• Spring has sprung!  Take time to smell the roses, but beware of thorns and poisonous posies you may bring inside.
• See what goes on behind the scenes when cats arrive from municipal shelters.
• Can my indoor cat get fleas?  Dr. Susan weighs in.
• Save the date for our Senior Prom!

Spring has Sprung!

Springtime brings beautiful flowers and everyone wants to be out in the garden and bring some of the beauty of the season inside for the family to enjoy.  We must also be careful of some popular flowers that are toxic to cats!

"Lilies are very popular this time of year, especially around Easter time," says Dr. Susan Whittred, veterinarian and Executive Director of the Ladew Cat Sanctuary.  "Please keep these flowers out of reach of your cat, preferably out of your home," Whittred urges.

"It doesn't take much of the flower to cause renal failure in cats, which can be fatal.  Lilies aren't the only flowers/plants that are poisonous to cats.  The ASPCA has a wonderful reference for all plants that are toxic to cats," says Whittred, "and is a great go-to source to learn about the plants and flowers that are safe around out cats."

The ASPCA also has a service through which you can speak to a veterinarian if you think your pet digested something poisonous (plant or otherwise).  They have a database of all substances that can cause harm and will tell you (or your vet) exactly the steps (if any) to take if your pet ingested any type of toxic substance.  There is a small fee, but it is much less than an emergency visit and so worth it for peace of mind.  To reach their 24-hour emergency poison hotline, call 1-888-426-4435.

See what happens behind the scenes when cats arrive at Ladew!

Recent intakes of Luna, Smokey, Daffodil, Oregano, Prince and Señorita 

These boxes carrying very special cargo have just arrived . . . what happens next to get them ready for adoption to you?

When cats arrive from municipal shelters, our intake staff checks to see if the new Ladewbies have anything visible (such as a wound or a cold)  that needs immediate attention.  They are next checked with a special lamp, called a Wood's Lamp, that will illuminate any ringworm infections.  

A ringworm positive lesion as seen with a Wood's Lamp

Ringworm is a very contagious fungus that can spread like wildfire, especially in a cage free sanctuary.  It is also considered zoonotic -- which means that we humans can get it too!  Many cats can be carriers of ringworm and not have an actual infection or any clinical signs, so in order to rule out this annoying fungus, each cat is then tested via two separate tests (a PCR and a culture) which are sent out to our diagnostic lab.  The PCR detects if there is any ringworm DNA present on the cat's coat and the culture tells us if the DNA can grow and cause an infection.  Of course no test is 100% perfect but between the two, we do catch most cases.

Whether Wood's lamp positive or not, each kitty then gets dipped in a solution called Lyme Sulfur, in case they are just carrying the fungus on their coats and we cannot see it.  Sometimes this dip is sufficient to eradicate the organism or at least prevent it from spreading to other cats while we wait for the tests to come back.

The new Ladewbies are then checked for fleas, have their nails clipped and are introduced to their separate cages where appetites and bathroom habits are monitored.

Next on the agenda is to check for fecal parasites and, if the test is positive, treatment is instituted.  Dr. Susan then performs physical exams and screening bloodwork is performed.  Most municipal shelters have already tested the cats for FELV/FIV, given vaccines and implanted microchips, but if not, these are also performed.

The majority of the senior cats that we rescue require dental surgery of varying degrees.  Once the bloodwork is back and the cat is deemed safe for anesthesia, any necessary dental surgery is scheduled.

We do the best we can to get cats in our care everything they need prior to adoption.  The estimated cost of our average bloodwork/fecal/fungal testing is approximately $300 and more if medication, further diagnostics or additional bloodwork are needed.  Dental surgeries cost in the range of $1500-$3000.  

If you would like to help us help more cats that are in need of medical care prior to adoption, please consider donating to our Sandra Atlas Bass New Hope Fund.  We appreciate your support!

Can my indoor cat get fleas?  Dr. Susan weighs in.

Many of my clients have asked me this very question, absolutely stunned when I find a flea(s) on their indoor-only, apartment dwelling feline!  My theories are one or more of the following:

-contact with other pets in the building (or through windows if on the 1st floor)

-one or two hitched a ride on someone else's pet, a friend or a family member

Since a female flea lays 40 eggs per day, you can see how this could grow into an infestation in no time!  Fleas are difficult to see because they are small and stay very close to the surface of the skin, under the fur.  Fleas come out in the warmer months (60 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit) and prefer humidity (65-85%).  Their life cycle consists of larva hatching from eggs, which can move into carpets, cracks in wood, in soil or other organic debris.

 A cocoon is produced at the end of the larval stage and adult fleas emerge from the cocoon when appropriate stimuli is present, such as temperature and humidity.  Fleas can remain in cocoons for as long as 140 days.  Their lifecycle from egg to adult flea is approximately 3-4 weeks and adult fleas live for about 100 days.  Fleas can live year-round indoors as long as there is heat and humidity.

In some cats, fleas can cause hypersensitivity reactions (allergies).  Cats that have these reactions show varying degrees of erythematous (reddish), pruritic (itchy), papulocrustous (bumpy, crusty) miliary dermatitis (skin infection).  Fleas can also transmit disease, such as tapeworms and bartonella (commonly known as cat scratch fever). Severe flea infestations can also cause anemia in our cats since fleas feast on blood!

Fleas generally prefer to stay on our cats, but in a flea infestation, they will bite humans too!  Some of my patients' owners have complained of bites on their ankles (because fleas can't jump that high!).

Prevention is the best course to ward off a flea infestation.  There are many different products that are offered in the marketplace.  It is really best to speak with your veterinarian about which one might be right for your cat to avoid this problem.  Some products, even those available at pet stores and supermarkets can be harmful to cats.  Your veterinarian can select which product might be best for your situation.  Most are once a month treatments and are a lot easier to deal with than clearing up a flea infestation.  In this case, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Save the date for our Senior Prom:  June 17th from 12-5 p.m.  

This adoption event, held at our newly renovated sanctuary at 34 Hamilton Avenue in Oyster Bay, features a prom-like atmosphere, and highlights our Seniors for Seniors program (where we cover the reasonable future medical expenses for a senior cat 8 and older adopted by an approved senior citizen).  Senior citizens who adopt senior cats will receive a gift basket chock full of goodies (while supplies last) for their new companion and adopters of cats of all ages will receive a gift bag of new toys for their furry bundle of love,

Dan and Lucy

Not looking to adopt?  All are welcome for tours of our newly renovated sanctuary.  

In addition to tours, visitors may wish to sponsor a cat and help us continue to provide housing and medical care for cats in our care.  Sponsors will receive a hand-painted ornament with your sponsoree's name (or your own cat's name if preferred).

Popcorn, cotton candy and water will be available if you just want to come and chat with us and have a snack.  Hope to see you there!

Our Seniors for Seniors program has been very successful with over 30 cats placed into loving homes and senior adopters gaining the benefits of companionship with reduced financial obligations or risk.  If you would like to help us help more senior cats, please consider donating today!