Cancer in Cats: Fibrosarcoma

Cancer in Cats: Fibrosarcoma

This installment in Old Maid Cat Lady's series on Cancer in Cats for Pet Cancer Awareness Month covers fibrosarcoma. If your cat develops a lump or lesion in an area of the skin, especially if that was the site of a vaccination in past years, it could be cancerous!

What is Feline Fibrosarcoma?

Typically, fibrosarcoma is a cancer affecting your cat's soft tissues, like the skin or connective tissue. It is relatively common. While slow to metastasize to adjacent tissues, it may be quite aggressive locally and can grow rapidly. Some tumors can be more deeply rooted in the underlying tissue.

Three main types of fibrosarcoma have been identified. The first is in older cats, who sometimes will develop an irregularly shaped growth on their body, legs, or ears. Their immune system may be weaker and their metabolic activities may be out of balance, as well. This makes them more susceptible to carcinogens in their environment.

The second is known as vaccine-induced sarcoma, or VAS. More on this below.

The third results from a mutant form of the feline leukemia virus (FeLV). It is the most aggressive of the three and often causes multiple tumors in younger cats.

What Causes Feline Fibrosarcoma?

One cause of this type of cancer in cats is a virus known as the above-mentioned mutation of the FeLV virus, the feline sarcoma virus (FeSV). This type of fibrosarcoma can occur spontaneously.

Another cause of the VAS type of fibrosarcoma is injections. More on this below.

Exposure to radiation can also cause fibrosarcoma, whether through X-rays or from radioactive particles in the air.

What's This About Cancer at an Injection Site?

Some cats have shown a tendency to develop a tumor at the site of a previous injection. Known as vaccine-associated sarcomas (VAS), they could develop anywhere from 2-3 months to 10-11 years after the injection is given. However, they are considered to be extremely rare (1 in 10,000 cats) and the risk of not administering a vaccine is far worse than that of a cat developing a sarcoma. 99% of cats who get vaccinated never develop a VAS.

VASs typically grow in the connective tissue between the skin and muscle. They were discovered in 1991 at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. First associated with rabies vaccines, they were soon found in cats who had been vaccinated against feline leukemia virus, panleukopenia, and rhinotracheitis. Some studies are focusing on the inflammation caused by vaccinations, to which some cats are more susceptible regardless of the type of vaccine being given.

The role vaccinations play in causing these sarcomas is not really proven. There seems to be more of an incidence when killed-virus vaccines are used. This is hypothesized to be due to the addition of a "booster" known as an adjuvant that is added to killed-virus vaccines to help stimulate the immune system and make the vaccine more effective. Vaccines containing aluminum as an adjuvant have been shown to produce more inflammation (swelling) at the injection site after they have been given, and this factor has been shown to increase the risk of the cat developing a VAS.

Most VASs occur in the shoulder or the rear haunch area, which are common locations for these injections to be given. Fibrosarcomas likely resulting from vaccines have a tendency to be more aggressive and more malignant than those resulting from other causes.

Studies continue on the relationship between vaccines and fibrosarcomas in cats. Some cats have also developed five other types of tumors at vaccine injection sites. As many as six different types of tumors have been observed affecting the muscle, bone, cartilage, or fat at injection sites. Different methods of administering vaccines are being explored to completely eliminate this risk.

Our feline companions are considered to be more at risk for VASs than are other types of pets because cats have a higher sensitivity to chemicals that have their oxidation status changed (oxidative injuries). These substances include onions and acetaminophen, both of which are harmful to cats. Their susceptibility to this condition likely increases cats' risk of developing a VAS in vaccines containing aluminum.

What Symptoms May Indicate Fibrosarcoma?

You would likely first notice a lump or lesion that appears to be just underneath your cat's skin. It could be on the head, body, or legs...or even in the mouth. Oral sarcomas are the second most common type of oral cancers in cats.

The lesion may just appear as an area of swelling, and could be fleshy or firm. It may not be painful for your cat. The lump is often irregular in shape. Sometimes it looks ulcerated, in which case it has probably been there longer. If such a lump does not go away after about 3 months, if it is more than  3/4" across, or has increased in size, a biopsy is warranted.

Fibrosarcomas can also develop inside the cat's body, typically in the connective tissue in the ribs, pelvis, spine, or head areas. This tissue connects the body's bones to the muscles. In these locations, likely because it takes longer to discover, the cancer has a lower survival rate than those found near the skin.

If left untreated or undiscovered until the cancer has advanced, the cat may have difficulty chewing or eating, lose his appetite, get dehydrated, appear to be in pain when walking, become lethargic, or have unexplained bleeding from the mouth. Some may have a bad odor in the mouth, if this is the location of the tumor. By the time these symptoms develop, the cancer is likely quite advanced.

How Can I Be Sure It's Fibrosarcoma?

If you discover such a lesion on your cat, get thee (and thy cat) to the veterinarian!

Your veterinarian will do a thorough physical examination, blood testing, biochemical profile, urinalysis, a tumor biopsy, and X-ray of the tumor site to determine its size, and possibly a chest X-ray to see if the cancer has metastasized. The biopsy will tell the doctor whether this is a fibrosarcoma or an osteosarcoma, which has a different course of treatment.

What is the Treatment for Fibrosarcoma?

The first thing is to surgically remove the tumor. This will likely also include a margin of adjacent tissue, since these tumors are so locally aggressive. They have tiny, microscopic cells that extend like little fingers or tendrils into the tissue surrounding them, so it's very difficult to remove all of it. If it's on a limb, the tumor will likely cause the cat to lose that limb to surgery. Most recover and function just fine with three legs, and many cats have even lived a happy life and learned to adapt with only two! Obviously, younger cats are better surgical candidates, as older cats can have issues with anesthesia. Yes, this is some serious, major surgery. If possible, have it done by a surgeon who specializes in it, rather than at your local vet's office.

Some states are now experimenting with a vaccine against fibrosarcoma that can be given at the time of surgery to decrease chances of a recurrence. Because it is only experimental, the USDA prevents its being given to cats who have not already had a fibrosarcoma. As of 2012, this vaccine was only available in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Radiation therapy may also be performed both before and after surgery to minimize chances of recurrence and reduce the pain for your cat. It kills any residual cancer cells remaining after surgery, as it is difficult for a surgeon to remove all of them. The best outcomes are when radiation is given before surgery and when the tumor can be cleanly removed during surgery. When administered after surgery, radiation can cause the surgical wound to heal more slowly. The cat's hair near the incision may also grow back in a different color, usually gray or white.

Chemotherapy for fibrosarcoma in cats is actually also very effective, especially in cases where the cancer has metastasized (spread). The chemo is typically administered to the cat four or five times, every few weeks for about 90 minutes per treatment. Sometimes it can be injected at the time of surgery to kill any cells that were missed in the surrounding tissue. Chemo is very physically tiring for the cat and rough on the body, so most vets consider it the option of last resort. Your cat will probably also be prescribed something to relieve pain.

Treatment is generally very effective at fighting this type of cancer in cats, with most patients still in remission two to three years later. However, fibrosarcoma also often returns, so once a cat has been diagnosed with it, more frequent visits to the vet are recommended. Subsequent vaccination sites should be closely monitored to make sure another sarcoma does not develop there.

A diagnosis of fibrosarcoma is not an automatic death sentence for your cat; many cats live long and happy lives after the cancer is removed. But as with all cancers, it must be caught early and treated, or it could become life threatening. The chance of a fibrosarcoma spreading to the major organs is only 3%-5% if caught early. But if it goes untreated, that risk rises to 24%. Younger cats also stand a better chance of recovery than older ones.

Is There Any Way To Prevent Fibrosarcoma?

When it comes to the VAS type of fibrosarcoma, yes! Cats only really need one annual vaccination, and that's for rabies. The others are not necessary. Less injections mean less injection sites, so less risk for the inflammation that can lead to a VAS. Have your veterinarian run a blood titer to determine your cat's immunity level before automatically getting vaccinations for everything every year. Then you can only have your vet give vaccines for those where kitty's immunity has fallen low.

Next, when getting your cat's vaccinations, request a recombinant rabies vaccine rather than an inactivated one. And make sure that any vaccines your vet is using are non-adjuvanted. These typically must be given more frequently, but are less likely to cause the inflammation around the injection site that is associated with VASs.

Make sure that the needle your vet is using on your cat is no larger than 25 gauge. Dogs may be able to handle larger needles, but the smaller ones will cause less irritation for a cat, as they will carry less debris and hair with them under the skin. You may also request a vaccine that is administered intra-nasally. There are newer vaccines on the market now that require no injection at all. These present the least risk for VASs and would be especially important to use on cats that have previously been treated for a VAS. If your cat needs another type of medication that can be given orally rather than by injection, opt for that. No, it's not fun to give a cat a pill, but it's far better than putting your cat through expensive and dangerous surgery, radiation, and chemo!

Massaging the area where the vaccine was given may also help by spreading out the material injected into the body. This must be done just after the shot is given. And make sure your vet keeps detailed records on the brands of vaccines used and the sites at which they were injected into your cat. This can be very helpful if you detect a lump that requires further investigation.

Sources: "Types of Cancer in Cats", PetWave; "Feline Vaccination Associated Cancer: What You Can Do To Prevent It", Ron Hines, DVM, Ph.D.; "Vaccine Associated Fibrosarcoma", Veterinary Partner; "Feline Fibrosarcoma Explained", Vet Info;  "Feline Fibrosarcoma", South Carolina Veterinary Specialists; "Feline Fibrosarcoma", Michigan Veterinary Specialists; "Feline Fibrosarcoma - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment", Cat World; "Feline Fibrosarcoma", Cats With Cancer; "Vaccine-associated sarcoma", Wikipedia; "What is a Feline Fibrosarcoma?"; Yahoo Voices

Cancer in Cats: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cancer in Cats: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

My series on Cancer in Cats for Pet Cancer Awareness Month continues with a discussion of this painful type of oral cancer. As with all cancers, early identification and treatment will ensure the best prognosis for your kitty.

What is Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Cats groom themselves all the time, so it's natural that they may ingest carcinogens in doing so. In fact, this is a common type of cancer that accounts for about 10% of feline cancer diagnoses. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the third most common tumor diagnosed in cats. These tumors tend to be fast-growing and invasive, often spreading to adjacent lymph nodes. While there are other causes for oral tumors in cats, squamous cell carcinoma accounts for over 60% of them.

This type of cancer may appear anywhere within a cat's mouth. Most tumors occur underneath the tongue or on the gums, but they can also appear on the roof of the mouth or in the cheeks. They grow rapidly, so acting fast can save your cat's life.

When Should I Suspect My Cat Has Oral SCC?

Quite often, you'll be able to see these tumors. If you brush your cat's teeth, make sure to examine the mouth thoroughly to scan for one. It may show up as a small reddened ulcer that lingers long after it should have been healed. There could also be a small hardened, swollen area along the lower jaw or cheekbone. There may even be more than one. Places to look include the gums and underneath the tongue.

Some cats can develop an enlarged jaw due to the tumor. Kitty's face or jaw may look malformed or a bit asymmetrical. With tumors on the gums, they often metastasize to invade the underlying jaw bone. If your cat has a couple of teeth in the same area that need to be removed, the cause could be an underlying tumor and a biopsy may be indicated. If kitty loses a tooth and the resulting hole in the gum does not heal easily, there may be a tumor.

In the later years of her life, my own little Vixen developed a lesion on her chin that would sometimes swell and bleed. A biopsy revealed it to be benign, but it was a source of worry for me just the same.

Your cat will likely not have much of an appetite, always a sign that something is wrong. You'll notice weight loss, naturally, but the cat may also want to constantly be chewing. Kitty may have difficulty eating. Bad breath and drooling may occur. There may be swelling in the mouth or jaw, and the area may be painful for you to touch. The lymph nodes in the neck may be swollen. If there is a lesion on the gum, teeth near it may be loose. You may also see some bleeding from the mouth.

Feline Oral SCC Risk Factors

Cats have been diagnosed with oral cancer anywhere from ages 3 to 21, so age is not much of a factor. The average age of diagnosis tends to be 12.5 years, so older cats are more at risk. There is no predisposition to it in any particular breed of cat; all are equally susceptible. Several factors may contribute to it, although there is no major cause that has yet been identified.

Living in a house with smokers is one of the most important risk factors for this type of cancer. Even living for a little while with a smoker doubles a cat's likelihood of developing oral SCC. Cats who continually live in a smoke-filled environment are four times as likely to develop it.

Some studies have shown a link between wearing flea collars and developing this type of cancer. This was assumed to be due to the closeness of the collar's pesticides to the cat's mouth area. However, there are so many different types of flea collars that no distinction as to the type that contributed to the cancer could be made.

While exposure to the sun among outdoor cats or white-coated cats can cause tumors on the ears or nose, sun is not typically a contributing factor to oral cancer (unless the cat sleeps in the sun with his mouth hanging open).

Owners who regularly used a flea shampoo on their cats actually reduced the cats' risk of oral squamous carcinoma by 90%. This could be partially due to the shampoo also washing away many of the toxins from the cat's fur that would have been ingested through grooming.

Eating a large amount of canned cat food has also been shown to contribute to a cat's risk factor in developing oral cancer, with canned tuna being the riskiest. This one's troubling to me, as my Golden Boys both love their daily treat of some canned food in a fish flavor! The relationship between canned food and oral cancer may be related to the cats' oral hygiene, as eating dry food keeps the teeth cleaner. No study has been done on cats whose teeth are regularly brushed.

What is the Treatment for Oral SCC?

Not all oral tumors are cancerous; there are several types of feline oral tumors that can be benign. One small study showed that about half of the cats showing symptoms actually had cancer. And there are different types of feline oral cancer, although they are much less common. If the cancer is SCC, it will tend to be extremely fast-growing, invasive and malignant. Only those tumors caught very early are deemed treatable. Once it has spread, the cat's chance of survival is minimal.

Your veterinarian will do a blood count, a serum chemistry profile, urinalysis, and tests for feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency (FIV) viruses. X-rays, a CT scan, or an ultrasound may also be taken to locate the extent of the tumor's invasion, which can change the course of treatment. The primary tumor will likely be biopsied to determine if it is actually cancerous. This will have to be taken from the cat's mouth, not through the skin. You may be referred to a veterinary oncologist for treatment.

The stage of the cat's tumor will be assessed after biopsy as T1, T2, or T3. The testing will contain additional notes on whether the adjacent bone is invaded, if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, and if it has metastasized to other tissues. This gives the vet useful information on whether or not the tumor is treatable. Sometimes it's difficult to determine the type of cancer without additional testing, so a course of treatment is not readily apparent.

If a diagnosis of SCC is confirmed, sadly there is no therapy with great success in treating it. Surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, followed by radiation therapy is the most common treatment. That surgery may be quite radical and involve removing a significant portion of the cat's jaw. Cryosurgery (freezing) is now being used on very small tumors. Sometimes a combination of radiation and chemotherapy are used.

Most cats survive only a few months after diagnosis. A rare few have been disease-free a year after surgery. But most owners reported that they were pleased with their cats' quality of life after the surgery and would have made the same decision to do it again had they known the outcome.

The success of surgery depends largely on where in the mouth the tumor occurred. The best location for one to be is on the front part of the lower jaw. Tumors located closer to the rear of the mouth, or those that cross the midsection of the oral cavity typically cannot be completely removed by surgery. In fact, surgery's only role in these cases is to make the cat comfortable for the remainder of its life, which won't be long. The prognosis for tumors like this is so poor that such surgery is referred to as palliative care.

Cats who survive the surgery often have trouble eating due to mouth tissue having been removed, and many of them drool. These complications require their owners to bathe their chests and front paws several times a day. Tumors involving the jaw area are also tricky, and may involve removal of a portion of the cat's jaw. Tumors on the upper jaw are typically inoperable.

Radiation may be used to treat inoperable oral tumors. It is also useful to prevent disfiguring the cat, and is used in combination with surgery for the best outcomes. This type of treatment can also be extended to include adjacent lymph nodes, helping prevent the cancer from spreading. However, the larger the tumor, the less the likelihood of its being eliminated by radiation alone. Radiation is also sometimes used as palliative therapy in cats with advanced SCC, although it rarely prolongs the cat's life for long and can have some unpleasant side effects. A new type of radiation therapy known as stereotactic may hold promise for faster results.

Chemotherapy by itself has not proven effective in fighting oral SCC. When combined with radiation, however, its effectiveness improves slightly. But many of the cats treated with chemo in studies did not live longer than a few additional months. Studies continue on new types of chemotherapy drugs, including histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) and anti-inflammatories such as LOX and COX inhibitors.

Newer experimental drugs that mirror some being used in human cancer therapy are being tried on cats. Some are showing hope, but it is too early to say for sure.

As this type of cancer is usually extremely painful for the cat, most cats undergoing treatment also require some type of pain therapy. Supplemental nutrition will help their bodies to fight the cancer and may help them feel a little better, even if their prognosis is not good. Some may require a feeding tube, as well. In addition to difficulty eating and drooling, the cats will have trouble grooming and swallowing.

Sadly, 90% of cats diagnosed with oral SCC die within a year of diagnosis. The most that can be done with treatment is to make the cat more comfortable for the remainder of its life (palliative care). Tumors are likely to recur in more than 1/3 of cases, and will eventually make it impossible for the cat to eat or even breathe, at which time euthanasia is the kindest option. The lucky 10% of cats who survive for a year are likely to survive for at least two years. Some may live cancer-free for three years, but most eventually suffer a recurrence of the cancer.

More cancer research funds tend to go to research on dogs rather than cats, as dogs are where the money is; the sentiment among veterinary researchers is that owners tend not to treat diseases in cats as aggressively as they do in dogs and are quicker to choose euthanasia for a cat. Slowly, this is changing...the operative word there being "slowly." Cats' delicate systems are also more sensitive to drugs than dogs, which further complicates both testing and treatment options. Studies funded by the Winn Feline Foundation and The Morris Animal Foundation may yield more hopeful results.

Treatment is pricey; the testing alone could run you up to $1,000 at a veterinary oncologist. Surgery could be another $2,000, with radiation running up to $6,000. Chemo runs $2,000-$3,000. This is one of those times when having a pet insurance policy that covers cancer treatments would have been a very good investment.

As with any type of cancer, your veterinarian can best advise you on your cat's unique situation. The main pointers with oral cancer are to remain vigilant, do frequent inspections of your cat's mouth, don't smoke around your cats, and practice good oral hygiene with both regular home care and annual veterinary checkups/scalings.

Sources: "Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma: an overview", DVM 360; "Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (feline)", Marvistavet; "Mouth cancer (Gingiva Squamous Cell Carcinoma) in Cats", Pet MD; "Researchers Focus on Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma", Purina Pro Club.

Cancer in Cats: Lymphoma

Cancer in Cats: Lymphoma

May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month, and I just learned today of the passing of another cat famous in the Internet. Kenny Pawgers, beloved companion of Maria Soroski of Crazy About Cats, has succumbed to the lymphoma he had lived with for the past couple of years. That's the two of them in the photo above.

As with humans, there are many types of cancer that can attack cats. I've covered some previously, and will address others separately during this month. In Kenny's honor, this one is on Lymphoma.

What is Feline Lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a  malignant type of cancer that originates in a cat's white blood cells, also known as lymphocytes, which make up the body's immune system. It is responsible for approximately 90% of blood cancers and 33% of all tumors in cats. It can also cause a condition known as hypercalcemia.

The lymphatic system is quite complex and extraordinary. In a healthy cat, it has three main functions. First, it helps maintain a balance of fluids between the blood vessels and bodily tissues. Its lymphatic capillaries are interwoven with blood capillaries, tying it closely to the cardiovascular system. Secondly, it plays a major role in immunity through the body's white blood cells. And third, it absorbs fats reaching the small intestine during digestion.

Primary organs of the lymphatic system are the thymus gland and the bone marrow. These are involved only in the immunity function of the lymphatic system. Secondary organs are the lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, lymphoid tissue and the spleen. These support all three of the lymphatic system's main functions.

There are two types of lymphocytes in the body, known as B-cells and T-cells. Both originate in the bone marrow. T-cells are the ones that identify foreign matter (antigens) in the body, such as bacteria, viruses, toxins, foreign proteins, or particulates (such as allergens), and mark them for destruction. They mature and are "educated" in the thymus gland to recognize the difference between cells that belong in the body and those that don't. But "Thymus U" is a tough school: if they fail their "final exam" on this, the thymus gland destroys them! Once mature, the T-cells move into the secondary organs of the lymphatic system, where they remain. They regulate the immune system from being over- or under-active.

B-cells are the white blood cells that produce the antibodies against antigens, proteins known as macrophages, that attach themselves to these invaders. The B-cells remain in the bone marrow as they mature. Once exposed to a certain type of antigen, the body remembers it so that the B-cells know how to fight it and can produce antibodies more rapidly the next time they encounter it. This is how your body develops immunity to certain diseases upon second exposure to them.

The fluid flowing through the lymphatic system of capillaries is known as lymph. It is made up of fluid and proteins forced out of blood capillaries into the space between the body's cells. This fluid sustains life in the cat by delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells and collecting waste from them. The flow of lymph is regulated by the body's muscle movement. Lymph is carried to the spleen, where it is processed before being conveyed back into the blood. This is how the body balances fluids. The spleen breaks down old red blood cells, stores blood, and filters the blood for antigens. Within a 24-hour period, about half of all lymphocytes in the blood pass through the spleen.

Lymph nodes are located throughout the body. Larger concentrations of them exist in the neck area, near the back of the front legs ("armpits"), and groin. It is here that lymph is filtered before being returned to the blood veins. In the connective lymphoid tissue around the lymph nodes, the B-cells, T-cells, and macrophages are also stored. Two very specialized areas of lymphoid tissue are the tonsils in the throat and Peyer's patches in the small intestine's lining.

Lymphoma can affect both types of lymphocytes, causing them to go into uncontrolled growth and multiplication. They can then collect in a lymph node to form a tumor, which then grows and invades the surrounding tissues and organs, depriving them of nutrients and oxygen. Sometimes these abnormal lymphocytes will travel to other lymph nodes or organs. This is known as metastasizing.

It is believed that lymphoma develops after a cat is exposed to the feline leukemia (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency (FIV) viruses. This is because the rate of lymphoma among cats exposed to either of those viruses is much higher than for cats who are not. While cats of any age can fall victim to lymphoma, most tend to be 10-12 years old when diagnosed.

Due to the presence of lymphocytes in all parts of the body, this type of cancer can also affect a cat in different locations. For example, cats who are around a lot of smoke from tobacco are at a higher risk for lymphoma that affects the gastrointestinal tract. This may be due to their grooming the particulates of smoke that become trapped in their fur.

What Are the Symptoms of Lymphoma?

Depending on where a cat's lymphoma originates, it can cause varying symptoms. The one symptom common to them all is a loss of appetite.

If the lungs are its target, the cat will breathe with his mouth open, cough, and lose weight rapidly.

If the lymphoma occurs in the cat's gastrointestinal tract (abdomen or liver), kitty will also experience vomiting, diarrhea, bloody or tarry stools, and be lethargic. This is the most common type of lymphoma seen today.

If the lymph nodes are its target, the cat will have swollen lymph nodes in the location of attack, which could be the jaw, under the arms, or in the groin area. Weight loss and depression are additional symptoms.

If the lymphoma occurs in the kidneys, the cat will be vomiting, show increased urination and thirst, and become very weak.

If your cat exhibits any of these symptoms, keep careful notes on which ones so you can give this information to your veterinarian. This will help the vet know where to look for other signs of the cancer. Testing done to confirm a diagnosis of lymphoma will include a physical exam, blood cell count, a blood chemistry panel, urinalysis, X-rays, sampling of lymph node tissue for examination under a microscope, and an ultrasound to check for an enlarged liver or spleen.

Can Lymphoma Be Treated?

While not normally curable, a cat's life can be prolonged a little by treatment. This may include surgery to remove any mass present in the abdomen, chemotherapy, and in some cases radiation therapy. The cat will likely remain on chemotherapy for the remainder of its life, which may be six months to a year or more after diagnosis, with some brief periods in between treatments.

Even better, there are some steps that can be taken to minimize a cat's risk for lymphoma. Indoor cats are less at risk than outdoor cats, so keeping your cat indoors is one step to take. Another is not to smoke around your cats. If you are addicted to smoking, try one of the newer electronic cigarette kits that will allow you to receive the nicotine you crave and enjoy the physical motions of smoking without endangering your cats. The third thing you can do is to get your cat vaccinated against FeLV and FIV and try to keep them from being exposed to other cats who have these diseases.

There are some natural and homeopathic remedies designed to address cancer in cats, but little testing has been conducted to determine their actual effectiveness. This is not to say that they won't work for some cats; every individual's physiology is unique.

Our sympathies to Maria on the loss of Kenny Pawgers. May he fly high, finally free of the suffering he has endured, and remaining close to the person who loved him so. And may she find peace in her time of grief, soon turning her attention to other cats who still need the love she has to give.

Purrs of comfort!

Sources: "Lymphoma in Cats", Pet MD; "Lymphoma in Cats", Veterinary Partner; "Lymphoma", Cornell Feline Health Center; "Structure and Function of the Lymphatic System in Cats", Pet Place; "Lymph Node Inflammation (Lymphadenopathy) in Cats", Pet MD.

Rest Well, Pingu

Rest Well, Pingu

Today, over in the UK, Pingu the tuxedo cat crossed over the rainbow bridge. The photo of him shown above was taken the night before as he frolicked in the garden with his human parents. It is from his Facebook page, to which a link is provided near the end of this post. Pingu's "mum," Gayla, always called him a "Shunty Warrior," as he suffered from liver shunt. In Pingu's honor, let's take a look at this condition in cats.

What is Liver Shunt?

Also known as portosystemic shunt or PSS, a liver shunt is a rare condition in which a cat's main blood vessel that conveys blood from the digestive system to the liver (the portal vein) does not develop properly. A healthy liver filters toxins from foods, processes elements in foods into chemicals needed by the body, produces bile acids to help the body break down fats, and plays a major role in storing sugar and producing protein for the body. 

During pregnancy, a mother cat's liver does all of this for the kittens' fetuses, and there is no need for the portal vein to function. The shunt that carries each fetus's blood to the mother's liver (the left umbilical vein) typically closes within three days after birth and the kitten's own liver takes over. In some cats, this shutdown does not occur and the vessel still bypasses the kitten's liver. This prevents the liver from filtering the toxins it usually removes from the blood as a part of its normal metabolic functions. Nutrients from food that typically enter the bloodstream are blocked, so a cat with liver shunt cannot process the essential elements that fuel the body's proper development and metabolism.

Because their bodies are not receiving proper nutrition, cats with liver shunt typically are smaller than normal (a condition often called "failure to thrive"). Pingu was the runt of the litter and almost died at birth, but was resuscitated.

With all the toxins a liver shunt allows to circulate in the cat's bloodstream, cats may experience drooling, a lack of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea or constipation. This further hampers their body's ability to grow and function normally. These symptoms are usually more noticeable just after the cat has eaten.

As the central nervous system is affected, liver shunt cats may also experience depression, tremors, seizures, an occasional swaying as if drunk due to their inability to control voluntary muscles (ataxia), bouts of blindness, and mental abnormalities that can cause either sudden aggression or disorientation and sluggishness. A cat with liver shunt may press its head up against things and hold it there, much longer than a cat just giving you a "head butt" to show affection. 

The additional ammonia in the urine of cats with a liver shunt may cause them to have urinary tract problems such as bladder stones, blood in their urine, and difficulty urinating as they age. When young, they may drink and urinate too much. Their kidneys often become enlarged. In fact, stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs) may be the first symptoms a cat exhibits that will lead to a liver shunt diagnosis. These may not appear until later in life, with many showing no symptoms at all when younger.

The irises of their eyes may be copper in color, even in breeds that do not typically have this color eyes. While some cats do have copper colored eyes naturally, this type of copper coloring looks a little different, more intense and without the variegations normally seen in the irises of eyes. The cause of this unusual eye coloring is unknown.

Liver shunt cats may also suffer from a heart murmur or an improperly formed heart. They may be anemic and have low blood sugar. Their liver is typically smaller than normal because it is not receiving a normal blood flow and begins to atrophy. Often, liver shunt cats will develop other conditions. In Pingu's case it was Cushing's disease. This further complicates their treatment.

In most cats with this condition, it is congenital (they were born with it), but it can be acquired later in life. About a quarter of the cats with a liver shunt acquired it later in life. There is a higher incidence of the congenital condition in purebred cats. Himalayan and Persian cats seem more at risk for it. 

When acquired, a liver shunt is likely due to another liver problem from poisoning, hepatitis, cirrhosis, or inflammation that caused the body to reroute blood through alternative vessels when the main one was compromised. While the smaller veins can still route blood to the liver, they cannot process as much as does the main vessel, so the normal contributions the liver makes to the body's overall wellness will be compromised.

How Would I Know For Sure if My Cat Has a Liver Shunt?

Multiple symptoms from the list above will be your first sign. However, full diagnostic testing by your veterinarian is the only way to confirm a suspected liver shunt. This will include blood testing, X-rays, and ultrasound. Your cat's blood will be tested for levels of red blood cells, liver enzymes, blood sugar, cholesterol, protein and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Liver function tests will be done to check for elevated values. X-rays will show a smaller-than-average liver and perhaps enlarged kidneys. Ultrasound may show the liver shunt, and can also reveal bladder stones caused by the condition.

If these tests are uncertain, a rectal technetium scan can be done to show whether blood traveling from the colon is going first to the liver as it should before being routed to the heart. Sometimes a CT scan can show this, but cost usually prohibits its use. The vessels can be very difficult to see on regular X-rays. A final confirmation can be provided by surgery, at which time an attempt can be made to repair the shunt. But since liver shunt cats are not great surgical candidates, some medical stabilization may need to be done first.

Obviously, all this testing can run into the thousands of dollars. If you haven't bought health insurance for your cats (or if that policy doesn't cover conditions like liver shunt) be prepared for some costly vet bills.

Can Liver Shunt be Treated?

Most definitely! Pingu lived a happy life for more than 12 years as a Shunty Warrior, the first five of those with no treatment at all. His brother, Sharky, also has a liver shunt. Pingu even survived being hit by a car at age three. Both Pingu and Sharky had endured mistreatment by local children before being rescued by their forever humans.

There was a time when liver shunt cats were automatically euthanized, but modern veterinary medicine has provided ways for them to survive. Some veterinarians may still recommend euthanasia for them, so if your vet doesn't know how to treat liver shunt, you may be able to find another who does. Some cats are also better candidates for treatment than others; if your cat's liver shunt is not discovered until it's already done severe damage to his body, euthanasia may be your best option. Liver shunt cats do require special care, so if you have a cat with this condition, be prepared for the additional time, attention, and expense that will be required.

The main blood vessel that bypasses the liver can be surgically ligated (blocked) to redirect blood flow through the smaller vessels that lead to the liver. This is typically more successful in dogs than in cats, but the surgery does work for about a third of cats who have it. Surgeons generally biopsy the liver at the time of surgery to determine how much damage has been done to it. This will help determine the long-term course of treatment and the cat's prognosis.

Cats with liver shunt must typically stay on a prescription diet that is restricted in protein and magnesium, and take daily supplements of zinc, vitamin E, and lactulose to help the body metabolize nutrients and support normal liver functions. They must be closely monitored by a vet to periodically repeat the tests that diagnosed the condition initially. Sometimes, if the liver appears to be regenerating well after surgery to partially reroute blood to it, a second surgery may be performed to close off any remaining shunting vessels.

Because they get easily dehydrated, liver shunt cats need to be encouraged to drink water and often need subcutaneous fluids. They cannot take or eat anything that has a diuretic effect (causes additional urination) or that suppresses the central nervous system. This makes them poor candidates for surgery because they have trouble recovering from the anesthesia. Infections can also be problematic, so a cat with a liver shunt should be kept indoors and monitored closely. 

Liver shunt cats should not reproduce, first to prevent passing on the condition, and also due to the additional strain pregnancy puts on the body. Similarly, if a litter produces kittens with liver shunt for a breeder of purebred cats, those parents should not be bred again, as this condition is strongly suspected to be inherited.

Newt is another cat famous on the Internet for living with a liver shunt. His owner shares stories of him and other liver shunt cats on his Cat Liver Shunt Awareness Facebook page and his website. Hector is yet a third liver shunt cat with a Facebook page, Hector the Liver Shunt Cat. You can visit the Pingu, livershunt cat Facebook page here.

We send condolences to Pingu's family, both human and feline, and wish them all peace as they grieve for their fallen shunty warrior. Many thanks to them for having the courage to allow Pingu and Sharky to live, for diligently managing their care, and for sharing Pingu's story with other cat lovers around the world to make us all aware of the liver shunt condition. To Pingu's spirit, a safe journey into the joy of living without a body that has caused you so much suffering. You were much loved in this life!

Highlights from Global Pet Expo 2013

Highlights from Global Pet Expo 2013

I'm still recovering from February's GPE trade show, the industry's largest. There were over 900 exhibitors there, and while not all of them had products for cats, a huge number did. And since I attend as media thanks to this blog, I also get invitations to some media-only press conferences covering product launches and such. Global Pet Expo is not open to the public, only to the trade, so I shot some video this year to help you understand what the experience is like.

The show begins on a Wednesday with a media breakfast in the press room, which gives me a chance to meet some other folks who are here to cover the show. They range from other bloggers like myself to representatives from news media outlets and industry publications. It's always interesting to chat with people who are here for the first time. They haven't a clue what they're in for! This is my fourth GPE, and every year it gets bigger.

Guards at the doors won't let anyone onto the show floor other than exhibitors until the appointed time for the show to open. So everybody else -- buyers and media folks -- gathers outside in the hallway to await the opening. It's a busy time, as exhibitors are heading in to get settled into their booths and prepare for the onslaught of customers. Most spent Monday traveling to Orlando and Tuesday setting up their booths. But "booth" doesn't really do some of them justice. Many are quite elaborate constructions that would take that long to set up. A few even include little rooms where their employees can go to meet quietly with a customer or take a break from greeting people in the exhibit.

Waiting for the GPE 2013 doors to open

Before long, the doors are open to all registered attendees, and we head onto the show floor. The first time you walk into a GPE show hall, it's overwhelming. There are just so many exhibitors, such a wide array of products for every type of pet, that you can't imagine where to start. It takes a good five minutes just to quickly walk from one end of the show hall to the other. Here's a look around upon entering the show hall this year:

As you can see, there's lots of ground to cover. In future posts, I'll be showing some of the products being exhibited there as I get them added to OldMaidCatLady.com. Here's one that's already been added to the site, the CritterZone Air Purifier...and wouldn't you know that my camera memory filled up toward the end of the interview! But you can still tell from what was recorded how fabulous this product is. I've been using one and let me tell you, they really do work wonders! The air in the room where my cats' litter boxes live is always fresh and clean now:

That's all for this post, but you'll be seeing many more video interviews with other exhibitors coming up soon!

Lessons From a Cat Show, Day 2

What I Learned from Exhibiting My Cats At a CFA Cat Show, Day 2

The second morning of the Golden Boys' cat show experience was a little less hectic. We'd already transported and set up all the stuff for the vendor booth, so we had time for a nice breakfast at home (they get their canned food in the morning) and a little relaxation before heading out. I tried to calm both them and myself by playing some soothing music in the car on the way in and was sending positive thoughts and energy toward my boys.

In thinking about the first day, I wondered if perhaps carrying them over to the show rings was one of the things scaring them so much. That's a lot of new sights and smells for a young kitty to take in! Perhaps transporting the boys to the rings inside their familiar stroller, in which they go for walks, would be a better way to do it. And without a friend to help me on the second day, it'd be a lot easier than risking having one of them wriggle out of my arms and get loose.

They'd both started out the day stronger the day before, so I thought I'd give Gilly one more chance this morning, hoping that perhaps he'd be refreshed and a little more comfortable. We headed over to our first ring of the day with positive thoughts and both cats safely inside their stroller.

A Rude Awakening

A good start to the day, however, was not to be. The judge to whose ring we were called first was Rhett Bockman, a specialty judge from here in Jacksonville. The boys were not happy when I put them into the cages there. Rhett took Gilly out first, barely looked at him and quickly put him back. Then he did the same with Captain, saying nothing to the audience and asking nothing about them. Then he did the same with the other three cats in this category, never speaking a word to anyone. The only cat he spent any time at all with was Petipaw, the one who'd been shown several times before. He picked up the rosettes and said, "I'm trying to award these in order of unpleasantness, and I'm trying to figure out which of these two was more unpleasant," referring to my cats. I told him it was probably Gilly, so he awarded the last place to him; no big surprise there. Captain got 4th, with the top three spots going to the other three cats.

Rhett then pointed at my cats and said to the entire audience gathered, "Those cats do not like being at cat shows." I told him this was their first show, but he wasn't finished ranting at me. "They won't get used to it. Don't bring them back. Just have them at home and let them sit on your bed and play. What's going to happen if you keep showing them is that they're going to hurt somebody someday. And for a buck and a dime, it's not worth getting bitten."

I was shocked, a little embarrassed, and went to get my boys out of their cages and take them back. There was nothing I could say that would have tempered the harshness of those words. "Don't bring them back?" What a way to start out the day!

As I was putting them back in their stroller, Rhett said to the ring clerk, "I don't like judging household pets for just that reason." He fully intended for me to hear it, and it made me a little angry. Not wanting to get into it with him and upset my boys even more, I put them in their stroller and headed back to my vendor booth.

Lesson 6: The old adage about getting what you expect holds true here. Judges bring their own prejudices and preferences into the ring. And cats are very intuitive creatures. If a judge doesn't like them or doesn't want to be judging them, they will pick up on that hostility and direct it right back at the judge. They're like little mirrors of our own emotions. There's no real way to prepare your cats for this; it's part of their survival instinct to defend themselves against someone who is emitting negative energy that could mean harm to them. Several other exhibitors told me afterward that Rhett was a difficult judge and that he has a bad attitude toward the household pets. If he's the judge in any future shows where I'm showing my pets, I won't take them into his ring. I'm sure that both he and the cats will be happier about that.

And judges, if you have the desire to give an exhibitor a dressing-down, do it in private afterward. To scold a person in front of the entire audience gathered to watch the show does nothing to make you look good, and will discourage any novice onlookers there from ever even trying to enter a cat in a show. That does the entire show world a disservice. There is no excuse for being rude to someone like that judge was rude to me. If you don't want to be there, then don't judge a cat show. Your negativity is going into that ring with you and will be picked up by every cat you approach.

Not the End of the World

Luckily, there was a little time to recover in between that first, awful ring experience and the next one. One of the other vendors was selling lavender sachets, so I bought one to calm my boys (and myself). He said that the scent was strong enough to drown out a lot of the pheromones in the air at the show from all the unaltered cats in one gathering. I decided not to even take Gilly to any more rings; Rhett had been correct about him not liking it one bit. But Captain had more promise, and I wondered if showing him alone might work out better. When they called us to Ring 2, I put him in the stroller and we headed over.

When arriving at the ring, I told the judge (Wain Harding of Uriah, Oregon) that Captain had been hissy earlier, and if he didn't want to judge him I'd keep him in his stroller. Wain suggested that I place him directly on the judging table, without going into the cage first. That was somewhat helpful, but I didn't really have a chance to calm Captain down or reassure him, so he was still a little scared. I started to put him directly back into the stroller, but Wain said to put him in the cage after judging, that he'd go ahead and give him a ribbon. But he didn't want to do too much examining of him to spook him any more. He judged the remaining cats, then asked us each to talk about our cats and where we'd gotten them. When he awarded the rosettes, he gave Captain a 4th place, which was last since Gilly wasn't there to get 5th. Disappointing, but not unexpected, and at least he'd been a little nicer about it.

Lessons 7, 8 and 9: Just because one judge is unkind, that doesn't mean that they all are. Your next judge may be much more understanding and work with you more. The judges know their business, so you can certainly take their comments under advisement, but consider the source in light of what you know about your cats. Make adjustments where needed and make sure the judge is aware that your cat may be frightened. If your cat is acting aggressive, offer up front to withdraw your cat if the judge would rather not handle him, and they'll be much more agreeable. But it gives them an out if they want one.

And just because Captain had not meshed well with other male judges so far didn't mean that he would like only female judges. Each judge is an individual. Your cat will react differently to each judge based on all kinds of things we're not even aware of. Some factors we can control, and others we can't.

Kindness Goes a Long Way

The next judge we had was Tracy Petty, and she was very patient with Captain. I'd taken him to the ring inside the stroller again, which did seem to help him. I gave him some words of encouragement when putting him in the cage at the ring, but he still looked a little frightened in there, so I warned her again that he'd been a little hissy, but that without his brother he was doing better.

Tracy judged Captain first. She sat him on the table, where his tail remained tucked the entire time. She tried to get him to scratch on the pole, but he was too scared. He's not really as big of a scratcher as Gilly, anyway. She teased him with a feather, petted him on the head and got him to sit up a little better. He even seemed to enjoy the petting, bringing a smile to Tracy's face. Before awarding rosettes, Tracy allowed Diamond's owner, Nautika, to come up and show her cat to work toward her own judging qualification. My Captain still got last (4th) place when the rosettes were handed out, but I felt like he was going to be a little bit more comfortable the next time he faced a show ring thanks to Tracy's efforts with him.

Lesson 10: Cats who have been scared and hostile can be turned around with a little patience, kindness, and careful handling. Some judges are better than others at working with difficult or temperamental cats.

A Strong Finish

The final time they called household pets was to Ring 1 with Larry Adkison of Springfield, Missouri as judge. Knowing it was getting late in the show and that Captain was probably getting tired, I gave him some extra reassurance in the cage, letting him play with a feather toy a little from inside there, petting him, and telling him what a good boy he was. That seemed to make a huge difference! Larry began with him again, as I gather the judges like to do with the difficult cats. My boy even let the judge touch his head enough to feel the bone structure in it, even though it obviously wasn't the most pleasant thing for Captain. Larry also had each owner talk about where their cats had come from, asked what some of us fed them, and lauded us all for having rescued them.

The biggest surprise, for me, came when Larry started handing out the rosettes. He kept going to more and more cages, finally awarding my Captain his second 2nd place!

Lessons 11 and 12: Take the time to offer your cat an extra little bit of reassurance when you put him in the show cage. Make sure he doesn't have a hostile posture in the cage before you leave him. If that takes playing with him, talking sweetly to him, petting him, or whatever...just do it. He will show much better and not be as frightened. Judges are also watching your interaction with your cats, so seeing this also helps them think more highly of you as an owner. Don't think for a moment that this doesn't come into play when they're judging the cats!

The same goes for your cat's story, when they ask about it. That tells the judges a lot about how you feel about your cats. Those who ask tend to be a little more comprehensive in their judging and don't automatically rule out frightened cats from the rankings.

Recovering From the Trauma

My two Red Mackerel Tabbies, AKA The Golden Boys, spent most of the rest of Sunday afternoon hiding between their inner cage curtains and the cage, napping a little, but remaining wary with all the activity going on around them. A little yellow nose would peek out from under the curtain every now and again, to the delight of any visitors to my vendor area. We even managed to get them to pop their heads out for a photo when some friends stopped by to say hello. At the end of the day, they were happy to be back home and have all their toys back that had been on display in the vendor booth! They had a good dinner, slept well, and by the next morning were acting as normal as ever.

In reflecting on the whole show experience from an exhibitor's viewpoint, I wondered about the judges' practice of showing the most difficult cats first. Perhaps if my boys had been able to sit in their cages and watch some other cats being shown first, they wouldn't have been so scared when taken out of their cages because they would've had a better idea of what to expect. None of the cats, including those with a pedigree, would choose to be there on their own; they'd all rather be at home napping and playing. And with all the unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells, it has to be a traumatic experience for them the first time. Watching some cats get judged may have helped...but I could also see it making an unaltered cat more aggressive, so perhaps that's why they do it this way.

Will I show them again? Not Gilly. He didn't take to it at all. Captain's behavior when on his own made me more optimistic about his chances. If I do show him again, it will be without his brother present, and I'll spend more time working with him, both before the show and when putting him into the ring cages. He needs to get more responsive to the toys they show and better at scratching on the sisal pole in the ring, and more comfortable being handled by strangers. I've tried to socialize him, but have obviously not gone far enough with that. I'll calm myself for the show and get my vendor booth set up ahead of time so that doesn't give me such a frantic mindset in showing him and make him more nervous. And I'll find out more about the judges ahead of time and spare him from exposure to any who may have a negative attitude toward household pets. That tip about taking him to an empty ring before the judging starts and getting him oriented to them is an excellent one, as well. Wish I'd known that before the show had started.

The learning experience was also valuable for me as someone who sells products for cats and cat lovers. I have a much better idea of the types of products that could help people showing cats. The stroller did seem to help Captain, and I noticed some other exhibitors using them, as well. The lavender sachet also may have helped calm them, so I've added more strollers and calming products to the "Show Time" section of Old Maid Cat Lady. Naturally, there are plenty of grooming products there, but I'm looking to expand my selection of those into more professional and show-grade tools, as well.

If you've never been to a cat show, by all means find one close to you and go. They're very different from dog shows! CFA is one organization that puts them on, but there are a couple of others, so every weekend numerous cat shows are going on all over the U.S.A. You'll be amazed at the different breeds and learn a lot about their physical standards and temperaments.

And if you're thinking about showing your house cats in a show, make sure they're ready. Take the time to understand the rules and make sure you're complying with them. Know what to expect from the show environment and take the time and effort to make them as comfortable as possible in the show ring. If more experienced exhibitors offer to help or mentor you, take them up on it and heed their advice. Learn from my dozen lessons here and don't make the same mistakes I did. Your efforts will pay off in higher rankings when the rosettes get handed out, and in happier cats during the show process!

Lessons From a Cat Show, Day 1

What I Learned From Exhibiting At a CFA Cat Show

It was over 20 years ago when I attended my first cat show. Seeing all the different-looking breeds of cats -- the curly-coated Cornish Rexes, flat-eared Scottish Folds, huge Maine Coons, lithe Oriental Shorthairs, et al -- was fascinating! At home, I just had "cat cats" -- good ol' rescued domestic shorthairs. They were beautiful, as are all cats, but I'd never known that there were so many varieties of cats. One Devon Rex looked exactly like a little lamb curled up in his cage. And the vendors there had wonderful cat toys! Knowing that those types of products existed, but weren't carried in most pet supply stores, was one of the things that planted a seed in my mind for OldMaidCatLady.com.

That was a Cat Fanciers Association show put on by the Absolutely Abyssinians Cat Club here in Jacksonville. It takes place every year on the first weekend after January 1. CFA has a category for household pets at its shows. Last year I had a vendor booth there for Old Maid Cat Lady, but with a feisty 23-year-old cat my only possible entry, there was no way I could enter my cat in the show; I wouldn't have done that to her arthritic little body. And yet, I sell products on my site targeting show cat owners, so it's important for me to understand their needs. Now that I have the Golden Boys, showing them has become a possibility. At nine months old, they're no longer considered kittens by CFA (after 8 months cats may compete as adults). Why not wind up a hectic holiday season with yet more activity?

The Basics

Household pets don't accrue points in cat shows like pedigreed cats, so the judges mainly rank them based on temperament, cleanliness and health. They like to see a cat who is unafraid of being handled, playful when tempted with a teaser toy, and well groomed. Cats accustomed to being shown know that one pole on the showing table is wrapped in sisal and can be scratched. Judges like this, as it causes the cat to stretch out and show the length of the body and coat patterns along the sides. They'll try to coax the cat to scratch it by drawing a feather up the scratcher.

When breed standards are being judged, they'll also often pick up the cat and stretch it out horizontally to show the audience its length. They'll carefully feel the cat's head and other breed standards to see how well this cat meets them. But for household pets, all they do is check their ears, make sure their claws have been trimmed, and talk about the coat pattern. Some judges ask the owners where the cats came from to get a sense of their history and the relationship between the cats and their people.

When they call your class to the show ring for competition, you carry your cats over there and place them in the cage with their assigned number on top of it. Since so many show cats are unaltered, they have to be carefully placed so that two males aren't next to each other. The clerk for each ring handles this, as well as all the record keeping for the points accrued by the purebreds. Household pets must be spayed or neutered, and may not be declawed, in order to be shown.

I knew these things from having watched judging at previous cat shows, and I tried to explain to my boys in the days leading up to the show that it was going to be a fun adventure. Since they were tiny, I've been getting them used to being handled in the way the judge would handle them. Short of having a ring itself to use, I thought it was enough to get them ready for their first show. The day before the show, I trimmed the boys' claws and cleaned their ears. Their coats were beautiful, so they didn't appear to need baths. We were ready for the show...or so I thought. There was much yet to be learned.

The Golden Boys' First Cat Show Experience

The first day of the show was crazy; trying to get everything unloaded, set up the crate for the boys, get them ready to be shown, and get my vendor space arranged was more than could be done in the time allotted. My friend Mary was helping me, and thank goodness for that; I completely missed the first call for household pets, but she heard it! Each of us grabbed a cat and rushed over to the show ring where we were supposed to be.

Lesson 1: If you're also a vendor as well as exhibiting your cats, find out if the vendors can set up ahead of time. At check-in time, all the other vendors appeared to have already been set up. I was trying to rush in at check-in time, thinking that was the earliest I'd be able to access the show hall, and get everything set up while also registering my cats for the show. Nobody had told me otherwise. And the person who was supposed to handle check-in was out sick, adding another stressful wrinkle to the whole morning.

Their first judge was Betty White -- no not that Betty White -- but she was a kind lady from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'm glad the boys had her for their first judge. She explained to the audience when she took Gilly out of his cage that although he was hissing, his body was not tense and he was obviously just frightened and not likely to bite. Captain didn't hiss, but had his tail tucked in. He seemed more in shock than anything. They'd surely picked up on my frantic mindset of the morning, and were in an unfamiliar environment being handled by a stranger. So naturally they were scared! Betty briefly looked them both over, explaining that they were Red Mackerel Tabbies, putting each back into his cage afterward and hanging a ribbon on the front that said "HHP Merit Award" which each household cat gets for merely participating. She was quite interactive with the audience on the household pets, so I explained to her that this was their first show.

Betty conversed with the other owners about their cats, as well. There were three other household pets being judged - a lovely black kitten named Diamond, a gray tabby with white named Petipaw, and a tuxedo cat named Amber. Once Betty had judged them all, she handed out the rosettes, huge ribbons showing where each of them had placed. They were very impressive looking! Hissy boy Gilly got 5th place, while Captain placed 3rd. Exactly the opposite of how I'd thought they'd have placed! Gilly is my playful, friendly boy. Captain is more reserved and shy.

We'd barely gotten the boys back to my vendor space and their ribbons hung on the outside of the crate before they were calling us again. Thanks to Mary, we didn't miss that one, either. Jerri Zottoli of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was the judge in this one. Gilly was still hissy and got only limited attention. He was just not into this being shown stuff! Captain was scared and hunching over, but did okay. Jerri took her time with him and was able to lift his front end up enough to show his coat to the audience. The ring clerk commented that he had a beautiful coat. (I've always thought so, too, and was glad that it got some notice.)

When the rosettes were handed out Gilly got 5th place, as expected. But she kept putting ribbons on two other cages before coming to Captain's -- he got a 2nd place! I was so proud!

Lesson 2: Your cats don't just get judged once at a show. Household pets are assessed by every judge there. This show had 8 rings, so my cats were going to be called up 8 times during the two days to be shown. Each judge is different in personality and preference. Your cats may place differently with each. But they get a small ribbon and a big, beautiful rosette each time!

The boys' third call was to Ring 2, where Barbara Sumner of Mulberry, Florida was judging. She was a very personable judge who enjoyed explaining things to the audience. It was obvious that she loved doing this. She also told us that my boys were Red Mackerel Tabbies. Captain was starting to pick up the hissing from his brother, but made it through. Barbara didn't even want to take Gilly out of the cage, but she said if I would, she'd take a look at him. He was still hissy at me, but I knew it was all bravado and managed to get him out. He hissed again on the show table, so she just had me put him back and he got another 5th place. Obviously, Gilly is not going to be a show cat! Captain was starting to hiss more like Gilly, but he again placed 3rd, giving me more hopes for him.

Lesson 3: It's up to the judges whether or not they want to handle your cat. They've all been bitten and scratched before by aggressive cats and they're pretty good at reading a cat's body language. Some are nice and will allow you to remove the cat from the cage, but not all...as I was about to learn that very afternoon.

We had a bit of a lull after this and Mary went off to watch some of the other judging and walk around the benching area talking to some of the cats' owners. On her rounds, someone told her that one cat can feed off another's fear and hostility, and sometimes it's better to separate them. So when they called us up again, she suggested that maybe Captain would do better if we didn't show Gilly. I carried him over to Ring 8, where  Rick Hiskinson of Kirkersville, Ohio was judging. Rick is a specialty judge, while the others so far had been all-breed judges. Captain's first male judge; I hoped that wouldn't spook him!

Removing Gilly from the equation didn't help much in this instance; Rick didn't like Captain's attitude and turned down the number card on top of his cage, disqualifying him. He said, "A cat bite is a three-day hospital stay for me, and I'm not risking it." For that one, Captain didn't even get a small ribbon for participating, much less a rosette. I was heartbroken; my shy boy would never have bitten him, and had only picked up the hissing from his more aggressive brother. He was still scared and tired on top of it all. Luckily, that was our last round for Day 1 of the show.

Lesson 4: The judge is in command at his or her own ring. If that judge doesn't want to handle your cat, it's entirely within their power to disqualify the cat. Wain had been very generous in even allowing me to take him out for her to examine. Even if you know your cat won't bite, they don't have to judge any entries. You know how cats take more to some people than others, and if a judge and your cat don't mesh well together, the judge has every right to disqualify your cat. There's nothing you can do about it.

Judging was over for the day, and it was time to go home. I'd managed to sell a little bit in my vendor booth, and Captain had gotten one 2nd place ribbon and two 3rd places, so I was proud of him. Gilly...well, he's lovable and playful at home. I packed up the cats in their stroller, picked up the computer and my cash box, and we headed out.

Another exhibitor who was showing her Tonkinese cats mentioned in the parking lot that there was a wine and cheese party at the show hotel, so we went there, with the cats in their stroller. Another opportunity for them to become better socialized! In chatting with her, we learned that it can be helpful to go over to a show ring before anything is going on, put your cat into a cage, play with him there to show him it's a fun and safe place, and show him what to expect so it's not so scary and unfamiliar. Make sure you disinfect the space afterward, but doing this is great prep on a cat's first show.

Lesson 5: You can't entirely prep your cats at home for a show. They need to become familiar with the routine and the environment. The first time they see a show ring, it's going to freak them out. If you can find a quiet ring in which to familiarize them with it, they'll be a lot more comfortable when the actual judging starts.

The boys were good about going into the stroller out of their car seats at the show hotel, but they really wanted to get home. Once we found out that the event started an hour later, I didn't figure it was a good idea to keep them in there any longer. They'd had a rough day. It'd have been nice to have met some of the other exhibitors and judges, but it just didn't work out to do that this time so we headed home instead. Tomorrow would be another opportunity to start fresh and learn more about the cat show world. One of the cruelest lessons would come early.