Long-term follow-up of laminin alpha2 (merosin)-deficient muscular dystrophy in a cat

Progressive muscle weakness beginning at 6 months of age was observed in a male Persian-mix cat. Muscle atrophy and joint contracture progressed over the next 3 years. The cat had developed gait difficulty at 8 months of age. The cat died at age of 5 years and 3 months due to an acute respiratory disorder. The clinical, laboratory, necropsy and histopathological findings of the cat were consistent with those of muscular dystrophy. The cat was diagnosed as having laminin alpha2 (merosin)-deficient muscular dystrophy on the basis of immunohistochemical findings. The cat was born in an inbred colony, and another related cat exhibited similar clinical signs. Few cases of laminin alpha2-deficient muscular dystrophy have been reported in cats, and this report provides additional information about the disease.     

Osteochondrodysplasia in Scottish Fold cross-breed cats

Two Scottish Fold mixed cats are described in this report. Case 1 is a mixed Scottish Fold and Munchkin cat. Extremities of this cat resembled the Munchkin cat, while the ear pinna were folded forward like the Scottish Fold cat. Case 2 is a mixed Scottish Fold and American Curl cat. The ear pinna were curled caudally like the American Curl. Severe exostosis in the hind leg was observed in radiographs taken around one year of age in both cats. Both cats were dominant homozygous for c.1024G>T of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 gene, responsible for osteochondrodysplasia in the Scottish Fold cat. Cross breeding with Scottish Fold cats could produce unknown phenotypes, and should be avoided.     

Influence of feeding regimen on body condition in the cat

The influence of feeding regimen on body condition in the cat was studied in a sample of the UK domestic cat population (n = 136). Data were collected by interviewing cat owners and assessing body condition of cats in the owners' homes. Four main factors were identified which were related to body condition. These were, in descending order of significance: neuter status, age, frequency of treat feeding, and ad libitum feeding. Feeding regimen as a risk factor in feline obesity is discussed.     

Ileal polyps in Siamese cats

Intestinal obstruction occurred in a 2-year-old Siamese cat with a mucosal polyp in the lower ileum. A daughter of this cat also developed an intestinal obstruction at 21/2 years of age; a similar lesion was found on her ileum. The cause of these polyps is not known, but the familial occurrence in young animals suggests an hereditary influence.     

The contribution of cat owners' attitudes and behaviours to the free-roaming cat overpopulation in Tel Aviv, Israel

The attitudes and behaviours of cat owners in regard to treatment of cats may have a cumulative effect on the food availability, reproduction, density and welfare of the free-roaming cat population and thus also on the extent of cat overpopulation. Understanding this is thus a vital step in the a priori planning of cat management programs on any scale, as well as in developing public education programs on this issue. Although recent years have seen an accumulation of knowledge in regard to cat owners' attitudes and behaviours, the findings vary among countries and locations and in Israel this has never been investigated systematically. Using a questionnaire provided to cat owners in veterinary clinics, this study aimed at identifying those attitudes and behaviours that may be contributing to cat overpopulation in Tel Aviv, Israel, and at exploring the socio-economic factors that influence this problem. The findings show that the influential factors can be predicted from the cat owners' socio-economic status, mainly education and income, as well as gender and age. A consistency in those cat owner behaviours that contribute to cat overpopulation was also uncovered, revealing a sub-population of individuals who persist in the undesirable behaviours. Finally, a strong relationship between attitude and consequent behaviour was demonstrated, indicating the importance of education and targeted publicity as a means to influence attitudes and thereby change behaviours in this respect. We propose several measures by which to reduce the current extent of cat owners' contribution to the cat overpopulation: discouraging unwanted owner behaviours such as abandonment of their cats and allowing them to breed; promoting awareness of the neutering option among cat caretakers; and increasing pre-adoption neutering rates in shelters. Regional and national laws promoting responsible pet ownership need to be enacted. By improving the current level of knowledge and awareness among cat owners regarding cat overpopulation issues, and encouraging a more responsible attitude, cat owners' bond with their cats could be strengthened, as well as their bond with and contribution to their environment.     

Alpha-mannosidosis in a Persian cat

Alpha-mannosidosis, an inherited enzyme-deficiency disease, caused growth retardation, hepatomegaly, ocular abnormalities, and neurologic dysfunction in a Persian cat. Because of the clinical progression of this autosomal recessive, lysosomal storage disorder, the cat was euthanatized at 5 months of age.     

Pectus excavatum surgically repaired using sternum realignment and splint techniques in a young cat

Successful surgical repair of pectus excavatum deformities has so far only been reported in very young animals. This case report describes an alternative technique for repairing pectus excavatum in a young cat. The cat had shown moderate deformity with slight respiratory impairment when young and had experienced clinical problems with age. A sternum realignment technique involving a pin associated with an external splint was used. This alternative technique was a safe and efficient procedure in the five-month-old cat.     

Naturally Occurring Biventricular Noncompaction in an Adult Domestic Cat

A definitively diagnosed case of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) has not been previously reported in a non‐human species. We describe a Maine Coon cross cat with echocardiographically and pathologically documented LVNC. The cat was from a research colony and was heterozygous for the cardiac myosin binding protein C mutation associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Maine Coon cats (A31P). The cat had had echocardiographic examinations performed every 6 months until 6 years of age at which time the cat died of an unrelated cause. Echocardiographic findings consistent with LVNC (moth‐eaten appearance to the inner wall of the mid‐ to apical region of the left ventricle (LV) in cross section and trabeculations of the inner LV wall that communicated with the LV chamber) first were identified at 2 years of age. At necropsy, pathologic findings of LVNC were verified and included the presence of noncompacted myocardium that consisted of endothelial‐lined trabeculations and sinusoids that constituted more than half of the inner part of the LV wall. The right ventricular (RV) wall also was affected. Histopathology identified myofiber disarray, which is characteristic of HCM, although heart weight was normal and LV wall thickness was not increased.     

C-arm fluoroscopy for the removal of an intraorbital foreign body in a cat

This report describes the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and minimally surgical intervention of a cat with an intraorbital foreign body. A spayed female cat of unknown age was presented with a recurrent cutaneous sinus tract of the left suborbital region. The cat had not vocalized at all since the adoption. A sharp-edged radiopaque foreign body was visualized on dental radiography. Computed tomography outlined the length of the foreign body from the intraorbital soft tissue to the pharynx. The foreign body was removed under the guide of C-arm fluoroscope with minimal skin incision. The surgical site healed completely on the 11th postoperative day, and the cat vocalized normally after healing.     

GM1 gangliosidosis in a Japanese domestic cat: a new variant identified in Hokkaido,Japan

A male Japanese domestic cat with retarded growth in Hokkaido, Japan, showed progressive motor dysfunction, such as ataxia starting at 3 months of age and tremors, visual disorder and seizure after 4 months of age. Finally, the cat died of neurological deterioration at 9 months of age. Approximately half of the peripheral blood lymphocytes had multiple abnormal vacuoles. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bisymmetrical hyperintensity in the white matter of the parietal and occipital lobes in the forebrain on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images, and mild encephalatrophy of the olfactory bulbs and temporal lobes. The activity of lysosomal acid β-galactosidase in leukocytes was negligible, resulting in the biochemical diagnosis of GM1 gangliosidosis. Histologically, swollen neurons characterized by accumulation of pale, slightly granular cytoplasmic materials were observed throughout the central nervous system. Dysmyelination or demyelination and gemistocytic astrocytosis were observed in the white matter. Ultrastructually, membranous cytoplasmic bodies were detected in the lysosomes of neurons. However, genetic analysis did not identify the c.1448G>C mutation, which is the single known mutation of feline GM1 gangliosidosis, suggesting that the cat was affected with a new variant of the feline disease.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS OF FUNGAL RHINITIS AND SINUSITIS IN CATS

The computed tomographic (CT) findings of fungal rhinitis/sinusitis in cats were characterized. The CT images of 10 cats ranging in age from 7 to 13 years were examined. The mean age was 10.8 years and all were neutered males. Nasal aspergillosis was diagnosed in five cats, cryptococcosis in three cats, hyalohyphomycosis in one cat, and trichosporonosis in one cat. Bilateral disease was present in eight cats, seven had abnormal soft tissue attenuation in two-thirds of the nasal cavity, and six had turbinate lysis. Seven cats had also lysis of the hard palate, nasal septum, or frontal bone. One cat had lysis of the cribriform plate. Five of the nine cats whose lymph nodes were imaged had lymph node enlargement. There was contrast medium enhancement in the nasal cavity in all cats, with either a primarily peripheral rim or heterogeneous pattern. There appears to be an overlap of clinical signs, age, and CT features of cats with nasal neoplasia and those with fungal rhinitis/sinusitis.     

Intestinal T-cell lymphoma with severe hypereosinophilic syndrome in a cat

A Japanese domestic long-hair cat of about 8 years of age was presented with vomiting and hematochezia and was found to have significant hypereosinophilia. Bone marrow aspiration revealed moderate increases of eosinophilic lineages. Histopathological examination revealed mild eosinophilic and epitheliotropic T-lymphocytic infiltrations in the duodenum. Although the cat remained asymptomatic with only prednisolone administration, the cat presented with hematemesis, weight loss, and severe anorexia 512 days after the initial presentation. Subsequently, gastrointestinal perforation developed, and the cat died on Day 536. Histopathological examination of autopsy specimens revealed mixed cellular infiltration including eosinophils and neoplastic lymphocytes in the intestinal lymph nodes, intestine, liver, spleen, and pancreas. Immunohistochemical examination supports a diagnosis of intestinal T-cell lymphoma with severe hypereosinophilic syndrome.     

Congenital portosystemic shunts in the cat: A report of nine cases

The clinical features, diagnosis, management and outcome of nine cases of congenital portosystemic shunt in the cat are reported. Neurological signs associated with hepatic encephalopathy and ptyalism were the main clinical signs. Six cases were presented as kittens less than six months of age and the remaining three cases were presented as adults, although in one of these signs were first noted at eight to 12 weeks of age. Fasting hyperammo-naemia was the only consistent abnormal biochemical finding. Medical management was instituted in all cases and surgical partial ligation was later performed in four with recanalisation of the ligated vessel occurring in three cases. The condition in the cat is compared and contrasted with that in the dog.     

Vitamin D-dependent rickets type II in a cat

A cat with clinical signs Indicating rickets was diagnosed as having a defect of vitamin D receptors. Clinical signs had been seen from four months of age. Treatment with calcium supplementation and various forms of vitamin D did not alter plasma calcium levels or reverse skeletal lesions of lateral antebrachial bowing, lumbar spinal lordosis and costochondral beading. Analgesics were effective for relieving skeletal pain during the bone growth phase and were withdrawn when the animal reached skeletal maturity. Therapy for hip osteoarthritis was given from five years of age until the cat was euthanased at nine years of age as a result of refractory hip pain.     

Vergleich der histologischen Struktur der Kompakta der langen Röhren-knochen bei Maus, Hamster, Ratte, Meerschweinchen, Kaninchen, Katze und Hund während der Altersentwicklung

This paper reports on histological examinations of the diaphyseal structure of the long bones (humerus, radius, ulna, os femoris and tibia) of mouse, hamster, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, cat, and dog using six animals in three different age groups. There are considerable differences in structure between the species. The results show that with increasing height in the evolution of the species and period of life, as well as advancing age, the differentiation and complexity of bone structures increases. The differences in structure between the localization of bones within the individual species are not considerable. The species comparison results in great similarities between the bone structures of each of mouse and hamster, of rat and guinea pig, as well as of cat and dog. The bone structure of the animals examined becomes more similar to the human structure from mouse, hamster, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and cat to dog.     

Use of cyproheptadine to control urine spraying and masturbation in a cat

A 5-year-old male domestic longhair cat was examined because of urine spraying and masturbation. The cat had sprayed urine from the time it was acquired as a stray 4 years earlier. The cat was cryptorchid, and at 1 year of age, the scrotal testicle was removed. The cryptorchid testicle was surgically removed several months later; however, urine spraying and masturbation persisted. A diagnosis of territorial marking and separation anxiety was made. Serum testosterone concentration was within the reference range for sexually intact male cats. Treatment included behavior modification and administration of cyproheptadine (2 mg, p.o., q 12 h), which has been shown to have antiandrogenic effects in other species. Frequency of urine marking and masturbation decreased, along with serum testosterone concentration. The cat continued to do well as long as medication was given consistently. Eventually, the cat underwent a laparotomy for removal of remnant testicular tissues but was then lost to follow-up.     

Prevalence of odontoclastic resorptive lesions in a population of clinically healthy cats

The prevalence of odontoclastic resorptive lesions (ORLs) was determined in a clinically healthy cat population (228 cats) using both clinical (oral examination) and radiographic (full-mouth series with intraorally positioned dental film) methods. The overall prevalence rate was 29 per cent (mean age of the cat population 4.9 years). The mandibular third premolars (307, 407) were the most commonly affected tooth and the pattern of ORL development was symmetrical in most cats. The risk of having ORLs was found to increase with increasing age and cats with clinically and radiographically missing teeth were more likely to have the condition. Neutering, gender, age at neutering or mean whole mouth gingivitis index did not affect the prevalence of ORLs.     

MINERALIZED ARTERIOSCLEROSIS IN A CAT

In radiographs of a domestic short haired cat of unknown age, mineralization was identified in the pulmonary parenchyma, peripheral pulmonary vessels, the aortic outflow tract, aortic valve, celiac artery, cranial mesenteric artery, and the internal and external iliac arteries. The diffuse arterial mineralization was characterized histopathologically as arteriosclerosis. This is the first report of mineralized arteriosclerosis in a cat with corresponding radiographic signs. The arteriosclerosis is thought to be due to systemic hypertension but a definitive cause for the profound mineralization was not found. Causes of soft tissue mineralization are reviewed.