Maine Coon Cat Health
Most Maine Coon Cats are fit and healthy animals, kind natured, gentle and loving. Although illnesses are a problem for all cats and something that a responsible owner should be aware of.
Good nutrition and exercise will all help to keep any Maine Coon Cat healthy, coupled with regular checks at the vet your Maine Coon cat should hopefully never suffer any serious illnesses.
However, all Cats are at risk and the following article outlines some of the possibilites that may occur although they are few and far between.
No one likes to think their beloved Maine Coon Cat could be taken ill and possibly die suddenly. Unfortunately, Maine Coon cats do have a track record as a breed for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is a common disease in cats, but seems to be more prevalent in Maine Coons.
Recent good news indicates that a gene mutation (linked to sarcomeric proteins) found in Maine Coon cats is related to HCM, and it is good news because once identified there is the potential to save lives.
HCM is the leading cause of sudden death for indoor adult cats. The cardiac myosin binding protein C is not correctly incorporated into the heart muscle of the Maine Coon cats with HCM. Were there any symptoms prior to the unexpected death? Usually no, it just happens which makes it all the more difficult to deal with. It is sometimes diagnosed in cats as a result of something like a blood clot that produces symptoms of a stroke. Although this can be treated, the strokes will continue and get worse.
There are drugs that can be used in situations where the cat has been diagnosed with HCM, however they seem to be producing mixed results at best.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is when the left chamber of the heart thickens. Because the chamber is thicker, it causes the heart to work harder. It occasionally can be diagnosed if the Veterinarian hears a heart murmur or a very rapid heartbeat. Keep in mind though that these symptoms can also mean something else. HCM can be identified using ultra-sound. By the way the Maine Coon cat is not the only one with this gene anomaly. It also shows up in the American Shorthair, Devon Rex, Persian, and Ragdoll.
How do these findings affect breeding? Good question. Since HCM doesn't show up until the cats are older, it's almost impossible to weed out HCM carriers. They may enter adulthood having already sired several litters, and then it's discovered they have HCM. By then the genes have likely been passed on to other generations. With the ability to now identify the gene in a Maine Coon cat, the hope is that a test can pinpoint carriers of this disease in kittens. This may also result in the creation of a drug to intervene.
Another disease you should be aware of in your Maine Coon cat is spinal muscular atrophy. The genetic cause of this was tracked in 2005 and because of this break through there is now an easy and highly reliable DNA carrier test.Spinal muscular atrophy is the result of the death of spinal cord neurons that send signals to the trunk and limb muscles. This can been seen as early as 3 months in youngsters that develop an odd swaying gait of the hindquarters and in how they stand with their hocks just about touching.
At about 5 months they are too weak to jump and any landings attempted are clumsy. These kittens, and later as adults, are not in pain, eat and play well and live relatively long, good lives as indoor cats.
How does this affect a breeding program? Spinal muscular atrophy is inherited by acquiring the gene from both parents. It is known as a simple autosomal recessive trait and it affects male and female kittens equally. The problem is the parents don't show signs of the disease, but are classified as carriers. So, if a carrier is not identified, they could pass this trait on. To identify a carrier DNA is collected from cat cheek cells, blood or frozen semen.
You can do this strictly confidential test by contacting a lab directly to submit samples.Your Maine Coon cat may also contract polycystic kidney disease – an irreversible, inherited disorder once thought to happen only in Persians and Persian related cats.
It does not show up until later in life – usually around the age of seven or so. Polycystic kidney disease causes renal failure and can be identified through several signs. Watch for depression, a reduced appetite, more frequent drinking and urination, loss of weight and bouts of vomiting.Treatment for this is the same as treatment for chronic kidney failure and involves a restricted protein and phosphorus diet, phosphorus binders, Vitamin D and Erythropoietin. In some cases your vet will use subcutaneous fluids.Watch for hip dysplasia that may affect one or both hips. This is another inherited trait involving multiple gene pairs – meaning both parents have hip dysplasia or carry the genes for it. This condition develops over time due to an improperly fitting femoral head into the hip socket and eventually causes osteoarthritis.
Can regular vet visits help maintain the health of your Maine Coon cat? Yes they can, and we encourage you to take your special pet for an exam if you have any health concerns at all.
Showing posts with label maine coon cat health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maine coon cat health. Show all posts
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Grooming your Maine Coon Cat
Grooming your Maine Coon Cat
Ever noticed in all your reading about grooming the Maine Coon cat that hardly anyone makes mention of cleaning off those Klingons (and we don't mean those that Captain Kirk fought on Star Trek!) These little hitchhikers are fondly referred to by many names, none polite, and no one likes them hanging from the rear end of their cat. Hard, dried, stuck like glue and tangled in the britches/pantaloons, the feces fiasco frustrates felines
A Maine Coon cat is world famous for their abundantly fuzzy, furry tails – much like a waving flag of confidence. It seems like there is more tail than there is cat! That's why they are often referred to as "the tail with a cat glued to it!" That bushy tail has a myth attached to it about a Maine Coon cat mating with a raccoon. Not true! The term Maine Coon was used to identify them first, and the cat part was tacked on later.
Grooming a Maine Coon cat doesn't have to be done often, as they're very fastidious in the self-cleaning department. If you're showing, that's another story. That means the "B" word and we all know how happy cats are about bathes! Let's assume for the purposes of this article you want to do regular coat maintenance.
For regular coat care for your Maine Coon cat you will do this about twice a week. In your Maine Coon cat care kitty (sorry, couldn't resist the pun) you need a de-matting comb, a grooming rake, a metal comb, clippers, seam ripper, a flea comb, cotton balls, white vinegar, baking soda and a small portable hair dryer with a low setting.
Use the metal comb to get at any tangles and knots. Gently run the comb through them, and start near the end of a tangle, not at the fur near the skin and then pull, that's an "Ouch!" Hold the clump of tangles near to the skin. Holding the fur near the skin will lessen the tugging to get the knots out. If the comb doesn't help you with the knots, use the seam ripper to winnow your way into the heart of the clump and carefully separate the fur.
You next use the grooming rake to take out dead undercoat. The amount of hair you'll get out of your Maine Coon cat will be enough to make a dust bunny the size of a Jack Russell Terrier. Strip this out because it's one of the reasons your cat get those knotty knots. Be careful working on the sensitive tail and tummy.
For your Maine Coon cat's eyes you have two options: eye wipes or a damp cotton ball. When you do wipe their eyes, do not use the same ball/wipe on both eyes. This cuts down on any chances of infection spreading should your cat have an eye inflammation.
The ears can be done two ways as well. You can buy ear wipes at a pet store, or use cotton balls. Some advocate using Q-tips, but this isn't the safest method. If you insert you Q-tip too far into the ear canal, you can cause damage to the eardrums. Use cotton balls instead. For the face, use a warm, damp facecloth and gently wipe the muzzle and mouth area.
Another tip for cleaning Maine Coon cat ears is using apple cider vinegar and water in a 50/50 solution. Mix the solution with warm water, and test it on your wrist first. Dip a cotton ball in and dampen it, not soak it. Clean the inside of the ears with a gentle circling motion. Use the solution once a week. It keeps the environment inside the ear in a balanced Ph and reduces chances of ear infections.
Now, those little dried, icky bits of doo that no matter how many times you comb the fur, they stay adhered to the tail. Here is where the white vinegar comes in. Take a cotton ball and soak it in white vinegar, dab it on the portion of the tail where the doo particles are, then carefully sprinkle baking soda on it. You get instant foam. Put the blow dryer on low heat and dry the baking soda paste until it is hard. Comb it out. Doo be gone! This paste has also been known to whiten fur as well. Just be careful not to get vinegar near their faces or near sensitive private parts.
Your cat may also have something called stud tail, a build up of a brown waxy substance found at the base of the tail. One of the things you can use to clean this is a good hand cleaner, but don't use any product with petroleum or pumice stone. Yellowed areas on the fur from pee dribbles respond well to the white vinegar and baking soda routine.
If you have enjoyed this article about grooming your Maine Coon Cat then please feel free to reprint it as it is. This resource box must be included with the article. Please visit and link to my blog at http://www.world-of-maine-coon-cats.blogspt.com/.
Ever noticed in all your reading about grooming the Maine Coon cat that hardly anyone makes mention of cleaning off those Klingons (and we don't mean those that Captain Kirk fought on Star Trek!) These little hitchhikers are fondly referred to by many names, none polite, and no one likes them hanging from the rear end of their cat. Hard, dried, stuck like glue and tangled in the britches/pantaloons, the feces fiasco frustrates felines
A Maine Coon cat is world famous for their abundantly fuzzy, furry tails – much like a waving flag of confidence. It seems like there is more tail than there is cat! That's why they are often referred to as "the tail with a cat glued to it!" That bushy tail has a myth attached to it about a Maine Coon cat mating with a raccoon. Not true! The term Maine Coon was used to identify them first, and the cat part was tacked on later.
Grooming a Maine Coon cat doesn't have to be done often, as they're very fastidious in the self-cleaning department. If you're showing, that's another story. That means the "B" word and we all know how happy cats are about bathes! Let's assume for the purposes of this article you want to do regular coat maintenance.
For regular coat care for your Maine Coon cat you will do this about twice a week. In your Maine Coon cat care kitty (sorry, couldn't resist the pun) you need a de-matting comb, a grooming rake, a metal comb, clippers, seam ripper, a flea comb, cotton balls, white vinegar, baking soda and a small portable hair dryer with a low setting.
Use the metal comb to get at any tangles and knots. Gently run the comb through them, and start near the end of a tangle, not at the fur near the skin and then pull, that's an "Ouch!" Hold the clump of tangles near to the skin. Holding the fur near the skin will lessen the tugging to get the knots out. If the comb doesn't help you with the knots, use the seam ripper to winnow your way into the heart of the clump and carefully separate the fur.
You next use the grooming rake to take out dead undercoat. The amount of hair you'll get out of your Maine Coon cat will be enough to make a dust bunny the size of a Jack Russell Terrier. Strip this out because it's one of the reasons your cat get those knotty knots. Be careful working on the sensitive tail and tummy.
For your Maine Coon cat's eyes you have two options: eye wipes or a damp cotton ball. When you do wipe their eyes, do not use the same ball/wipe on both eyes. This cuts down on any chances of infection spreading should your cat have an eye inflammation.
The ears can be done two ways as well. You can buy ear wipes at a pet store, or use cotton balls. Some advocate using Q-tips, but this isn't the safest method. If you insert you Q-tip too far into the ear canal, you can cause damage to the eardrums. Use cotton balls instead. For the face, use a warm, damp facecloth and gently wipe the muzzle and mouth area.
Another tip for cleaning Maine Coon cat ears is using apple cider vinegar and water in a 50/50 solution. Mix the solution with warm water, and test it on your wrist first. Dip a cotton ball in and dampen it, not soak it. Clean the inside of the ears with a gentle circling motion. Use the solution once a week. It keeps the environment inside the ear in a balanced Ph and reduces chances of ear infections.
Now, those little dried, icky bits of doo that no matter how many times you comb the fur, they stay adhered to the tail. Here is where the white vinegar comes in. Take a cotton ball and soak it in white vinegar, dab it on the portion of the tail where the doo particles are, then carefully sprinkle baking soda on it. You get instant foam. Put the blow dryer on low heat and dry the baking soda paste until it is hard. Comb it out. Doo be gone! This paste has also been known to whiten fur as well. Just be careful not to get vinegar near their faces or near sensitive private parts.
Your cat may also have something called stud tail, a build up of a brown waxy substance found at the base of the tail. One of the things you can use to clean this is a good hand cleaner, but don't use any product with petroleum or pumice stone. Yellowed areas on the fur from pee dribbles respond well to the white vinegar and baking soda routine.
If you have enjoyed this article about grooming your Maine Coon Cat then please feel free to reprint it as it is. This resource box must be included with the article. Please visit and link to my blog at http://www.world-of-maine-coon-cats.blogspt.com/.
World of Maine Coon Cats
World of Maine Coon Cats
Welcome to the World of Maine Coon Cats, this blog is full of information that you need to know about your Maine Coon Cat.
If you own a Maine Coon Cat then this is the blog for you, add it to your favorites and return often, it will be updated on a regular basis, if you want to know something about your Maine Coon Cat then post your question on the blog and it will be answered.
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