Personally, I find the feline species very intriguing, as not only are they very different from dogs, but also each cat is different from the next. And, unlike dogs that we can train and “mold” into canine good citizens, cats are independent creatures that “have staff.”
For veterinarians, even meeting and greeting cats requires a certain finesse to win the trust of these independent, highly intelligent animals. While most dogs will greet veterinarians with at least some exuberance and learn to trust their caregivers, cats assume the attitude of “what’s in this for me.”
With this knowledge, my first task when approaching feline patients is to identify their pleasure points. Will it be a full body pet from the top of the head to the tip of a curling tail as the cat walks away from me with inquisitive arrogance, or will it be a really good chin scratch as the cat hunkers down in the safety of the bottom of its travel crate?
Regardless of the cat’s acceptance (or lack thereof) of my intrigue and admiration, my brain has switched gears from the last species I treated to the feline in front of me. Now I get to think about all the unique health issues that cats might experience.
With every species, veterinarians are first trained to recognize the “normal” animal before learning about specific animal diseases. While there is some crossover between different species when it comes to disease, there are also a number of conditions unique to each species, including felines. Dirty Face Syndrome, Stud Tail and Painful Bladder Syndrome are a few conditions distinctive to cats.
Dirty Face Syndrome (Idiopathic Facial Dermatosis) appears just as the name implies. Kittens or cats, often of Persian or Himalayan breeding, will present with what appears as dirt accumulated in the coat around the lips, nose and eyes. This “dirtiness” is difficult to clean off and will recur very quickly if you are successful in doing so. The term “idiopathic” implies that there is no known cause, but since this condition occurs frequently in certain breeds, there is likely a genetic association. The “dirt” is excessive sebum or wax produced by oil glands on the face.
Feline Stud Tail is similar to Dirty Face Syndrome in that it is also associated with overactive oil glands, this time located on the tail base, usually of intact male cats. The excessive brown oil that accumulates collects dirt, which gives the tail base a greasy, black appearance that is again difficult to wash out. Neutering does seem to help eliminate or control this condition which may also be observed in neutered male or female cats.
Feline Painful Bladder Syndrome (Feline Idiopathic Cystitis or FIC) is a hemorrhagic inflammation of the lining of a cat’s urinary bladder and urethra. A similar condition is found in humans, primarily women, and is called Interstitial Cystitis. Cats — as well as people — will experience lower urinary pain, frequency, urgency and bleeding. There is no known cause for this uncomfortable ailment that appears to be exacerbated by stress.
Cats also differentiate themselves in the behavioral category with two different body languages that alert veterinarians to be on guard. The first is what I describe as “airplane ears.” Cats will lay their ears down flat on the sides of their heads, usually with their body somewhat crouched.
At the same time, the cat may begin a swishing tail motion, more pronounced at the tip of the tail. This action is a “tick-tock” motion that communicates the cat’s escalating discontent. When both airplane ears and the tick-tock tail are present, beware, as the next action will likely be a lashing out by an unhappy cat!
Not all cats are uneasy in the veterinary office. In fact, I would argue that almost every cat can be comforted during visits by all the right touches of a discerning veterinary eye. So, please do not hesitate to take your feline family member for routine veterinary exams. Your veterinarian is a trained connoisseur of cat behavior and diseases, and it our honor and privilege to care for them.
Author: Dr. Bonnie Jones
