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- Help us name the baby hedgehog!
- This month we highlight a popular cat breed – the Siamese.
- Ever wonder about cat’s whiskers and what they are good for?
- Weight loss champions – we have four new graduates.
- EHVS 1st Annual Halloween Costume Contest and Raffle
Help Us Name The New Hedgehog
One of our employees is going to be adopting this female baby hedgehog and she would like some help to name it. We are holding a contest through the month of September. The prize will be a $25.00 gift certificate for PetSmart (good for in-store or on-line purchases) and a photo of the winner on our website in the November newsletter. Contact us at staff@easthilliardvet.com and please put the word hedgehog in the subject line.
The Siamese Cat
The Siamese cat originated in a country in Southeast Asia called Siam, which today is known as Thailand. The earliest known history is as the palace cat of the King of Siam. These cats were held in high esteem, and it is believed they were only permitted to be owned by members of the royal family. Among the many legends about the Siamese cat is this story: When a person of high rank died, one of the cats was selected to receive this person’s soul. Then the cat went to one of the Bhuddist temples to spend the rest of its life in the lap of luxury being served by the monks and priests. (We are not sure how the soul was transferred to the cat!) In 1884, the British Consul-General to Siam was given a pair of these cats as a parting gift by the King of Siam. These beautiful cats aroused much interest in the British Isles. They quickly became a favorite of British cat fanciers and began appearing in English cat shows in the late 1800’s.
The Siamese comes in two body types:
- The traditional, or Applehead, is a stocky, muscular cat with a rounded head (thus the nickname Applehead) and medium size ears which are rounded at the tips. The Applehead Siamese is likely to have crossed eyes and a kinked tail. (See article below for some of the legends about how the Siamese cat got crossed eyes and a kink in their tail.)
- The modern Show Siamese has a long, lean, svelte body type with a wedge shaped head and large triangular shaped ears. Crossed eyes and kinked tails are not acceptable in the Show Siamese.
They are shorthaired cats with a characteristic voice and distinctive markings. (Balinese cats are a longer coated version of the Siamese.) Their eyes are a brilliant blue, and their “points” (muzzle, ears, legs, and tail) are always a darker color than the rest of their body. There are only four colors officially recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association: chocolate point, seal point, blue point, and lilac point. There are other color variations such as lynx point, tortie point, and red point which are recognized by other cat associations. The Cat Fanciers Association places those other colors into a group called Colorpoint Shorthair.
They are intelligent and inquisitive and generally easy-going cats. If you own a Siamese cat, you will recognize that they know they are descended from royalty.
More Legends Surrounding Siamese Cats
The Siamese cat is surrounded by legends. Here are just two of the stories we found while doing research for this newsletter.
It is told that a Princess of the Royal House of Siam needed a safe place to put her rings while she bathed. In one story, she used her cat’s tail and tied it in a knot so the rings would not fall off, thus leaving a kink. In another story she was searching for a place to put the rings when she noticed that her cat suddenly had a kink in her tail. She used the kinked tail to store her rings while she bathed, and that is why the traditional Siamese cat now has a kink in its tail.
Another story, which is told in several ways, explains both the crossed eyes and the kinked tail. A pair of Siamese cats was left to guard a sacred goblet. The male left to get help. While the female waited, she feared she might lose the goblet so she sat very close, causing her eyes to cross when she looked at the goblet, and wrapped her tail around the goblet to prevent theft if she fell asleep. While she waited (and here one story said four days, another said nine weeks) she delivered a litter of cross-eyed and kink-tailed kittens. And from that time forward, all Siamese cats had crossed eyes and kinked tails. (That is until those traits were bred out.)
Cat’s Whiskers
The old-fashioned use of the term “the cat’s whiskers” meant “first-rate” or “most perfect”. The meaning of the phrase indicates an understanding of the unique capabilities of a cat’s whiskers. These tactile hairs are not only found on the cat’s muzzle; they are also above their eyes, on their cheeks, and on the back of their front legs, about halfway up. They are imbedded into the skin three times deeper than their other hair, and send messages to the brain in response to stimuli. Most predatory species’ whiskers are well-developed and improve their hunting abilities. The facial whiskers detect subtle changes in air currents or vibrations that can indicate movement of prey. They help determine the bite point on the prey’s neck and, once the prey is captured, the whiskers on the forelegs collect information about the size, shape, and position of their prey.
Aside from navigation and hunting, the whiskers are also used in communication. When whiskers are closely bunched and drawn close to the cheek, your cat is probably shy or afraid. That position can also indicate anger or vulnerability. When whiskers are fully fanned, bending almost straight forward, the cat is tense or excited as they would be when hunting. When your cat is relaxed, the whiskers are generally relaxed since there is no need for them to be assessing their situation.
Some fun facts:
- Whiskers are shed and replaced periodically.
- Forcing whiskers into an unnatural position can cause pain.
- There are usually 12 whiskers on each side of the muzzle lined up in 4 horizontal rows.
- The top row of whiskers can move independently of the middle row.
- Cat’s whiskers grow in proportion to its body.
- The Guinness world record for whisker length (set in 2003) is five-and-a-half inches. The record winning whisker belongs to a black and white longhair cat named Sylvester who lives in Burlington, Iowa.
Weight Loss Champions
Shaman Wallenberg is a large Golden Retriever. At 97# and a body condition score of 6.5 (on a scale of 1-10), he was only moderately overweight. However, because of his breed predisposition to orthopedic problems, it was recommended that his owners try to slim him down. Over a five month period, with increased exercise and some dietary restrictions, he lost 10#. In August he was graduated from the weight management program. Congratulations are in order for Shaman and the Wallenberg family!
In May of 2004, Sasha Rhoden weighed in around 105#. She too, is a large dog and only about 10# overweight. Any large breed dog is more likely to have joint problems than the smaller breeds, and that potential is increased by excess weight. At her weigh-in in August of 2003, she stood at 94.2#. She joins our growing list of weight management program graduates. Way to go Sasha and family!
At her highest weight, Reese Miculka was nearly nine pounds. In November, 2003 the veterinarian recommended the weight management program, reducing her daily treat intake and starting her on a reduced calorie diet. Over the next nine months, Reese slowly lost the excess weight, and in August she graduated the program at a very healthy seven pounds, ten ounces. Reese is our first feline graduate, and we are very proud of her and her family for their efforts in reaching her goal.
In March of this year, Sweetie Wood (not pictured) weighed 16.5#. After a bit of a rough start and some dietary adjustments, she successfully lost 2.5 #. As a senior pet, Sweetie will benefit from her weight loss in many ways, not the least of which will be a healthier heart and a decreased chance of diseases such as diabetes. Good job Sweetie and family!
East Hilliard Veterinary Services 1st Annual Halloween Costume Contest and Raffle
We will be raffling off a huge basket of pet items and gift certificates donated from area businesses, with a portion of the proceeds to be given to the Franklin County Animal Shelter. The basket will be on display in our lobby beginning mid-September. The drawing will be held the day of our 1st annual Halloween Costume Party, Sunday, October 31st, from 2pm-4pm. Raffle tickets are priced at $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. You do not have to be present to win. More information to come in the October Newsletter.
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