South Africa’s 8,000-12,000 farmed lions are diseased and a potential risk to human health

Remains of lions at a South African lion farm

The Born Free Foundation tells us that there are as many as 8000-12,000 captive lions on lion farms in South Africa. They are bred to be shot for fun or their body parts exported to China or some other Asian countries perhaps for medicinal purposes based upon superstition and not science. The whole thing …

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Information and infographic on SPOROTRICHOSIS a fungal infection in cats which is spreading

Sporothrix brasiliensis

For many people, this will be a new cat fungal infection. People are familiar with ringworm in cats which, too, is a fungal infection that is known by many cat caregivers and shelter managers. There are other fungal infections. The one I am addressing today is new to me: Sporothrix brasiliensis. It is present …

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What causes infectious diseases in cats?

Infectious diseases are caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa or fungi. These organisms invade the cat’s body. The cat becomes a host and they cause illness. They are all pathogens. They are infectious because they can be transmitted from one cat to another in various ways including contact with infected faeces, mucus, urine, and other …

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Why do indoor cats need rabies shots and other vaccinations for contagious diseases?

Indoor cat

Clearly, a decreased contact with other cats is a powerful way of reducing the exposure of a cat to pathogens. And if a cat is kept indoors full-time under careful caregiving and they are the only cat in that home there is no contact with other animals from which they can contract a contagious …

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38 facts about the common cold in cats

Cat has a cold and owner provides reassurance

Here are 38 facts about the common cold in domestic cats. I like to present these sort of topics in succinct, bullet-point factual terms because I think it helps to understand the subject. The facts are presented chronologically as the disease develops. I hope that you find it useful. The source of the information …

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“2 FeLV kittens in need of a home” – FeLV kittens and cats can and should live good lives.

Keeping FeLV positive rescue cats alive at new homes

Introduction Many years ago, perhaps around 2008, Jan visited my website and posted a request for visitors to give a home to 2 FeLV cats. I am revisiting that page and using it as a base to add more detail and information. Jan’s post is below the introduction. I don’t know if the kittens …

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Can FIV positive cats go outside?

FIV cat

Physically, of course, FIV-positive cats can go outside. This is a moral question more than anything else. It’s a question about protecting other cats who are FIV-negative. If you let a FIV-positive cat go outside they may pass the disease to a FIV-negative cat. Although transmission isn’t that easy. Close or casual contact alone …

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