Health Links

HCM

HCM affects both standard domestics and pedigree cats. Many pedigree cat breeders are screening their cats at the age of 2+ for this heart disease.
http://members.aol.com/jchinitz/hcm/refernce.htm is a wonderful reference listing cardiologists in Europe and the USA who can read test results if they aren't in your town or provide references to vets who can do the actual test. Most need a referral from a vets office to see a cat.

http://www.siberiancatresearchfunding.org/  - a consolidated effort of Siberian fanciers and pet owners to help fight HCM. HCM is a disease found in ALL domestic cats. But in pedigree cats we have the opportunity to trace the mutations of genes that cause HCM. Research is being conducted at Washington State and is dependent on cat fanciers and pedigree owners to fund this research. This is a once in a life time chance to participate in research that can aid in preventing kitten families from experiencing this awful disease in their precious babies. 

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Vaccines

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/titer_test.htm is a explanation of the alternative to over vaccination that can have some very awful side effects. To gain balance and ensure immunity to various diseases, we recommend vaccinating and titring. Titring is the practice of measuring your cat or dogs immune system against specific diseases and illnesses. Its not terribly expensive and much cheaper than if you cat gets vaccinosis or a site sarcoma (cancer at the site of the shot injection from the adjuvant added to the vaccine). This article is very informative and highly recommended reading.

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Genetics Labs

For the breeder looking to know if they have color point carrier cats, if their cats carry the dilution gene, the PKD gene test and a few others, VGL labs is most excellent. We have used their services and have been very impressed. Results take about 2-3 weeks to get back. You can order everything online, very easy and convenient. www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/ is the link for this wonderful resource.

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Breeding & Spay/Neuter

For breeders, rescuers with kittens or for pet owners to understand why its so important to spay/neuter a non breeding cat, this is a great link to breaks down typical behaviors and the female cycle in cats. Please note we do not recommend breeding your females until a year old as they may not be mature enough to take care of kittens prior to this point. http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/eiltslotus/Theriogenology-5361/filne_e.htm

http://www.storsjokatten.com/Halsoavdel/planeringskalender.htm# - You punch in the day parent kitties had a date, gives you a 3 week check date for babies, and then 60,65, and 70 day markers. No more counting on the wall calendar, just get the dates in seconds and write them on the calendar.

http://medcomstore.com/catspey/ This is not for the faint of heart (NO CHILDREN)  but it is animated and made in graphics with a British lady voice much like the CPR videos in grade school. However, great simplified understanding of spaying procedure which is done to all cats not breeding in my home, as well as all female kittens that go as pets and show alters. Please note all medical procedures are ONLY to be done by registered vets. We take no liability in providing these links nor does linking imply agreeing with the position of the publishers or authors of those sites. This is for educational purposes only. I do have links to actual early spay/neuter surgeries but prefer to keep a family friendly atmosphere here and medical procedures by nature are not suitable for young audiences.

http://www.congocoon.com/Links.html is not for the faint of heart. It is an article on pyometra. This is the infection that can occur in the ovaries of a female that goes into heat to often if not bred. We advocate breed responsibly or spay/neuter.

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