Tritrichomonas foetus

What is Tritrichomonas foetus?

In layman terms? it’s a single-celled organism. The longer version of this critter is that this is a flagellate, a single-celled organism possessing hair or lash-like structures, called “flagella,” on its “body” which wiggle around allowing the ugly bug to move. Tritrichomonas foetus is commonly mistaken for Giardia, another pesky parasitic flagellate as they both use “flagella” to move around and both have similar shaped bodies.

How do cats get infected with Tritrichomonas foetus?

The Tritrichomonas foetus organisms are in the feces (poop) of an infected cat. The most common transmission happens when multiple cats share a litter box, this is where the organism can live up to 3 days in fecal material (poop). Any time the cat or cats step into the litter box, they can possibly step in the feces of a potential infected cat or cats, there, the organisms can be transferred to the paws and nails of your cats and then while cleaning and grooming themselves, enter the body of the cat through the mouth.

What are the symptoms of Tritrichomonas foetus?

Tritrichomonas foetus colonizes the lower intestine of the cat causing the mucous and sometimes bloody diarrhea that characterizes colitis. If the colon is biopsied, inflammatory cell infiltration typical of inflammatory bowel disease will be seen. Not all infected cats have diarrhea; many cats especially older ones have no symptoms at all but are still contagious to other cats.

Because colitis can have so many causes, it is important to keep this possible cause in mind. Chronic colitis may or may not respond to symptomatic treatment and if a specific underlying cause can be identified and treated, a long-term difficult problem can be potentially resolved permanently. Many colitis remedies will lead to temporary improvement for a Tritrichomonas-infected cat but the symptoms generally come right back after treatment ceases.

Diagnosis of Tritrichomonas foetus

There are presently four testing methods that can be used to identify Tritrichomonas foetus in a cats fecal sample. It is important that a proper fecal sample be taken from your cat, not the typical scoop it up from the litter box sample! For testing the fecal sample must be freshly obtained with a deeply inserted fecal loop, or flushed from the colon with a syringe. If the cat has been on antibiotics, this will interfere with testing; the cat should be completely off antibiotics for at least a couple of days!

Direct Smear

Fecal matter is swabbed onto a microscope slide, mixed with a saline solution, and examined for the presence of flagellate organisms. The feces must be immediately fresh from the rectum. The more fresh and more mucous In the animals sample, the better for testing. Usually multiple slides must be examined as this pesky organism is very elusive. Standard fecal tests for parasites will not pick up this organism. Refrigeration of the sample will kill the organism and make it impossible to detect. Again as stated above, If the cat is on antibiotics the number of organisms available to detect will be greatly reduced even though most antibiotics cannot cure the infection.

While this is a relatively easy test to perform, it only has about a smaller chance of detecting a natural Tritrichomonas foetus infection. A more sensitive test is generally preferred.

Culture (also called the “Pouch Test” Best method!)

A special culture bag can be used to grow Tritrichomonas foetus in numbers large enough for detection. The feces used must be freshly obtained from the rectum as stated before, inoculated into the pouch, and the pouch is kept in a vertical position for 12 days at room temperature. The pouch is periodically examined under the microscope for the presence of organisms.

This is the test method of choice in most cases as it is easy to perform, reasonably priced and generally accurate.

PCR Testing (Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing)

PCR testing is a DNA test for the presence of Tritrichomonas foetus. A larger fecal sample is needed and the test must be done at a reference lab. It is generally reserved for patients where the Pouch test has been negative but the index of suspicion is still high.

PCR testing is the most sensitive of all the test methods but is also fairly expensive. Specialized equipment is needed and only a few laboratories are qualified to run samples.

Biopsy

A routine colon biopsy is unlikely to find this parasite; special stains on the tissue (“immunohistochemistry”) must be requested and at least six tissue samples must be examined. This is the most invasive form of testing and would not be done right off the bat but if the cat is going to have a biopsy for chronic colitis anyway, it might be a good idea to have the pathologist look for Tritrichomonas foetus.

Keep in mind! A negative test result does not rule out Tritrichomonas infection
no matter which test is performed.

Treatment for Tritrichomonas foetus

In the past, several different antibiotics have been reported to be effective on Tritrichomonas foetus.

The only drug that is felt to be reliable against Tritrichomonas foetus is ronidazole, and its use is far from straight-forward. Here is information you should to know:

Ronidazole must be compounded to get a dose in a suitable size for cats.

Ronidazole is not licensed for use in cats; it is a poultry antibiotic. It also tastes very bad and should be provided in capsules rather than as an oral liquid (It tastes horrible!).

You must handle with care if you choose to administer the drug! You must wear gloves when handling Ronidazole.

The most common side effect in cats when treating with Ronidazole is neurotoxicity which means it is not appropriate to use Ronidazole as a trial to see if a cat with colitis improves on it. Ronidazole should be used only in confirmed Tritrichomonas foetus feline patients!

Neurotoxicity effects: loss of appetite, incoordination, and possibly seizures. Some experts recommend engaging the cat in play on a daily basis to assess muscular coordination and agility.

Cats being treated should be isolated from other cats in the home to prevent reinfection!

It is not possible to fully confirm that An infection has been eradicated as a negative PCR test does not rule out infection. Experts recommend a PCR test in 1-2 weeks after treatment and again approximately 20 weeks after treatment.

Ronidazole is usually given once daily for two weeks. The diarrhea should be resolved by the end of this course if all goes well with treatment.

Sphynx Cat Community

What is Taurine?

Taurine is an amino acid that cats, all breeds, cannot synthesize on their own. They acquire taurine through consuming meat, there is no taurine at all available in fruits, veggies or grains. Most cat food companies add in a small amount of taurine to try to cover the daily needs of the cats.

In addition, feeding just raw meat or raw diet can also leave cats deficient in this area because the level of taurine is not calculated or, in some cases, known. The parts of the body that are high in taurine are the brain, eye and heart (usually not used in raw feeding). The most important thing to note here is that no matter what food you’re feeding, you need to know that it either has a supplemented amount of taurine or YOU are supplementing the taurine.

Without taurine, cats will eventually suffer from DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) (resulting in heart failure) and retinal degeneration. At its worst, taurine deficiency can leave a cat permanently blind and with a rapidly deteriorating heart. This can happen within as little as a few months. Taurine deficiency can also cause problems with breeding cat mothers like spontaneous abortions, abnormal newborns, development problems, or kittens who “fail to thrive”, etc.

It’s important to ensure that your cat is receiving somewhere between 100 and 300mg of taurine per day (check the back of your food packaging, if you’re not sure and always consult your vet before administering any food supplement or medication).

Those of you who have had pets diagnosed with eye and heart conditions or have had females with abnormal reproductive status or problems–speak with your veterinarian about taurine supplementation.
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Is your Sphynx a couch potato?

Do cats get bored? Can they become “couch potatoes?” Absolutely! A sphynx cats natural instinct in the wild is to hunt, stalk, and pounce ever since the day it could stand on all fours. Lot’s of folks think “well, a cat would make a good pet because they don’t need much, just some food and a warm place to sleep and a pet here and there.”

That is as far from the truth as it can get! This is how your cat will become a “couch potato!” Although your cat is far from mild and is domesticated he or she needs to have a life! I’m not saying drive yourself crazy trying to entertain your pet, jut be creative! For a couple bucks you can have your cat using his or her natural instincts and keeping him off the “couch,” and not “bored” to death during the day when everyone is at work or you are away for a few hours. A second cat as a companion will surely keep your sphynx cat entertained during the day but it’s not always the answer or even possible in some house holds.

Here are some ideas, how about a bird feeder in a strategic place near a favorite window perch your sphynx cat loves to bask in during the day? This will keep him occupied for a few hours and they love the stalking feeling of this and the best part about it, no one gets hurt your cat or the cute little birdie! Do you have a cat perch or two? Your Sphynx cat loves high places! This is like climbing a tree in the wild.

How about some choice cat toys or toys with catnip? Spread them around the house, encourage your cat to play with them by throwing them across the room! Once he knows they are play things he will pounce them, bite them and like most toys they will end up in your couch!

Another cool idea is to take a plastic bottle, cut holes just big enough for his or her favorite dry kibble with a few treats as well if you would like and let him spend hours pushing it around and trying to figure out how to get those yummy snacks out. The hole should be just big enough where he has to manipulate the snacks out with his little sphynx paws. Practice with this exercise to be sure he or she can retrieve the snacks without too much of a fight or it will not be pleasant and fun for your kitty.

All these things i’ve mentioned are also a good healthy exercise for your sphynx companion! Keep that cat of the couch and entertained during the day while there by themselves and try some of these cool ideas!

Sphynx Cat Community

Sphynx Skin Conditions

Contact Dermatitis: Symptoms include red, itchy bumps and inflamed skin where your Sphynx cat had made contact with a chemical or another type of irritant. It can also be caused by rubber or plastic food bowels or dishes. The best way to prevent contact dermatitis is to keep Sphynx away from areas where chemicals are being used and to feed your Sphynx with glass, stainless steel, or lead-free ceramic bowels or dishes.

Feline Acne: Very common in the Sphynx breed where they form comedones (also known as blackheads) on the underside of the chin and edges of the lips. These symptoms may be associated with plastic or rubber food dishes or bowels. It is common in the Sphynx breed because of their oily skin as well. Some Sphynx owners have used Stridex pads to treat their Sphynx or small quantities of benzoyl peroxide. Please see your vet and get their advice on this before hand.

Stud Tail: This is caused by glands near the tail that excrete excessive oils. The result is a greasy, rancid-smelling waxy brown material at the top of the tail near the base. This condition is most often often found in Un-neutered males, but fixed males and females can get it as well. Treatment involves neutering your Sphynx cat, and a daily wash with an antiseborrheic shampoo. Please see your vet and get their advice on treatment.

Sunburn: The Sphynx cats are very prone to sunburn and should be kept out of direct sunlight during peek sunlight hours if possible, usually between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to reduce the risk of sunburn and minimize the long-term risk of developing skin cancers. The symptoms of too much sun usually consists of blotchy brown spots, redness or patches of red in the torso area or red bumps (heat rash) on the body. You could also put a shirt on them during thee hours as well for protection. There are safe natural oils on the market that can make for natural sun block also.

Just bear in mind that when it comes to any form of skin condition on your Sphynx cat ask yourself; What has changed recently in my household that could of caused my Sphynx to get a rash or irritated skin?

1.Diet (Food or snacks)
2. Laundry soap (Perhaps you washed their favorite blanket or bed)
3. Pet Shampoo
4. New Medication
5. Water bowl or dish
6. Cleaning chemicals (Just cleaned the tub with a cleaner where your Sphynx frequently goes to drink from the drippy tub faucet?)

Always see a your vet when in question!

Sphynx Cat Community

Pet Photography Tips

Most amateur pet photographers put the camera settings on “automatic” and shoot away in the auto setting; Generally getting sharp “ok” photos. If you want a high-quality portrait of your pet, you will need to take more control of your camera’s functions. If you are like me, you have no idea what f-stop is or shutter speed or how about aperture? Any way i thought i would come up with a kind of “amateur pet photographer” tutorial and I will keep it simple.

1. Lighting– Lighting is key! Outside photos work best on pets but if your inside try to get extra lighting in darker rooms. Bring a plug in lamp or two to light up that dark room. Try to avoid flash when possible or you will get the “green” or “red” eye.

2. Position– Get down low with pets unless you have an elephant or lion as a pet. Lay down on the carpet or floor in different positions or angles until you get that perfect shot. Always try to focus on the eyes in a photo. Don’t be afraid to take a paw shot or half the face with a great whisker shot or in the Sphynx cats case the “broken whisker” shot!

3. Digital camera settings– I will make this as easy as possible for the best “auto” results.

A. Portrait shots– use the “portrait” feature. on your camera it usually has an icon of a persons face. This will focus on your pet and leave the background a little “fuzzy” or “out of focus”.

B. Action shots– How about those “tongue out of mouth” shots or the famous yawning cat shots. You want to put your camera setting on the icon of the “skier” or “sports” type icon. This will give you a faster shutter speed for action.

Tip: Never delete photos on your digital camera while you are in the shooting session! what looks horrible on a 2″ LCD screen may be a wonderful photo on your desktop computer.

Sphynx Cat Community

Naked Careers!

We thought we would feature a video on some ideas for Sphynx owners who may want to see what career opportunities are available for their Sphynx cats.

You know your cat’s a Sphynx if…

If your cat always enjoys sitting in front of you and looking at you with a loving glance, and from time to time talking to you and touching you with his/her paw.The Sphynx wants to be a sure that you are still with him/her – then your cat is Sphynx.
If your cat is running like a monkey over sofa’s and armchair’s and backrests and sits on your shoulder like a parrot– then your cat is Sphynx.
If your cat looks like an alien from a science fiction movie and his eyes are sparkling with the same unbelievable light – then your cat is Sphynx.
If your cat’s ears are like bat’s, and his paws are just like childrens hands – then your cat is Sphynx.
If your cat finishes eating your ice cream, which was left without supervision and likes unusual cat dishes such as grapes, watermelons, cucumbers etc. – then your cat is Sphynx.
If your cat likes snuggling with all other pets like dogs – then your cat is Sphynx.
If your cat has his/her own language you have never heard before, and constantly poses to the photographer – then your cat is Sphynx.
If your cat lays on laptops, computers, radio receivers or tvs – then your cat is Sphynx.
If your cat insists to sleep under the blankets with you on chilly nights – then your cat is a sphynx.
If your cat loves rubbing his head against your stubbly 5 o’clock shadow (men only) – then your cat is a sphynx.
If your friends or family come over to visit and say “oh my god, is that a cat or dog?” or “ooooh thats soooo ugly” – then your cats a sphynx.

Sphynx Cat, about the breed.

With its almost hairless body, big ears and gremlin like expressions, you’ll either love or hate the Sphynx at first sight. However, if you spend a bit of time around a Sphynx cat, you’ll find them companionable, intelligent, loving, unique and friendly; every quality one looks for in a pet. The Sphynx cat is outgoing and loves to show off, which makes them always sought out in shows.They are very intelligent animals who easily become trained to fetch toys or just hang out on your shoulder like a parrot!
And if you’re a male whom doesn’t get around to shaving every day or have a 5 o’clock shadow you will easily become their best friend because they love to feel your bristly face against there warm suede like bodies as they give you a face message!
If you decide you’d love to call a Sphynx your own, you may have to wait. They’re still considered rare, and most breeders have waiting lists.
Grooming and Care of the Sphynx – It is not very hard to keep Sphynx cats, but their maintenance is rather unlike other cats. Sphynx sweat, and their skin secrets oils to nourish the non-existent coat, so they need daily wiping with cloth (baby wipes work best) and frequent bathing, around once a week. But bathing is not a problem, generally, – Sphynx don’t mind it. The ears also need to be cleaned weekly, the lack of hair like normal cats increases the dirt and wax build up in their ears, Q-tips are not recommended. Cotton swabs and Epi-Otic made by Virbac is best for Sphynx ear cleaning. A Sphynx ear cleaning is available here Sphynx Ear Cleaning.
To sum it up, Sphynx are a wonderful creature and are a special breed, once  A Sphynx owns you, It is hard to understand the power these special creatures have on one’s soul.
To learn more about the Sphynx cat, come visit a little special place called Sphynxlair, where Sphynx lovers all over the world share stories, pictures, and interesting topics on this special breed of cat.

Sphynxlair-the Sphynx Cat Community