January 2020 Burmese Cat Club of New Zealand (Inc) - Founded June 1969 Registered with New Zealand Cat Fancy February 1973
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B
January 2020
urmese
ulletin
Burmese Cat Club of New Zealand (Inc)
Founded June 1969
Registered with New Zealand Cat Fancy February 1973
Web: http://burmesecatclub.nz
BCCNZ Management Committee
PRESIDENT: Gordon McIvor
30 Fairweather Crescent gordandpaul@xtra.co.nz
Kaiapoi 03 327 3331
VICE PRESIDENT: Nikki Growcott
26 Lynley Drive nikki@soxndotsburmese.co.nz
West Melton 7618 021 02345 749
SECRETARY: Kris Patterson
2243 Tram Road kris.vickip1@xtra.co.nz
West Eyreton 7475 03 312 5175
TREASURER: Pam Taylor
223 New Brighton Road 03 383 8383
Christchurch 8061
DELEGATE: Rex Hansen
131 Flygers Line julie@sashimaburmese.co.nz
RD8 Palmerston North
EDITOR/WEB Glen Hodgman
26 Lynley Drive glen@soxndotsburmese.co.nz
West Melton 7618 021 101 6310
NORTH ISLAND
CHAIRPERSON: Christine Yeung
21 Kaituna Street burmese@cairistona.co.nz
Palmerston North 4414
REPRESENTATIVE: Genevieve Rogerson
21 Ngaio Street geneviever@xtra.co.nz
Palmerston North 4414
N.I. TREASURER: Mushfik Yeung
21 Kaituna Street burmese@cairistona.co.nz
Palmerston North 4414
COMMITTEE
Vicki Patterson Julie Hansen James Hanford-Cable
Trish Steel Shirlene Nagy Craig Hanford-Cable
Cover Photo: Heatherlea Sir Lance A Lot (courtesy of Heatherlea Icelandic Horses and
Burmese Cats Facebook page)
Editorial January 2020 Hi All and welcome to a new decade!! Where did the last one bruddy go?!!? To close out 2019, Pam Taylor has very generously given me (to scan for the website) a whole bunch of the Burmese Bulletins dating as far back as December 1977(!!) through to December 1989; so organised is our Pam. Though it has been a mission to get them all scanned, that has been offset by reading through some of the history of the club, recognising names and faces, and the work involved (especially in producing the Bulletin). My predecessors such as Ann Skilling, Dyan Kelly, Wendy Browne, and Kay Thresh all made monumental efforts in producing the Bulletin back then. Blessed am I with the tools we have access to now and ease of access to professional digital printing machinery. As Wendy wrote in the July 1981 edition (and though she had the help of Emily Pattison and Penny Carpenter to type out all the material), everything was typed out onto stensils and printed on a gestetner in a single afternoon.....along with plenty of wine she admits. So by the time you receive this Bulletin, you should find a few editions already uploaded to the website. Use the login details you received with the previous edition of the Bulletin to access them. If you’ve lost your login details, flick an email to either webmaster@burmesecatclub.nz or to glen@soxndotsburmese.co.nz. For this issue, I’ve happened upon a few health articles; Diabetes Mellitus in cats, Congential Hypothyroid and Flat Chested Kitten Syndrome. At the back of this bulletin are 4 Remits for the forthcoming AGM along with a voting paper. Please read them carefully. Finally, close off date for content and addtions for the April Edition of the Burmese Bulletin will be (Easter) Monday the 13th of April 2020. Cheers, Glen
Presidents Report January 2020 Happy New Year to you all, and welcome to 2020. With the start of the new decade there have been some changes in the Management Committee. Nikki Growcott is the new Club President and will take up the posi- tion at the AGM; which is coming up on Sunday 23rd February. Pam Taylor is retiring from the positions of Southern Region and Management Committee Treasurer after a period of 30plus years in the job. Pam is happy to stay on as a Committee member. Nomina- tions are still open for a Club Treasurer, should anyone like to put their hand up. In this Bulletin are four remits put forward by Christine Yeung (Central Region) which aim to amalgamate the process of nominat- ing and voting for President and other Club officers now that Com- mittee meetings can be held by Skype or other on-line conference methods. With the cost of postage and the reduced mail deliveries electronic means of information sharing looks to be the way to go. Please consider the remits and vote. As this is my last President’s Report all that remains is for me to wish you all good luck for the coming Show season and hope that this year brings with it all that you have wished for and fulfilment of your New Year’s resolutions. You could be like the man I heard about on the radio recently who had decided that his New Year’s resolution would be to not make any, and for the last 10 years he hasn’t broken it. Cheers, Gordon McIvor.
Minutes: Management Committee
Sunday 15 December 2019.
Unit 2, 567 Wairakei Road, Christchurch.
Meeting commenced at 11:05am
PRESENT
G. McIvor (chair), V. Patterson, K. Patterson, G. Hodgman, N.
Growcott, P Taylor
APOLOGIES
Christine Yeung, Mush Yeung
MINUTES
Moved that the minutes of 20 October 2019 are taken as read,
G McIvor/P Taylor Carried
CORRECTIONS
Nil
MINUTES
Moved that the minutes are a true and correct record,
G McIvor/G Hodgman Carried
MATTERS ARISING
• No feedback on BCCNZ Logo ideas - still in progress.
• Club Website – Work in progress.
• Digital Show Paperwork. – No update
• Internet Banking – Work in progress.
CORRESPONDENCE IN
• President Nomination
• Club Membership Renewals,
• NI General Meeting date notification – 26/1/20 11:00am at
the Square Edge Arts Cetre,
• NZCF Schedule of Fees 2020,
• NZCF Colleen Frew Memorial Service notification,
• NZCF Affiliated Club Membership Renewal notification 2020
• Agenda Item – James Hanford-Cable,
• NZCF Show Date Application Form 2021.
• Lilac Stud – Nikki has been in contact with the woman
concerned but at this stage not successful with the removal.Minutes: Management Committee
Still a work in progress.
CORRESPONDENCE OUT
Meeting Minutes to the Committee.
Moved that the Inwards Correspondence be accepted, and the
Outwards Correspondence be approved.
V Patterson/G McIvor Carried
BCCNZ FINANCIAL REPORT 15/12/19
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT
RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
Balance 20/1019 2010.17 G Hodgman
– Bulletin expenses 120.27
Subs. 84.00
Balance 15/12/19 2094.17
Moved that the Financial Report be Accepted P Taylor/G McIvor
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
Nil
GENERAL BUSINESS
• AGM Date 23 Feb 2020. Venue - Unit 2, 567 Wairakei Road,
Christchurch at 11:00am.
• Discussion on Committee nomination procedures.
• Discussion on Remits.
NEXT MEETING TO BE HELD:
Sunday 19 January 2020.
Venue to be Unit 2, 567 Wairakei Road, Christchurch at 11:00am.
A cat is the only domestic animal I know who toilet
trains itself and does a damned impressive job of it
-Joseph EpsteinManagement
Annual General Meeting
February 23rd 2020
11:00am
Unit 2, 567 Wairakei Road
Christchurch
BCCNZ Management Committee
Nominations 2020 Received
Position Nominee Proposer Seconder
Vice Gordon McIvor Kris Patterson Vicki Patterson
President
Secretary Kris Patterson Gordon McIvor Pam Taylor
Treasurer Gordon McIvor Pam Taylor Glen Hodgman
Editor Glen Hodgman Pam Taylor Gordon McIvor
Web Person Glen Hodgman Gordon McIvor Pam Taylor
Committee Pam Taylor Nikki Growcott Vicki Patterson
Member Vicki Patterson Nikki Growcott Glen Hodgman
BCCNZ Central Region Committee
Nominations 2020 Received
Position Nominee Proposer Seconder
Regional Christine Yeung Sue Leathwick Genevieve
Chairperson
Rogerson
Regional Genevieve Christine Yeung Sue Leathwick
Representative
RogersonArticle
Diabetes Mellitus
International Cat Care website August 2018
Diabetes mellitus (or ‘sugar diabetes’) is a complicated condition
caused by either an absolute or relative lack of the hormone insulin.
Insulin is produced by special cells in the pancreas (an organ close
to the liver) and this hormone is critical in the control and utilisation
of blood glucose (sugar). Insulin is produced and released into the
blood in response to increasing levels of blood glucose, and this
allows the glucose to be taken up by cells in the body (and used for
energy) and helps to maintain normal levels of glucose in the blood.
If insulin is deficient, blood glucose levels will rise, and the body
will not be able to use glucose efficiently as a source of energy,
depending instead on other sources such as breakdown of fats.
Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) disorders
of cats, but fortunately in most cases it can be diagnosed and
managed successfully, although management options can be quite
complex and treatment has to be adjusted to the individual cat.
Visit https://www.youtube.com/user/iCatCare for all our videos
about looking after a cat with diabetes, including:
• Home blood glucose testing for your cat
• How to give your cat an insulin injection
• How to collect your cat’s urine
• How to test your cat’s urine for substances like glucose and
ketones
What causes diabetes?
Diabetes in cats appears to be very similar to type II or non-insulin
dependent diabetes in humans. The disease is characterised by
abnormalities within the pancreas that interfere with the ability
to produce insulin, and also with so-called ‘insulin resistance – a
reduced ability of the tissues in the body to respond to the insulinArticle
that is produced. Together these combine to cause diabetes.
Type I diabetes in humans is caused by an auto-immune diseas e
that results in destruction of the cells in the pancreas that produce
insulin. Although this has been seen in the cat, in contrast to dogs,
this form of disease appears very rarely in cats.
Diabetes may also occur in cats as a secondary disease – i.e.
secondary to another disease or to certain forms of drug therapy.
Some other endocrine diseases such as hyperadrenocorticism
(an excessive production of cortisol from the adrenal glands), or
acromegaly (an excessive production of growth hormone from the
pituitary) can strongly impair the response of tissues to insulin and
result in diabetes. The same can happen occasionally when certain
drugs are used such as prolonged high doses of corticosteroids or
progesterone-like drugs (progestagens).
Clinical signs of diabetes
Diabetes is mainly a disease of middle-aged cats and older, and
is more common in male cats than females. The disease is also
much more common in neutered cats and overweight cats – being
overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle are two of the most
common causes of an impaired tissue response to insulin (insulin
resistance) which is a critical component of the disease.
A genetic predisposition to diabetes is well recognised in humans,
and there is evidence that this may also be true in cats. In some
countries at least, the Burmese cat appears to be predisposed to
developing diabetes, and the disease appears very common in some
lines of Burmese.
The most common clinical signs seen in diabetic cats are:
• Increased urination (polyuria) – the increased blood glucose
levels mean that glucose spills over into the urine drawing water
with it, thus creating a larger volume of urine
• Increased thirst (polydipsia) – to compensate for the water that
is being lost through increased urine production
• Weight loss
• Increased appetite (polyphagia) – this is not invariably present,Article
but in some cats will be marked
The severity of these signs will vary between individuals, and some
will be more subtle than others. Some additional signs may also be
seen including:
• Enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly) – which may be evident
on examination by your vet
• Poor coat
• Weakness, especially of the back legs caused by diabetes
damaging the nerves (diabetic neuropathy) – this may result in
‘sunken hocks’
• Diabetes may predispose cats to secondary bacterial cystitis so
they may show signs of bladder infections (straining to urinate,
passing blood in the urine).
Most diabetic cats remain well in themselves but prolonged severe
diabetes may occasionally result in a complication referred to
as diabetic ketoacidosis. In this situation, the cat may become
extremely depressed with signs such as vomiting, diarrhoea,
anorexia, and collapse. Any signs such as these should prompt
immediate assessment by your vet.
Diagnosis
The clinical signs may suggest a diagnosis of diabetes, but other
conditions may also produce similar signs so further testing is
necessary to confirm a diagnosis. This is usually done in the form of
blood and urine tests:
• Analysis of a urine sample will reveal the presence of glucose.
Ketones (which are used as an alternative source of energy
during diabetes) may also be present in the urine.
• A blood test should show the presence of a high concentration
of glucose, and your vet may also look at fructosamine and/or
glycosylated haemoglobin concentrations – these tests measure
the quantity of glucose that has become bound to different
proteins in the blood and give an idea of the average blood
glucose concentration during the preceding weeks.
Although the presence of hyperglycaemia (a high blood glucose)Article and glycosuria (glucose in the urine) are typical findings for diabetes, these changes can also occur in some cats simply as a result of stress. If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, your vet may want to wait a little while and repeat the tests, or do some additional investigations (such as the fructosamine or glycosylated haemoglobin tests mentioned above). Treatment of diabetes in cats Diabetes mellitus is usually a treatable condition but it is not a simple disease to manage and does require dedication and commitment from owners. Nevertheless, it can be an extremely rewarding problem to manage when things go well. Management of predisposing factors Initially it is important to identify any predisposing or complicating factors – for example if drugs are being given that may be causing the diabetes, these should be gradually withdrawn. Dietary management There are two major considerations with dietary management of diabetic cats. Firstly, if the cat is overweight or obese it is very important to normalise their body weight. This itself may result in resolution of the diabetes (because obesity interferes with the action of insulin). Weight loss can be achieved through a combination of reduced calorie intake and increased exercise, although the latter can be challenging in cats. If your cat is significantly overweight then your vet may suggest a special weight reduction diet to help. As a routine, cats with diabetes appear to benefit greatly from a diet that is low in carbohydrates. Several studies have shown that cats with diabetes are easier to manage, have lower insulin requirements and in some cases the diabetes actually resolves, simply by changing them to a diet that is very low in carbohydrates. Some diets available from your vet are specifically made to meet the requirements of a diabetic cat, but if these are not available feeding a low carbohydrate kitten diet may be a suitable alternative – talk to your vet about these options.
Article
Weight loss tips for owners of obese cats
• Have your cat’s weight checked regularly at a pet slimmers’ clinic
or by a veterinary nurse. Regular contact with the pet slimmers’
nurse can dramatically help with your pet’s weight loss. Feeding
quantities may need adjusting in order to find the correct
amount for your pet.
• Weigh out the daily food allowance in the morning, and place it
in a container to divide between the allocated meals. This way
you are less likely to overfeed your cat. You can take out a few
kibbles to give as treats throughout the day.
• It is important that no ‘extras’ are added to your cat’s daily
allocated allowance. This includes milk and cat milk.
• Increase your cat’s exercise levels gently in collaboration with
the pet slimmers’ nurse, who can help to design an exercise
programme. Cats can exercise by use of toys, light torches,
etc. Remember, ‘little and often’ is generally more beneficial for
weight loss.
• Place the food in different areas or hide kibbles around the
house/room to encourage your cat to exercise more. A food ball
or ‘puzzle’ feeder is also ideal in these situations – making the
cat work a little to get its food.
• If you have more than one cat, it important to feed them
separately and to watch over them when they eat. If just one of
the cats is obese, try feeding the others on a high surface that
the obese cat cannot jump on to, or perhaps feed them in a box
with only a small entry hole that an obese cat cannot squeeze
through!
• It can be wise to inform your neighbours that your cat is going
on a weight loss programme, and not to feed it.
• For a weight loss programme to be successful, everyone involved
in caring for the cat, and who may feed the cat, needs to be ‘on
side’Article
Oral drugs to control diabetes
In humans with diabetes a number of oral drugs (tablets) are
available that can help control the condition. Many of these are
either toxic to cats (so should not be used), or simply do not work
in cats. Some tablets (so-called oral hypoglycaemics – tablets that
lower blood glucose) can work in a small proportion of diabetic cats,
but their long-term use is a little controversial. Nevertheless, this
may be an option occasionally for cats that are very difficult to inject
with insulin.
Using insulin injections
Most diabetic cats will need to have their diabetes managed with
daily or twice daily injections of insulin, just as is needed for many
humans with diabetes. Although the prospect of having to inject
your cat once or twice a day is very daunting for most owners, it
can actually be very easy to do with practise, and because insulin
syringes and needles are so small, the cat usually does not feel a
thing. The injection is given under the skin, usually in the scruff of
the neck.
Your vet (and perhaps vet nurse) will help by talking you through
the whole procedure and letting you practise before ever having
to give insulin to your own cat. Sometimes practising by injecting
water into something like an orange can help to get the feel of how
to handle the syringe and needle and gain confidence. It is usually
easiest to try to inject your cat when they are distracted with other
things (for example when they are eating a tasty treat), and to
begin with it may be better to have a second person who can help
hold your cat, although with practise this will not be needed.
Several different types of insulin are available – some are
specifically licensed for use in dogs and cats, others may be licensed
for use in humans but still suitable for dog and cat use. In general,
insulins are divided into:
• Short-acting preparations (eg, soluble insulin)
• Intermediate-acting preparations (eg, lente insulin)
• Long-acting preparations (eg, protamine zine insulin [PZI],
insulin glargine, insulin detemir).
Individual cats may respond differently to different insulins, butArticle
most cats will require twice daily injection of an intermediate- or
long-acting type of insulin, although some cats can be managed
with once daily injections.
Storing and handling insulin
It is important to store insulin properly so that it maintains its
efficacy. Insulin should be kept in a fridge at all times, and never
frozen. Before drawing up insulin into a syringe, the contents of
the bottle should be gently mixed so that an even suspension is
obtained, but you should not shake the bottle as this may damage
the insulin.
• Always carefully follow the instructions from your vet when using
the insulin
• Carefully draw up the correct amount of insulin in the syringe.
Occasionally insulin pens are used which help to make
administering small amounts of insulin easier
• If you are not sure whether an injection was given successfully,
nevergive a second injection. It is better to miss a dose rather
than risk giving too much insulin.
Stabilising a diabetic cat
Many vets will hospitalise diabetic cats undergoing initial
stabilisation. Insulin is given and regular blood tests are used to
monitor the effect on blood glucose concentration. This allows
adjustments to be made to the insulin dose (and if necessary a
change in the type of insulin or frequency of injection) to get good
control of the diabetes.
In some cases, this may also be done on an out-patient basis with
intermittent trips to your vet to check blood glucose. In these cases
it may take a little longer to stabilise the cat as changes in the
insulin dose will be made slowly to avoid causing problems.
Long-term management of the diabetic cat
Day to day routines, feeding (type of food, frequency), activity, and
body weight should be kept as constant as possible as this will help
minimise fluctuations in insulin needs. Once a diabetic cat is stable,
the dose of insulin may still need to be adjusted on an occasional
basis. Only do this in consultation with your vet though.Article
Several things will help you and your vet to monitor your diabetic
cat. Your vet will, from time to time, want to:
• Check blood samples to look at blood glucose and fructosamine
and/or glycosylated haemoglobin concentrations (see above)
• Check the weight of your cat
• Check urine samples (for glucose and ketones, see above)
• Check the general health of your cat
To help you and your vet manage the diabetes, it is extremely
helpful if you are able to keep a daily diary and record key things
on a day-to-day basis. Looking at the trends and changes in these
parameters over time can be extremely helpful in managing your
cat.
Keep a daily note of:
• The time of injection and the amount of insulin injected
• The cat’s appetite and the amount of food eaten
• The overall demeanour of your cat, noting particularly if they
become lethargic or more sleepy than usual
• The presence of any vomiting or diarrhoea
• If at all possible, measure the amount of water your cat drinks
each day – use a measuring jug to fill their bowl and at the end
of the day tip the water back into the jug to see how much they
have drunk. Measuring the water intake is one of the most useful
ways to monitor how well the diabetes is controlled. Even if you
have more than one cat in your house, measuring how much
they all drink may still be a useful guide.
Some other things are very useful to record in the diary:
• Weight – If possible, also keep a weekly note of your cats weight
and record this in the diary as well. Take the diary with you
whenever you go to the vet so that you and your vet can review
what has been happening.
• Urine glucose – Your vet may suggest you collect a urine sample
from your cat from time to time so that you (or your vet) can
check for glucose in the urine with a very simple paper-strip test.Article Collecting urine Urine can be easily collected from most cats if they use a litter tray by cleaning the litter tray first and then replacing the normal litter with a non-absorbent type – special cat litters will be available from your vet, or you can use clean, washed aquarium gravel. If you are checking the glucose in your cat’s urine, also record this in your diary. Changing the dose of your cat’s insulin Only change the dose of your cat’s insulin after first talking with your vet. In particular, you should never give more insulin unless your vet has told you to. This is important, as giving too much insulin can cause a condition called hypoglycaemia, where the blood glucose concentration is too low. The signs of hypoglycaemia are generalised weakness, disorientation, the cat may appear as though it is intoxicated, it may collapse and this can progress to seizures and/or a coma. This is a life threatening situation and requires urgent action. If your cat ever shows any of these signs, contact your vet immediately. In the meantime it is helpful to administer some glucose syrup or powder by mouth to your cat. As a precaution, it is always best to have a small bottle of glucose syrup (available from your vet or a pharmacist) in the house when you have a diabetic cat. Prognosis The long-term outlook for cats with diabetes mellitus varies according to how old they are, how easy it is to stabilise their diabetes, whether they have any other diseases and how severe these are. Many diabetic cats have an excellent quality of life, and many can live very happily with their diabetes if they are well managed. These cats can be extremely rewarding to manage, but not every cat responds well. Your vet will want to undertake regular examinations to evaluate the response with your cat, and if your cat proves difficult to stabilise,
Article becomes unstable, or appears to need very large doses of insulin, further tests may be needed to look for other underlying problems.
Article
Flat Chested Kitten
Syndrome (FCKS)
Elsian Bengals website 29 April 2019 by Meghan Leah Waals
Kittens develop an abnormal rib cage which often is flat/squished
There are varying severities of this condition from a kitten that looks
like they were stepped on, to a kitten with a dip in the back. 30% of
cases also are afflicted by Pectus Excavatum.
PREVALENCE:
There are not as many scientific papers out there directly on
the topic and most information is shared and collected from the
breeding community however some statistical information we can
share from what is available includes:
Some studies report a biased towards male kittens
In a study performed in the UK 3-4% of Burmese kittens were
affected.
In a study performed in 2017 in Sweden, there is a higher
prevalence in Bengal kittens (6%) than Domestic Short Hairs (DSH)
with 44% of breeders experiencing a malformation in 1-3 litters with
36% passing away by 4 weeks of age.
In 50-60% of cases, this condition resulted in mortality.
SYMPTOMS:
The most obvious is the chest or rib cage is flat or abnormally
shaped. In mild case, there will be a ridge along the side of the rib
cage.
Other deformities such as
• Pectus Excavatum (caving in of the chest that can also result in
impaired cardiac and lung impairment)Article
• Kyphosis (a forward rounding of the spine)
• Lordosis (dip in the spine behind the shoulder blades)
• Weight loss
• Impairing ability to eat
• Respiratory impairment (increase respiratory rates and effort)
• Reduced activity
• Failure to thrive
Mild Turtle
Mainly Identifiable by a ridge at The costal cartilage is flattened
the costo-chondral junction; it but the body of the rib remains
is likely that many cases of this curved and in more or less cor-
type go unnoticed and resolve rect position, though it may be
within a week or two of onset pushed outwards by the position
of the costal cartilage.
Inverted Pancake
The costal cartilage curves in (Extreme Flatness) The kitten
and upward. This is sometimes looks as if it has been stepped
accompanied by pectus on; some breeders report the
excavatum, and may in this sternum almost touching the
case be caused by the sternum spine. After some weeks the
damaging or hindering the action spine begins to develop kyphosis
of the daphragm/lungs if the position is not relieved.Article DIAGNOSIS: This often can be detected just by feeling the rib cage around 10 days of age, but can develop as early as 3 days. It can appear just overnight so checking often can be required. An x-ray may also be performed to see the extent of the dysfunction. FCKS is often misdiagnosed by veterinarians as Pectus excavatum (PE) but there is little connection between the two other than the fact that FCKS kittens can also present with PE. The primary difference is PE affects the sternum and cartilage attached to the ribs allowing their connection and the rib cages flexibility. FCKS on the other hand affects the whole rib cage. DURATION: Some kittens/cats will always suffer from this condition others can resolve on their own. HOW: It’s important first to understand that kittens are born immature. We all know they are blind and deaf but their lungs are immature as well. Over a few days, the lungs will fully inflate which doesn’t occur until about three days after delivery. If something goes wrong, the lungs cannot inflate properly and thus the rib cage is not supported properly and goes flat. Atelectasis or collapsing of the lungs occurs when respiration fails in a newborn kitten but it can also occur when there is an obstruction in the airways or a deficiency in a substance called Surfactant. The substances basically coats the lungs so its surfaces don’t get stuck together. A deficiency of surfactant can cause Atelectasis as well as pressure coming from outside the lungs via fluid or air. Other causes can include obstructions in the airways, infections and lung disease. Genetics While a genetic component is very possible, it actually is fairly rare and most likely influenced by additional factors such as environmental factors. The main indication that it would be genetic would be if whole litters or large portions of litters are affected versus just one kitten. This also explains why recessive inheritance
Article
(genes that are carried in the genetic code of the parents that are
not outwardly expressed but can be produced if paired with another
parent that carries) is fairly unlikely as well. Furthermore with
the rate at which changes of the chest occur and how flexible the
skeletal system is deformities or connective tissue abnormalities are
more common.
Nutrition
Mothers that may produce large amounts of milk may produce
kittens that expression colic more readily which may have a
hereditary component.
Others suggest a lack of taurine and or Arachidonic acid could be an
influence as well.
Other causes may include problems associated with:
• Kittens that are premature
• From large litters and thus may be small and less developed
• Herpes virus
• Lung infection
• Abnormality of the epiglottis resulting in colic
• Inhaling a foreign objects
• Tumors
• Diaphragmatic hernia
• Diaphragmatic spasm
• Respiratory tract infection or pneumonia (if FCKS develops later
on
• Environmental (if cases are more isolated)
• Breeding two barrel-chested catsArticle
In the past, FCKS has been thought to be caused by a muscle
spasm but that is no longer the case.
TREATMENT:
Treatment is difficult to define given the number of different
causes and the wealth of anecdotal information that should still be
considered as much is valid.
Conventional
Steroids (typically Dexamethasone) in conjunction with antibiotics
like amoxicillin. The steroids will increase growth while the
antibiotics will take care of underlying infections.
Synthetic surfactants which can be nebulized. If nebulized keep in
mind this must be done within 3-4 days of birth to be effective.
Surgical correction
Natural
Animal derived surfactants
Depending on the severity treatment may not be necessary in which
some cases can be left to resolve on their own.
Massage
Encouraging the kitten to lay on its side while sleeping and nursing
Creating a correction vest
**PLEASE BE OBSERVANT IF IT CAUSES STRESS THIS IS
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE**
**ALSO BE AWARE IF THE STERNUM GOES INWARDS WHEN
THERE IS PRESSURE ON THE SIDES OF THE RIB CASE THIS
CAN BE DANGEROUS. FURTHERMORE IF THE KITTENS GUT
SUCKS IN WHEN THERE IS NOT PRESSURE BEING APPLIED
DO NOT USE THIS METHOD IF THAT IS THE CASE.
If these situations do not apply there are a few methods of vests.Article One involves creating a ridge on the stomach side of the vest which will make your kitten lay on its side while alss hoping to change the shape of the rib cage. There are many designs but most feature a toilet paper tube or part of a plastic bottle and vet wrap. Taurine Several breeders recommend 1000 mg of taurine be given to the mother until the kitten has recovered **keep in mine most taurine supplements are artificial supplements. Natural options are heart glandular and whole raw food options such as heart, thigh and shoulder meat, tongue and whole prey Supplement the kitten with extra meals to prevent weight loss or nutrient deficiency Pinching the Phrenic nerve Oxygen While in human cases with chest abnormalities oxygen or CPAP machines are used this is not often a safe treatment method for kittens. PROGNOSIS: There are many factors that will influence prognosis Survival is greatly INCREASED if: If the kitten continues to gain weight If flatness does not change in a negative direction If the kitten makes it passed two milestones: 10 days and 3 weeks even if the kitten is still flat Survival is greatly DECREASED if: If the chest continues to flatten If breathing becomes heavily labored If the kitten continues to lose weight If the kitten is compromised by another respiratory-related illness/ disease (chlamydia, mycoplasma, calicivirus, pneumonia).
Article PREVENTION: Without knowing the exact cause prevention can be difficult however diet is one good place to start. Surfactant, for example, is derived partially from arachidonic acid which is found in meat and eggs which are a huge component of a species appropriate raw diet. Some have suggested avoiding the use of any medications during pregnancy including conventional and natural remedies unless it has been proven to be safe or its completely necessary. Finally making sure kittens meow/scream in the days following the birth can also prevent lung collapse or at least catch it quickly. BREEDING CONSIDERATIONS: Breeders especially those breeding Burmese and Bengals should be aware of FCKS when considering or already breeding. It is advisable not to breed cats that have FCKS however there is mix information out there regarding if a recovered FCKS cat should be used for breeding. A breeding cat however that has produced FCKS will not always produce FCKS kittens in the future. In addition, other factors may be affecting the prevalence such as Streptococcal G in the cattery if there are isolated cases. If breeding cats are consistently producing whole litters of FCKS with all options exhausted and treated then it is best to remove them from your program. Linebreeding lines that have produced FCKS is unadvisable as well. One more specific theory is breeding two barreled chested cats can produce FCKS kittens. This concept was first explored in the Burmese breed but has been found consistent in domestic cats as well as Bengal. USEFUL PAPERS AND STUDIES There are not many resources or scientific articles on the topic of FCKS unfortunately most information is from breeders and their
Article experience with the condition and what they have discovered via trial and error. THORACIC WALL DEFORMITIES IN KITTENS Kit Sturgess, MA,VetMB, PhD, CertVR, DSAM, CertVC, MRCVS RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine http://www.ramesescats.co.uk/FCKSVeterinary.pdf https://ripehosting.blob.core.windows.net/anzcvs-prod-media/1930/ thoracic-wall-deformites-in-kittens-what-do-you-do-kit-sturgess.pdf http://www.ramesescats.co.uk/Wigley-Cause_of_FCKS.pdf Sturgess C. Flat chested kittens - does taurine have a role to play? Burmese Cat Club News (U.K.), vol 12, no 8, 1995 Sturgess CP, Waters L, Gruffydd-Jones TJ et al. Investigation of the association between whole blood and tissue taurine levels and the development of thoracic deformities in neonatal Burmese kittens. Vet Rec 141:566-570, 1997 Thoracic malformations in Bengal cats Results from a questionnaire to breeders BS Holst1,2, C. Ley3 , MH Gustavsson2, CJ Ley1, G Andersson4 and S Mikko4 1Department of Clinical Sciences, 2Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala (CRU) 3Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, 4Department of Animal Breeding an Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden https://www.slu.se/globalassets/ew/org/andra-enh/vh/ forskningsprojekt/poster-flat-chest3.pdf Charlesworth, Timothy M and Christopher P Sturgess. “Increased incidence of thoracic wall deformities in related Bengal kittens.” Journal of feline medicine and surgery 14 6 (2012): 365-8 . http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.898.465 9&rep=rep1&type=pdf Edinburgh FAB resident, Royal Dick Veterinary Hospital: Report in FAB Journal (1993), vol. 31 (1) 71-72VETERINARIANS
Article
Congenital
Hypothyroid in
Burmese Cats
This condition has been formally identified as an issue in Burmese
and related breeds in New Zealand and Australia, however the mode
of inheritance is unknown at this time.
Hypothyroid (low or under active thyroid) can be identified as
follows:
• From 3-4 wks of age it is noticed that they may not be thriving
as well as their litter mates
• Slow or no weight gain and lower activity is noted
• They can be likened to dwarfs with short legs, round short faces,
‘funny’ features, rounded abdomens
• Lower than normal body temperature
• Developmental delays such as mental dullness, delayed eruption
of teeth
• More severe cases can suffer from constipation, megacolon and
death by around 6-7 weeks of age if they are not diagnosed or
commenced on treatment.
• For some breeders, such kittens may be labelled as ‘fading
kittens’
• There may be a link between hypothyroid and flat chested
kittens.Article How is Congenital Hypothyroid diagnosed? Hypothyroid is diagnosed through a T4 blood test and a TSH (Thy- roid Stimulating Hormone) test is recommended – in New Zealand Feline TSH testing is sent to the USA as there are no laboratories that can do this testing within the country. How is Congenital Hypothyroid treated? Daily medication of a thyroid hormone supplement is required for life. Once kittens begin on treatment they begin to thrive, gain weight and become active. Kidney issues are more likely to occur and regular monitoring is required of both the T4 levels and kidney function via blood tests and urinalysis. Affected cats can live a normal life if treatment is commenced early. Within a short time of commencing treatment kittens begin to thrive. Where can I find more information? Your veterinarian will be able to provide you with information on Feline Congenital Hypothyroidism, however be aware that this is known to be an extremely rare disease of cats (unlike Hyperthyroid- ism, or overactive thyroid which is a common disease of geriatric cats). Your veterinarian will also be able to request referral consultation if required with a specialist in internal medicine who will be able to provide further information and guidance on treatment and monitor- ing options. For further information please contact the Bulletin Editor.
From the Interwebz (instagram.com)
This young lady is Miss Rigby
and she’s the star of her own
instagram page. She lives the
high life on the waves aboard
her yacht (the Melbourne)
and along with her Australian
parents (or Bastard Crew
as she calls them) they sail
around the Caribbean and
the east coast of the USA
exploring. You can follow her
adventures through instagram
at
miss_rigby_boatkitty
This is Florence and though
she looks young and strapping
in her lifeguard beach wear,
she’s actually just turned 18
years old this past year. She
lives with her loving parents
in Australia and has many
adventures both in the back
yard as well as out by the
beach. Wickedly humorous
stories and piles of fun to
follow; you can find her
through instagram also at
iamflorencethecat
Do you follow any Burmese cats on the web? On Social Web? Tell
us about them by email’ing me at glen@soxndotsburmese.co.nz and
I’ll place them in the next Bulletin.L a d i e s i n Wa i t i n g
Sox’N’Dots Burmese
Sire: Ch Cairistona Memphis
Dam: Soxndots Tortielicious Dream
Due: 8th February 2020
You cannot look at a sleeping cat and
feel tense
-Jane PauleyLitter Bins Sox’N’Dots Burmese Sire: Ch Cairistona Memphis Dam: Ch Soxndots Mocha Coca Delight Born: 25/10/19 1 seal boy, 1 chocolate boy, 1 lilac girl Sire: Sil Dbl Gr Ch Aurora Burberry Dream Dam: Gr Ch Soxndots Affogato Poppy Born: 28/11/19 1 seal girl, 1 chocolate boy, 1 lilac girl Myasanda Burmese Sire: Cater De Malion Da Vinci’s Dream Dam: Cairistona Chilli Born: 7-11-19 1 Choc boy, 2 Red boys, 2 Choc Tortie girls, 1 Seal Tortie girl Sire: Cairistona Memphis Dam: Myasanda Mara Born: 29-12-19 1 Blue & 1 Seal boys, 1 Blue girl, 1 Seal girl Lyngary Burmese Sire: Ch Cairistona Memphis Dam: Lyngary Tayler Rose 1 seal girl, 1 chocolate boy, 1 lilac girl Sire: Ch Sashima Ruff’N’Tumble Dam: Lyngary Pearl Blu Rose 3 Lilac males, 1 lilac girl Recherece Burmese Sire: Recherche Loukas BUR G Dam: Recherche Melba’s Cream Truffle Born: 16/12/2019 4 Cream babies
Remits For BCCNZ AGM 2020 Remit 1 Submitted by BCCNZ Management Committee Rule 6(g) The President and Treasurer of the Management Committee shall be signatories of the other Region’s banking accounts. Proposed new wording The Treasurer of the Management Committee and one other Full Member of the Management Committee shall be signatories of the other Region’s banking accounts. The signatories shall not reside at the same address. Reason for change Allowance for other Management Committee members to complete this task. For example under current rules, President and Treasurer must be the signatories of the other regions’ accounts. If they reside at the same address this is in direct conflict with Rule 13 and Rule 15. Remit 2 Submitted by BCCNZ Management Committee Rule 7(a) Current wording Election for all Management Committee and Regional Executive positions shall be by Secret Postal Ballot. All nominations shall be in writing and shall be signed by proposer seconder and nominee. The completed ballot paper is to be sealed inside an envelope marked ‘Ballot Paper’ and this sealed inside another envelope addressed to the Secretary. Sender(s) name(s) shall be printed, legibly on the back of outer envelope or be deemed an invalid vote. After the close of elections, the Secretary shall check the name of each sender as being a Financial Full member and therefore eligible to vote, or with subscription/s enclosed. The valid sealed envelopes marked ‘Ballot Paper’ shall be removed from other material and passed intact to the Returning Officer for the votes to be counted.
Proposed new wording Election for all Management Committee and Regional Executive posi- tions shall be by Secret Postal or E-mail Ballot. All nominations shall be in writing and shall be signed by proposer seconder and nominee. For Postal Ballot, the completed ballot paper is to be sealed inside an envelope marked ‘Ballot Paper’ and this sealed inside another envelope addressed to the Secretary. Sender(s) name(s) shall be printed, legibly on the back of outer envelope or be deemed an invalid vote. For Email Ballot, the completed ballot paper is to be attached to an email and sent to the Secretary. After the close of elections, the Secretary shall check the name of each sender as be- ing a Financial Full member and therefore eligible to vote, or with subscription/s enclosed. The valid sealed envelopes marked ‘Ballot Paper’ shall be removed from other material and passed intact to the Returning Officer for the votes to be counted. Reason for change Adding in option for voting by email. Remit 3 Submitted by BCCNZ Management Committee Rule 7(b) Current wording Nominations for President shall close with the Secretary on the 30th of September each year. Voting papers shall be forwarded to all members by the 15th of October each year if election is needed. Completed voting papers shall be in possession of the Returning Officer (as appointed by the Management Committee) by 4pm on the 30th of October each year. The result of the election shall be declared by the Returning Officer before the 7th of November each year. Proposed new wording No new wording, clause to be removed Reason for change Removal of this clause to allow for amalgamation of the process for voting President and Vice-President/Secretary/Treasurer/ Delegate/Editor/Webperson/Management Committee. Currently the constitution states that the Management Committee must all
reside in the same region. Historically this was practical but with the wide availability of online conference call solutions it is timely to streamline the rules to allow for membership of the Management Committee from any region. Remit 4 Submitted by BCCNZ Management Committee Rule 7(c) Current wording The Secretary shall by the 15th of November each year notify all members either by e-mail or by post for those not on email, of the result of the election for President and call for nominations for the positions of Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Delegate and Management Committee members who shall be Full members resident in the same region as the President-Elect. Nominees for Regional Chairpersons and Representatives shall be drawn from Full members resident in each of the other two (2) regions and nominated by members in that region. Nominees for Editor and Web-person may be drawn from Full members in any region. Proposed new wording The Secretary shall by the 15th of November each year call for nominations for the positions of President,Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Delegate, Editor, Webperson and Management Committee members who must be full members of BCCNZ. Nominees for Regional Chairpersons and Representatives shall be drawn from Full members resident in each of the other two (2) regions and nominated by members in that region. Reason for change With the removal of clause(b) this allows for amalgamation of the process for calling nominations of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Delegate, Editor, Webperson and Management Committee at the same time. Currently the constitution states that the Management Committee must reside in the same region as the President. Historically this was practical but with the wide availability of online conference call solutions it is timely to streamline the rules to allow for membership of the Management Committee from any region.
BURMESE CAT CLUB OF NZ – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
2020
REMIT VOTING PAPER
The proposed changes to the BCCNZ Constitution are on the
preceding three pages of this edition of the Burmese Bulletin.
Please read the changes and vote on the below remits by circling
only 1 of 3 options:
Yes (Agreeing with the change)
No (disagreeing with the change)
Abstain (Abstain from voting)
Remit 1
Rule 6(g) Yes No Abstain
Remit 2
Rule 7(a) Yes No Abstain
Remit 3
Rule7 (b) Yes No Abstain
Remit 4
Rule 7(c) Yes No Abstain
This voting paper must be in the hands of the BCCNZ
Secretary by Friday 21st of February 2018.
Kris Patterson
2243 Tram Road
West Eyreton
Rangiora 7475NZ Cat Fancy Officials
CHAIRPERSON: David Colley
chairperson@nzcf.com
04 9384661 / 0272431135
VICE CHAIR: Alex Ladyman
vice.chairperson@nzcf.com
SECRETARY: Sharon Jose
secretary@nzcf.com
07 884 9358
TREASURER: Marion Petley
treasurer@nzcf.com
06 364 6314
SH REGISTRAR: Sue Mackay
sh.registrar@nzcf.com
PROVISIONAL Avon Aspden
REGISTRAR: provisional_registrar@nzcf.com
PREFIX Soozn Grindell
APPLICATIONS: prefix_registrar@nzcf.com
WEB ADDRESS: www.nzcf.com
POSTAL 34 Second Ave
ADDRESS: RD3
Te Aroha 3393
NEW ZEALAND
Official Stationery. Details on the NZCF website or from the NZCF Secretary
NZ Cat Fancy Inc Schedule of Fees
Prefixes $85.00
Alterations to Prefix $35.00
Registration $26.00/ litter up to 4mths of age
$52.00/ litter over 4mths of age
Registration Changes $7.00 colour or sex change
For non-registration of litters $50.00 penalty fine
Honours Certificates $7.00
Transfers $7.00 per cat/kittenYou can also read
