reasons for liking and choosing a cat as a pet
TRANSCRIPT
osteomyelitis of the body of the eleventh thoracic vertebra comprising an area of lysis and abscessation 5mm in diameter which protruded into the spinal canal resulting in compression of the spinal cord. Osteomyelitis was also present in the left lateral (exoccipital) and squamous occipital (supraoccipital) bones. This lesion was l h m in diameter and discharged through the bone onto the dura mater, however there was no evidence of spread to, or compression of, the cerebellum.
Goat 3, was a 2-year-old Angora doe with a history of lethargy, abdominal pain and green watery diarrhoea in the 24 h prior to death. Significant necropsy findings were limited to the abdominal cavity. The liver was slightly enlarged and contained multiple 2 to 3mm diameter abscesses evenly dis- tributed throughout the parenchyma. The ileum, caecum and colon had oedematous turgid walls, and fine fibrin tags ad- herent to the surface of the congested mucosa. Histologically there were multiple foci of hepatic abscessation consisting of a central area of necrosis surrounded by a thick zone of large macrophages with abundant cytoplasm and moderate numbers of multinucleate giant cells. The abscesses, which were often associated with portal areas, had well developed fibrous cap- sules infiltrated by mononuclear inflammatory cells. Low numbers of small Gram positive rods were present in the cytoplasm of some macrophages. There was a moderate acute fibrinous enterocolitis with blunting of small intestinal villi, infiltration of the lamina propria by mononuclear cells and low numbers of eosinophils and neutrophils. Mesenteric lymph nodes were oedematous and had lymphoid depletion through- out the cortex.
Gram stained smears of pus from abscesses in goats 1 and 2 contained large numbers of Gram-positive short plump rods. No bacteria were detected in Gram-stained smears of hepatic abscesses in goat 3. A range of tissues from the 3 goats was inoculated onto sheep blood agar plates and incubated at 37°C in an atmosphere of 7% CO,. R . equi was isolated in pure growth from the abscesses in the 3 goats and from a mesenteric lymph node of goat 3. No other pathogens were isolated from other tissues.
R. equi infection in foals may follow ingestion or inhalation. The presence of multiple abscesses in the visera of 2 goats and bones of a third strongly suggests haematogenous dissem- ination of R . equi. The most likely portal of entry, for hae- matogenous spread, is the gastrointestinal tract from which this bacterium is readily isolated in many herbivores including goats (Woolcock and Mutimer 1980; Barton and Hughes 1984; Carman and Hodges 1987). The reservoir of R. equi is soil and faeces (Hughes and Sulaiman 1987); it can commonly be isolated also from gut contents/rectal faeces.
The necropsy findings in 2 of the 3 goats are similar to those described by Whitford and Jones (1974). The granu- lomatous reaction in the liver of goat 3 is typical of the pathological response described for R . equi infection in other species (Barton and Hughes 1980). Osteomyelitis due to R. equi has not been previously reported in goats.
The rarity of reported cases of R. equi infection in species other than the horse and pig indicates that most animals are resistant to infection. Predisposing causes such as stress, illness or immunosuppression appear to be required for infection to establish. In horses and pigs the majority of cases occur in young animals at an age when maternal immunity is waning and all reported cases in man have been in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy (Berg et al 1977). Factors predis- posing to infection in these goats were not determined.
The authors express their appreciation to Dr JB Woolcock, School of Veterinary Science University of Queensland, for confirming the identity of the R. equi isolates.
References Barton MD and Hughes KL (1980) - Vet Bull, Weybridge 50: 65 Barton MD and Hughes KL (1984) - Vet Microbiol 9: 65 Berg R, Chmel H, Mayo J and Armstrong D (1977) - A m J Clin
Carrnan MG and Hodges RT (1987) - NZ Vet J 35: 114 Hughes KL and Sulairnan I (1987) - Vet Microbiol 14 241 Magnusson H (1923) - Arch W h Prakt Tierheilk 50: 22
332
Path 68: 13
Natarajan C and Nilakantan PR (1974) - Indian J Anim Sci 44: 329 Whitford HW and Jones LP (1974) - SWest Vet 27: 261 Woolcock JB and Mutirner MD (1980) - Vet Res Commun 4: 291
(Accepted for publication 17 June 1988)
Reasons for liking and choosing a cat as a pet
Department of Farm Animal Medicine AL PODBERSCEK
University of Queensland St Lucia, Queensland 4067
and Production JK BLACKSHAW
Research into the social and therapeutic value of pets has increased over the past 10 years (Karsh 1984; Leyhausen 1985; Turner 1985). A survey can provide useful information on cats in society (Anon 1976, 1983). The 1983 survey reported that 34% of households owned a cat, while the average age per cat was 4.4 years. About 47% of cat owners had received their cat as a present while 14% had inherited their cat. The other reasons given for cat ownership were companionship, aesthetics, rodent control, and a pet for the children.
Studies in the USA in 1982 found that 26% of households and 17% of people owned a cat (Messent and Horsfield 1985). Katcher and Freidmann (1982) listed the functions that animals offer people as companionship, something to care for, some- thing to keep one busy, a focus of attention, something to touch and fondle, exercise and safety. A survey conducted in the USA by Voith (1985) found that 72% of cats in the survey had been owned for more than 2 years and the majority of cats had been acquired at about 10 weeks of age or less.
This paper presents the results of a survey which sought information on several aspects of cat ownership including: demographic information, the reasons people like their cat(s), the basis on which their cats were chosen, and the number and species of other animals owned.
The survey was conducted in Brisbane (Queensland) and surrounding districts, surveys being distributed and collected during March to September 1986. Respondents belonging to 2 specific age groups, namely Group 1 (16-38 years), and Group 2 (> 55 years), were sought.
A certain amount of bias was introduced as a number of survey forms were placed in veterinary clinics where cat owners congregate and there was a high proportion of students. Group 2 respondents were actively sought. Approximately 750 forms were distributed and 316 valid forms were returned. Table 1 shows the age and sex of the respondents. There was a lower rate of response from Group 2 and from males in both categories. It appears that females are more willing to fill in these types of survey than males.
Table 2 shows the more popular responses to why people liked the cat(s) in their household. From this table it can be seen that personality and appearance were the most commonly cited sole reasons for liking a cat in both age groups. 'Within Group 1, 21% claimed that the personality of their cat was the only reason they liked it while 89% indicated that it was at least one reason. For Group 2 these same reasons were given by 17% and 71% respectively. The appearance of the cat was the only reason for liking a cat in 5% of Group 1 respondents and of Group 2 respondents. However, it was only one reason for liking a cat in 68% of Group 1 people and 65% of Group 2 people. Other reasons for likin,g their cat included: it provided company, entertainment, WiIS soft and cuddly, and because it could kill mice and rats.
Table 3 shows the reasons given for choice of cat(s) are many and varied. Not all cats were actually chosen by the two groups, as many were strays (18% Group 1, 17% Group 2) and gifts (6% Group 1, 19% Group 2). The most common answers to this survey question were personality (4% Group 1, 5% Group 2), appearance (11% Group 1, 8% Grciup 2), and breed (11% Group 1, 4% Group 2). The personaility of the cat was at least one reason for choosing a cat in 23% of
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 65, No. 10, October, 1988
TABLE 1 Aae. sex and number of resDondents to survey
~~~~ ~
Group 1 Group 2 M F M F
Mean (age) 22.4 25.2 62.6 64.6 Mode age 22 19 70 60
No. resDonses 52 168 16 80 Range of ages 16-37 16-38 55-70 56-86
TABLE 2 Popular reasons why people like cats as pets
What I like about the cat Group 1 Group 2
Personality 76 22 Appearance 18 11
Personality, company 8 0 Personality, entertaining 3 0 Personality, soft and cuddly 2 0 Personality, ability to kill mice 2 0 Personality, breed 3 1 Personality, appearance, company 15 5 Personality, appearance, soft and cuddly 11 0 Personality, appearance, desexed 1 0
Personality, appearance, breed 2 1 Personality, company, entertaining 1 0 Personality, appearance, ability to kill mice 4 0 Personality, company, ability to kill mice 2 0 Appearance, soft and cuddly 4 1 Nothing 6 0
Personality, appearance 184 56
Personality, appearance, soft and cuddly, company 2 6
Other 13 25
Total 357 128
TABLE 3 Popular reasons why people chose a cat
Basis on which cat was chosen Group 1 Group 2 ~
Stray Gift Personality, appearance Personality Appearance Born into family Felt sorry for cat Breed A s a favour to a friend Personality, breed Appearance, breed No choice Personality, appearance, Other
breed
65 21 33 14 39 9
22 38 11 16 16 15 14 44
22 24 12 6 8 6
10 5 3 7 1 5 1
18
Total 357 128
Group 1 respondents and 20% of Group 2 respondents, but when these values were adjusted for respondents who did not actually choose the cat@), that is they were stray cats, the values were 3OVo and 32% respectively. These adjusted values more accurately show the value of personality as a basis for choosing a cat. Similarly, the appearance of the cat was at least one reason for choosing a cat in 33% of Group 1 respondents and 19% of Group 2 respondents, but when adjusted they became 44% and 30% respectively. These adjusted values highlight the fact that appearance is more important to the Group 1 people as a basis for choosing a cat than personality.
This may be because the appearance of the cat is easily determined and the kitten or cat will retain these colours and markings. Although people choose a cat mainly on appearance they become more happy with its personality, as it grows. It
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 65, No. 10, October, 1988
is the personality of a cat which often makes it popular even when the cat does not appear aesthetically pleasing.
The ages of cats in the survey ranged from 0.1 to 18.5 years old. The mode was 10 years, and the average age was 5.6 years. The lengths of time the cats had been kept ranged from 0.1 to 18.5 years and the average length of time was 5.2 years.
The number of animals, other than cats, residing in a respondent’s household ranged from 0 to 25. Of Group 1, 60% had an animal other than a cat while 36070 of Group 2 had another animal. The distribution of people with other animals indicated that Group 2 respondents were unlikely to have more than one other animal while the other group were more likely to own 2, 3 or more other animals in the house- hold.
Dogs, birds, chickens, horses, goats, and fish were just some of the animals present in respondent’s homes. A dog was the most common other animal present in both groups (44% Group 1 and 68% Group 2) while some households had a combination of animals.
Research into the human-cat association is a developing field and hopefully the survey results presented will encourage further study. We wish to thank Mr DAV Bodero for advice on the survey form.
References Anon (1976) - Pets as a social phenomenon - A study of man-pet
interactions in urban communities, Petcare Information and Advisory Service, Melbourne
Anon (1983) - Cat ownership in Australia: an attitude and opinion study, Petcare Information and Advisory Service, Melbourne
Karsh E (1984) - In: The Pet Connection, edited by RK Anderson, et al., Univ of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Min.
Katcher AH and Freidmann E (1982) - Calif Vet 36: 9 Leyhausen P (1985) - In: The Human-Pet Relationship, Austrian
Acad Sci (Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on the Human- Pet Relationship), Vienna
Messent MG and Horsfield S 11985) - In: The Human-Pet Rela- tionship, Austrian Acad Sci (Institute of Interdisciplinary Research on the Human-Pet Relationship), Vienna
Turner DC (1985) - In: The Human-Pet Relationship, Austrian Acad Sci (Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on the Human-Pet Relationship), Vienna
Voith VL (1985) - Vet Clin Nth Amer Small Animal Pract 15: 289
(Accepted for publication 30 May 1988)
Systemic candidiasis in a Suffolk ram Ontario Veterinary College, TF JUBB* University of Guelph, JD BAIRD Guelph, Ontario, Canada NIG 2W1 DH PERCY
Disseminated candidiasis has been called a disease of med- ical progress (Bodey and Fainstein 1985) and Candida spp have become the most common opportunistic fungal patho- gens infecting immunosuppressed people (Bodey and Fainstein 1985). Systemic candidiasis has been rarely reported in animals (McCarty 1956, Mills and Hirth 1967, Pauchari et al 1979, Holoymoen et a1 1982, Dixon and Baird 1984, Dixon 1984) and, to our knowledge has not been reported in small rumi- nants.
In this communication we describe a case of systemic can- didiasis in a 12-month-old Suffolk ram that underwent inten- sive clinical management in a veterinary hospital. There were striking similarities with the disease described in man.
The ram was at pasture with 60 ewes. It was observed daily when hand-fed a mixed grain and alfalfa hay ration and was found one evening away from the flock, recumbent and de- pressed. When stimulated to rise it compulsively circled to the right and had a head tilt to the left. The ram was somnolent and exhibited head-pressing.
Present address: Maffra Veterinary Centre, 145 Johnson St,
333
Maffra, Victoria, Australia 3860