CATS are not small dogs

BESIDES CATS AND DOGS LOOKING DIFFERENT AND HAVING DIFFERENT TEMPERAMENTS, THERE ARE MORE SERIOUS DIFFERENCES WORTH KNOWING, SAYS DR KARIEN BRINK, RESIDENT ULTRA PET VETERINARIAN

I know you might be thinking ‘Thanks for stating the obvious, Doc’, but many pet owners I have encountered consider having a cat as a pet to be the same as having a small dog. I would like to share some of the common issues I have discovered over the last few years to help shed light on the key differences between the two species.

• Cats are pure carnivores while dogs fall into the

omnivore category: Cats require a higher amount of protein in their diet compared to a dog of the same size. They are unable to synthesise certain amino acids. Our Ultra Cat range meets all the requirements cats need in their daily diet.

Dogs can thrive on a cat’s diet, but not the other way around. Cats will suffer from malnutrition and develop lifethreatening deficiencies if they are fed the wrong food.

• Never use dog tick and

flea products on cats: One of the most common cat toxicities veterinarians see is cats being accidentally given dog products containing permethrin. Cats receiving such products will start to show clinical signs minutes to hours after application. This is a serious toxicity and may be lethal if left untreated.

• A lack of appetite or anorexia

in a cat is serious: When a dog stops eating, veterinarians will monitor it for a day or two before starting with serious intervention. However, when a cat stops eating, nutritional support needs to be started as soon as possible.

• A cat that struggles to urinate is an emergency case:

Urinary obstruction occurs most commonly in male cats and is a medical emergency. Despite the obvious discomfort the cat feels, it can go into renal failure, develop metabolic abnormalities, and if left untreated, will die.

Considering these pointers, it is clear that cats are definitely unique and different to dogs! At Ultra Pet we appreciate the uniqueness of your feline companion, and truly believe by celebrating the differences in our pets, we can ensure they remain happy and healthy.

Dr Karien Brink qualified from the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria in 2010. She worked at Valley Farm Animal Hospital from 2011-2019, before she joined RCL FOODS. She has a special interest in animal behaviour and dermatology, and is passionate about nutritional advice and preventative health care for pets. Drop her a message at ultra-pet.co.za/dr-karienscorner/ if you have any questions.

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