2009 Issue 1 - Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association

President’s Corner
Presidents Corner
1
Winners’ Gallery
2
Fetal Development
3-6
Inactive Breeder
Member Status
6
Spectators’ Choice
6
Tooth Resorption
7
Dangerous Foods?
8, 10
Hyperthyroidism
9-10
Introducing
Provisional Breeder
Member
11
A New Methuselah
11
A New CFA DM
12
What’s New in
MCBFA?
13
Maine Street Cat
Club Raffle
14
Officers,
Contact Info
& Advertising
15
Membership Dues
16
2009
Issue 1
Spring is finally arriving. The new, fresh season is always a welcome no matter
where you are located. Bringing us warmer weather, flowers, spending time outdoors
and of course, kittens! It’s a pleasure to have these new bundles of fur and energy.
They keep us entertained, bring enjoyment to new pet owners, us and keep our
hopes up for that next upcoming, show kitty.
MCBFA has some news too for this upcoming year. For the first time, MCBFA will be
listed on the web of “Absolutely Cats” as a form of advertisement. This was voted by
your board over the yearly “Cat Fancy “ad for the year. The Cat Fancy ad was 4
times more expensive and only reaches people who buy the magazine. More people are doing online searches. The web is world wide. Please check us out at http://
www.absolutelycats.com A big thank you goes to Laura Cunningham for the idea
and Caron Gray, our webmaster, for designing and getting the MCBFA banner this
on the site.
Kit Mounger has been busy updating the pamphlet “The Maine Coon Breeders and
Fanciers Association” that will be printed and used to give out to new fanciers and to
pass out to our new kitten buyers.
We are seeing nice growth with new provisional members joining every month, along
with the advancements of our new breeder members. Thank you and congratulations to our newest members.
Please don’t hesitate to bring new ideas, jump in and help in an area that you have a
talent or specialty.
The quilt raffle winner (drawn April 5) was Lynn Watts (a Fancier MCBFA member)
who was at the show in Atlanta where the drawing occurred.
In closing I’m looking forward to meeting some of our
European Members this upcoming April 10-13th at the
World Cat Congress meeting and show in Arnham,The
Netherlands. The show is being hosted by Mundikat Fife
Cat Club.
http://www.worldcatcongress.org/wp/am_next.html
I will not be showing a cat, but will be present and look
forward to seeing all the beautiful Maine Coons in this
area.
Wishing you all sunny days and beautiful kittens,
Donna
WINNERS’ GALLERY
Supreme Grand Champion Alter
Pinecoon Alligator in the House
Brown Mackerel Tabby Neuter
Breeders/Owners: David/Betsy Tinney
Quadruple Grand Champion Alter
Castle Rock Cherry Galore
Blue Solid Male
Breeders: Refstrup and Schlichting
Owners: Bechmann & Justesen
Triple Grand Champion Alter
Castle Rock Moon on Ice
Blue Silver Classic Tabby Neuter
Breeders: Refstrup and Schlichting
Owners: Bechmann & Justesen
(left) Supreme Grand Champion Alter
Woodpile Jeremiah Jackson
Brown Classic Tabby & White Neuter
Breeder: Jan Dell
Owners: Karen & Randy Buchanan
(right) Supreme Grand Champion
Koontucky Kactus Jack of Mainevu
Silver Classic Tabby & White Male
Breeder: Julie Spayde
Owners: Marge & Phil Berger
Grand Champion Alter
Woodpile Flora Bloom
Silver Classic Torbie Spay
Breeder: Jan Dell
Owner: Ann Lervold
Grand Champion
Damnynke Kunoanobryn of Panther Hill
Breeders: Mark & Traci Lovelace
Owners: Cain Haley
Page 2
Fetal Development & Birth Defects in Cats
Bretaigne Jones, DVM
Scientific Communications
Royal Canin, USA
One of the most challenging issues for a breeder and veterinarian is determining the cause of birth defects, and preventing them. Due to the number of possible causes, and difficulty in diagnosing the exact cause, we can’t always find
enough definitive information to effectively prevent future occurrence.
Often times the birth defect is the result of more than one event. The range of possible defects can go from the kinked
tip of a tail to major life-threatening problems. There is no way to absolutely evade all birth defects. In a breeding environment, some level of defects will be present.
The first issue considered when a birth defect, also referred to as a congenital defect, occurs is genetics. This evaluation will include not only the affected kitten, but the parents, grandparents and further descendents as well. When a
kitten is developing during pregnancy, there are millions of episodes of genetic activity as DNA is generating copies of
itself for cellular divisions, and also doing its work to provide the
blue-prints for all the cellular activities necessary for life. Accidents do happen, and sometimes a glitch occurs during this
activity that results in deformity or even death of the embryo.
Heritable issues derived from parents on back in the pedigree,
involve specific gene pools and probability of increased expression of detrimental genes. Vigorous inbreeding can exacerbate
this problem. There is a fine balance between benefiting from
closer familial breeding by concentrating desirable genes, and
increasing the occurrence of less favorable genes.
Genetic influence doesn’t work in a vacuum. Environmental
variables play an equally important role, not only as an isolated
event, but also in conjunction with the specific genetic makeup of the embryos. Environmental issues can include infectious agents (bacteria, viruses and parasites), nutrition, trauma, maternal metabolic factors (diabetes), and exposure to drugs and chemicals.
All these threats are present from the time of fertilization to delivery. Fertilization typically occurs in the oviducts, and
this is where the first few cellular divisions take place. Within 12 hours from fertilization, cellular division commences,
and repeats at roughly the same interval. This forming mass is called a zygote as it undergoes the many cell divisions
on its way to the uterus. By the time it leaves the oviduct, the zygote is approximately 16 cells. Upon its entrance into
the uterus, it becomes an embryo. While a zygote, the cells have the same potential to become any organ system or
specialized cell-type. With the embryo stage, the cells are destined to become more specific tissue types.
The embryo stage lasts about 30 days, during which the cells begin to differentiate into one of three primordial cell layers, then progressing to form rudimentary organ systems, and finally the specialized cells that characterize individual
organs.
The initial three primordial cell layers are identified as endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. The endoderm layer is
destined to become mucosal membranes (lining the mouth, eyelids, nostrils etc), and the glands of the respiratory and
digestive systems. The mesoderm layer will develop into muscles, connective tissue, bone, circulatory system, urinary
system and genital system. The ectoderm cells will differentiate to become the outer most layers of the skin with hair
Page 3
Continued from page 3
follicles and glands, the nervous system and sensory
organs.
When the embryo settles into the uterine tissues, it triggers the construction of the placenta. This organ will
grow both from the maternal uterine tissues and also
from the embryonic tissues. Each develops a fine network of blood vessels and capillaries that will interconnect without ever combining the blood of either. The
mesh of capillaries that communicate between the
mother and baby are so close that nutrients, oxygen and
metabolic waste materials can cross back and forth. It is
equally important that the placenta anchors the embryo
in one place as protection for its rapid growth.
The embryo will quickly grow past the ability of the cells
to derive the necessary nutrients from osmosis, and so a
rudimentary heart develops. The umbilical vessels connecting the embryo to the placenta provide the bridge for
accelerated provision of nutrients and oxygen.
The embryo stage will evolve into the fetal stage about 4
weeks into gestation, which will continue until the birth of
the kitten. This phase is marked by the growth and early
functioning of organs, and the almost exponential growth
of the fetus overall in the last three weeks of gestation.
The nervous system is one of the first to begin development of specialized cell types, and is also one of the last
to complete its formation. Carnivores are born with an
incomplete nervous system that requires an additional 6
weeks to mature.
The legs form from the shoulder and hip regions first,
going on to create the forelegs and thighs, then the
lower legs, and finally the paws. The paws are initially
constructed like paddles, with the individual toes becoming evident as the tissue between the toes is broken
down. It is very important that the fetus move about and
use the joints that are forming to prevent these joints
from becoming fixed in place. Some congenital limb deformities can result and introduce the potential for birthing problems.
When the head develops, the facial structure grows from
a different origin than that of the cranium (encases the
brain). Because of this, the two parts of the skull can be
influenced separately by genetics or effects of drugs or
chemicals. It also explains how brachycephalic breeds
developed.
There are anatomic structures that develop in embryos
and fetuses to protect the lungs and liver, since they are
not functional during gestation. These structures are the
foramen ovale in the heart, the ductus arteriosus between the pulmonary arteries and the aorta, and the
ductus venosus which shunts most of the blood flow
around the liver. These organs need lower pressure to
develop than what would be present without these bypass structures.
Generally within a few days after birth, these structures
normally shut down and normal circulatory routes operate. Occasionally, a fetal structure will persist the results
of which may range from mild to life-threatening. The
abnormal structures are referred to as patent, since they
are still open and functioning as in a fetus.
When genetic problems occur, they are usually due to
mutations or too intensive inbreeding. Mutations can
result from inaccurate or incomplete copying of the original DNA in preparation for cell division, or when the
DNA is functioning to direct the production of proteins to
carry on normal metabolism. Mutations can also happen
if an incomplete division of chromosomes in the egg or
sperm leads to additional genetic material being present
in the zygote. Aging and exposure to free-radicals (by-
CH Nascat Millie Miglia of McDenzinger
Page 4
Continued on page 5
Continued from page 4
products of cellular metabolism, exposure to UV light,
environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke, etc)
can trigger DNA mutations, too.
Inbreeding purposely decreases the genetic pool of
future generations in the hopes of concentrating desirable traits genetics. However, it also serves to increase
the prevalence of undesirable traits. There is a much
greater opportunity for recessive traits to exhibit when
the number of potential gene pairs contain more recessive genes. Inbred individuals lose hybrid vigor.
Geneticists developed a mathematical formula to reflect the
degree of inbreeding in an individual. It is called an inbreeding
coefficient. The number for an
animal that is not inbred at all is
represented by zero, while that
of an animal that is completely
inbred will be one.
When one breeds two cats from
different breeds, the hybrid kittens have an average neonatal
mortality rate of 3% or less.
However, when two cats within
a breed are mated, that number
increases to an average of 7%,
with some breeds significantly higher.
Structural birth defects are caused by a primary error in
the formation of a body part. Something actively interferes with the mechanics of building the structure. This
may be caused by trauma, excessive temperatures,
etc.
Environmental causes of birth defects can be exposure
to a virus, bacteria, or parasites during the critical stage
in development of that particular body system. Drugs
and chemicals can interfere with the normal processes
as the embryo forms. All of these causes are called
teratogenic, meaning they disrupt normal fetal development. The health of the mother is considered an environmental factor as well, and in the presence of some
metabolic diseases such as diabetes, birth defects can
form.
Another class of environmental teratogens is nutrients. Research has demonstrated how several nutrients are necessary for normal formation of embryonic tissues such as vitamins A, E, C and B12, folate and nicotinic acid, and the
minerals calcium, zinc and iron. In some cases, such as
vitamin A, problems can occur not only in a deficiency
situation, but also if excessive levels are present. This can
be a real problem if breeders are supplementing the dam’s
diet with liver. Vitamin A is stored in
the liver. So when that organ tissue is
fed to cats, they are getting a superconcentrated dose, which then is
stored in their own liver. It is not only
toxic to the embryos, but also to the
dam. As long as every food substance
given to the cat is complete and balanced (providing all the necessary
nutrients in necessary amounts), no
problems should occur in a normal
healthy cat. This is a prime reason
why having access to a diet formulated specifically for breeding is so
important.
Unique to cats is the need for elevated taurine levels, arginine and arachidonic acid. Taurine and arginine are amino acids. For a
non-breeding cat, borderline deficiencies can often go unnoticed. With the stress associated with pregnancy and the
tremendous increase for all nutrients to meet the needs of
fetal development while still meeting the needs of the dam,
even borderline deficiencies can cost in fetal death or malformations. Arachidonic acid is a fatty acid. Deficiency of
arachidonic acid can lead to infertility or subfertility issues
in the queen, and if occurring during gestation can influence development abnormalities and fetal death.
Each of these potential causes can work alone, or in conjunction with other problems. Some genetic defects are amplified in the presence of infectious pathogens or nutritional
imbalance. It can be quite frustrating to try to ferret out a
primary reason for a rash of
Continued on page 6
Page 5
March 2009
Evergreen Cat Fancier’s Show
1st Place Spectators’ Choice
Continued from page 5
MCBFA fancier members Karen & Randy
Buchanan have earned quite the reputation
in TICA’s Northwest Region for being a
constant hit amongst spectators. As spectators enter the show they are given a ballot to
complete for their favorite cat. Karen and
Randy own three Maine Coon alters and can
be found at most shows chatting up their
beautiful boys and their love for the breed
and then taking home 1st place as the spectators’ favorite. Pictured left is their current
show star, SGCA Woodpile Jeremiah Jackson & his Spectators’ Choice Ribbons (first
place on Saturday & Sunday).
birth defects. Good record keeping practices can sometimes shed light on the issue by revealing crosses that have
higher number of problems, medications that were administered in pregnancy, or exposure to viral, bacterial or
parasitic infections present in the cattery during gestation. The breeder will never achieve a 100% defect free production. But it is reasonable and achievable to maintain a very low level over time.
Prevention and good planning are the strongest weapons. Make sure the cats are healthy, current on vaccinations
and dewormings, and test free of the typical viruses. Maintain a steady level of biosecurity through effective cleaning and disinfection, using quarantine and isolation areas, and reducing the exposure to outside visitors. Keep the
cats on a quality food appropriate for their life stages, and work in partnership with a veterinarian to plan the optimal
vaccination and deworming program for your facility.
WHAT IS INACTIVE BREEDER MEMBER STATUS? By Liz Flynn
MCBFA's Breeder Division is composed of member catteries in the following subdivisions: Provisional Breeder
Members (those who are beginning their careers as breeders); Active Breeder Members, those who have been advanced to full Breeder Member status and are committed to working for the benefit of the Maine Coon breed by adhering to strict standards and providing ongoing proof of breeding the Maine Coon; and Inactive Breeder Members,
those who have ceased active breeding but still desire to support the breed and MCBFA.
An Inactive Breeder Member retains the privileges acquired when advanced to full Breeder status, with one exception, no longer being listed on the website (www.MCBFA.org) as catteries still producing kittens.
Inactive Breeder Members are invaluable reference sources for people seeking a Maine Coon to share their lives; for
that reason the website has a separate list for Inactive Breeder Members with contact information.
Those on this list are all current on dues, have a signed copy of the Code of Ethics on file, have the right to cast one
vote per cattery on all ballots, can hold office, may sponsor applicants for Provisional Breeder membership, and may
continue to use MCBFA on any stationery, business cards, or other place of identification. They do not give up anything except having kittens available, though they may indeed know other catteries which do have kittens and can act
as referrals.
Page 6
Tooth Resorption a common dental problem for cats
From the Newsletter of the Community Practice Service
College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University
Some might call it “ grumpy old kitty syndrome, ” or just plain aging. As cats get older, it is not uncommon
for owners to notice their cats slowing down, not as active or social as they once were, not eating as much,
and perhaps losing weight. Though they are healthy, they just aren ’ t acting like themselves anymore. This
might be normal aging, but pain might be the root of this behavior. A common source of feline pain is a dental problem called resorptive lesions, a disease in which in the inner and outer parts of a tooth are eroded
and reabsorbed by a cat ’ s body. The condition has also been known as feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL), neck lesions (referring to the neck of the tooth), or cavities. In fact, it is the most common
oral problem seen in cats. “ In one recent study, 72 percent of all cats older than five years have had at
least one painful resorptive lesion, ” said Dr. Raelynn Farnsworth of the WSU Community Practice. “ I t often
goes unnoticed because cats are really good at hiding pain. I could tell story after story in which an owner
brings in their cat for a vaccine or yearly exam thinking the animal is fine. Then we do a dental exam or
cleaning and discover a resorptive lesion. Once we fix the problem, the owners hardly recognize their cat
because, all of a sudden, the cat feels so much better and begins to act like its younger self again.” Tooth
resorption can also happen in dogs, but it is not as prevalent as in cats. Like many diseases, resorptive lesions progress in stages. First, the inner tooth parts, called dentin and cementum, begin to painfully erode.
At this point, the tooth looks normal unless a dental radiograph is taken. During the second stage, the enamel
of the affected tooth starts to erode, usually producing the characteristic neck lesion on the tooth. In the
later stages, more of the inner tooth is eroded and absorbed and eventually the crown or top part of the
tooth erodes or fractures. “ Evidence of lesions in the later stages can look like a hole in the tooth, a red
spot on the tooth, or like the gum has come up over the tooth, ” Dr. Farnsworth said. “ The lesion most often affects the weakest point of the tooth, which is the ‘ neck ’ of the tooth right at the gum line. The gum
may grow up, around, or over the tooth in an attempt to seal off the lesion because it is really painful.
“ I n the early stages, we don ’ t usually find it until a dental x-ray (radiograph) is taken or the animal is undergoing a teeth cleaning, ” she said. “ Once we can see it with a basic oral exam, the cat is experiencing
pain. Unfortunately, treatment involves tooth extraction or a crown amputation. But one of these procedures
should be performed because the condition is painful. ” It is not known what causes the lesions to form, but
there are two types. “A dental radiograph is needed to determine which type of lesion it is, and whether we
do a crown amputation or tooth extraction, ” Dr. Farnsworth said. WSU ’ s Veterinary Teaching Hospital
features digital radiograph technology to take dental or intra-oral radiographs. The equipment is also capable of taking other types of radiographs in both large and small animals. “Digital radiographs reduce the
amount of time an animal spends under anesthesia because the radiographs come up instantly on the computer and we don ’ t have to wait for traditional film to be developed, ” Dr. Farnsworth said. “ This technology is helpful in diagnosing very subtle dental changes and allows us to see infections and problems under
the gum line that you can ’ t see with an oral exam. It also helps us diagnose problems inside the tooth that
might require treatment, like resorptive lesions. Basically, you find so much more pathology with radiographs. “ Resorptive lesions are probably the most common problem we see in cats, ” she said. “ It occurs
more often in older cats, but in can happen in young cats too. Regular dental care once or twice a year can
help control it. Even if a tooth extraction is required, cats can function very well without some of their teeth
and even without any teeth, especially if they were very painful from dental issues. ”
Page 7
Dangerous Foods: Are They Harmful To Your Cat?
Dr. Dawn Ruben
Americans spend over $10 billion dollars on pet food for our pets. Despite buying the best food available, some pets
would rather eat what we eat. However, certain foods can be dangerous to your pet causing varying degrees of illness. Some food is toxic due to ingredients and some by improper cooking, storage or poor hygiene.
Alcoholic Beverages
Ethanol is the component in alcoholic beverages that can be
toxic when an excessive amount is ingested. Pets are much
smaller than us and can be highly affected by small amounts
of alcohol. Exercise caution when drinks and pets are together. Toxicity can cause a wide variety of signs, and may
even cause death. Signs can include odor of alcohol on the
animal's breath, staggering, behavioral changes, excitement,
depression, increased urination, slowed respiratory rate or
cardiac arrest and death.
Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches and Plums
Ingestion of large amounts of stems, seeds and leaves of
these fruits can be toxic. They contain a cyanide type compound and signs of toxicity include apprehension, dilated
pupils, difficulty breathing, hyperventilation and shock.
Avocados
The leaves, fruit, bark and seeds of avocados have all been
reported to be toxic. The toxic component in the avocado is
"persin," which is a fatty acid derivative. Symptoms of toxicity include difficulty breathing, abdominal enlargement, abnormal fluid accumulations in the chest, abdomen and sac
around the heart. The amount that needs to be ingested to
cause signs is unknown. Do not feed your pet any component
of the avocado.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda
Baking soda and baking powder are both leavening agents. A
leavening agent is a common ingredient in baked goods that
produces a gas causing batter and dough to rise. Baking soda
is simply sodium bicarbonate. Baking powder actually consists of baking soda and an acid, usually cream of tartar, calcium acid phosphate, sodium aluminum sulfate or a mixture
of the three. Ingestion of large amounts of baking soda or
baking powder can lead to electrolyte abnormalities (low
potassium, low calcium and/or high sodium), congestive
heart failure or muscle spasms.
Chocolate
Chocolate, in addition to having a high fat content, contains
caffeine and theobromine. These two compounds are nervous
system stimulants and can be toxic to your dog in high
amounts. The levels of caffeine and theobromine vary between different types of chocolate. For example, white
chocolate has the lowest concentration of stimulants and
baking chocolate or cacao beans have the highest concentration.
Page 8
Chocolate (Continued)
Depending on the type of chocolate ingested and the amount
eaten, various problems can occur. The high fat content in
chocolate may result in vomiting and possibly diarrhea. Once
toxic levels are eaten, the stimulant effect becomes apparent.
You may notice restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination and possibly excessive panting.
Heart rate and blood pressure levels may also be increased.
Seizure activity may occur in severe cases.
Coffee (grounds and beans)
Dogs that eat coffee grounds or beans can get "caffeine" toxicity. The symptoms are very similar to those of chocolate
toxicity and can be just as or even more serious.
Fatty Foods
Rich and fatty food are favorites of dogs. They often get
them as treats, leftovers or from getting into the trash. These
fatty foods can cause pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can affect any
pet but miniature or toy poodles, cocker spaniels and miniature schnauzers are particularly prone. Signs of pancreatitis
generally include an acute onset of vomiting, sometimes diarrhea and abdominal pain. Abdominal pain is often evidenced by hunched posture or "splinting" of the abdomen
when picked up. The dog may become very sick quickly and
often needs intensive fluid and antibiotic therapy.
Dairy Products
Dairy products are not highly dangerous but can pose problems for two reasons. One is their high fat content and like
other foods with high fat content, there is a risk of pancreatitis. The second reason is that pets poorly digest dairy products since they lack the enzyme required to digest lactose.
This affects some pets more than others causing gas to diar
Continued on page 10
Hyperthyroidism is a highly treatable disease in cats
From the Newsletter of the Community Practice Service
College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University
Wouldn ’ t it be great to eat a lot more than you are used
Other diseases may produce similar symptoms to hyper-
to and lose weight? Unfortunately, if you are an aging cat,
thyroidism, such as kidney disease, diabetes, and gas-
this is a classic symptom of hyperthyroidism. The thyroid
trointestinal disease. To make an accurate diagnosis,
produces hormones that control metabolism, and is com-
veterinarians perform blood tests to obtain a complete
prised of two glands located in the neck. Hyperthyroidism
blood count, chemistry profile, urinalysis, and measure
occurs when one or both of the thyroid glands produce an
thyroid levels. “ We obtain blood work to screen for
excess of thyroid hormones. When not enough thyroid
other underlying medical conditions and to determine
hormone is produced, hypothyroidism results. Cats older
which kind of treatment would be the most suitable,”
than eight years are commonly affected by hyperthyroid-
Dr. Pratt said.
ism, but rarely develop hypothyroidism. Conversely, mid-
Choices for hyperthyroid treatment include three com-
dle aged dogs suffer more commonly from hypothyroid-
mon options, all of which are effective in reversing hy-
ism, and rarely from hyperthyroidism. Both conditions
perthyroidism and complications like heart murmurs.
create havoc in a pet ’ s body, but both are treatable and
The first is medical management with methimazole, a
many animals have a good prognosis after treatment.
drug that inhibits thyroid hormones from being produced.
“ H yperthyroidism has a gradual onset and is a progres-
With this choice, pills are administered on a daily basis
sive disease, ” said Dr. Carmela Pratt, a WSU small ani-
for the rest of the pet ’ s life. The second option is to
mal internal medicine resident. “ Some animals will show
surgically remove one or both thyroid glands. The third
multiple clinical signs while others will present with just a
option is to treat a cat with radioactive iodine, which per-
few. Signs include an increased appetite with concurrent
manently destroys the thyroid tissue that is not
weight loss, increased drinking and urination, and some-
functioning properly. It is administered as an injection or
times vomiting and diarrhea. Cats can also display abnor-
tablet and does not damage normal thyroid tissue or
mal behavior such as howling and extreme vocaliza-
other tissues in the body. “ Most cats receive a trial with
tion. ”
methimazole to see if kidney disease appears after cor-
Hyperthyroidism is generally not fatal, but complications
recting the hyperthyroidism, ” Dr. Pratt said. “ In most
from the disease can cause cats to develop heart mur-
cases, they get better, and the medication is fairly inex-
murs and high blood pressure. These complications can
pensive, but a drawback is that they must receive the
cause the development of problems such as blood in the
medication indefinitely. For cats treated with surgery, the
eye (hyphema) or retinal detachment. If left untreated,
procedure is fairly straightforward. We take out the gland
cats also become predisposed to heart disease and fail-
that is enlarged. If both glands are removed, a calcium
ure. “ Sometimes a cat with hyperthyroidism can get hit
deficiency or hypothyroidism might develop, so these
with a ‘ thyroid storm, ’ especially when stressed. This
cats might need to receive supplements afterwards. ”
can cause the cat to develop respiratory distress and col-
Recurrence of hyperthyroidism can occur after surgery
lapse, ” Dr. Pratt said. “ If this occurs it can be fatal, but
especially if active thyroid tissue is located in an abnor-
even in these cases, many cats are able to recover if they
mal area. Thyroid tissue can be located anywhere along
receive oxygen and are left alone to recover for awhile. ”
the neck into the chest cavity
Page 9
Continued on page 10
Continued from page 9
due to the way the glands form in a developing embryo. “ W e get
a lot of cases referred to WSU for radioactive iodine treatment, ”
she said. “ This treatment requires specialized training and facilities because the animals must be confined in a special room for
two weeks or longer. Many owners choose it, however, because it
is non-invasive, no anesthesia is required, and it is generally a
permanent fix. A very small percentage of patients might need to
be retreated or develop hypothyroidism. ”
“ C ats generally feel better over the span of a few weeks, and
owners often notice them gaining weight and eating more normally, ” Dr. Pratt said. “ That is how we gauge if they are getting
better. But sometimes older cats have concurrent kidney disease
that was masked by hyperthyroidism, so after treatment, cats may
develop elevated kidney values. We recommend that cats have
their thyroid levels rechecked after treatment, as well as their
blood work to check for kidney disease. ”
Continued from page 8
rhea. Small amounts of plain yogurt or cheese are tolerated by
most dogs but it is probably safest to avoid dairy products altogether.
Grapes and Raisins
So far, about 10 dogs poisoned by grapes and raisins have been
officially reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
The amount of grapes or raisins ingested has been between 9
ounces to 2 pounds, and dogs ingesting these large amounts have
developed kidney failure. Aggressive, and sometimes prolonged,
treatment may be necessary to give the affected dog a chance at
survival; without treatment death is possible. Despite testing, the
reason for the kidney failure and the amount necessary for toxicity remains unknown. For now, any dog that ingests large
amounts of grapes or raisins should be treated aggressively, so
contact your veterinarian immediately if ingestion has occurred.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts, also called the Queensland nut or Australia nut,
can be toxic. The mechanism behind why these nuts are toxic is a
mystery. However, it has been noted that as few as six to forty
nuts in dogs have caused severe toxic signs. Dogs develop weakness, depression, vomiting, difficulty walking, tremors, abdominal pain, lameness, stiffness and/or pale gums. The signs usually
dissipate in 12 to 24 hrs.
Moldy or Spoiled Food
Dogs love to get into the trash. A medical problem arises when
the trash contains moldy or spoiled food. In addition to food poisoning, some pets can develop tremors related to the ingestion of
certain molds.
Page 10
Nutmeg
You may not realized this but high levels of nutmeg can be
toxic, even fatal. The toxic principle is not well understood.
Signs of toxicity include tremors, seizures, nervous system
abnormalities or death.
Onions or Garlic
Dogs and cats lack the enzyme necessary to properly digest
onions and this could result in gas, vomiting, diarrhea or
severe gastrointestinal distress. If large amounts of onion or
garlic are ingested or onions are a daily part of your dog's
diet, the red blood cells may become fragile and break apart.
This is due to the toxic ingredient in onions and garlic, thiosulphate. Signs can begin immediately after eating the onion or a few days later. Large quantities of garlic need to be
ingested before signs of toxicity are seen. Severe anemias
and even death can occur if the dog ingests lots of onions or
garlic and receives no treatment.
All forms of onion and garlic are a problem. This includes
raw, dehydrated, cooked, powders or those in foods. The
most common source of onions for cats is in human baby
food. Some baby foods have onion powder added for taste.
*McDezinger Maine Coons*
Alexandra Enzinger, Provisional Breeder Member, Austria
We, my husband Dieter, my two children Maximilian and Nikolaus
and me Alexandra, are living with our cats in Ernsthofen/Austria.
My family is sharing my love for cats and I'm really thankful for
their support. Our cats are part of our family and they can enjoy
our whole house and a safety garden. I met my first Maine Coon
when I attend a Cat Show in 2003 with my HHP SGM RW Kater
Carlo. I immediately felt in love with this beautiful and gorgeous
cats. In 2004 we start breeding and showing Maine Coon
Cats. Healthiness combined with a good type and size and a
gentle character are our prior goal. The kittens grow up in family
circle and they are well socialized. All of our breeding cats are
tested regularly on HCM, PKD and HD. Breeding Maine Coons is
an amazing adventure with its ups and downs. Sometimes it is hard but there are so many
wonderful sides you can enjoy.
You can find more of the McDenzinger cats at www.maine-coon-cat.at and featured throughout
this issue.
Calicoon Colette reached the milestone age of 15 last week. She is a silver
classic and white spay out of Gentlegiants Purrci Faith and Donnahugh Avery
of Calicoon (who is now 16). Some of her other ancestors are Calicoon
Prince Valiant, Calicoon Hooligan and a number of cats from Heidi Ho and
other great lines. The brown tabby in the background is her friend SGC Dorwill Darcy of Calicoon who is 9 herself now.
I have included some pictures of her with one of her favorite toys on Shagcatpics. She carries it around in her mouth and makes calling noises - I think
she thinks she is hunting and this is her prey.
Lynne Sherer
Breeder Member, Fancier Member Secretary
Calicoon Cattery, Tennessee
Page 11
GC, RW Nascat Star Fire of Y1Kat, DM
Breeder: Donna Hinton
Owner: Judy Lindemann
Pictured Right
Star was spayed at 7.5 years and will be our favorite pet
for the rest of her life. She chose my husband many years
ago as her favorite person and nothing has changed since
she first came to live here. She waits for him to come
home everyday. Sleeps with him and talks with him all the
times. Thanks to Donna Hinton for allowing Star to come
live with us when she was 6 months old.
GC Y1Kat Shiloh
(Right) GC, RW
Y1Kat Mustang
Sally of Nascat
(Right) GC Y1Kat Star
Search of Br'ercoon
(Above) GC Y1Kat Flash Fire
GC Y1Kat Cool Hand
Luke of Rivercats
(Right) GP Y1Kat
Proud Mary
Page 12
•
In January 2009, the following MCBFA Breeder Members and TICA judges were advanced to Approved Allbreed
status: Ryoko Doi & Elektra Hammond. At the same meeting, Breeder Member Toni Scarboro was approved as a
LH/SH Trainee.
•
•
Welcome to New Breeder Members:
•
Jennifer Hawke LIONMAINE of Florida
•
Robin Warren RED FLANNEL of New Hampshire
TICA Breed Committee Election resulted in the following members being elected: Laura Cunningham, Ryoko
Doi, Liz Flynn, Liz Hansen, Elaine Hawksworth-Weitz, Jennifer Sable & Kim Tomlin (All are MCBFA Breeder
Members)
•
CFA Breed Council Secretary Election resulted in Martha Auspitz continuing as BC Secretary.
•
Judy Chapetta (COONCREOLE) lost her second battle with cancer on Saturday, April 4, 2009.
•
Amy Gerver-Marsh will be moving out of the region at the end of the school year & therefore, Donna Hinton has
appointed (with complete approval of the BOD) Brenda Flahault to be the new Mid-Atlantic Regional Director.
Waterproof Maine Coons
of Switzerland
Sylvia Calzavara-Widmer
Breeder Member
Page 13
Page 14
Appointed Officers
MCBFA Officers
PRESIDENT
Donna Hinton
2215 Spanish Forest Lane
Richmond, TX 77406-6778
281-232-5658
[email protected]
VICE-PRESIDENT
Kim Tomlin
3906 Quail Tower Road
Luverne, AL 36049
334-508-0082
[email protected]
TREASURER
Roxann Rokicki
W 8905 Canary Road
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
920-887-7704
[email protected]
RECORDING SECRETARY
Laura Heineck
145 Bear Mountain Pass
Mineral Bluff, GA 30559-2921
706-374-4216
[email protected]
BREEDER MEMBER
SECRETARY
Liz Flynn
208 Kings Chapel Road
Augusta, GA 30907
706-860-1521
[email protected]
FANCIER MEMBER
SECRETARY
Lynne Sherer
3840 Charbon Lane
Bartlett, TN 38133
901-372-3394
[email protected]
PROVISIONAL BREEDER
MEMBER SECRETARY
Cain Haley
PO Box 1234
Highlands, NC 28741-1234
828-787-1955
[email protected]
NORTHEAST DIRECTOR
Elva Fisher
66 Ralph Ave
White Plains, NY 10606-3909
914-946-4035
[email protected]
MID-ATLANTIC DIRECTOR
Brenda Flahault
17 Omaha Drive
Cranford, NJ 07016
908-276-9423
[email protected]
MIDWEST DIRECTOR
Caron Gray
19165 Bennington Drive
Brookfield, WI 53045
262-782-1110
[email protected]
ARCHIVIST
Beth Hicks
3840 Charbon Lane
Bartlett, TN 38133
901-373-3394
[email protected]
SOUTH CENTRAL
DIRECTOR
Judy Lindemann
3519 Green Springs
San Antonio, TX 78247-2900
210-496-0161
[email protected]
ETHICS COMMITTEE
Cat Moody
41 Deep Creek Bench Rd
Livingston, MT 59047
406-222-4745
[email protected]
WESTERN DIRECTOR
Laura Cunningham
77 Hancock St
San Francisco, CA 94114-2619
925-872-6889
[email protected]
OVERSEAS DIRECTOR
Misha Peersmans
Rue de Tellin 12
B - 6927 Bure
Belgium
32 (0)84 751255
[email protected]
SOUTHEAST DIRECTOR
Sharon Butler
266 Bohler Drive
Evans, GA 30809
706-860-6820
[email protected]
GET YOUR PICTURES
OR STORIES
IN THE NEXT ISSUE
Anyone may submit articles, pictures
or stories to the Scratch Sheet for
FREE; however, only a Breeder, Provisional Breeder, or Fancier may submit
Winners Gallery information. Submit
t o t h e e d it o r , L iz H an s e n ,
[email protected] or snail mail to:
1526 Bayberry Meadows Dr, O’Fallon,
MO 63366. Pictures will be returned.
EDITOR, The Scratch Sheet
Liz Hansen
1526 Bayberry Meadows Dr
O’Fallon, MO 63366
636-697-1002
[email protected]
WEBMASTER
Caron Gray
19165 Bennington Drive
Brookfield, WI 53045
262-782-1110
[email protected]
View This & Past Issues of the Scratch Sheet Online:
www.mcbfa.org
Username: MCBFA
Password: 2009Issue1
Advertising
•
Anyone may submit merchandise
ads or cat show ads.
•
Any member may submit listings and
photos for the Winners Gallery.
•
Only Full Breeder Members may
advertise cats or kittens for sale,
stud service, catteries, or any other
service related to animals.
•
Please no laser color copies; they
do not reproduce well. Photos will
be returned if accompanied by a
self-addressed stamped envelope.
Cattery Ad Rates
Business card-size ads $5 per issue
1/8 page $10/one time or $35/year
1/4 page $20/one time or $65/year
1/2 page $40/one time limit 2 per year
Full page $85/one time limit 1 per year
Merchandise and/or Cat Show Ad Rates
1/4 page $25 per issue
1/2 page $50 per issue
Full page $100 per issue
Payment must accompany ads. Please send your ads and payments to the
Editor; all checks made payable to MCBFA.
Page 15
Fancier Members Dues
January 2009 LATE:
Besgrove, Dorothea
Chu, Katey
Haekkerup, Carli
Hansen, Sarah DVM
Lloyd, Tim
McConegal, Carol
Ruxton, Dorothy
Thomas, Collette
Watkinson, Sherri/Jim
Breeder Member Dues
Reminder: Breeder Member Dues
owed on May 1, 2009.
Provisional Breeder Dues
Betty Ingraham (PAST DUE)
Breeder Members
Secretary
Provisional Breeders
Secretary
Fancier Members
Secretary
Liz Flynn
208 Kings Chapel Road
Augusta, GA 30907
706-860-1521
[email protected]
Cain Haley
PO Box 1234
Highlands, NC 28741-1234
828-787-1955
[email protected]
Lynne Sherer
3840 Charbon Lane
Bartlett, TN 38133
901-372-3394
[email protected]
April 2009:
Abernathy, Jessica
Baerin, Allison
Borowski, Gail
Brown, Larry
Campbell, Judy
Coggins, Louise
Crossland, Aimee
Dell, Kaiti
Ducharme, Al
Gillespie, Mary
Girton, Marci
Hamilton, Charlie/Connell
Hempe, Jeffrey/Linda
Judd, Michael
Koeller, Kay
Kruse, Wanda
Merkl, Lisa
McCaffrey, Lisa
Popeske, Beverly
Potter, John/Maradee
Reed, Susan
Robbins, Bonnie/John
Sanford, Nancy
Sullivan, Beverly
Wandrei, Alan
Weinsheimer, Annemick
MEMBER DUES
The MCBFA, Inc., Executive Council has directed that
Any and all dues may be paid to MCBFA’s PayPal account using the address:
MCBFA services be suspended for the following [email protected]. PLEASE DO NOT SEND TO THE TREASURER OR EDITOR viduals for the period of time indicated.
Permanent
Fancier Memberships: Send membership fees and addresses to the Fanciers’ Secre- Chris Buck (Buctales) Oct 2001
Johnnie Hardee (Guitars/Megacoon) Feb 2003
tary, Lynne Sherer.
Bill/Trisha Swisher (Kanab) as of 2/27/2003
Payable in US funds only
Marla Vales (Marala) April 2003
$20.00/one year
$35.00/two years
Susan Lee (CoonsCross) Feb 2004
Ginny O'Neill Follensbee (Majesticats) Aug 2004
$50.00/three years
This includes first-class postage.
Canada: $15.00 + $6.00 postage ($21.00 total) Postal Money Order Only
All Other Countries: $31.00 per year; International Money Orders. No bank checks.
All dues may be paid via PayPal: [email protected]
Provisional Breeder Memberships
Or snail mail your payment to:
Online information and application forms can be downloaded at the MCBFA website, www.mcbfa.org
If website is not available, prospective Provisional Breeders should do the following:
1. Write to the Provisional Breeder Secretary, Cain Haley, for information and application packet. Do not send money at this time.
2. Once the application packet is received, follow the instructions and send the completed application with appropriate dues ($30.00 first year;
$25.00 subsequent years) to the Provisional Breeder Secretary, Cain Haley
Breeder Memberships: $25..00 per year to Breeder Member Secretary, Liz Flynn. A copy of a current litter registration must be included to
enable you stay on the Active Breeder list.
Change of address should be sent to the appropriate secretary.
Page 16