Cat Hospital of Burlington
552 Brant Street L7R 2G8 Burlington, ON, Canada

We are still open to see patients for urgent care services only and for curb side pick up of food and medicine. New hours are Monday-Friday 12pm - 6pm. Telemedicine services now available via phone text or email. Anyone experiencing any Coronavirus symptoms we ask to please stay home. Thank you phone 905-631-6552 text 905-536-8527 email [email protected]

From Dr. Mikel Delgado: "Cat facial expressions are affected by breed: Why there are implications for cat welfare" Read her blog here! http://ow.ly/ViyQ50CXfpd

Happy #WhiskerWednesday Say Hello to Maggie Photo Credit: Elizabeth Parker

Watch your cats .. they are flammable. She’s is 100% healthy and not hurt. #cat #flames @tomdigirolamo

Some cats will tolerate a little box, some will not. Most cats wanna use the one in the bottom right corner #CatsWannaBeCats #LitterBoxEtiquette #BiggerIsBetter #DontLetHimMissOnPurpose

You're going to the cottage for the weekend, you packed everything you need, the dog is wagging his tail in the backseat, ready for adventure, and the cat has a... clean litterbox, three days of food and water and all her favourite toys. Will kitty be OK on her own while you're gone? The short answer is No. Cats can be easily mislabeled as "low maintenance." They don't mind being alone (for a time), they use a litter box and, generally, won't eat days worth of food in one go (I do suspect Wallace would). Below the surface though, they have daily physiological and psychological needs that are equally as important as their canine counterparts...they're just different and trickier to recognize, especially for first-time cat owners. If anything, cats may be higher maintenance pets because of their differences and psychological complexity. That's part of why we love them, right? Most cats will tolerate being left alone for 8-12 hours. They may seem like they don't mind being left longer, but independent as cats are, they do miss their humans and if left so long on a regular basis, stress behaviours like overgrooming and urinating outside the box could develop over time, they will oversleep and likely become overweight. Kittens, seniors and new additions on the otherhand should be checked on at least once during their humans' long day out. About being home alone for a matter of days... It's totally fine to leave cats home while their humans go on a trip! Kitties would likely prefer it over a boarding facility, anyway. However, that's being left home, not alone. It's an absolute must that cats are checked in on at least once a day to clean out the litter boxes, provide fresh food and water, enjoy a cuddle/play session and more than anything, be able to get timely veterinary care in case they get sick or hurt. So, cat lovers, let's spread the message to our friends and families with cats to make sure they are taken care of when their humans leave. We can change the general "cats are low maintenance" mindset by setting and sharing good examples #WallaceWonders #CatsWannaBeCats #CatsAreJustAsImportantAsDogs

Feline Fun Fact Friday More Information catfriendly.com/djd

Happy #WhiskerWednesday Say Hello to Jamie Photo Credit: Dell Zubkowski

We are still open to see patients for regular and urgent care and for clients that need to pick up food and medicine for their kitties. New hours are Monday-Friday 12pm - 6pm. Telemedicine services now available via phone text or email. Anyone experiencing any Coronavirus symptoms we ask to please stay home. Thank you phone 905-631-6552 text 905-536-8527 email [email protected]

Purrlease keep your fur kids safe! There's a surprising amount of people that still believe black cats are bad luck ... and of course just a lot of mean, horrible people out there too!! #FridayThe13th #BlackCatsAreGoodLuck #ColeAndMarmalade

It's #WorldAnimalDay one of our favourite days of the year! Celebrating animals of all shapes and sizes, and remembering that we are responsible for safeguarding the welfare of the animals around us. Take a look at our Animal Welfare Guidelines https://buff.ly/2EJMgrz

Here's a helpful infographic that lists out which popular fall plants are toxic and which are non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses!

Feline Fun Fact Friday More Information catfriendly.com/zoonoses

Routine health checks are important for cats, just like us humans - yet over 50% of almost 9 million owned cats in Canada don't see a veterinarian until they be...come ill or injured. (Similar in USA) Many cat owners believe their cats absolutely won't go in a carrier without force, causing them to feel stressed throughout transport and the physical exam. In most cases, this is likely true! That being said, every cat should be examined by a veterinarian for routine health care and when they become ill. A carrier is the safest and least stressful way to get them there. Here are some tips to improve the relationship your cat has with her carrier and minimize the stress for everyone: Allow your cat to have positive experiences in and around the carrier. Keep it in a room she likes and with the door open so she can go in and out as she pleases. Put a soft familiar blanket inside and periodically leave treats or catnip on it. The time to start this process is now. It can take weeks for your cat to trust the carrier and you want to be prepared in case of an emergency. (relationships take time!) Reward your cat with head scratches, play time and treats for going in and out of the carrier. Do not punish or force her into anything she isn't ready for. Be patient. Use synthetic pheramones like @feliwaycat to help her feel calm while traveling in the carrier. You can spray some on the blanket in the carrier 10 minutes before asking her to go in and it will last long enough to get to the appointment and back. When you arrive for the appointment, trust in the veterinary staff to understand your cat's behavior and handle her with care. Cats feeling stressed are more difficult to examine. Choosing a clinic certified as a Cat Friendly Practice will give you added confidence that your cat's experience will be as comfortable as possible. Learn about Cat Friendly Practices and find one near you by visiting www.catvets.com #WallaceWonders #CatsWannaBeCats #HappyCatsAreHealthierCats #CatFriendly

Happy #WhiskerWednesday Say Hello to Maverick! Photo Credit: Roberta McCarthy

Feline Fun Fact Friday More Information catfriendly.com/vaccines

FIV sounds horrible, but it really isn't that big of a deal... as many of you know Marmalade is FIV+ Because there's so many cats in shelters, some may be carry...ing infections that a cat with a strong immune system can fight off... FIV+ cats have a compromised immune system, so they have an easier chance of picking them up. Purrlease consider adopting or fostering a FIV+ cat <3 Courtesy of: Support FIV #adoptdontshop #fosteringsaveslives #fivcatsareawesome

On Thursday Willow played with lilies in my office. She didn't eat anything. She only batted at them and got the pollen all over her before I shooed her away. W...e laughed initially but thank God something in my head told me to google it. I read, "All parts of the lily - including the stem, leaves, petals, stamens and pollen - are poisonous to cats. Even minor exposures (cat chewing on a leaf or getting pollen on his or her haircoat or whiskers) can be fatal." "Cats typically do not survive, even with aggressive therapy (such as dialysis)." I freaked out. Threw her in the shower (that wasn't fun) and immediately took her up to Blue Pearl Emergency & Specialty Hospital. Due to covid, they came and took her from my car and after her exam the ER doctor called me. She said her prognosis was very poor because they found the pollen around her mouth and on her tongue. She even said, "in my experience I've never seen a cat survive lily poisoning. Most owners only realize there's an issue when the cat is sick and by that point it's just too late" Insert hysterical crying here. She said that her only saving grace may be that we sought treatment quickly but realistically she might not make it through the night. They made her throw up, gave her activated charcoal and aggressively treated her with fluid therapy and other meds. Thank God after 2 days in the hospital, she pulled through!!! We will go for a recheck soon but her doctors are confident her organs didn't suffer any long term damage from the poisoning. I can't tell you the intense guilt I felt and still feel for buying those stupid flowers. I felt like a murderer, terrible fur mom, terrible person. I've had cats my entire life and have never heard of lily poisoning. The vets response to that was "most people only find out the hard way" The doctors, technicians and staff at Blue Pearl really are the best! They saved our baby. Please SHARE this with your friends. I would hate to see anyone go through this!! Thank you all for your support during that gut-wrenching 2 days. We're thankful our girl is back home! No. More. Flowers. Ever.

Happy #WhiskerWednesday Say Hello to Milo! Photo Credit: Cynthia L Olson

Cats require plenty of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy. If you have a cat, be sure to equip your home with cat trees, window perches, scratching posts and toys to keep them occupied throughout the day. #HappyHealthyCatMonth

We’re once again asking for your help to find Chance his forever home. It has been 4 long months since he has come into our care and we have tried everything in... our power to find his new family. We have messaged everyone we can think of in hopes that they will share his story, with no luck. We wish people could see that with one simple share or even like, you could be the reason Chance finds his forever home. We all know Chance’s story. He’s not your average kitty and is a special little guy. He was born with a spinal deformity causing partial paralysis. Chance was not expected to live long but he has proven everyone wrong! Since he does need extra care, that most people are unable to give him, it’s been very hard for us to find his perfect home. He does not have full control of his bladder or bowels and because of this Chance needs to be expressed multiple times a day. He needs someone home often to make sure he doesn’t get himself into trouble, because he will. Chance is prone to injuries and UTI’s which can cause a lot of stress on his body. Being just under 6 months old, he still has that kitten spirit and keeping him calm can sometimes be challenging. He truly sees himself as no different than any other cat and is such a funny social kitty. He loves to climb, explore and play in his own little way and would love a furry sibling in the home. Chance will benefit from continued rehab and will most likely need extra vet care throughout his life. Chance has an amazing foster mom who loves him so much, but Chance deserves a home! He deserves the best home where they can give him the care he needs his whole life. This may be as much care as a child but Chance is worth it! PLEASE SHARE Chance’s story. Getting his story out there is the only way we will find Chance his forever home. If you are interested in adopting Chance and feel you will be able to provide him with the care he needs, fill out an adoption application on our website www.saltyanimalrescue.com/adopt! We appreciate every single ounce of support and we know Chance does too! Elaine Davey See more

Frequent veterinary check-ups can help to detect the early stages of illness, monitor body condition and provide the routine preventative healthcare that cats n...eed through all their life stages. Shockingly a recent survey by Royal Canin found that 11% of cats have never visited the vet and 43% hadn’t seen a veterinarian within the last year. One of the most common explanations for this was that veterinary visits were very stressful for cats. ISFM developed the Cat Friendly Clinic programme to accredit clinics that understand the needs of cats and prove that they possess the knowledge and equipment to make visits as stress-free as possible, whilst also providing high levels of care. You can find your nearest clinic, as well as more information about the programme, by clicking the link below. http://ow.ly/1IGb50Bsb0G

Happy #WhiskerWednesday Say Hello to Hank! Photo Credit: Wayne F Shores

Ear problems in general are uncommon in cats, but among the afflictions that do occur, ear-mite infestation is frequently diagnosed. Do you know the signs? https://www.vet.cornell.edu//ear-mites-tiny-critters-can-p