Patterns: Smoking: Hazardous to Your Cat

nytimes ^ | August 6, 2002 | By JOHN O'NEIL

[dennisw]

Patterns: Smoking: Hazardous to Your Cat

By JOHN O'NEIL

ats whose owners smoke are up to three times as likely to develop lymphoma, a form of cancer, as cats living with nonsmokers, a new study has found.

Dr. Antony S. Moore of the Tufts University Veterinary School, an author of the study, said cats in many ways were better subjects than people for studying secondhand smoke.

"Cats basically hang around inside the house, so they don't get exposed to as many possible environmental hazards," he said. "You can often smell the smoke on their fur, and when you consider that they're grooming all the time with their tongues, they're probably getting a fairly significant dose."

For the study, which was published in the August issue of The American Journal of Epidemiology, the researchers surveyed the owners of 80 cats with lymphoma and 114 cats with renal disease, which strikes cats at about the same age but is not linked to environmental factors.

They found not only that all cats exposed to tobacco smoke had a far higher risk of lymphoma, but also that the risk was directly related to how much smoke was in the house and how long the cat had been exposed.

Dr. Moore said that the study had been undertaken mainly to explore ways of preventing lymphoma in cats, but he added that he hoped it would raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco in a new way.

"People often think of their cats as members of their family, and they should realize that when we smoke we are increasing the risks faced by those around us," he said. "If we can prevent this disease in cats, I'd be happy. If in doing so we can decrease the risk of cancer in people, I'd be doubly happy."

 

[sticker]

Thank you for giving me another reason to smoke

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

[netmilsmom]

My cat Shenendora was born in October of 1980 and died of natural causes in May of 2000. He lived in a house with (at verying times) 4 smokers. He was a house cat and never went outside. I guess the vet was wrong, he must have had cancer.

[Just another Joe]

This information has been posted before.
The brunt of the arguments is, how many people do you know that clean themselves with their tongue? Or even someone ELSES tongue?

[mg39]

I wonder how much this study cost to point out common sense? Cats, like other mammals, have lungs. Cigarette smoke, whether first- or secondhand, is not good for lungs. There, I just figured out in five seconds, for free, what this study concluded.

Anyway, here's hoping for a long and happy and healthy life for all cats everywhere!

[dennisw]

I'm sorry if it was posted before/

[etabeta]

We had 3 cats who died at age 18, 20 and 22 1/2. The vet asked us for the secret of our cats' longevity. We replied immediately: "Secon-hand smoking". He was not amused.

[PoorMuttly]

My cat smokes. Is my fish in danger ?

[Joe 6-pack]

I've always referred to cat as, "the other white meat." I'll bet it tastes wonderful when smoked!

[Just another Joe]

No biggie. I just wanted you to know so that if you didn't get too many replys you'ld know why.

[Just another Joe]

Doesn't even have to be smoked, Joe.
Living in the Philippines I can vouch for that. Bar-B-Queing on the grill does the trick.
Tastes like chicken. ;^)

[Joe 6-pack]

"Living in the Philippines I can vouch for that. Bar-B-Queing on the grill does the trick."

Down here in Loozeana we prefer 'em cajun blackened w/ a nice crawfish etouffe...#8-)

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Just another Joe]

Oh man, I didn't even know there WAS a "cat list".
I'm in deep doo doo now, ain't I?

[DumpsterDiver]

Thanks for posting that. I shall immediately give my two hairballs the boot! (For their own safety, of course.)

[SheLion]

This is BULL CHIT! All my cats lived to be 15 years old or older! There are TWO smokers in this house, and used to be THREE before my daughter got married. Second Hand Smoke NEVER bothered OR killed our cats. This is BULL CHIT!

[SheLion]

I forgot to add that my cats are in-door cats and never go outside. The air they breath is the same air WE breath! This article burns me up! And the general public believes this bs!

[dennisw]

My father used to blow cigarette smoke in the cat's face when he wanted it to get off his favorite chair. My sister and I would howl with laughter.

That cat ran away after 14 years so I don't know if it fell victim to 2nd hand smoke.

[arielb]

people who smoke don't seem to care about their own lives, their children's lives (if they smoke around them)-do you think they'd care about their cat's?