This study aimed to explore the relationship between people and cats, which has had limited research in the academic field of the human-animal bond. This study revealed that human personalities and attitudes toward cats, influence the behavior and physiological responses of both humans and cats. During a human-cat interaction, we analyzed the behavior and measured autonomic nervous system activity using a heart rate variability analysis, in both the cat and human subjects. We simultaneously measured prefrontal cortex activity of the human subjects with near-infrared spectroscopy. Human personalities (e.g., neurotic tendencies, openness, harmony) were found to affect the individuals’ attitudes and behavior toward the cats, indicating that aspects of the human temperament have some compatibility with cats. Furthermore, we suggest that individuals demonstrated improved cognitive function through the activation of the prefrontal cortex, and arousal from moderate sympathetic nerve activation during their interaction with the cats. Our results illustrate that there is a mechanism that improves the physical and psychological health of humans during interaction with animals, specifically cats.

A 10-year-old cat with anorexia was referred to our hospital. On the first day, blood tests revealed a low platelet count and high levels of total protein (TP), globulin (Glob), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TBil). On the second day, fever and gastrointestinal symptoms were noted. By the fourth day, anemia, leukocytosis, high creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were discovered. On the same day, a serum test and rectal swab detected severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus and a positive result for immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies to the SFTS virus. The cat did not respond to therapeutic treatment and died on the fifth day. The clinical observations in this case were like that which is seen in humans with SFTS. The cat was posthumously diagnosed with SFTS based on the result of a viral examination and the autopsy findings.

Type I diabetes mellitus (DM) can occur genetically in Djungarian and Chinese hamsters. Type II DM can result from an unhealthy lifestyle, as seen in humans. As insulin administration is difficult in hamsters, the main therapeutic goal is to support polydipsia and to prevent reduction in the immune system function, in addition to diet alterations in type II DM. In the present case, diabetes was diagnosed from sugar in the urine and clinical signs, including polyuria. Treatment with a butyric acid bacterial solution was effective, resulting in an improvement in polyuria and polydipsia.

We performed the mandibular rim excision procedure to remove oral tumors in the dorsal side of the mandibular bone in four dogs (two cases of acanthomatous ameloblastoma, one case of malignant melanoma, and one case of osteosarcoma) and a cat (a case of fibrosarcoma). Tumor-containing mandibular bone fragments were excised with a curved margin along the tumor by using a diamond bur equipped with a micro-engine. The ventral edge of the bone was left in place, while the dental roots remaining in the cut section were resected using an ultrasonic scaler equipped with a W-shaped surgery tip. After the surgery, we confirmed the complete removal of the tumor histopathologically. All animals displayed no significant difficulties in feeding and malocclusion, and had no aesthetic issues. The mandibular rim excision performed in this study achieved a therapeutic outcome similar to more intensive surgeries, such as mandibular resection, allowing patients to maintain their quality of life after the surgery. The use of an ultrasonic scaler can minimize the loss of mandibular bone to retain an adequate amount to maintain the animal’s quality of life. This study demonstrates the feasibility of this procedure in small breeds of dogs and cats in whom conventional mandibular rim excision can prove difficult.