EveryCat Health Foundation Grant and Research Support
Kitty Kollar is dedicated to giving a share of proceeds to causes that advance the health and well-being of dogs and cats and enhance the relationship between our pets and ourselves. We are proud to announce our support of current research attempting to develop a vaccination for feline lymphoma:
Speckles abdominal cancer study
sponsored by Kitty Kollar™ in memory of Quasimodo
A viral gene expression analysis towards preventing feline lymphoma. (W17-011)
Principal Investigators: Julia Beatty, PhD, Mahdis Aghazadeh, PhD, Vanessa Barrs, PhD; University of Sydney.
A virus (Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 or FcaGHV1) that can cause cancer (lymphoma) in other species has been recently discovered in cats. This study looks for the presence of this virus in feline lymphoma cells. If found, it may be possible to prevent lymphoma by vaccination.
Other relevant research being done at EveryCat:
EveryCat Health Foundation Announces Grant Award Evaluating Gastrointestinal Disease in Cats
EveryCat Health Foundation has awarded a research grant to evaluate differences in cats diagnosed with chronic gastrointestinal disease caused by chronic inflammation (IBD) or cancer (lymphoma). The grant award was made possible through the generous gift by anonymous donors in memory of their cat, Speckles, a companion lost due to abdominal cancer.
EveryCat Board President, Glenn Olah, DVM, PhD, DABVP (Feline) stated that:
“This project plans to look at the fecal bacterial and metabolite composition in healthy cats and cats with inflammatory bowel disease and low-grade alimentary lymphoma, and possibly identify fecal biomarkers which may provide a better non-invasive diagnostic tool as well as possibly provide therapeutic targets.”
Currently, these two diseases can only be diagnosed by biopsy. This is an expensive procedure and is not 100% accurate. While biopsies are generally safe, the procedure requires general anesthesia and there can be slight bleeding, neither of which is ideal for debilitated kitties. As with all diseases, the key to ultimately finding a cure for IBD and lymphoma must start with the ability to properly diagnose, so we are very excited to hear of this study.
How you can help in our research efforts
The overarching goal at Kitty Kollar has always been to help cats and dogs that are undergoing medical challenges. Since our inception we have asked every pet parent to share what his or her pet is being treated for, helping us to determine where future research efforts should be concentrated.
To that end we created a Way-To-Give campaign in conjunction with EveryCat Health Foundation to sponsor at least one research study around lymphoma, IBD, kidney disease, diabetes, FHL, and/or pancreatitis.
We have been thanked by so many of you for what we provide for your pets and asked by many of you for various ways to help more cats. You now have the opportunity to contribute, through “Kitty Kollar Customers Care” in honor or in memory of your pet, or a special veterinarian or licensed technician.
To donate, click here or go directly to EveryCat ’s secure donation page here.
Each gift will receive a personal acknowledgement from EveryCat and of course your donation is tax-deductible. You may also wish to make a more substantial donation or to include EveryCat in your trust and estate planning.
The EveryCat Donor Tree
There is a donor tree at CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) headquarters in Alliance, Ohio with leaves, rocks and boulders recognizing individuals and companies who have supported EveryCat ’s work. Kitty Kollar is proud to have two leaves on the tree, and we would love to have some of our customers join us to help fill up the tree and make more life-saving research possible.
Kitty Kollar leaves on the EveryCat Donor Tree
EveryCat Health Foundationis a non-profit organization that supports studies to improve cat health. The need for taurine in cat food, high protein diets for diabetes, identifying the FIP and FIV viruses, testing for feline leukemia virus, genetic tests for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats–EveryCat helped make it happen.
Since 1968, EveryCat Health Foundation has funded over $6 million in health research for cats at more than 30 partner institutions worldwide. This funding is made possible through the support of dedicated donors and partners. Research supported by EveryCat Health Foundation helps veterinarians by providing educational resources that improve treatment of common feline health problems and prevent many diseases. Grants are awarded at least twice yearly with the help of the foundation’s expert review panel. For further information, go to EveryCat Feline Foundation.
