My cats used to be buddies, now one is bullying the other. Help!
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I have two cats, male (Meow) and female (Cow). They’ve been together since birth and have always been the best of friends. Recently, Meow had a urinary obstruction and had to spend several days at the vet’s while catheterized. Since he got home, Cow has been extremely mean to him. She hisses at him, she sits in doorways so he can’t get through and then slaps him when he tries, and today she even bit him. She’s never been an aggressive cat. I don’t know whether she’s mad at him because he went away, or whether she thinks he smells different now, or what. This has been going on…
Vote for Thomas and Dahlia in the Spay Day 2009 Online Photo Contest
Thomas and Dahlia have decided to participate in the Humane Society of the United States’ Spay Day 2009 Online Photo Contest. They’re hoping you’ll vote for them and raise money for Spay Maine, a consortium of Maine’s animal shelters, rescue groups, animal control officers and animal welfare advocates who are working together to decrease animal shelter intakes and euthanasias by working to secure and maintain funding for Maine’s state-wide spay/neuter program called Help Fix ME. This program is designed to assist low-income pet owners with spaying/neutering their pets. Please stop by and vote for Thomas and Dahlia’s super-cute snuggle photo or Dahlia’s perfectly perfect kitty loaf photo! Thank you so much for your support. Kitties…
What’s that soft swelling on my cat’s back?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I was petting my cat and I noticed swelling by the end of her back. I examined the swelling and found a small scab, maybe the size of a pen point. The inflamation is soft. What could this be? Do you think she was bitten by a bee or any other insect? ~Lashonne Siouxsie: It sounds to us like your kitty has a bite wound that is becoming an abscess.
Do cats mourn for other cats?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: Recently my family lost its oldest cat, Star. Since then, my cat Lucia, who was very attached to Star, has transformed into a very lovey-dovey and cuddly cat, when she was very secretive and reserved before Star’s passing. Do cats mourn other cats and seek comfort from their humans? ~Jennifer I had three kittens, but one died and one of the survivors, Flor, has stopped doing anything. She sleeps, she doesn’t play, or even eat. Please tell me what I can do to help her. ~Uriel Siouxsie: Yes, we cats do mourn the loss of our feline companions. We also grieve when we lose human companions–and even when we…
My cat refuses to eat any food I put down for him. Help!
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: Urgent, for my own sanity! My 18-month-old cat will not eat. He wants to. He goes to his bowl and sniffs, then looks up at me like “You don’t expect me to eat this, do you?” He refuses dry food outright. I have tried more than a dozen flavors, textures, anything I can think of. If he is really hungry, he will eat a few bites and I think “Oh good, I’ve found one he likes.” The next time I put it in his bowl, he won’t eat it. He lives on cat treats. I know it is bad, but I don’t know what to do. He is nearly…
