Why Is My Cat Losing Weight?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I have a 10 year old Bengal who has never had health issues. She’s a strictly indoor cat. Recently she dropped from 11 lb 8 oz to 9 lb 13 oz. It seemed to happen over a matter of weeks but may have been more gradual. I took her to the vet who did an exam and took blood. According to the results, there appears to be nothing wrong with her — no disease and no parasites, no tumors. Throughout this entire time, her behavior never changed: she eats and drinks, urinates and excretes, is interested in toys and petting, no signs of withdrawal. My question is, have you…
How Cold is Too Cold for an Outdoor Cat?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: We have a kitten who came to us during the summer months. We live in the mountains of North Carolina, and we’re wondering about the cold weather. Our cat is strictly an outside cat, but we thought we would put him in the basement on nights that were very cold. Now our question — how cold does it have to be before we bring him in? In other words, how much cold can he stand? ~ Vicki Siouxsie: Although in a perfect world this cat would be able to go indoors whenever he wants, we know there are plenty of legitimate reasons why you might not be able to allow this. We’re grateful to…
I Think My Cat’s Spine is Crooked
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: My 5-month-old cat has a pronounced curvature of the spine while sitting up straight: when he sits with his paws flat on the floor he has a hump right behind his shoulder blades. At first I wasn’t worried, but now I am thinking back to my previous cat, who I think had a much more gradually sloping back. I looked up cat pictures online and my cat’s seems more pronounced. Is there a chance this is a bad thing, or is it just a natural variance in cat spines? ~ Allie Siouxsie: There is some variation in the length of cats’ spines and the length of their body in…
Why Are My Cat’s Paws Sore and Swollen?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: We got Rambo from the SPCA almost a year ago. He adjusted very quickly and incredibly well to his new home and is our only pet. A few days after we brought him home, his front left paw got red and sore. A scab-like black crust developed between his toes and around his paw pad, and the skin began to open up and began to smell infected. We took him to the vet, who prescribed antibiotics and a pain reliever and told me to soak it two or three times a day in a solution of antibacterial soap, salt and warm water. When I brought him in for a…
Is My Cat’s Odd Behavior About Bad Eyesight?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I have a Bombay cat who is just over a year old. She is loving and friendly and is very patient with my son. But about a week ago I went to feed her at night (in the dark) and she began to growl and hiss. I tired to calm her down by telling her it was OK. but next thing I knew she lunged at me and bit my leg. She punctured my skin and left a huge bruise. She has been aggressive like this before, but never this bad. Is there any way to tell if a cat has trouble seeing? I think she can’t see well…
How Can I Treat My Cat’s Ear Mites?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I have been treating my cat’s ear mites for six days now. I used Vitamin E 400 IU on a cotton ball, wipe it out, and leave some to soothe the irritation. But now her ears are red and have crusty stuff on them, and she’s acting sad. What do I do? ~ Heather Siouxsie: Well, Heather, while there are home remedies for ear mites — and most sources recommend using olive oil or almond oil rather than Vitamin E oil — it sounds like your cat may be suffering from a more serious condition. Thomas: Sometimes cats with ear mites develop secondary bacterial or yeast infections, which can…
An FIV Diagnosis is Not a Tragedy
The words “feline immunodeficiency virus” can strike fear into cat owners’ hearts. They imagine a future of illness and suffering leading to a painful death. FIV-positive cats are automatically put down at kill shelters, and even no-kill rescues have trouble finding homes for these cats. But FIV is nothing to be scared of. Cats infected with the feline immunodeficiency virus can live long, happy and healthy lives just like any other cat, as long as they get proper care. The Basics The feline immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Like HIV, FIV kills infection-fighting T-cells and weakens the immune system. FIV is almost always transmitted through deep bite wounds….
