Comments for Paws and Effect: Advice by cats, for cats and their people http://www.paws-and-effect.com A weekly advice column in which we answer readers\' letters about cat health and behavior Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:29:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 Comment on Can I use peroxide to treat my cat’s gingivitis? by ariane edmundson http://www.paws-and-effect.com/2008/07/20/can-i-use-peroxide-to-treat-my-cats-gingivitis/#comment-1274 ariane edmundson Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:37:51 +0000 http://www.paws-and-effect.com/2008/07/20/can-i-use-peroxide-to-treat-my-cats-gingivitis/#comment-1274 Thank you for your excellent answers and for covering additional questions I might have made. You are a great team! Ariane Thank you for your excellent answers and for covering additional questions I might have made. You are a great team!
Ariane

]]> Comment on Ask a question by Georgie http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1272 Georgie Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:45:45 +0000 http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1272 My daughter and I are writing to beg for help with our 17 mo old female kitty that we adopted with feline leukemia and non-spayed. Please read our story through to help explain what we are going through. Let's start with we rescued her brother from when he was almost 5 months. Their mother has since passed from feline leukemia and ALL 5 kittens were born with feline leukemia. Yes we were aware of the probability of a short life span but wanted to give a nice home and love. Our little Smokie received wonderful hospice care until his last day on September 22, 2007. We acquired Ashie (Smokie's sister) from one of the original adoptees about 3 months ago. We have been told since the beginning when we took all of the kittens to a vet that none of them, if spayed or neutered could or would survive much longer following the procedure. So we have opted against having her spayed. Yes we have been told that a 'special spay' could be done to lessen the risk and trauma to our already sick kitty- at the cost of $479. Without any guarantee for her recovery from the surgery. I can't afford my own meds without insurance let alone afford and subject sweet (when not in heat) Ashie! After all of that rambling, Ashie at 17 months and non-spayed is driving us mad with each heat cycle. Every 3 weeks like clock work now and OMG each one is getting more and more intense. Not only for us but for her. It's horrible to watch the pain she is experiencing without her 'needs' being fulfilled and day 4 of ZERO sleep because of her gutteral howling (and even barking (literally!!) for the male dog next door!!!). We've given her OTC 'Calm Down' in a liquid formula in her water and/or her treats but the effects last all of about 15 - 20 minutes. HELP!!!!!! There must be something we can do?!?!?!? Your assistance would be so greatly appreciated :-) My daughter and I are writing to beg for help with our 17 mo old female kitty that we adopted with feline leukemia and non-spayed. Please read our story through to help explain what we are going through. Let’s start with we rescued her brother from when he was almost 5 months. Their mother has since passed from feline leukemia and ALL 5 kittens were born with feline leukemia. Yes we were aware of the probability of a short life span but wanted to give a nice home and love. Our little Smokie received wonderful hospice care until his last day on September 22, 2007. We acquired Ashie (Smokie’s sister) from one of the original adoptees about 3 months ago. We have been told since the beginning when we took all of the kittens to a vet that none of them, if spayed or neutered could or would survive much longer following the procedure. So we have opted against having her spayed. Yes we have been told that a ’special spay’ could be done to lessen the risk and trauma to our already sick kitty- at the cost of $479. Without any guarantee for her recovery from the surgery. I can’t afford my own meds without insurance let alone afford and subject sweet (when not in heat) Ashie! After all of that rambling, Ashie at 17 months and non-spayed is driving us mad with each heat cycle. Every 3 weeks like clock work now and OMG each one is getting more and more intense. Not only for us but for her. It’s horrible to watch the pain she is experiencing without her ‘needs’ being fulfilled and day 4 of ZERO sleep because of her gutteral howling (and even barking (literally!!) for the male dog next door!!!). We’ve given her OTC ‘Calm Down’ in a liquid formula in her water and/or her treats but the effects last all of about 15 - 20 minutes. HELP!!!!!! There must be something we can do?!?!?!? Your assistance would be so greatly appreciated :-)

]]> Comment on Does my cat have Parkinson’s Disease? by Jennifer http://www.paws-and-effect.com/2008/05/25/does-my-cat-have-parkinsons-disease/#comment-1271 Jennifer Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:09:59 +0000 http://www.paws-and-effect.com/2008/05/25/does-my-cat-have-parkinsons-disease/#comment-1271 My cat snowball is 7 and has had front leg tremors for about 2 years. Her vet is not sure why her front legs twitch. She has no other health problems except hacking up fur balls and a growth on her lip. She is an indoor only cat because she is partially deaf, white and it is safer. My cat snowball is 7 and has had front leg tremors for about 2 years. Her vet is not sure why her front legs twitch. She has no other health problems except hacking up fur balls and a growth on her lip. She is an indoor only cat because she is partially deaf, white and it is safer.

]]> Comment on Ask a question by ariane edmundson http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1245 ariane edmundson Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:17:33 +0000 http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1245 Hi. I have an acute question. My cat has been diagnosed with gingivitis, needs tooth removal. His mouth hurts so badly, that he can't eat hard catfood, just soft. Anyway, I'd like to treat his sore in his mouth. Can I put peroxide on it to help kill off the bacteria? Thanks so much! Ariane <strong>Edit:</strong> Answered <a href="http://www.paws-and-effect.com/2008/07/20/can-i-use-peroxide-to-treat-my-cats-gingivitis/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Hi. I have an acute question. My cat has been diagnosed with gingivitis, needs tooth removal. His mouth hurts so badly, that he can’t eat hard catfood, just soft. Anyway, I’d like to treat his sore in his mouth. Can I put peroxide on it to help kill off the bacteria?
Thanks so much!
Ariane

Edit: Answered here.

]]> Comment on My cat’s licking her fur off. Help! by Melissa http://www.paws-and-effect.com/2007/11/04/my-cats-licking-her-fur-off-help/#comment-1244 Melissa Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:48:50 +0000 http://www.paws-and-effect.com/2007/11/04/my-cats-licking-her-fur-off-help/#comment-1244 One thing that I haven't seen mentioned that comes to mind is a syndrome called hyperesthesia. Mild cases can manifest as twitching back and over-grooming, severe cases can actually involve the cat self-mutilating (usually on the rump, tail, and rear legs). The nature of it is not completely understood, but one theory is that it is a mild seizure disorder (which brought it to mind in the case of Trinity). In my cat, it it relatively intermittant and is usually triggered by stress or allergies. Once she starts over-grooming, she'll lick herself bald (and sometimes raw), and doesn't like to be touched, like her skin is hyper-sensitive. When she gets this way, my vet puts her on a short round of low-dose seizure meds. Once the cycle is broken, she's fine, and stays that way until the next stressor (months to years later). I'm not diagnosing your pet, but it's something you may wish to ask your vet about! One thing that I haven’t seen mentioned that comes to mind is a syndrome called hyperesthesia. Mild cases can manifest as twitching back and over-grooming, severe cases can actually involve the cat self-mutilating (usually on the rump, tail, and rear legs). The nature of it is not completely understood, but one theory is that it is a mild seizure disorder (which brought it to mind in the case of Trinity). In my cat, it it relatively intermittant and is usually triggered by stress or allergies. Once she starts over-grooming, she’ll lick herself bald (and sometimes raw), and doesn’t like to be touched, like her skin is hyper-sensitive. When she gets this way, my vet puts her on a short round of low-dose seizure meds. Once the cycle is broken, she’s fine, and stays that way until the next stressor (months to years later). I’m not diagnosing your pet, but it’s something you may wish to ask your vet about!

]]> Comment on Ask a question by Tom http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1242 Tom Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:12:11 +0000 http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1242 My partner and I have two cats (male and female) who have grown up together but are not litter mates. They get along very well - playing, grooming, sleeping together, etc. They are 11 years old and were adopted from the animal shelter. For the past couple of months the female cat has been using the litter box only randomly for defecation. She uses it consistently for urination. The veterinary says that she is in excellent health, although over-weight. We have not changed food or litter. The only change in household routines are that we had someone clean the house every other week for the past 6 months while I was away at school. I have been home for over a month now and the cat continues to sporadically avoid the litter box. We moved the litter box to where she defecated (close to but not in the litter box), but she still didn't use the litter box regularly. We are at a loss as to what is wrong. My partner and I have two cats (male and female) who have grown up together but are not litter mates. They get along very well - playing, grooming, sleeping together, etc. They are 11 years old and were adopted from the animal shelter. For the past couple of months the female cat has been using the litter box only randomly for defecation. She uses it consistently for urination. The veterinary says that she is in excellent health, although over-weight. We have not changed food or litter. The only change in household routines are that we had someone clean the house every other week for the past 6 months while I was away at school. I have been home for over a month now and the cat continues to sporadically avoid the litter box. We moved the litter box to where she defecated (close to but not in the litter box), but she still didn’t use the litter box regularly. We are at a loss as to what is wrong.

]]> Comment on Ask a question by Jennifer http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1241 Jennifer Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:58:15 +0000 http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1241 I have two cats (both about 4 years old) and my fiance has two cats (both about one year old) and we each live in our own houses. When we get married, we will all be moving to a new house. Do you have any advice for how to introduce our cats to each other while they are also dealing with a new house? We want to make the transition as smooth as possible for all of us. I have two cats (both about 4 years old) and my fiance has two cats (both about one year old) and we each live in our own houses. When we get married, we will all be moving to a new house. Do you have any advice for how to introduce our cats to each other while they are also dealing with a new house? We want to make the transition as smooth as possible for all of us.

]]> Comment on Ask a question by Tara http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1240 Tara Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:40:57 +0000 http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1240 hey, it's tara again! Thanx for the feedback about raising the kitten, it helped alot! Mikko(the name that i gave her) is doing fine but...i think she has worms. Thats what my g-pa the retired vet said. Because she is kinda bloated and stuff. it's pretty expensive for a 14 yearold to take a cat to get dewormed, so is there another possible solution? please tell me at oconnor2@myway.com :DThanx bunches:D hey, it’s tara again! Thanx for the feedback about raising the kitten, it helped alot! Mikko(the name that i gave her) is doing fine but…i think she has worms. Thats what my g-pa the retired vet said. Because she is kinda bloated and stuff. it’s pretty expensive for a 14 yearold to take a cat to get dewormed, so is there another possible solution?
please tell me at oconnor2@myway.com

:DThanx bunches:D

]]> Comment on Ask a question by jacqui http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1239 jacqui Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:37:14 +0000 http://www.paws-and-effect.com/ask-a-question/#comment-1239 why do cats shake one of their paws just before going to drink water. why do cats shake one of their paws just before going to drink water.

]]> Comment on My cat’s licking her fur off. Help! by Tanner http://www.paws-and-effect.com/2007/11/04/my-cats-licking-her-fur-off-help/#comment-1234 Tanner Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:37:28 +0000 http://www.paws-and-effect.com/2007/11/04/my-cats-licking-her-fur-off-help/#comment-1234 My cat diggy started licking all the fur off the base of his tail (near his body) and i noticed it starting getting bad so i took him to the vet. he has excessive hair balls due to his over grooming and throws up everywhere... UGH. so the vet gave him a dose of steroids. he stopped throwing up but then he licked all the fur off of his paws front and back and his inner hind legs. so i took him back for another shot. he stopped throwing up again. but then i wanted a second opinion so i went to another vet who said it could be stress, which i though it was too, so she put him on anti-anxiety pills but now he won't eat.... so here i am wondering now what? maybe it was allergies?... diggy is 12 and has been with me his whole life and just started this stuff about 6 months ago... but he's been throwing up for about three years now... and the vet told me initially it was just hairballs... my little kitty... i need help. now what? My cat diggy started licking all the fur off the base of his tail (near his body) and i noticed it starting getting bad so i took him to the vet. he has excessive hair balls due to his over grooming and throws up everywhere… UGH. so the vet gave him a dose of steroids. he stopped throwing up but then he licked all the fur off of his paws front and back and his inner hind legs. so i took him back for another shot. he stopped throwing up again. but then i wanted a second opinion so i went to another vet who said it could be stress, which i though it was too, so she put him on anti-anxiety pills but now he won’t eat…. so here i am wondering now what? maybe it was allergies?… diggy is 12 and has been with me his whole life and just started this stuff about 6 months ago… but he’s been throwing up for about three years now… and the vet told me initially it was just hairballs… my little kitty… i need help. now what?

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