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 follow-up a week later, the area between his paw pads looked less sore, but one of his toes had swollen to triple its size. We did the antibiotics and soaking routine again, and he recovered completely. Then his other front paw swelled up, and the soaking routine healed it in about a week.

Now his right rear foot is sore and crusty, and it doesn’t seem to be healing as quickly. His toes are swollen, the skin between his paw pad and toes is starting to open up. The vet says that the next step is a biopsy, and I simply can’t afford it right now. I’ve been told it could be an allergy, but I’m very careful about not using chemical cleaners since I have two toddlers. We use unscented paper pellet litter in his box, and he’s an indoor cat. Rambo is a much-loved member of our family and it worries me sick not knowing what’s wrong with him.

~ Erica

Erica shared this photo of poor Rambo's paw.

Siouxsie: First of all, Erica, thank you for sending along this photo of Rambo’s paw so we can see exactly what you’re talking about.

Thomas: That’s gotta hurt! My toes are sore just lookin’ at that.

Dahlia: We’d heard somewhere along the line about a disease of the paw pads called plasma cell pododermatitis, so we decided to look on Google to find any images of cats with the condition. There were quite a few, ranging from mild to very severe. But this photo taken by the staff of Olathe Animal Hospital in Olathe, Kansas, bears a striking resemblance to the picture of Rambo’s paw.

Siouxsie: The swelling and secretion in this disorder is produced by plasma cells, which are white blood cells that produce a large amount of antibodies.

Thomas: Since white blood cells are the most important and active part of the immune system, many vets believe that stimulation of the immune system plays a part in the onset of the disease.

Dahlia: But as yet, nobody knows what sort of irritant might stimulate the immune system to overreact in this way.

Siouxsie: To our very non-veterinary minds, that sounds a lot like an allergic response, so whoever’s suggested Rambo might have an allergy could be onto something.

Thomas: But what could he be allergic to? Since you’re using non-chemical cleaners, it’s certainly not anything you’re using to wash your floors. But if the non-chemical cleaners you’re using contain essential oils such as tea tree (melaleuca) oil, or oils from any of the evergreen trees (pine, spruce, fir, juniper, etc.), Rambo could be reacting to those. Cats are very sensitive to the phenols in evergreen oils — and pine cleaners like Pine-Sol, for those of you who do use chemical cleaners — as well as to tea tree oil.

Dahlia: Another possibility is that he could be reacting to something he’s eating.

Siouxsie: Yes, believe it or not, cats can develop skin rashes and inflammation from hypersensitivity to their food! Grains tend to be particularly problematic to cats because we’re obligate carnivores: we evolved to eat meat and we don’t have the enzymes in our bodies to efficiently digest grains.

Thomas: We’d recommend that if you’re not doing so already, you feed Rambo a high-quality canned cat food. The better the quality, the fewer preservatives, nasty meat “digests,” antibiotics, artificial colors and other garbage will be in the food.

Dahlia: You can find the high-quality foods we’re talking about in pet stores and through online retailers — but you won’t find them in the supermarket.

Siouxsie: There are grain-free kibble formulas, too, but — well, we’re cats, so we’ll always advocate for gooshy foods or a raw diet because that’s what we like best.

Thomas: Plasma cell pododermatitis is often treated with high doses of steroids in order to suppress the immune system and calm the overreaction. A drug called pentoxifylline is also used to treat the condition.

Dahlia: Only your vet will be able to tell you for sure whether or not Rambo has plasma cell pododermatitis, and she will need to do that biopsy to figure it out.

Siouxsie: But there’s no harm in talking to your vet and asking her if she thinks it could be pododermatitis. If you show her the Olathe Animal Hospital photo and the photo of Rambo’s paw that you sent us, maybe that would help.

Thomas: We’d also suggest that you ask her if she has some idea about what other conditions could be causing Rambo’s paw issues.

Dahlia: It can’t hurt to explain that you can’t afford the biopsy right now and see if there’s something else you can do to help Rambo feel better while you save up for the procedure. Meanwhile, try changing his food and eliminating any melaleuca-based or evergreen-oil-based cleaners you’re using and see if that helps.

Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:

I am home recovering from sinusitis, with my lovely purry tabby kitty on my lap. I accidentally coughed on her and I got worried: can she pick up any illness from me? Also, this summer promises to be a very nasty season for allergies — can my kitty be affected by this? What symptoms would signal nasal allergies in my cat?

~ Mary

Siouxsie: Well, Mary, you’ll be relieved to know that your cat can’t catch a cold from you.

Thomas: So you can rest assured that although your kitty may have been annoyed by being coughed on, she’s not going to get your germs.

Dahlia: There are some zoonotic diseases — diseases that can be passed between cats and people — but they are very few in number, and a little common sense will prevent them.

Siouxsie: Now, on to your next question about allergies. Cats can get allergies, but we tend not to get them as easily as humans do.

Thomas: When we do get allergies, the most common way they manifest is in skin irritations. Digestive upsets are another way allergies and intolerances frequently show up.

Image courtesy of I Can Has Cheezburger

Dahlia: But indeed, cats can and do develop allergic rhinitis (runny nose and watery eyes) sometimes.

Siouxsie: If your cat is suffering from nasal allergies, she’ll have occasional “sneezing fits,” but she won’t sneeze all day long.

Thomas: You’ll see a watery discharge from her nose, and occasionally her eyes as well.

Dahlia: If your cat has these symptoms, keep a careful eye on her. As an allergy sufferer yourself, you probably know that allergies can leave the body vulnerable to bacterial and viral infections.

Siouxsie: If your cat’s nasal discharge starts looking mucusy — it gets thicker and maybe becomes yellow or greenish in color — or bloody, and the discharge makes her eyelids stick together, your cat has an upper respiratory infection and should go to the vet for treatment.

Thomas: Cats with allergies generally act healthy, if a bit sneezy. Even if your cat has allergies, she’ll maintain her appetite and her behavior shouldn’t change. But if she’s getting sick, she’ll become more lethargic, reduce her food and water intake, and probably develop a fever.

Dahlia: A cat’s normal body temperature is around 100.5 to 102.5 degrees fahrenheit. A feverish cat will feel hotter than usual to the touch and her eyes may be glassy-looking. If you dare, you can try and take her temperature (here’s how).

Siouxsie: The best way to prevent your cat from getting allergies is to keep the air in your home as clean as possible. Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Vacuum frequently, preferably with a vacuum cleaner that has HEPA filtration. Avoid using chemical air fresheners and use unscented cat litter and laundry detergents, and of course, nobody should smoke inside your home.

Thomas: Those measures will help you feel better, too.

Dahlia: But as we said earlier, if your cat is going to get allergies, they’ll probably take the form of a skin irritation. Fleas are the most common “allergen” for cats, and some cats are so sensitive to flea bites that even one bite can cause itching and misery from head to tail. Prevent flea allergies by using spot-on treatments every month.

Siouxsie: Mary, if you find that your cat is suffering from symptoms you think may be allergies, call your vet and see if you should bring your kitty in for a visit. Your vet will be able to tell whether your cat has allergies or a bacterial or viral infection.

Thomas: Cats with allergies should never be given human allergy medicine unless they are specifically prescribed by a veterinarian.

Dahlia: Some human allergy medicines can be toxic to cats, and your vet will be able to tell you which medication you can safely use on your cat and give you the proper dosing instructions.

Siouxsie: Best of luck to you and your kitty as you “enjoy” the upcoming summer allergy season!

Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:

Can I put my new adopted kitten (from a shelter) in an outdoor kennel? It will be very spacious and roomy, it will have a cathouse that will protect against extreme hot or cold temperatures, it will have food, water, toys, and the kitten will recieve lots of attention. I may also take it out for walks to let it get more exercise. I cannot bring the kitten inside the house due to severe allergies that others have, but it will be treated the best way possible outside. Please help, I really want this kitten.

~ Mark

Siouxsie: To be honest, Mark, I was totally flabbergasted when I first read your letter! But Mama calmed me down and reminded me that we’re here to help, not to hiss and spit.

Thomas: Now that the fur on Siouxsie’s back has smoothed out again and her tail isn’t lashing back and forth anymore, we’re going to get on with our answer.

Dahlia: We understand how easy it is to fall in love with a kitten. After all, what’s not to love about our cute, big eyes and our darling, squeaky mews. And then that little motorboat purr just wins you over.

Siouxsie: But you’re in a difficult situation, Mark. You’ve fallen in love with a kitten, and yet it doesn’t seem you can have a cat indoors because of your housemates’ allergies.

Thomas: Keeping your cat outdoors — no matter how much love and attention she’ll get — is really not an appropriate solution.

Dahlia: Cats are social creatures, no matter what some ill-informed humans think. And we need to be able to spend time with, and bond with, the humans we’ve adopted.

Siousxie: This is especially true for “only cats.”

Thomas: Because there are three of us cats here at Paws and Effect HQ, we can spend time together and play when we want, and we can keep each other company while Mama’s away hunting green papers. But an only cat doesn’t have another friend around, and can get very lonely.

Dahlia: Loneliness and boredom can lead to behavior problems like excessive scratching, calling, compulsive grooming, and sometimes even aggressiveness. You don’t want to adopt a kitten and then put her in an environment where she won’t be happy.

Siouxsie: Keeping your cat outside only puts her at risk of getting a bad case of fleas — which will cause tapeworms — or being bitten by mosquitoes that are a vector for disease.

Thomas: If your kitten is trapped in a kennel and she’s threatened or attacked by another animal, she won’t have any place to go and may be severely traumatized, both physically and emotionally.

Dahlia: Another reason it’s important for you to be able to be with her indoors is that you’ll be able to regularly observe her behavior and eating/drinking habits, you’ll be able to detect health problems before they get to be a major issue.

Siouxsie: “So, what’s a man smitten with a kitten to do?” you may ask. Well, there are a few options, depending on how severe your housemates’ allergies are.

A cat enjoys some safe outdoor time in his enclosure. Image courtesy of PAWS

Thomas: Our first recommendation would be that you keep the cat in your bedroom. You can give her an outdoor area, and in fact you can even give her access to that area through your bedroom window so she can be in or out as she pleases. The animal welfare organization PAWS has a page on its website with links to some commercially available outdoor enclosures.

Dahlia: If you have any DIY skills, we imagine you could make something similar for a lot less money. Here’s one set of instructions for an outdoor cat enclosure built entirely from materials available at home supply stores.

Siouxsie: Hardware cloth nailed to a balcony with either an open door or a cat door is another good outdoor-enclosure-with-indoor-access solution.

Thomas: Once you’ve got the outdoor enclosure sorted out, you need to keep the indoor allergens under control. Vacuum your room frequently using a cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter. You should also get an air purifier — again, a model with a HEPA filter.

Dahlia: The HEPA filters will trap the tiny particles that cause allergy attacks. In the case of cats, the most common allergen is a protein called Fel d 1, which is found in cat saliva.

Siouxsie: There are some purebred cats that are said to be “low-allergy” breeds because their saliva has less of that Fel d 1 protein, but even these cats can cause allergies in very sensitive people.

Thomas: Of course, if your housemates’ allergies so severe that they develop life-threatening asthma attacks or the like, you may not be able to bring this kitten home at all.

Dahlia: In the long run, it will be best for the kitten if you’re able to let her come inside. If you can’t do that, please wait to adopt a cat until you’re in a living situation where you don’t have highly allergic roommates.

Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:

I had to move back into my parents’ house three months ago, and my cat has moved here with me. She has to live in basement. I am unable to sleep down there at the moment since I’m allergic and am in the process of undergoing treatment for these allergies so I can move down there. In the meantime my cat doesn’t seem to be doing well. Within a month of moving here, she started to scratch her head a lot. It now looks like she is scratching off fur, and the insides of her ears are slightly spotting red (sort of scabby). The last week or so, she hasn’t been eating so well but she has been drinking water. I recently changed her food to a more expensive kibble and some wet food as well. I don’t know which she’s allergic to but I stopped the wet food and the she barely touches the dry food. She spends all her time, it seems, under a bed in a room in the back of the basement. Usually when I go downstairs and play with her (which I do for at least an hour a day) she’ll come out and hang out with me in the den, but now she has stopped doing this. And when I go and get her out from under the bed she usually runs back there the first chance she gets, whether I’m sitting there or not, which she never used to do. Today I noticed she is sneezing a lot with lots of mucous coming out of her nose. I really have no idea what is going on, and I’m very concerned. She’s almost 7 years old, and I am quite fond of her.

~ Rya

Siouxsie: Well, Rya, we think you’re on the right track when you suspect allergies.

Thomas: We think your kitty may be allergic to whatever is making it impossible for you to live in the basement without desensitization shots.

Dahlia: Cats do develop environmental allergies, just as humans do, and basements are infamous allergy breeding grounds.

Siouxsie: First, think about what it is that makes you allergic to living in the basement. Is it mold?

Thomas: We know from experience that basements are infamous for mold problems. We live in a basement apartment, too, and although everything was good when we arrived, Mama’s been fighting mold invasions for the last six months.

Dahlia: We’re lucky that the mold isn’t making us really sick because there’s not a lot of it at this point. We get occasional “eye boogers,” as Mama calls them, and she knows it’s the mold because it makes her nose goopy, too.

Siouxsie: Basements can also get pretty dusty because when people walk on the floors above, dust filters down into the insulation between the first floor and the basement, and from there to the rooms themselves.

Thomas: Furnaces and other appliances can also put contaminants into the air that can cause allergic reations.

Dahlia: So, what can you do? First, take your kitty to the vet for a check-up. This is especially important because she’s really starting to act sick, being off her food and all.

Siouxsie: Your cat could be developing an upper respiratory infection in addition to any allergies she has. As you probably know if you suffer from allergies, sometimes they can make you more susceptible to respiratory diseases.

Thomas: Your vet may be able to help you figure out how to treat your cat’s allergies, too. If they’re really bothering her, the vet may recommend a steroid shot to get the symptoms under control in the short term.

Dahlia: But you don’t want to keep her on steroids as a long-term way to manage her allergies. Steroids tend to mask the symptoms, which can cause more deep-seated problems.

Siouxsie: Ultimately, you and your parents are going to have to deal with whatever’s making that basement an allergy factory.

Thomas: A dehumidifier and an air purifier with a HEPA filter are the first steps. When the air gets drier, it will make mold growth a lot more difficult; and the air purifier will help clear dust, mold, and other allergens.

Dahlia: If there is a mold problem in the basement, you and your parents are going to have to actually get rid of the mold itself. There are chemical things you can use, but there are also natural, inexpensive, and non-toxic ways to do the job, too.

Siouxsie: If, however, the mold has gotten into the walls and the insulation, you may have to actually take the drywall off the walls, remove the insulation, and possibly even take down and rebuild the wall.

Thomas: Meanwhile, if there’s any way you can convince your parents to let you keep your cat upstairs with you–even if she has to live only in the room where you’re sleeping–that will help her to feel physically and emotionally better.

Dahlia: Good luck, Rya, and we sure hope your kitty feels better soon. Remember–get her to the vet as son as you can in order to get her checked out and work on a plan to manage her allergies.