My cats are going lame and then dying. What’s happening?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I live in the bush in South Africa and we take in a lot of abandoned cats. This year, I have had a few cats suddenly going lame in a paw overnight or even becoming totally paralyzed, then dying within 24 hours with renal failure-like symtoms if we dont get them to a vet in time. When we get the cats to the vet, they just get put down. What is causing this? We can’t take the heartbreak... Read More
How could my vet have missed widespread cancer?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: My beloved 8-year-old cat, Spinx, had closed pyometra in April of of this year. We didn’t know that; we had taken her in for a lump we found near her nipple. The vet said the lump might be breast cancer, but the pyometra was more serious. He said do the surgery for that first and then deal with the lump and that’s what we did. The surgery went well and she came home and within 2 days was... Read More
How to create an evacuation plan that includes your cats
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I recently had to evacuate my apartment temporarily, with my two cats, as a result of a fire in the building next door. It occurred to me later that even though I got the cats out OK and I have an idea of how you’re supposed to prepare for evacuating with cats, I don’t know everything. I think it would be a great service to your readers (and to me, if I have to evacuate with my... Read More
I think my cat has taken hairball problems to a new level. Help!
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: My 5-year-old female cat, Myrtle, is ill. She has been vomiting up her food on the odd occasion for the past six weeks. She is now bringing up clear liquid, but sometimes foam and sometimes yellow liquid as well. She has become lethargic and depressed. She is not eating properly. She has long, fine hair so I do worry about hairballs, but she drinks lots of water and I give her the hairball... Read More
Will my cat recover from his urinary blockage?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: My cat has a urinary blockage and is at the vet right at the moment. We had to admit him a second time since he became blocked again within a day. He has struvite crystals. Both times we’ve taken him in, the catheter was not able to be passed through to his bladder. The first time the vet was able to get the catheter about 85% in and the second time only about 30%. The vet though it may... Read More
My cat is very sick. I’ve tried everything and I can’t afford the treatment. Help!
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I have a VERY URGENT question. I have a year-old male Siamese cat who is primarily an indoor kitty. He managed to get outside yesterday afternoon for the whole day, and now he can’t go to the bathroom. I have tried to get him to the vet, but none of the vets in my area will take a payment plan, I have absolutely no money, and I can’t qualify for care credit. I also don’t have anyone... Read More
Why did my cat die while she was in labor?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: My cat died in labor. what could have caused this? She was about 1 year old and was ready to give birth. She was already bleeding and we put her in a nice little bed. She was an outside cat, though, and as soon as we left her alone she jumped over the fence. She was gone for two days and we figured she had her kitties and she was just taking care of them. But when we went to look for her,... Read More
