Why Does My Kitten Constantly Lick Me?
Kitties’ note: Mama’s been having kind of a rough day today, and she said the only way she could manage to help us write our column was if we had a happy question to answer. And lucky for us, in the wee hours of the morning, this letter came through! Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I found two beautiful kittens on the side of a highway. It took me nearly an hour to get them in my car. When I got them home one was very nervous... Read More
What can I do about my cat’s constant grooming?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: My cat, Lily, is about 3 years old. When my daughter got her as a kitten she was flea-ridden. We had her bathed and cleaned up. But since then, she constantly cleans herself to the point where she has scabs and a couple of almost bare patches by her back end. She doesn’t have fleas any more. She eats Iams hairball formula cat food seeing as she has long hair. She’s very affectionate... Read More
My elderly cat is licking, biting, and shaking. What’s going on?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I have a 15-year-old cat, Midnight, who is constantly licking and sort of biting herself. She even has a couple of bald spots on her skin. And for the last month she has insisted on laying on my chest. Sometimes I see her just staring into space, like a person who daydreams. Also, she all of a sudden may shake . Can you tell me what might be wrong with her? ~Phyllis Siouxsie: Well, Phyllis,... Read More
Why does my cat drag her dirty butt across the floor?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I have a 4-month-old kitten who has recently started to drag her butt across the floor after she uses the litterbox. It doesn’t happen every time, but it’s not a pleasant thing to have poop streaks all over the carpet! I did web searches on this situation and found out that it could be due to worms or gland problems, but my kitten just had a vet checkup a month ago and there was... Read More
My “scaredy cat” won’t let me trim her claws. Help!
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I adopted an adorable tabby from the shelter 3 months ago. She is afraid of everything and spends much of her time in hiding. I can pet her but I can’t hold her. She won’t trust me. Here’s the problem. Her claws are getting very long and they must get trimmed. I can’t do this , if I try to hold her she gets mad and wants to claw me. I can’t get her to the vet because I can’t get... Read More
My cat always has poop on his britches. Help!
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: My cat goes to the bathroom in the litter box, but he never quite gets it all out. He always, unfailingly, has poop stuck to his butt. And not just after he goes; it’s there 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He sits on our furniture, on our pillows, on us, and all over the house with this poop stuck to his butt. I have tried pulling it off with some toilet paper but he won’t let me. What... Read More
My cat’s fur is all greasy and his breath smells bad. What’s going on?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: About two weeks ago, my cat, who is about 4 years of age, started losing lots of weight, his breath started smelling horrible (like he just ate poop) and his fur turned greasy and smelly. When he sleeps with me at night on my pillow I’ll wake up to my hair smelling like his and being just as grease-filled. He hesitates when he tries to eat, and when he tries it seems to be hard for him chew,... Read More
