Are There Human Smells That Cats Hate?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: In researching before adopting a pair of furrever friends from the rescue/shelter, I’ve found that odor is a powerful feline ability, important in territory and behavior and in food appeal, etc. Catnip is used as an incentive in many cat toys, scratching posts, etc. But I haven’t read anything about whether or not human or human-caused scents have an effect on cats. For example,... Read More
Do My Cats and I Have a Fungal Infection?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: My three cats which are the love of my life are coughing, wheezing, gaging on mucus, vomiting without any warning, and lethargic. Two of the three cats have scabbing which I am certain is not ringworm as I do not have it. Not only that, but I’m having the same symptoms. The cats and I are also very dehydrated and lethargic. I have been to a doctor four times in the last year and he just... Read More
My Cat Is Acting Weird After Her Flea Bath
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: Last Saturday, I brought my cat in to a groomer for a lion cut. She’s had this done before twice and was fine. They also gave her a flea bath (although I’m pretty sure she doesn’t have fleas — she’s an indoor cat and I give her Advantage Multi every 4-6 weeks). She was fine Saturday and Sunday. But yesterday she started behaving oddly: she’s acting very... Read More
Does my cat have mercury poisoning?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: A couple of months ago, my 9-year-old male cat became quite ill. His symptoms were primarily lethargy and decreased appetite. We took him to the vet where his blood work revealed an elevated neutrophil count, but his white blood cell count was otherwise normal. The vet prescribed antibiotic prophylactically. Now my cat’s immediate symptoms are resolved, but he is left with what seem... Read More
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
My house has bedbugs. Are the usual bedbug-killing chemicals safe for cats?
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I live in a large apartment building and have recently discovered that my house has bedbugs. How do I get rid of them without exposing my kitties to harmful toxins? Are the usual chemicals to get rid of bedbugs safe to use if you have cats in the house? Thanks and purrs to you all. ~Adrianna Read More Read More
My cat is staggering and acting like he’s having hallucinations. Help!
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: My male cat is about 6 years old and just within the past couple of days, he has been acting like his balance is off kilter. I put him down off of my bed and he just kind of fell over to his side and laid in that same spot for a very long time. Since then, he has his eyes closed most of the time or squints, and he paws at things that aren’t there and has just been acting very strange ever... Read More
