Ask the Doctor

Ask the Doctor: October 2022

Grooming the hand that feeds him Q: I know that cats engage in allo-grooming — licking and gently biting each other to smooth and clean their...

The cat attacks me “out of nowhere”

Sometimes my cat seems perfectly relaxed but then bites or scratches me out of nowhere — and it really hurts! What is that about? Morrigan...

Cat is awfully thirsty

My cat seems to be drinking significantly more water than usual. I know we’re getting into the summer months but still, she has not...

Dear Doctor: Cat hates belly rubs

Q. My cat likes to roll over and expose her belly. But when I try to respond by stroking it, she scratches and bites....

Dear Doctor: New diet not agreeing with cat

Q. We needed to switch our cat to a different diet to help manage her heart disease, but I can see after only a...

Dear Doctor: Feline acne

Q. My cat has developed small black dots on his chin and around his mouth. They don’t seem to be bothering him, but I’m...
More toes here than cats typically have.

Dear Doctor: Poly what?

Q. How many toes is a cat supposed to have? A cat I just adopted from the shelter seems to have an awful lot...

Dear Doctor: Timing the weaning

Q. We have taken in a cat off the street who turned out to be pregnant. That’s okay with us. She just gave birth...

Dear Doctor: Mast Cell Tumors

Q. During a routine check-up, my cat was diagnosed with mast cell tumors on her skin. How worried should I be? Danielle Castellani Hoboken, New Jersey Dear...

Dear Doctor: Helping a Cat in Mourning

Q. We had the same two cats for 19 years. They were from different litters but were the best of friends. One of them...

DVM or VMD?

Q. My cat has started seeing a new doctor at the clinic I take her to, but I noticed on her diploma hanging on...
Tim Watters’ three cats, Nemo, Muzzy, and Choo-Choo, are fine outside as long as they’re not too close to the mosquito repellent diffuser.

Q. Is the mosquito repellent toxic to cats?

Q. I have found conflicting information about the safety of Thermacell mosquito repellent devices for cats. It sounds like the active ingredient, allethrin, is...