CAT HEALTH & MEDICINE

Vaccine confusion

Q: There is a difference in vaccine recommendations for people and those for cats that I find confusing. With people, the interval between vaccinations varies depending on the shot. For instance, people get a shot against tetanus every 10 years and a shingles shot just once. But cats are supposed to get all their core vaccines once a year. Why is that? Does the immunity from the diseases the shots protect against always wane so quickly?

How Concerned Should You Be about Lumps and Bumps on Your Cat’s Coat?

Feline skin is second only to the feline lymphatic system as the site of lumps and bumps—various tumors, cysts, and other abnormal growths, known medically as neoplasms. Sometimes these growths grow alarmingly large. But even when they’re small, they concern people with cats—for good reason. No one wants to see or feel swellings on their pet’s coat that shouldn’t be there. “I am asked to evaluate them daily,” says Tufts veterinary internist Michael Stone, DVM.

Fat” and “Obese” are Not 
Four-Letter Words

People tend to shut down when the veterinarian says their cat is fat or obese. They take it as an affront, often interpreting those...

On Politics and Pet Care

This year in particular, it seems, emotions are running high about political events here in the U.S. as well as about conflicts in other...

Concerns that Catnip Will Make Your Cat High; Concerns that It Won’t

Some people don’t use recreational drugs, including alcohol, because such substances can become addictive and impair judgment that leads to harmful behavior. And they...

Do You Know Your Cat’s Blood Pressure? 
You Should.

Many veterinarians, in a nod to making cats as comfortable as possible during wellness exams, do not routinely check feline blood pressure. But high...

Your Cat Is Dying. How Does She Feel About It?

Research has revealed that cat caregivers emphasize the need for empathy when it comes to their pets more so than caregivers of dogs. This...

Your Role in Your Cat’s Orthopedic Exam

Michael H. Jaffe, DVM, service chief of small animal surgery at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, relates the story of the cat owner who told him that their cat “finally learned” not to jump on the kitchen table after 10 years. Dr. Jaffe wasn’t convinced. “If the cat could get up on the table, she would,” he says. “I thought the change in the cat’s behavior was a possible sign of arthritis pain.”

Easter Comes and Goes, but Lilies’ Threat to Cats is Forever

Some nurseries advertise that pollen-free lilies are safe for cats. They’re not. In fact, all parts of the lily plant are poisonous for felines....

Is It the Vet’s Fault or Yours?

Nearly one in two people with pets have gotten into a disagreement or heated interaction with their veterinarian or others on their animal’s veterinary...

5 Critical Cat Cancer Warning Signs

The statistics are not comforting. A tumor found either on or in a cat is three to four times as likely to be malignant...

Can an old cat withstand the anesthesia?

Q: I have a 14-year-old cat who needs surgery. But at that age, will she be able to tolerate the anesthesia?