Mental illness in cats
Q: Is it possible for cats to have mental illness, or is it always just a matter of behavioral issues?
Faye Schecter
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Ms. Schecter,
A:...
Cats Use Bacteria to Talk to Other Cats
It’s well known that cats recognize each other through their scent and also use their odors to mark territory, attract mates, repel rivals, and...
The Brain-Bladder Connection in Cats Can Cause Disease
Your cat starts urinating more frequently and often does so outside the litter box, straining while he relieves himself. He also has started over-grooming...
Dear Doctor February 2024
Claritin for cats?
Q: We have two cats with feline herpesvirus. One becomes very congested overnight, sneezes up mucus clumps, and goes through intense coughing...
Feline Vaccine Hesitancy
A number of years ago, a survey of half a million cats showed that after receiving vaccinations, only one half of one percent of...
Dear Doctor January 2024
Distended abdomen
Q: My cat’s abdomen looks distended. Is it simply weight gain? I’m asking because I haven’t noticed changes on other parts of her...
When the Diabetes is Hard to Control, Consider Cushing’s Disease
Your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes, but neither insulin injections nor weight management have been able to keep her blood sugar under control....
When Your Cat Keeps Eating Things That Aren’t Food
Wool and other fabrics, plastic (including plastic casing surrounding electrical cords), rubber, pins and needles, newspapers. These are just some of the items that...
Rodent ulcer
Q: My cat has developed a reddish-brown sore on her upper lip. It doesn’t seem to bother her, but it looks awful. And while...
Losing Excess Weight Does Much More Than Make a Cat Healthier
Sure, if your cat is overweight (and as many as six in 10 cats are), you want her to be able to take off...
Deciding How to Take a Cat’s Temperature
The three most dreaded words for many a cat owner are “Take her temperature.” The startled, angry reaction of a cat having a thermometer...
Feline Arthritis Pain: The Signs Can Be Subtle
Some 90 percent of cats develop arthritis over time, research suggests, with about half of them actually suffering from arthritis pain. That comes to...
