CAT OWNERSHIP

Growing up, and as an adult, I've always lived with a cat or two. (Sometimes four.) Most were healthy and lived well into their teens. Unfortunately, a few had chronic illnesses that necessitated more frequent trips to the veterinarian. And to be honest, for many of those visits (especially of the emergency variety), I never stopped to think about the people working in the office — those who greeted us at the front desk, the ones working behind the scenes, or that nice young woman who gently handled my nervous pet at the beginning of each exam.

It seemed that the veterinarian was the star of the show, and not much was known (by me, at least) about the rest of the cast, capable and efficient as they were. I'm guessing that…

Here are some ways to insure a proper introduction without a lot of hissing or flying fur:

1. Before you pick up the new member of the family, set up temporary housing for him in a small room, ideally a bathroom, with food, water, a litter box, and a place to sleep.

2. When you come home, take the new pet directly to the prepared bathroom. The goal here is not to let the resident cat(s) know that it was you who brought in the interloper.

3. At first, just allow the cats to sniff each other under the doorframe. Dont react to hissing or growling.

4. Spend one-on-one time with each pet, making sure that they each feel special.

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As cuddly cute as kittens are, they must be taught how to socialize. As soon as you bring your young feline home, you can begin instilling good manners, self-confidence, and trust in your newest addition to the family.

Expose your impressionable kitten to young people, old people, tall people, short people, people with accents and people wearing hats and other funny clothes that make them look different.

If possible, your kitten should meet other cats and yes, …

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Advice for bad breath
Q My nine-year-old cat's breath has always been slightly unpleasant, but it has become noticeable worse over the past few months. I would like to know what might be causing this, and if there's anything I should be doing.
Natalia Brown

A Dear Natalia: There are many possible causes for bad breath in cats, and many of the reasons are the same as they are for humans. Primary causes can include dental diseases, foreign material stuck…

As the New Year rings in, many people practice the time-honored tradition of writing a list of resolutions. Often, they include some type of weight loss and exercise plan, a return to a long-lost hobby, maybe getting involved in some meaningful charity work and simply trying to be a better person.However, I dont think a research group has ever conducted a study on the percentage of completion of these resolutions - or how quickly they are abandoned for other activities like binging on leftover holiday sweets, or. …

Researchers in the UK have recently determined that domestic cats are more neurotic and controlling than we may realize - and were probably overdoing it with all of our loving attention.

Published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology, the study from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and the Bronx Zoo compared the personalities of domestic cats with other big cats living in captivity, including snow leopards and African lions. Research determined that domestic cats have…

The One Health Initiative is a collaborative effort of multiple health science disciplines working together to advance global health for people, animals and the environment. Examples of health science disciplines and institutions include physicians, osteopaths, veterinarians, dentists and nurses; the American Medical Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Nurses Association, American Association of Public Health Physicians, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…

The human-animal bond (HAB) is ancient, intricate and profound. Animals have been part of our earliest history as evidenced by pre-historic cave drawings suggesting to some that the fascination and bond may be innate. It isnt difficult to imagine early humans gathered around the evening fire with a furry companion nearby. Over the millennia, people domesticated animals, anthropomorphized them and incorporated them into religious ceremonies, culture, and, ultimately, the family. …

I dont know about you, but I experienced a lot of ups and downs over this past year. I moved into a new house in a new town; I encountered far more this old house types of problems than I anticipated; my new home experienced a fire a couple of months later; and I added a new (adult) cat to my peaceful multicat household. …

Best treatment for ear tumors

Q Recently, Marabelle, my 11-year-old Himalayan mix, was diagnosed with tumors in her ears and the only option offered by my veterinarian was to have her entire ear canal surgically removed. Even if I could afford this surgery, I am not convinced that it would contain the tumors. I also do not feel good about putting her through the suffering for this procedure.

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