News

[From Tufts May 2011 Issue]

Changing a cats routine - for example by bringing in a substitute caretaker at vacation time or starting a new feeding schedule - can prompt an otherwise perfectly healthy cat to vomit, refuse to eat and eliminate outside the litter box. This was the key finding of research at Ohio State University that was recently published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Healthy cats were found to be as likely to react in these ways as were chronically ill cats with feline idiopathic cystitis, whose symptoms can include inappropriate urination and frequent urination of small amounts. Idiopathic cystitis means inflammation of the urinary bladder of unknown cause.

[From Tufts May 2011 Issue]

Seeks solutions for feline acne
My cat has had a recurring cyst in his chin. Most recently, my veterinarian surgically cut it open to clean it, stitched it up and installed a drain. Eventually, the drain was removed and chin showed no signs of inflammation.

My veterinarian prescribed an antibiotic called Clavamox, but my cat began vomiting and so he was switched to one called Baytril. My cat now has a consistent fever of 102.2 Fahrenheit and my veterinarian is baffled. I hope you can help.
Dave Mazewski

[From Tufts June 2011 Issue]

Editors note: This is the second of a two-part series looking at managing pain in cats. The first part covered how pain is assessed and featured the Pain Clinic at Tufts University. This second part focuses on pain medications for cats with arthritis.

A ccording to the American Association of Feline Practitioners new life-stage guidelines, a 20-year-old cat is approximately equivalent to a 96-year-old person. This would make Brian and Valerie Sciarras cat, Odaat, at age 20, nearly a centenarian.

Witnessing your cat get into a crouched posture, make retching sounds and then vomit undigested food or bile - usually on a hard-to-clean surface like your carpet or your bedroom pillow - is not pleasant for you. And vomiting is certainly unpleasant for your cat.

Why do cats vomit? When should it be considered a harmless, isolated incident and when should it prompt owners to seek veterinary care?

[From Tufts June 2011 Issue]

Cat displays odd food habit
We have subscribed to your publication for many years. We live with three felines: one Siamese cat, one feral cat and one orange domestic feline named Morris.

Morris likes to play with my ponytail hair bands. He plays hockey with them around the apartment at first, and then he always ends up putting them in his own food bowl. Then he proceeds to eat his food through the round circle of the hair band. Why would a cat put his toys in his food bowl and eat through them?
SariHope Axelrod

Frustrated by cats asthma treatments
My 10-year-old cat, Cassie, was diagnosed last year with asthma. The veterinarian has never seen her have an attack, but based on my description of it, she agreed it must be asthma. An X-ray of her lungs proved inconclusive.

We first tried an inhaler (with Flovent) prescribed as needed, but over time, Cassie needed daily doses. Because I didnt want to subject her to the inhaler every day, we started giving her oral doses of prednisone suspension malt daily instead. This medication did little good and Cassie continued to have asthma attacks almost daily.

[From Tufts February 2011 Issue]

Recently, Murphy, my 12- year-old cat, was suddenly looking more like a molting bird than a domestic shorthair. In the span of 10 days, she had methodically and persistently licked and pulled fur off her front paws, abdomen and right flank. Her barbed tongue had removed hair down to the skin in some places, causing red rashes.

Yet, she continued to purr and engage in play, eat and sleep as she normally does. The only deviation from her routine had been this overzealous grooming that left me puzzled, frustrated and concerned.

[From Tufts February 2012 Issue]

Are my cats contagious?
Itrapped two stray kittens last year and had them treated for ringworm. They were neutered and given two rounds of kitten vaccinations. They also had bad breath so my veterinarian cleaned their teeth and needed to extract some teeth. She informed me that one cats dental problems had migrated into the root.

[From Tufts March 2011 Issue]

Editors note: This article launches a new Catnip series that debunks common misconceptions about cats.
In spite of their reputation for tolerating only dry land, a surprising number of domesticated cats not only tolerate but love pawing water or swimming. Some like to play in standing water; others are fascinated by running water and prefer to drink from a faucet rather than a bowl.

[From Tufts March 2011 Issue]

Spring marks kitten season and a peak time for adoption at local animal shelters. Feline experts urge owners to ensure kittens are spayed or neutered and that they sport two forms of identification: collars and microchips.

[From Tufts March 2011 Issue]

Senior cat stops using litter box
We have two wonderful 14-year-old cats who are sisters. In November, our veterinarian cleaned their teeth and discovered that the one named Julie had a bladder infection that was treated with an oral medication for two weeks.

She lives a comfortable life, napping in a bed buddy located under our dining room table. She regularly uses the litter box located about 12 feet away. We also have a bed buddy in the kitchen.

[From Tufts April 2011 Issue]

Frustrated by cats displaced aggression
Afew years ago, I lured a stray cat into my housebecause I felt sorry for her withwinter approaching.I named her Smokey. I had my veterinarian spay her and give her all the necessary vaccinations.However, there is a problem. My neighbors approached me and told me I have to keep her inside (she was killing chipmunks and birds) or they would notify animal control and have her picked up.