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I’ve had cats all of my life. After moving to the southwest, some of my cats have…

jameshart — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:08:12 +0000

Stomatitis is a severe inflammation of the entire mouth and is usually immune-mediated. Unfortunately, in most cases we do not know the underlying cause and for that reason it is extremely difficult to prevent. Treatment is usually started by performing a thorough dental cleaning under anesthesia followed by daily at home care. In many cases, cats with stomatitis may need multiple teeth extracted to treat the inflammation in their mouth. It is important to address this in your cats. Left untreated, many cats with stomatitis will start to have a decreased appetite, weight loss and oral pain.

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I have a male neutered orange short hair cat. He is very aggressive - when you try to pet…

jameshart — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:08:45 +0000

A cat that does not feel well may become more irritable and resist interactions especially if handling is uncomfortable and/or painful. If the cat cannot be examined by the veterinarian it may be necessary to anesthetize the cat so blood tests and examination can take place. Without some type of diagnostic testing it may be impossible to know why the cat is coughing and irritable.

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I’ve noticed sometimes when my cat is sleeping, her ears and whiskers twitch. Why does…

jameshart — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:08:32 +0000

Yes, cats dream. We can’t know WHAT they dream about (I suspect it’s food, and mice, and toys). As for the computer question, perhaps the machine makes some sort of noise that you can’t detect, and she’s startled awake, so talks back to it?

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I rescued a five year old cat named Tabitha from a shelter and she’s overweight. Tabitha…

jameshart — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:08:58 +0000

In some situations a cat may be overweight due to a medical condition, so before starting a weight loss regime a cat should be examined by a veterinarian to be sure she is healthy. One way to increase exercise for an overweight cat is to make obtaining food more work. Offering some of the food in a food dispensing toy is one method. Another is to have several dishes around the home and each day just put a few kibbles in each bowl so that the cat has to walk from one to the other to get their daily allotment of calories that they need. As they begin to trim down the search can become harder by including higher locations that require the cat to jump up to a feeding station. Remember, weight loss will be slow so be prepared to go several months before noticing a significant weight change.

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What can I put on my cats so the mosquitoes won’t bite them especially their nose. Every…

jameshart — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:08:06 +0000

I am not aware of a proven natural remedy for keeping mosquitoes off of a cat.

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Our cat, Sweetie does not like to sit in our lap. We got him when he was 6 weeks old. He…

jameshart — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:08:16 +0000

A cat may go through various phases in their habits changing from sleeping on the bed to sleeping on the floor for no apparent reason. In warmer weather some cats find sleeping on the bed or sitting on the lap too hot and may prefer to remain at a distance from their human family. Using play time as a way to bond may help overcome this change and as the weather cools the cat may begin to sleep and cuddle with people as he used to before.

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For the last two weeks my cat has been walking around with his mouth partially open and…

jameshart — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:08:01 +0000

I would be concerned that this could be a symptom of a bigger problem like dental disease, infection, trauma or something stuck in his mouth. I believe this new behavior is unlikely associated with the heat. I would have your cat examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible.

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I have a brother and sister combo, both are approximately 11-1/2 years old and are indoor…

jameshart — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:08:39 +0000

An older cat that is losing weight is probably one of the most frustrating mysteries for a veterinarian. You are absolutely correct that weight loss is not normal and I am so happy you are continuing to pursue this. With his symptoms of a good appetite and weight loss, you may want to pursue further testing of his thyroid IF it was towards the high end of normal. Many cats can fall into a “gray zone” with their thyroid that makes diagnosis difficult. An alternate thyroid test can sometimes help; your veterinarian can help you know if this could be an option. In a cat with weight loss and normal labs and x-rays, I often think of intestinal disease. Intestinal disease, like inflammatory bowel disease, does not show up on normal labs and unfortunately can only be diagnosed with biopsies. It is certainly an option to consider endoscopy or exploratory surgery to get biopsy samples. We can also sometimes get an idea of intestinal disease through a blood test that looks at folate and cobalamin levels. Also an option is an abdominal ultrasound; sometimes we can pick things up there that were not readily apparent on an x-ray. Talk to your veterinarian about these options and she or he may also have some other options based on your cat’s specifics. Hope this helps and that you are able to get to the bottom of this.

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I have a nine-year-old female tabby, adopted as a kitten from a shelter, spayed, front…

jameshart — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:08:41 +0000

How sad that this cat feels so very stressed that she’s acting out in ways that displease you. Tearing holes in the stairway carpeting or near entrances (doorways to bedroom) actually are very normal cat behaviors, not neurotic at all. Cats scratch to mark important territory, and that includes pathways, entrances and exits (whether they’re “allowed” entry or not).

The regurgitation may be prompted by eating too fast, yes–or could be caused by a health concern that needs veterinary attention. If food is too cold, cats often regurgitate, but at age nine, I’d suspect something else going on. Playing with the water, a great deal of activity, acting irritable toward you or the other cat–these all may point to a health issue such as hyperthyroidism. Please have your veterinarian check this kitty, and once given a clean bill of health, then the behavioral aspects could be addressed.

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We have 6 month old Himalayan Blue cream point kitten. We got her when she was 9-1/2…

jameshart — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:08:58 +0000

A cat that is urinating outside of the litter box but also using their litter box may have very high standards for a clean toileting area and may refuse to use a box that already has been soiled. Scooping the boxes twice daily and providing an additional box may then provide the cat with a clean toilet at all times. Because some cats eat multiple small meals through out the day, leaving food available may also be helpful. A bowl with a cold pack and timing mechanism may allow the provision of canned food for those cats that only like wet food. Finally, rotating toys and creating a diverse environment also may help kittens that need to be alone for long periods of time.

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