Are you familiar with the expression: “Taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut”? Essentially this means using over-the-top effort to achieve a simple end. A great example of this is declawing cats. OK, so what we want to achieve is the sofa not being shredded, but is surgically amputating one-third of each toe a proportionate […]
Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats
Cerebellar hypoplasia: Two long (and baffling) words. Let’s break them up into something understandable. First, the cerebellum: The cerebellum is the part of the brain which coordinates movement. Think of keeping your balance on the shifting deck of a ship at sea, and it’s your cerebellum (along with other internal mechanisms) taking up the slack […]
Understanding Hyperesthesia in Cats
Despite over 30 years working as a vet, I’m not convinced I’ve seen a ‘true’ hyperesthetic cat. Of course, this doesn’t mean the condition doesn’t exist (I’ve never seen Las Vegas but I’m pretty sure it’s there). I’ve certainly seen cats with sensitive skin that ripples and twitches at the lightest touch, but there’s always […]
Pet Medicine Safety: Storage and Disposal
How much thought do you spare for the safe storage and use of pet medicines? You wouldn’t be the first person to leave the childproof lid off your cat’s meds and keep the open bottle on the countertop. But this invites problems on so many levels. There are veterinary poison advice lines and these are […]
Holey Teeth, Catman! Resorptive Lesions and Your Cat
What do you think is the biggest cause of tooth loss in the cat? a) Gum disease b) Resorptive lesions c) Trauma (such as a fall or accident) d) Caries e) Something else. If you answered (b) then give your cat a stroke, because this is the correct answer. Indeed, resorptive lesions are startlingly common. Experts […]
Poisoning in Cats: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
It is a rare cat that scavenges and eats something she shouldn’t, so poisoning isn’t necessarily a problem at the forefront of a cat guardian’s mind. However, cats are still at very real risk of toxicity, even in the safety of their own home. At the root of the issue is the cats’ inability to […]
How to Help a Blind Cat Adjust to Life Without Sight
What do you do if your cat loses their sight? Firstly, it’s important to know that cats usually adjust well to blindness, whether they suffer a partial or a complete loss of vision. That’s because a blind cat quickly learns to rely on their other senses and compensate. Of course, you will need to make […]
Understanding Cat Scratch Disease
Don’t you love it when a problem is self-explanatory? ‘Cat scratch fever’ is one such condition as, ‘It does what it says on the label.’ This is people run a fever as a result of being scratched by a cat. Simple. However that simplicity belies a more complex condition so let’s take a look in […]
Is Tap Water Safe for Your Pets?
Water is essential to life, but is tap water harming your pet? To a certain extent the answer depends on where you live. Simply put, if the tap water isn’t fit for human consumption then it shouldn’t be given to pets. However, even for water that is certified for human use this question has a […]
Early Age Desexing: Benefits vs Risks
Responsible cat guardianship means caring for your cat’s health and welfare, but also understanding the bigger picture of stray and unwanted cats. Indeed shelters are full to overflowing with cats desperately longing for their fur-ever home, so it’s essential to play your part by ensuring your cat doesn’t add to the problem and get them […]