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The Cat Doctor Veterinary Hospital and Hotel |
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| Can I have my 6 month old, indoor only cat spayed when she is in heat? | |
 Yes
you can. When your cat experiences estrus or is in heat, her reproductive
organs are slightly larger and the blood flow to them also slightly
increases thus making the spay surgery a little more challenging than for a
cat who is not in heat. However, veterinarians are quiet experienced in
spaying cats who are in heat. The behavior of a female cat in heat is
impossible to ignore. She will also come in and out of heat every few weeks
until she is bred or spayed. Because of these two facts, we veterinarians
often get calls from desperate owners who need their cat spayed N-O-W. No
problem, in most cases a veterinarian will totally understand the callers
immediate need and include the cat on the surgery schedule for the next day. |
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| My cat needs to take medication for an ongoing medical problem. However, she has become increasingly difficult to give pills to by mouth. Are there any other options? | |
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Yes,
thank goodness. Any of us who have had to “pill” a cat know it can be
difficult if not impossible in an uncooperative cat, or one with a painful
mouth. Fortunately two good options have developed over the past few years.
One is called “transdermal gel.” Here, the medication is mixed in a
specially formulated, buffered topical gel. A measured amount of the gel is
rubbed onto the skin and the medicine itself is then absorbed into the body.
The second option is to mix the medication in a specially flavored liquid
that both hides the flavor of the medication and is super tasty to the cat.
The flavors can be quite unique and many of them work well. Both options are
usually “special order” prescriptions through your veterinarian and may take
a few days to acquire, but well worth it and quite successful. |
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| My longhaired cat sheds terribly. I have tried a variety of products and comb and brush him daily but nothing seems to help. Even my veterinarian says that some cats just shed more than others. Any suggestions? | |
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Yes,
have your cat get a “lion-cut”. A “lion-cut” is a hair cut where your cat’s
hair is clipped short on the neck, torso/chest, back, and legs, down to the
elbows or wrists on the front and down to the knees or ankles on the back.
His head, tail and extremities are left intact. Cats seem to L-O-V-E this
freedom from all that hair!! Remember that a cat has a tiny, tiny comb
(their tongue) to take care of all that hair and a summer haircut can
relieve them of this constant task for up to 12 weeks (and relieve you of
excess hair on your furniture). The best time for the haircut is during the
late spring, then again mid summer. Because cats don’t tolerate the sound of
clippers very well, these clips can safely be done with sedation or general
anesthesia. |
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| I heard that cats are “social” mammals. What does this mean? | |
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For
a feline, social behavior may loosely be defined as the ability for a cat to
act appropriately and with confidence to each other, people, places, and
things and in many cases, other species. Did you know that cats live in
colonies, recognize members of their group and even have preferred friends
who they like to spend time with, much like us! Socialization begins in
kitten-hood between the ages of 3 to 9 weeks. During this time, kittens
learn to eat solid food, use the litter box, interact socially with each
other and their caregivers, cope with changing environments and most
importantly, play, play, and play some more. The tools learned during this
important period play a major part in the social skills an adult cat will
have in his or her human family. |
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| I have just adopted a kitten. What do I need to do about her health this first year of life? | |
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This
is a very important question for every pet parent acquiring a new kitten.
This first year, this kitten needs to be tested for Feline Leukemia and
Feline AIDS, and vaccinated against Distemper, and the two most common upper
respiratory viruses. If your kitten is to be allowed outdoors unattended,
then he or she should be vaccinated against Feline Leukemia as well. All
cats within the city limits of Boise must be vaccinated against Rabies.
These tests and vaccinations should start when your kitten is 8-9 weeks of
age. Additionally, your kitten needs to be spayed (or neutered if a male)
around 6 months of age. Have fun with your new family member!
More information about caring for your kitten |
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| I would like to get my elderly, widowed mother a cat. What are the health benefits of an older person having a pet? | |
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This
is a wonderful idea! Some of the health benefits of the human-animal bond
for your mom and our senior citizens in general include being overall more
healthy, having fewer minor health problems and better psychological well
being. Additionally, pets give unconditional warmth and affection through
touching and being touched. Finally, pets promote playfulness, laughter and
social interaction, all of which improve quality of life.
A pet can make all the difference
in a elderly person’s life. The Humane Society, Northwest Animal
Companions, Just Strays and Conrad Strays are all good local sources of
adult cats and dogs who can make wonderful companions to any adult who may
experience loneliness, isolation. Any of these organizations will try to fit
the person’s needs to a specific personality of a pet. |
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| How are plants hazardous to my cat and which ones are poisonous? | |
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Many
household plants and even grasses can be a source of irritation to your cats
gastrointestinal system and cause vomiting. Other plants, such as nettle
hairs can impart a stinging substance to the hair coat and skin of a cat
rubbing up against it. Even punctures and abscesses can be the result of
thorny plants such as cacti or blackberries “attacking” your cat while
playing around them. Check with your veterinarian for safe “chew guard” type
products to discourage cats of all ages from sampling your indoor plants.
Lastly, print out and keep handy the Cornell University web sites' list of
poisonous plants (www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/index.html)
or view ours and remove any culprits
permanently from your home. |
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| My outdoor cat is becoming older and wants to spend all his time indoors. Now I have to get him a litter box. Can you give me a class in “litter box 101”? | |
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Purchase
a litter box big enough for him to turn around and stand up in. Buy a
covered box for better odor control. If your cat prefers an uncovered box,
you can always take the cover off later. Next use a good quality, dust-free,
unscented clumping clay litter. Place the box in a private, convenient (for
your cat) area of the house. Provide 2” of litter in the box and clean
(scoop) the clumps of urine and stool from the box DAILY. Replace the litter
after cleaning the box every month (you may be able to replace litter less
often if you keep the box really clean and odor free). Cats are fastidious.
A clean, fresh smelling “bathroom” is very important to them just like it is
to us. Keep the box clean and private and you and your cat are assured to be
quite happy with the new arrangement. |
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| My cat drools when she is being petted. Is this something I should be worried about? | |
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Your
cat is sooo happy! No one knows for sure why some cats display this
behavior, but is appears that they get so wrapped up in the euphoria of
being gently stroked that they forget to swallow. Other signs of happiness a
cat may show when they are being petted is loud purring, eyes half closed,
and “kneading” the surface they are standing on. Some will even seemingly
fall over on their sides, close their eyes, knead the air, drool and purr
all at the same time. I have one client who told me that when her cat gets
like this, he would “quick as lightening” reach out and grab her if she
tries to stop petting him, so she has to very carefully disengage from her
cat when he gets really happy from her petting. |
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| My cat is declawed yet she still tries to sharpen her claws on my sofa. Why is that? | |
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She
is marking her territory! When a clawed cat sharpens their nails, they also
rub the scent glands they have on the pads of their feet on the surface they
are using and leave their scent behind. Although your cat has had her claws
removed, she will continue to mark by simulating the sharpening exercise on
both vertical and horizontal surfaces. Additionally, when she rubs up
against you or rubs her face against the corner of the wall or a piece of
furniture, she is releasing her scent from special scent glands located on
her face and head and marks her territory. Good question!! |
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| One of my cats goes nuts when I bring home catnip from our vet’s office. What is catnip and is it okay for me to be giving it to my cat? | |
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Catnip
is an herb, a member of the mint family to be exact. About 2/3 of all cats
have receptors for this plant and will therefore react to it as if it is a
very “happy” drug. Initially, they will sniff it, then lick, bite, chew and
rub up against it. Once the introductions are over, an effected cat will
lose all dignity and roll over and back on top of the catnip as well as purr
or growl. Many cats, even quiet ones will vocalize and say things you have
never heard your cat say before. Catnip is entertaining for all of us as we
find ourselves watching in amazement at our cat’s comic reaction to his
herb. Fortunately, this herb is completely safe and has no harmful side
effects to your cat, so you and your cat can dip into the catnip baggie and
have fun anytime you like. |
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| I would like to get a cat or a kitten. How do I pick out the right cat for me? | |
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Consider
your personality and lifestyle. Do you want a kitten who goes through the
stages of growing and whose personality will develop with time, or do you
want an adult cat whose personality is intact and you can tell what you are
going to get right away? Some of us love the kitten stage but end up with a
“wild and crazy, rambunctious” cat after the kitten stage is done. That’s
okay if you can handle that kind of personality, but at the end of a long
day at work, some of us want a calm, affectionate personality to greet us at
the door. The local rescue groups (numbers available from your veterinarian)
have both adult cats and kittens looking for homes. They are experts at
matching you up with the appropriate cat personality. Give them a call and
get the right cat for you |
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| What can I do for my cat who loses every collar I put on him? I am afraid someone will think he is a stray and take him to the Humane Society. | |
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Did
you say his name was Houdini? Have him permanently identified using a
microchip. A microchip is a tiny glass tube about the size of a grain of
rice. Inside it is a unique, unalterable number engraved on an even tinier
circuit board. The chip is “injected” under the skin, between the shoulder
blades of your cat by a veterinarian. Paperwork identifying your cat is kept
by you, your veterinarian, and is stored in the microchip manufacturers
database. If “Houdini” was picked up as a stray and taken to a shelter,
personnel at the shelter use a “scanner” to read the number off his chip.
The microchip manufacturer is contacted and all the necessary information to
reunite you and your cat is given to the shelter personnel who in turn,
contact you. Microchips work well. A decade of success proves it to be the
“wave of the future” for identifying animals. |
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| At my cat’s annual examination last week, my veterinarian suggested medication for heartworm. Is this necessary in Idaho? | |
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Yes,
heartworm is here and medication is recommended. Heartworms are a
species-specific parasitic worm that lives in the heart and heart vessels
primarily of dogs, but cats too can become infected. Cats are not the
natural host animals for heartworm, and therefore, heartworm do not
reproduce in a cat’s body. Since heartworm are carried by the mosquito, cat
and dog families that live near lakes, ponds, rivers, and irrigation canals
are more susceptible to exposure (being bit by a mosquito) than those living
in drier areas of Treasure Valley. A blood test is used to detect exposure
or infection, and an easy to apply, monthly “spot-on” prescription
medication used from Spring to Fall freeze will ease your worry about your
pet child becoming infected. And yes, even indoor only cat’s can be exposed.
Mosquito’s do come indoors and your indoor only cat would be a captive
audience. |
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| My kitten is going to be spayed next week. Her veterinarian recommended a “pain patch” to control her pain levels. What do you think? | |
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Definitely
opt for the Fentanyl (Duragesic) pain patch. Fentanyl is a powerful,
narcotic type pain medication that is stronger than morphine. It is absorbed
across the skin through a clear, small plastic square. The patch is applied
to a small, clipped area of skin about 12 hours before surgery and lasts 3-5
days. Cats who wake up with a patch after just about any painful surgery, do
so calmly and without incidence. They also start eating and grooming
themselves far faster than those without the patch. In fact, some cats feel
so good that we tell the owner to discourage play activities for a few days.
Much to the delight of cat “parents”, the only side effects we see in cats
are dilated eyes and euphoria. I strongly recommend a Fentanyl patch as one
of the most cost effective ways of controlling pain in a cat today. |
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| What is the number one cause of death in pets in the United States and why? | |
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Euthanasia
is the number one cause of death of all pets in the United States, yearly.
The reason? Overpopulation. Overpopulation leads to more and more pets being
surrendered to shelters where greater than 55% are destroyed. There are
simply not enough responsible homes available to absorb the large numbers of
available cats and dogs. Our “throw away” society needs to place
considerable thought when it comes to adopting a pet. Before adopting a pet,
consider the pet’s species, size, breed, temperament, grooming, and
obedience needs as well as veterinary visits and expenses, especially
spaying and neutering. Euthanasia is now considered a “disease” in the
veterinary world and denying that it doesn’t affect each of us will not make
it go away. Spring is here. Kittens and puppies are being born every day.
Please adopt a responsible attitude towards our pet children and have them
spayed and neutered. |
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| My 10-year-old cat is eating more and losing weight. What is wrong? | |
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Your
cat is showing the classic signs of a common endocrine disease of older cats
called Hyperthyroidism. It is caused by a tumor (usually benign) to the
bi-lobed thyroid gland located in the neck region. Excess thyroid hormone
produced by the enlarged gland will increase your cat’s metabolism, blood
pressure, and heart rate. Most cats with this disease eat more, lose weight
and have increased activity. Please take your cat to his/her veterinarian
for blood and urine tests. If diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism, there are two
options for cure and one option to control the disease. Good luck! |
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| My cat drinks and urinates large amounts. What do you think is going on? | |
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The
two common causes for increased water intake and urine output in a cat are
diabetes and renal decline. Both diseases more often affect older cats.
Diabetes occurs when the cat’s body either does not make or does not
recognize insulin. As a result, glucose (sugar) is not used by the body to
make energy. Renal decline occurs when the kidneys in an older cat start to
wear out and do not function as efficiently as before. Both diseases are
controllable and can make your cat much more comfortable. For more
information regarding these diseases, see
Diabetes or Caring for Your Older Cat |
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| If my cat scratches my sofa one more time, I’ll declaw him. Help!! | |
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You
are not alone!! To avoid sofa scratching, purchase your cats a heavy carpet
and rope covered cat “tree”. When a cat scratches, he/she is marking the
pole with scent glands, flexing shoulder and arm muscles as well as grooming
his/her nails. Therefore, get something at least 4 feet high that is heavy
and sturdy and will not tip or sway when you cat hangs from it. Place the
tree in front of a window and sprinkle catnip on it. In no time, your cat
should be enjoying his/her new toy much more than your sofa. Good luck!! |
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| My 4-year-old cat has bad breath. What should I do? | |
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Dental
disease is the most common cause of halitosis and is also the MOST common
health problem in all cats. Just think if you didn’t brush your teeth for 4
years. Most cats need their teeth professionally cleaned by a veterinarian
every one to two years throughout life. Feeding your cat a dry instead of
wet cat food will slow somewhat the build up of odor producing calculus and
tartar. However, more and more cat owners are brushing their cat’s teeth
several times a week to ensure their cat has better oral health throughout
life. |
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| My cat is sneezing and congested. Do cats get colds? | |
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Cats
commonly get colds, just like we do. Herpes is the virus that most commonly
causes cold symptoms like severe sneezing and nasal congestion. It can even
cause ulcers in your cat’s eyes. These colds are highly contagious and can
spread through a cat household quite rapidly. The upper respiratory vaccine
given to kittens and adult cats helps decrease the severity of these colds,
therefore, keeping up with inoculations is most important throughout life.
Your cat’s veterinarian can prescribe medications to make your cat more
comfortable while he/she fights off the virus. |
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| What do I look for in antifreeze toxicity in a cat? | |
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All
it takes is a few licks of antifreeze to kill a cat. We almost never see a
cat drinking ethylene glycol, but the signs of antifreeze toxicity are
evident within 24-48 hours. Usually a cat will become very lethargic, won’t
eat or drink, will vomit intermittently, and their third eyelids will be
raised. A physical exam, blood test and urine analysis will reveal greatly
impaired kidneys. Even with aggressive therapy, the prognosis or outcome for
a cat with this toxicity is very poor. Often, by the time we see the
symptoms, the disease is already too advanced to save the cat. |
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| How much antifreeze in needed to harm a cat? | |
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All
a cat has to do is walk through a small puddle of antifreeze and lick the
excess of his or her paws to die from the toxic effects of antifreeze.
Ethylene glycol is converted to a toxic substance 12-16 hours after
ingestion and will kill a cat by causing kidney failure. |
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| I hear cow’s milk is bad for cats. Is this true? | |
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Sometimes.
Believe it or not, about 30% of cats are lactose intolerant!! Even though a
cat may love the taste of cow’s milk or ice cream, he or she may get
terrible diarrhea and/or vomiting from ingesting it. Some substitutes that
most cats like and won’t cause diarrhea or vomiting may be yogurt, soy milk
or even milk replacement products sold in pet stores. |
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| What would be the perfect gift for the cat lover on my Christmas list? | |
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What
could be more purr-fect than a gift certificate? Our clients really like the
ones we have because they can be for any amount and there is no restriction
and no expiration date!! It can be applied to boarding, retail, and medical
services—it’s your cat lover’s choice. |
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| How old does my cat have to be for spaying or neutering? | |
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Spaying
or neutering is surgically altering a cat so she or he will be unable to
sexually reproduce. Although cats are spayed or neutered as young as eight
weeks of age, there is no medical need to surgically alter them this young.
Most cats reach sexual maturity and therefore are able to breed at 5-7
months of age. An easy way to tell if your cat is indeed reaching sexual
maturity is to check his/her teeth. When the adult K9 teeth come in, it’s
time to get your cat spayed or neutered. |
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| Why do kittens from the same litter often look so different? | |
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Two
possible reasons. First, a female cat in heat releases eggs from her ovaries
after she is bred. Therefore, she can have multiple partners, all of whom
may have unique hair-coat colors. Her kittens may be half-brothers and
sisters and look quite different. The second reason is because the genetic
color-coding for cats is extremely detailed and complex. There may be hidden
genes from generations past that will appear seemingly without reason in the
kittens, therefore making the offspring look quite different. |
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| What is the most important emerging medical problem for cats today? | |
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Obesity!
Cats used to graze throughout the day and self regulate their food intake.
However, with today’s overly diligent, loving owners and tasty abundant food
available, cats have learned to over-indulge in epidemic proportions. At
least 70% of cats seen in the veterinary field today are considered
clinically obese. Obesity predisposes a cat to joint and back problems,
inability to move and play as well as hygienic disorders. Obesity can be
avoided. Feed your cat three small meals a day with a quality, lower calorie
cat food, avoid snacks and encourage exercise through interactive cat play. |
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| How can I help my overweight cat lose weight? | |
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Weight
loss in cats must be done under a veterinarian’s care. Cats have sensitive
systems, and if they lose too much weight too quickly, they can develop a
serious, life threatening liver disease. Your veterinarian will do a
physical exam, blood test and check your cat’s “body composition” score. You
will be given specific instructions on what and how much to feed your cat.
Expect your cat to have regular check-ups during the weight loss period, and
look forward to having a healthier, leaner cat who will again be playing
like a kitten!! |
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| What should I feed my cat? | |
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Unless
your cat has a medical condition that requires he/she be fed a specific
prescription diet, feed a dry “premium” food found at pet stores or a high
quality, well known, major brand name food sold at grocery stores. The
quality of premium diets far outweighs that of grocery store diets. There
are minimal “fillers” in premium diets and enough variety that you are sure
to find one your cat enjoys. Canned foods are not a necessary component to
your healthy cat’s diet. They are a nice treat on occasion, but can, with
excessive use, lead to dental problems. |
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| It’s getting cold, but one of my cats prefers living outdoors. Help! | |
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Outdoor
cats can stay totally warm in the winter by providing them with a warm bed
in a dry, covered, draft free area such as a back porch or patio. Suspend an
infrared (red, not clear) warming lamp (usually used to keep chicks warm)
18-24 inches overhead. Put a heating pad (set at medium) under a bath towel
in the cat bed and your cat will be incredibly comfortable. Cats do not feel
safe in enclosed boxes or “dog houses”. Don’t forget to place food and fresh
water daily nearby. |
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| Why do cats spray? | |
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To
“spray” is for a cat to back up to a vertical surface such as a fence post
or a door, lift their tail and produce a small squirt of urine on that
target. Each cat produces a specific urine scent and although cat urine may
smell the same to us, a cat can detect the difference. It is normal for
intact (not neutered) male cats to spray to “mark” their territory and let
other cats know the boundaries of their domain. Neutering a male cat before
he starts spraying significantly decreases his chances of spraying later in
life. |
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9151 Ustick Rd., Boise, ID 83704 (208) 327-7706 FAX (208) 327-0676 |
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HOURS: Mon/Wed/Fri 8-6 | Tues/Thurs 8-7 | Sat 8-1 |
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