1
My cat has been crying constantly. I went to pet him and he cried, could something be wrong with him?
2
My male neutered cat is a fighter and often has nasty bite wounds that I thoroughly clean. Does an abscess wound always require a visit to the veterinarian?
3
My kitten, Josie, passes gas too often. Is that normal or healthy for a 7-month old kitten?
4
Hello, I am the proud owner of 3 cats: two female, one male. They are all about 2 years old (give or take a few months). Over the past month or so, they have started to get sick more and as time goes on, more frequently. We feed them a mix of regular and diet cat food. We have had to stop the male from eating too fast and it seems to have helped but now the girls are getting sick and they do not eat that much. The food is not digested when it comes up, so it is right after they eat (usually) or drink. I live in NJ and we are in a serious water drought. Is it possible the water is causing them to get sick?
5
My cat got a scratch on the cheek and now there is a strong odor coming from the injury. How should I treat this?
6
If you take your overweight cat to the vet and have the anal gland drained will that keep her from scooting on the carpet? Is this a way of keeping herself clean or just a habit or an anal problem?
7
How many times a year should I take my cat to the vet?
8
I have recently noticed that my cat, who is 10 years old, is slow to lay down. When he does, after he has been asleep awhile, he gets up and moves around and lays down again. I fear he may be getting arthritis in his joints. I bought some Glucosamine at the pet store, but it doesn't seem to be making any difference. Should I take him to the Vet for x-rays and perhaps some Acupuncture therapy?
9
I took in a stray a few months ago, it is difficult to keep him in as he has been used to being outside. He has come home with a wound just below the ear and behind the jaw. After removing the fur around the infected area there seems to be a white puss spot and it smells really bad. I think it might be some kind of a pucture wound but not necessarily from another cat as he came home minus his flea collar. I can't get him to a Veterinarian because I can't get him into the pet carrier without getting all ripped up myself (he still has claws) I have been bathing it with antiseptic and applying an antibiotic ointment (polysporin) but it does not seem to be healing. Does he need an oral antibiotic and is there anyway that I can get him sedated enough to take to the Veterinarian? I would like him to have shots and be neutered and declawed.
1
My cat has been crying constantly. I went to pet him and he cried, could something be wrong with him?
There are several reasons your cat could be crying constantly. Excess crying could be a sign that your cat is ill or in pain. First and foremost see your veterinarian to rule out any possiblity of illness or injury. Also, if your cat is not neutered you may want to consider this option. A frequent cause of crying, or vocalization, is the desire to mate. And lastly, if your cat is crying because he has lost a friend, either four-legged or two-legged, try to distract him with toys or treats.
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2
My male neutered cat is a fighter and often has nasty bite wounds that I thoroughly clean. Does an abscess wound always require a visit to the veterinarian?
I suppose it is possible for wounds to clear up on their own, but often what happens is that they fester under the skin or scab and result in a worsening infection and possible systemic disease. Therefore, a veterinary visit is really the best way to treat them. On another note, perhaps it would be better to keep your cat indoors. Not only would it avoid fighting and subsequent abscesses but also protect him from cars, other diseases and possible attacks from dogs or coyotes. Cats that remain indoors live longer, healthier lives. You also could teach him to walk on a leash and allow him outside only under supervision.
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3
My kitten, Josie, passes gas too often. Is that normal or healthy for a 7-month old kitten?
Passing gas, or flatus is usually caused by eating foods that are high in fermentable ingredients, drinking large quantities of milk, or swallowing large amounts of air while eating. Diets high in carbohydrates and fiber may contribute to flatus. Flatus can also occur with dietary malabsorption. This is related to the incomplete digestion of carbohydrates. Try feeding a highly digestible product that contains low amounts of carbohydrates and fiber. Also, feed free choice to prevent the kitten from eating too fast which may result in air gulping. If the problem persists, see your veterinarian.
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4
Hello, I am the proud owner of 3 cats: two female, one male. They are all about 2 years old (give or take a few months). Over the past month or so, they have started to get sick more and as time goes on, more frequently. We feed them a mix of regular and diet cat food. We have had to stop the male from eating too fast and it seems to have helped but now the girls are getting sick and they do not eat that much. The food is not digested when it comes up, so it is right after they eat (usually) or drink. I live in NJ and we are in a serious water drought. Is it possible the water is causing them to get sick?
If the water is safe for you to drink, I would imagine it is safe for the cats. However, the vomiting you describe could be due to gastrointestinal upset or even hairballs. If the problem is ongoing and the cats will not eat and are losing weight, a veterinary visit is needed. If however they are throwing up hairballs, you might want to try a hairball control diet and see if that helps your cats.
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5
My cat got a scratch on the cheek and now there is a strong odor coming from the injury. How should I treat this?
It is likely that your cat has developed an abscess, or a large pocket of pus under the skin. An abscess is typically caused by puncture wounds from a bite or possibly a scratch as a result of a fight with another cat. An abscess is a pus-filled cavity in the skin that contains bacteria, white blood cells (the body's way to fight infection), and other fluids. The affected area will become swollen, warm to the touch and may ooze pus-like fluids and blood. And, it can have an unpleasant odor. To treat the abscess your veterinarian will sedate your cat, open the wound with a scalpel, drain, clean, and flush the area. The wound will then be closed or a temporary drain may be placed to allow further flushing of the wound. Your cat may also need to take antibiotics for a week or two to prevent the spread of infection. The best way to prevent abscesses is to neuter your cat (which reduces the urge to roam and fight) and by keeping him indoors.
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6
If you take your overweight cat to the vet and have the anal gland drained will that keep her from scooting on the carpet? Is this a way of keeping herself clean or just a habit or an anal problem?
The anal sacs or "glands" (they are really not a gland) are paired, balloon like structures that reside under the skin and are covered by a thin layer of muscle around the 4 and 8 o'clock positions as you look at the anal sphincter. These sacs secrete a musky fetid material of varying consistency, which probably plays some role in territory marking and identification of the cat. Problems of the glands are uncommon in cats. Although no exact cause of anal sac disease has been determined, many theories exist. It is possible to feel the sacs just under the skin, like small, semi-soft marbles in the area described. If the sacs become infected, overfilled, or if the drainage ducts become plugged, (impacted) anal sac disease including abscessation of the gland(s) could occur. Signs of anal gland disease include scooting of the rear end on the floor, licking or biting of the anal area, redness and swelling of the area, and possibly a moist infection of the skin or an open draining sore if the gland has abscessed and ruptured. The condition may be quite painful, appear suddenly and cause some cats to be reluctant to pass their normal bowel movement, or do so with some pain involved. Your veterinarian can treat mild impactions by gently squeezing the glands to drain retained material. As recurrence is common, repeated drainage may be needed. Oral antibiotics are used if infection is present. In chronic cases or cases where abscessation has occurred, sedation and flushing of the glands with an antiseptic solution followed by filling the sacs with a medicated ointment is commonly performed.
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7
How many times a year should I take my cat to the vet?
A young healthy cat between 1 and 8 years of age probably only needs to visit a veterinarian once a year. Since our companion animals age faster than we do, once they enter their senior years they should be examined more often. Cats are considered senior once they are older than 7-8 years of age. At that time it is often prudent to have veterinary health check ups at least every 6-12 months depending on the cats overall health. No matter the age of your cat be sure to feed a diet that is appropriate for their age and lifestyle since good nutrition is one key to good health.
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8
I have recently noticed that my cat, who is 10 years old, is slow to lay down. When he does, after he has been asleep awhile, he gets up and moves around and lays down again. I fear he may be getting arthritis in his joints. I bought some Glucosamine at the pet store, but it doesn't seem to be making any difference. Should I take him to the Vet for x-rays and perhaps some Acupuncture therapy?
A recent study looked at radiographs of older cats that were being seen for problems other than lameness and noted that up to 90% of older cats had evidence of arthritis. This can be painful and result in restricted activities. A veterinary visit would be a good idea not only to confirm the diagnosis but also to obtain appropriate therapy.
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9
I took in a stray a few months ago, it is difficult to keep him in as he has been used to being outside. He has come home with a wound just below the ear and behind the jaw. After removing the fur around the infected area there seems to be a white puss spot and it smells really bad. I think it might be some kind of a pucture wound but not necessarily from another cat as he came home minus his flea collar. I can't get him to a Veterinarian because I can't get him into the pet carrier without getting all ripped up myself (he still has claws) I have been bathing it with antiseptic and applying an antibiotic ointment (polysporin) but it does not seem to be healing. Does he need an oral antibiotic and is there anyway that I can get him sedated enough to take to the Veterinarian? I would like him to have shots and be neutered and declawed.
He probably does have an abscess and it is likely due to a bite wound. These types of wounds do not usually heal on their own since they can be very deep. Therefore a veterinary visit is essential to get medication and appropriate treatment. Perhaps you can get him into the carrier using food to lure him in or leave the top off and then put him in and put on the top. Once he is at the veterinarian's she can determine if it would also be an appropriate time for neutering and his shots. Your veterinarian should be able to help you with additional suggestions for getting him into the hospital.
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