Providing clients a personalised, caring & experienced service in the comfort and convenience of their home or farm.
October 4, 2008
I’ve just been welcomed into this beaut house. While I’m settling in my humans play lots of fun games with me and my toys, and everyone laughs like mad. Sometimes I get so excited I race up the curtains and up and over the sofas. Actually, I’m finding the sofas great for sharpening my claws, creating a work of art at the same time. This seems to make my owners angry. Why don’t they appreciate my talents? (Smiley, Burmese Cross, 4 months, North Narooma)
Dr Alan
Smiley, I’m afraid your artistic side will be greeted by some serious consequences if you don’t redirect your claw sharpening and curtain climbing antics. To sharpen your claws and exercise your muscles, your owners could get some carpet roll end pieces from a carpet layer. A two meter width of carpet wrapped around a 100 mm pvc plastic pipe, to give the carpet support, held in place by a couple of ties of twine can be leaned against the corner of a room and makes a wonderful “tree”. You can run up the tree, sharpen your claws or sit on top it to survey your kingdom. Many owners purchase those expensive “cat scratch posts” – most of them are too small for a real cat! Your tree will cost very little, and will be much more fun for you. Cats with “carpet trees” find furniture and curtains less fun. Believe me, your owners will be pleased and you will not get into trouble.
October 2, 2008
Our owners have been pulling ticks out of my brother and I for the past week or so. When my owners pull a tick off one of the family dogs, they get very concerned, but didn’t seem as worried about finding ticks on us. The dogs laugh and say that this is because “cats don’t get affected by ticks”. Should we be worried? (Keidis, Domestic shorthair, 3 years, Dalmeny)
Dr Alan
You bet you’d better be worried, Keidis. Ticks are always looking for a victim and all animals including people are targets. During the tick season, not a week goes by when I have not had to treat at least one cat for tick paralysis. Signs in cats include: stiff leg walking, lack of coordination, vomiting and breathing difficulties. Even after a tick has been removed you may still be affected by the toxin and could die. Indoor cats are also at risk because some ticks are carried into the house by the dogs and your owner. Moral: all household pets should be checked for ticks daily, and your owners should apply tick prevention medication fortnightly. If any of the above symptoms occur, your owner should call the vet immediately!
September 30, 2008
I’m a healthy young Siamese cat living in a lovely home with my litter mate, Dizzy. We get on like a house on fire, playing and sleeping together round the clock. We are indoor cats, so the humans leave us a litter tray each in the laundry. Lately I have been peeing in various places around the house – on the kitchen bench, on the humans’ clean washing and on the bedroom carpet. My owner acts like she doesn’t love me any more, she even yells at me from time to time. What’s the matter? (Ella, Siamese, 3 years, North Narooma)
Dr Alan
Ella, do you feel as though you can’t wait to pee in your litter tray? Has your owner purchased some kitty litter you don’t particularly like? Have there been any changes to your living arrangements that you have had trouble accepting? Is you brother using your litter tray? Is your litter being changed regularly enough? These questions need to be answered to help with the diagnosis. Urgency and increased frequency of peeing can point to a urinary infection, even bladder stones. If you are peeing in odd places because changes have occurred in the family situation that concern you, please somehow alert your owners to the fact that the vet may be able to assist. He or she may recommend one of the newer anti-depressants – a kind of “Prozac” for pets in case the situation turns out to be psychological in nature. I am sure this difficult issue can be resolved with some good communication and care.
September 22, 2008
I am a “confirmed” bachelor cat, leading a pretty idyllic life until just recently. I have been off colour for a while, not interested in eating, with a lot of tummy pain. Worst of all, I can’t pee and when I try it hurts like mad! What can we do? (Jacko, 9 years, Tabby, Narooma)
Dr Alan
Jacko, if your owners have not already called the vet, they must do so immediately. This is a serious matter! Most likely you have what we vets call the “blocked cat syndrome”. Usually, this is caused by a build up of crystals in your urine, forming a plug that can block your urethra. Your vet will need to perform a procedure to remove the blockage. Don’t worry, you will be sedated while this happens. Medications to acidify the urine and guard against further infection will then be given.
September 17, 2008
Like most cats, I like a quiet life, sleeping in sunny spots for many hours of the day. My next door neighbour, a very sleek “bachelor” called Mr Cool made a very hurtful comment that I have been getting a little bit broad in the beam recently. We often share secrets about the other cats and dogs in the street. I value his catship very much. My family is lovely, but I feel they associate food with love a bit too much. For breakfast I get a can of cat food, biscuits are left in my bowl for all-day grazing, the kids feed me scraps at dinner, and then they give me another bowl of chopped meat after that. I find it very hard to refuse them. How can I lose weight and be diplomatic in telling my family to lay off the food? (Angel, 5 years, British Blue, Dalmeny)
Dr Alan
Angel, your problem is universal. Many health issues of pets reflect the owner’s over feeding. Obesity is at the top of the list, predisposing cats like you to diabetes, kidney disease and heart problems. As you know, when you are overweight you become lethargic and burn fewer kilojoules (calories). Your owner feels something is not quite right so they feed you more, making the problem worse. You have become so accustomed to eating a certain diet you will complain if it is drastically changed. Let’s face it Angel, if your owner cuts back on your food you will raise hell. My recommendation is for your owner to gradually reduce the portion size of your meals and slowly introduce you to “weight management” dry biscuits, with two small servings per day. Ensuring you eat all of your biscuits at one sitting is a clue that you are on the road to improved self esteem. As your maiden form figure returns you will feel like getting more exercise and then look out world!
September 16, 2008
I’m so sad. Yesterday my life long friend, Missy, the sweet Abyssinian next door was run over as her Mum was backing out of the drive. Everyone was devastated as she lay there dying. Immediately, my owners grabbed me and took me indoors to protect me from such a fate. I’ve always been an outdoors sort of guy and I don’t know if I’ll enjoy being an indoor cat. Will I develop “cabin fever”? (Sebastian, 4 years, domestic short hair, Dalmeny)
Dr. Alan
Sebastian, as you know, cats are one of the most adaptable critters ever invented. Your owners are trying hard to protect you from a similar fate to Missy. They are demonstrating they really care for you. Protection from diseases and accidents are a couple of advantages being an indoor cat. Your owners can monitor your eating and drinking habits while keeping an eye on what you put into your kitty litter so any deviations from normal are spotted quickly. Action can be taken before you get really sick. Outdoor cats can get into all sorts of trouble. Cat fights over territory and being mauled by aggressive dogs are two serious problems. It takes a fraction of a second to loose your concentration and become another road fatality. Also, when you play with other cats in the neighbourhood they can transmit diseases to you.
September 14, 2008
My relaxation and sleep time is being interrupted by a constant tickle in my throat and sometimes a raspy cough. I feel I’m going to choke. My humans get very upset and so do I. What should we do? (Sooty, 6 years, black cat, Bodalla)
Dr. Alan
There are a number of causes of coughing in cats, some are potentially life threatening and some are not. Sooty, the most common cause of the clinical picture you paint is “fur balls”. When you wash yourself with your tongue, you swallow fur, most of which passes through your system. Some fur gets trapped in your stomach and over time can pile up into your throat, causing the tickle that makes you cough. Usually, this helps you to bring up the fur ball. It may be helpful to get your owners to give you some Kat Lax or Laxigel. This will assist you to pass the fur. My cat thinks it is delicious – we put it on her paws so she can lick it off! If the cough persists have your owner call the vet as your problem may be more severe.
September 13, 2008
We are a one cat, two dog family and every year we get jabbed by the vet. The other day down at the beach a few of us got into an animated discussion. One of my pals argued annual vaccinations weren’t necessary after the puppy jabs. Some of us reckon we need to have them each year to remain protected from those infectious diseases. Can you help us sort this one out? (Dotty, 4 years, Dalmatian, Dalmeny)
Dr Alan:
Nobody likes getting more “jabs” than necessary, Dotty. Vaccinations have provided real protection from nasty diseases like Parvovirus and Distemper for dogs and Feline Enteritis in cats. Our knowledge of how the immune mechanisms work has increased due to years of research. Annual vaccinations, against some diseases, are not essential in some dogs and cats. I know that sounds ambiguous, but the truth is each dog or cat’s immune system is unique. Some animals can develop life long immunity to some diseases after their initial vaccinations are administered when they are puppies and kittens and young dogs and cats. In all animals the immunity will wane over time and boosters are recommended to maintain protection. A small percentage of dogs and cats do not develop strong immunity when vaccinated and become “at risk” sometime after they receive their vaccinations. The problem is determining which animal is protected and which is not. For this reason, annual vaccinations have been recommended by vets. Vaccines are now available that extend the time between boosters. My recommendation is you get your owner to speak with your vet and find out what vaccination program is best suited for you.
September 10, 2008
Life has been chaotic! My first owner was an old man who bought me for companionship and died soon after. I was passed on to a neighbour who had promised my owner that they would look after me if something happened to him. Wouldn’t you know it, the neighbour’s son has a severe cat allergy and I was shunted off to a third home in less than a fortnight. I have landed in a very unfriendly house. For the past week I have not felt like eating the strange food that appears periodically. How can I inform my new owners that I’m really a nice cat that simply wants a nice feed, a litter tray and a warm spot next to the fireplace? (Abby, 2 years, Tabby, North Narooma)
Dr Alan
Be patient Abby. As you know it takes some humans longer than others to realise cats are one of the most adaptable and loveable animals to have as part of the family. The next time the door opens and a human appears, try the old rub up against the leg trick and purr loud enough for the neighbours to hear. The come hither look may also be of use if your new owner kneels down for a closer look at you. Be patient and try the new food. Let’s face it, after your paw is in the door and you are accepted, you can begin to train the humans to provide you with your requirements.
September 3, 2008
Something is tickling the inside of my ear like mad. I can’t stop scratching and shaking my head. Whatever is in there, it doesn’t want to budge. My owners keep putting messy gunk down my ears, which is no help at all. What do you suggest? (Teddy, grey domestic short hair, 6 months, Narooma)
Dr Alan
Best guess Teddy, is that ear mites are the cause of your problem. These tiny critters are about the size of a grain of salt and they set up house in ear canals. In severe cases it is essential for the ear canals to be thoroughly cleaned and then various medications are used to get rid of the mites. One of the topical flea prevention treatments can be used in less severe cases. One secret, when you are curled up and your nose is near your tail, some mites can crawl out and establish themselves on the fur above your tail. A little flea powder applied to that fur will eliminate those mites so they won’t re-infect your ears after your ears are treated when you are curled up at night.
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