October 2004
Ask Dr. Richards: 10/04
Subscribers Only Question: What is the teeth cycle of cats from kittenhood to adulthood? Do cats lose teeth as they grow older? I’ve looked in one of my cat’s mouths and found fewer teeth than in my other cat. Is this normal? Also, is their tooth maintenance similar to ours (that is, regular cleaning, checking for cavities and periodontal disease, etc.)? How often do they require a checkup? …
Mind of the Cat: 10/04
Subscribers Only In last month’s column, some of the benefits of leash training a cat were explored. These included offering a cat a safe opportunity to play outdoors, introducing a cat to new members of the household and improving a cat’s tolerance of being handled by people. In this column, I will suggest some strategies for teaching a cat to wear a leash and harness. …
Friends for Life
Subscribers Only Sue Lee, 45, from Wolverhamton, England, is pretty much homebound due to a variety of disabling conditions: severe osteoarthritis, insulin-dependent diabetes and peripheral neuropathy in both feet and legs. She has constant pain in almost all her joints and finds it difficult to hold most everyday objects. [IMGCAP(1)]She uses crutches around the house and an electric scooter when she goes outside. Her husband is her primary caretaker. And yet she is a proud and loving…
When a Cat’s Eating Behavior Gets Weird
Subscribers Only Does your cat nervously scratch the floor around its food bowl before or after dinner? Does it like to lick the legs of your kitchen table? Does she occasionally rip up a ball of yarn...or cart a dead mouse into your living room... or suddenly turn up her nose at the food you’ve been putting in front of her for years? …
What Happens In An Animal Shelter
Subscribers Only To relinquish an animal isn’t an easy process, so here’s what you can expect to encounter.
What Bloodwork Can Reveal About Your Cat
Subscribers Only A timely blood count and chemistry panel may save your animal’s life. Here’s why.
Upper Respiratory Disease: A Feline Peril
Subscribers Only A viral attack on the airways can lead to potentially fatal secondary infections.
The Curious Effects of Catnip
Subscribers Only This herb delights some felines — but not all. Here’s how to best utilize the enticing green stuff.
Carriers for Cats
Subscribers Only Does putting your cat into a carrier fill you with anxiety and guilt? Put aside the feelings that you are caging your cat against his will. The opposite is probably true. “Cats prefer to travel in carriers and they’re definitely safer in carriers,” says James Richards, DVM, director of the Feline Health Center at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and editor of CatWatch. …
Is Your Cat Bored?
Subscribers Only After a clean bill of health, Kitty’s bad behavior and pestering are signs that she needs stimulation.
Short Takes: 10/04
Subscribers Only Eight New Skin Diseases of Cats Remember when dogs had skin problems and cats just had attitudes? Get ready for “Eight emerging feline dermatoses,” as chronicled by University of Tennessee veterinarians in the journal Veterinary Medicine (Vol. 99, Issue 5). In no particular order, the awful eight are: • Feline demodicosis from the tiny but contagious mite, Demodex gatoi. Itchy cats can expect six weeks of whole-body washes with lime-sulfur solution. …