Asthma

Safety is the first priority in an emergency situation-and that goes for both you and your cat. If your cat is sick or hurt, or if a natural disaster has occurred, you need to be able to move her without being bitten or scratched. These tips also work if you need to handle a cat that you dont know, although extreme care should be exercised when considering handling a cat with an unknown vaccine history.

While longhaired cats require the most upkeep, mats and tangles can be an issue for all cats. Older cats that are developing osteoarthritis start to have trouble bending to groom their entire bodies, with the hind end being a popular spot for mats and dandruff.

Tears on your cats face can be concerning. Cats do not have emotional tears like people do, and some causes reflect serious situations; others are minor.

The first indication of a heart problem in a kitten or cat might be a murmur picked up by your veterinarian on a routine physical examination. Luckily, not all heart murmurs mean heart disease in cats, says Dr. Bruce Kornreich DVM PhD, board-certified veterinary cardiologist and Associate Director of the Cornell Feline Health Center. Many ostensibly healthy cats have murmurs, but depending upon the situation, follow-up diagnostics may be warranted when a murmur is detected in a cat.

By and large, says the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), cats are geriatric at age 7. Although theres no simple way to compare a pets aging to human aging, the AVMA did come up with a guide.

When New Years Eve arrives, many of us make promises to ourselves-those infamous resolutions-to improve ourselves somehow. Thats because the new year is a traditional starting point, and were happy and motivated. Popular resolutions include losing weight, quitting smoking, and getting the most out of life. Inevitably, however, most of us fail. The reason? Unrealistic goals. Well, were here to help fix that! Spending more time with your cat and improving her life is realistic and satisfying, so weve put together five New Years Resolutions. Are you with us?

Your beloved cat climbs into your lap, rubs on your chin and then yawns by your face. Suddenly, you are overwhelmed by foul air. It is unreasonable to expect your feline friend to have minty fresh breath, but healthy cat breath really isnt offensive. Causes for fetid feline breath can range from minor to serious.

Q Im alone and somewhat lonely, especially since Phoebe, my cat of 16 years, passed away a month ago. I miss her terribly. I have no children, just a couple of nieces I rarely see. My husband passed away a decade ago. Im 83, but in good health. Is it right for me to adopt a cat at my age? I asked my veterinarian, but he said it was my decision. I would be happy to accept an older cat, because I realize its unlikely I would outlive a kitten. I wouldnt want my new cat to fall on bad times because I passed away. Elizabeth, do you think I would be allowed to adopt?

Many cats show some signs of periodontal gum disease by three years of age. Reports indicate between 50 and 90 percent of all cats over four years of age will have some degree of dental disease.

Feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD, is a problem that cat owners everywhere dread. Litter box “accidents,” bloody urine, or a cat straining to urinate can all concern families. In some cases, this is an emergency—in others, a painful annoyance for you and your cat. In general, when a cat has urinary problems, it’s important to rule out any medical conditions before considering behavioral problems (to be covered in another issue). A common indication of…

A study published in the January 2017 Journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science may help you determine if a dog you want to adopt will get along with your cat.

Kidney failure is a leading cause of death in domestic cats.