Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we convey knowledgeable recommendation straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to assist our readers higher perceive their cat’s well being and well-being.
Whether or not you’re a brand new pet father or mother or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is right here to offer solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet suggestions and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that can maintain your kitty pleased, wholesome, and feline high quality. Keep tuned for knowledgeable steerage on a spread of subjects that matter most to you and your cat, so you may make knowledgeable selections and supply the very best care in your furry companion.
Have a query? Ship it in right here!
Assist! My Cats’ Again is Getting Sore!
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
My Kitty-Boy, Mash, will likely be 14 years outdated in Could. I’ve seen that his again will get sore close to the tail. Can I give him one thing that will likely be wholesome for his kidneys and liver?” – Nikki
Hello Nikki,
Thanks for being such a loving and observant pet father or mother to your candy Mash. At almost 14, he’s coming into his golden years, and it’s not unusual for older cats to expertise discomfort within the decrease again or close to the bottom of the tail. This space is usually a hotspot for age-related adjustments akin to arthritis and even referred discomfort from different areas just like the hips or backbone. Similar to older folks might really feel stiff getting off the bed, senior cats can develop irritation of their joints that makes sure actions or contact uncomfortable.
Earlier than contemplating any dietary supplements or remedies, it’s vital to first pinpoint what’s inflicting the soreness. Whereas there are joint-supportive choices like omega-3 fatty acids (from high-quality fish oil), glucosamine, or green-lipped mussel that may be light on the liver and kidneys, it’s finest to rule out different potential points first, like hyperesthesia syndrome, spinal discomfort, and even early kidney-related adjustments that will trigger again sensitivity. As a result of Mash is a senior, I like to recommend scheduling a veterinary examination, ideally together with bloodwork and presumably X-rays. These will assist information protected selections and guarantee any complement or remedy helps his general well being. With the correct care, many older cats like Mash can keep comfy and lively properly into their senior years.
Greatest,
Dr. Paola
💛 😺 Converse To a Vet On-line From the Consolation of Your Sofa!
If it is advisable to converse with a vet however can’t get to at least one, head over to PangoVet. It’s a web based service the place you possibly can discuss to a vet on-line and get the customized recommendation you want in your pet — all at an reasonably priced value!
Assist! I Want Assist Getting My Cats to Like Every Different!
“Hello Dr Paola!
I’ve a cat, Looney, that adopted me 16 months in the past. I have already got 3 cats. Looney is about 2. When I discovered him, I took him to the vet and bought all his pictures, and he was neutered.
I introduced him house, separated him in a particular cat room with a cat door, home windows so he might have a look at water, a fountain, and a bit robotic! Progressively, we put a leash on Looney to stroll round the home, inside the home so the opposite cats might see him, and he might odor the opposite cats. After 1 yr, I took him off the leash and let him run round the home, which induced a MAJOR PROBLEM. One among my cats, a male named Gio, doesn’t like Looney in any respect and freaks out each time he sees him. I don’t know the right way to get these cats to love one another! Please assist!“ – Christine
Hello Christine,
Thanks for sharing your considerate, gradual, and loving strategy. It sounds such as you’ve actually gone above and past for Looney, and it’s clear that your coronary heart is totally dedicated to all of your feline companions. Integrating a brand new cat into a house with established senior cats can typically really feel like introducing a younger whirlwind right into a quiet retirement village. Even with sluggish introductions, some personalities naturally conflict, particularly when the newcomer remains to be youthful and filled with power and the resident cat, like Gio, has a well-established sense of territory and routine.
Gio’s sturdy response suggests he might really feel threatened or overwhelmed by Looney’s presence, particularly if Looney is playful or assertive in methods Gio finds intrusive. Cats are creatures of management, and adjustments to their atmosphere or social construction can unsettle them deeply. When you’ve already performed a cautious introduction, in instances like this, it’s typically obligatory to return a number of steps and reintroduce them extra step by step utilizing structured optimistic reinforcement. Consider it as rebuilding a shaky bridge with endurance and confidence: tiny steps, properly supported.
A method known as “site swapping” may help: let Gio spend time in Looney’s particular room with Looney confined elsewhere, so he can get used to Looney’s scent in a low-pressure means. Pair any visible entry between them with one thing each cats love, like treats or play, so they start to affiliate one another with good experiences. Multi-cat artificial pheromone diffusers and calming dietary supplements really useful by your vet can even assist ease underlying rigidity. If issues proceed to really feel caught, working with a feline behaviorist could make a world of distinction. They’ve the expertise required to notice delicate cues and may tailor particular methods to your distinctive family dynamics. With time, help, and consistency, many cats study to tolerate and even benefit from the presence of a once-unwelcome housemate.
Wishing you good luck,
Dr. Paola
Can You Assist Me Decide My Cats Breed?
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
Please, what breed is my a lot beloved cat George? I assumed Turkish Angora, however his vet says he’s not sure, perhaps a Maine Coon. He’s bought a stupendous large bushy tail, 5 kg, and almost eight months outdated. “ – Charlotte
Hello Charlotte,
Thanks for sharing a bit about your fantastic George. He sounds completely gorgeous, and with that large, bushy tail and strong construct at simply eight months outdated, it’s no surprise he attracts consideration! Whereas his options would possibly resemble these of breeds just like the Turkish Angora or Maine Coon, the one technique to know for positive is with a feline DNA check. These exams can reveal breed ancestry, coat traits, and even potential well being markers, providing a captivating glimpse into what makes George distinctive. Understanding the breed simply from a photograph is oftentimes difficult, and it’s price noting that until he got here with pedigree papers, George is probably going a stupendous mixed-breed cat with options harking back to a number of longhaired breeds. However that doesn’t make him any much less particular; actually, a few of the most charming personalities and distinctive seems to be come from these pleasant blends.
That mentioned, whether or not he seems to have purebred roots or is a stupendous mix of a number of lineages, each cat is ideal in their very own means. Their attraction, quirks, and companionship don’t come from a pedigree however from the bond they share with us, and it appears like George has discovered precisely the place he belongs. By the way in which, be at liberty to add his photograph to our cat of the week contest; we like to see pics of our readers’ beloved pets! Trying ahead to that pic!
Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
