Ask the Doctor

Dear Doctor August 2014

Letters to Tufts Veterinarians - A cat with missing teeth; Feeding a variety of cat foods; A question about vaccinations

Dear Doctor October 2014

reservatives in cat foodQThere used to be a lot of talk about the dangers of BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin used as preservatives in certain pet foods. Have they been replaced by different ingredients, or are there simply fewer concerns about them now?

Dear Doctor September 2014

Letters to Tufts Veterinarians - Feline acne; Why is my cat so aggressive?; A question about vaccinations

Dear Doctor November 2014

A cat who disappears whenever guests come over; Can cats show jealousy; Care for a deaf cat

Dear Doctor December 2014

Ask the doctor - Can a cat suffer a concussion?; separating siblings because of a move; acne and plastic

Dear Doctor January 2015

Ask the doctor - A Returning Growth; Safe Outdoor Excursions; Heart Murmurs

Dear Doctor – February 2015

QMy five-year-old male, neutered indoor-only cat is very timid and shy. We adopted him when he was about seven weeks old. Two years ago, we rescued a stray - a spayed female who is three.

A reader asks: Do cats show a preference for using one paw over...

A left-handed cat? Q I have a 15-year-old Blue Point Siamese neutered male. After lots of experience and observation, I do believe that he is left-handed. Do cats - like people - usually have a dominant hand (paw)?Both his breeder and first owner are left-handed people. Did he learn by observing them?

Dear Doctor

Help for a cat with hairballsQI have a five-year-old female longhaired cat who I adopted from the local humane society about two years ago. Recently, she has been having hairballs almost on a daily basis.

Why Does My Cat Stick His Tongue Out?

As a feline practitioner, I have heard many stories and have seen my share of cats who, during the normal course of their day, happen to sit around with their tongues sticking out a little. In most cases, there is nothing to be concerned about. It is simply the cats own personal quirk, and it is actually kind of endearing.

When to use supplements; a cat whose bed is now the litter box; treatment...

Letters to Tufts Veterinarians - Feeding a probiotic; Senior cat stops using litter box; A cat with puffy eyelids

Dear Doctor – Expired Pet Food

Expiration dates on pet food QI recently bought several large bags of a high-quality cat food on sale at our local pet store. Unfortunately, I just realized that the best by date has been passed by a couple of months on two of the bags (the third bags date is okay). …