CAT HEALTH & MEDICINE

Due to the backward-facing barbs on the cat's tongue, the hair he grooms must be swallowed. Some of this swallowed hair passes through the digestive system without a problem. If he swallows too much hair, the cat may vomit up a tubular-shaped glob of wet hair know to those of us who end uup stepping on them as hair balls. Not all hair balls get vomited up or passed with the stool, though. Some swallowed hair ends up trapped in the intestines, causing a blockage.

Your cat depends on you for his health and comfort. Cats don't really have nine lives, so it's up to you and your veterinarian to be responsible for his health and welfare.

Become familiar with your cat's normal routine. Notice how much water he usually drinks. This will be important information because an increase or decrease in water consumption can be a symptom of certain diseases. Are you familar with your cat's litter box habits? If so, you may be able to detect diarrhea, constipation, and potential urinary tract problems early. Become familar with his usual volume of urine or feces, as well as its color.

You sit anxiously in the waiting room while your cat undergoes surgery to remove a cancerous mass. Finally, after what seems like forever, the doctor comes out in his scrubs and tells you he was able to excise the malignant tumor and that he believes he got it all. Relieved but not yet out of the woods, you wait for the pathology report. Sure enough, it confirms the surgeons belief that he excised the cancer…

When removing a malignant tumor, a surgeon can't see a single cancer cell left behind with the naked eye — or even 10,000 cancer...

Cats are masters at hiding pain and illness, which can make it difficult for their owners to recognize that something is amiss. However, owners should become concerned when they observe persistent subtle changes in their cats behavior such as eating less, sleeping or hiding more than usual or reduced interest in playing ...

Like stoic warriors, our cats conceal pain for the same reason - pain equals weakness and vulnerability to attack from enemies. Hiding pain is an instinctual survival strategy for cats, and because they are so masterful at concealing pain, it can sometimes take owners a long time to realize that something is amiss.

The very idea of giving medication to a cat conjures up an array of images from funny to sheer dread on the part of the cat owner. Lets face it: Administering medication to a cat can be chock-full of challenges for human and cat alike. And if the medication has to be given daily, for an indefinite period of time, the challenge becomes that much harder.

Once your veterinarian has prescribed the appropriate medication for your cat and explained how to use it, you can ask for a demonstration on how to administer it. Its very important to ...

[From Tufts February 2010 Issue]Why does my cat vomit? Do you know why my overweight cat vomits? She is elderly, but I dont know her exact age. I feed her half of a 3-ounce can of Fancy Feast at night and three-quarters of a cup of a dental-diet dry food during the day. The vomit looks like it has been digested (like small chewed pieces of dry food in very yellow fluid). Fortunately, she can sometimes go 10 days without…

Seeks nutritional help for cat with cystitis Hobbes, my 5-year-old male, neutered tabby was recently diagnosed with cystitis (a bladder infection). My veterinarian recommended that I feed him canned food, at least for a month. There are two other cats in my home. Until now, meal time has consisted of keeping a bowl filled with kibble so that the food is always available. How can I get Hobbes and my other cats trained to eat at set…

[From Tufts March 2010 Issue] Today, more than one-third of cats in the United States are overweight, posing many health risks and possibly contributing to shortened lives. Ongoing research indicates that increasing protein levels and decreasing carbohydrates in feline diets play vital roles in preventing obesity and its related illnesses. One of these leading scientists, Debra Zoran, DVM, associate professor and chief of medicine at Texas A&M Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in College…

[From Tufts March 2010 Issue] Know what your cats normal weight should be, and weigh her regularly. If she gains a pound, strive to get it off again. To properly address your cats weight issues, our veterinary nutritional experts pose these five questions: 1. What are you feeding your cat? Seek to raise protein levels and reduce carbohydrate and calorie levels. Cat food label recommendations are for intact, rather than spayed or neutered cats, so adjust them…

Diabetes ranks as one of the most common health conditions in cats, especially those who are overweight. As treatment, many cats will require twice-daily insulin injections. In two recent issues, we provided step-by-step guides to administering pills and liquid medicine. Now, our experts offer tips on developing confidence and proficiency in administering insulin injections to your diabetic cat.