CAT OWNERSHIP

Bringing a kitten or cat into a home with a baby - or vice versa - can be a beautiful experience for your family. The majority of the time, it will go smoothly and become a positive relationship, explains Nicholas H. Dodman, BVMS, DACVB, Professor of Behavior Pharmacology and Animal Behavior at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, adding, Of course, Ive heard of kids getting scratched, but its not one of the more common…

It started out as a quiet evening in late autumn for Renee C. - a Massachusetts housewife and part-time yoga instructor - but it certainly didnt end up that way. She, her husband and their two-year-old daughter had just finished dinner and were relaxing in their living room when there was a knock at the front door. It was a neighbor, recalls Renee, with some very bad news. Our cat Shady had been struck by…

[From Tufts April 2011 Issue]

A few years ago, I lured a stray cat into my housebecause I felt sorry for her withwinter approaching.I named her Smokey. I had my veterinarian spay her and give her all the necessary vaccinations.However, there is a problem. My neighbors approached me and told me I have to keep her inside (she was killing chipmunks and birds) or they would notify animal control and have her picked up.

I realize that it is better for Smokey to be inside because she once became quiteinfested with ticks and fleas.Now, she sits in the bay window and watches the squirrels and birds, but when a cat comes into my yard and I approach her, Smokey turns on me.She hisses and growls and a few times, she was ready to attack me.I show her that I am not afraid of her, but her behavior is quite annoying.I tried to spray her with water, but that makes matters worse.

[From Tufts January 2010 Issue] Before Dave and Jody Rundle embarked on a major home renovation project two years ago, the Santa Barbara, California, couple sat down and planned every step of the process - including a discussion on how to make life as stress-free as possible for their three cats, Izzy, Smudge and Blue. …

[From Tufts Febuary 2010 Issue]

I have had my two cats since they were just a few days old. They were bottle-fed until they could eat regular food. They are now 1.5 years old. One is obsessed with rubber bands and the other chews any shoe that has a soft sole. Both chew cardboard boxes.

To try to break this habit, my veterinarian suggested giving them dog chew bones and crunchy food. Neither worked. They still chew on inappropriate objects. Do you think this behavior is because they were not properly weaned? Any advice?
Linda Carlen

[From Tufts June 2011 Issue]

Inherited Siamese acts demanding
Three years ago, I inherited a then-10-year-old male seal point Siamese. When my sisters husband died, she felt that she could no longer care for the cat due to the fact that he was very close to the cat and she never really cared for him. The cat is an indoor and outdoor cat, and he still has his claws.

When he moved in with me and my mom, he began clawing furniture in the living room, which is something he did not do with my sister and her husband. He also began jumping on the kitchen counter and sniffing around. If food is there, hell knock it on the floor and then jump down and eat it.

[From Tufts August 2011 Issue]

Editors note: Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, is a renowned animal behaviorist and best-selling author.

Many years ago, in the days when I sometimes agreed for logistical reasons to do telephone consultations with distraught pet owners, I found myself talking to a very pleasant-sounding older woman on Cape Cod about her aggressive cat. The cat in question was a 7-year-old cat, the breed of which escapes me now, though the sad tale does not.

[From Tufts February 2011 Issue]

Recently, Murphy, my 12- year-old cat, was suddenly looking more like a molting bird than a domestic shorthair. In the span of 10 days, she had methodically and persistently licked and pulled fur off her front paws, abdomen and right flank. Her barbed tongue had removed hair down to the skin in some places, causing red rashes.

Yet, she continued to purr and engage in play, eat and sleep as she normally does. The only deviation from her routine had been this overzealous grooming that left me puzzled, frustrated and concerned.

[From Tufts March 2011 Issue]

Editors note: This article launches a new Catnip series that debunks common misconceptions about cats.
In spite of their reputation for tolerating only dry land, a surprising number of domesticated cats not only tolerate but love pawing water or swimming. Some like to play in standing water; others are fascinated by running water and prefer to drink from a faucet rather than a bowl.

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When choosing an E-collar
Q I have been a veterinary technician for the past six months, and Im hoping you can give me some good advice that I can pass on to our clients. I am often asked by cat owners about the best E-collar to use after surgery. There are more on the market today than ever before, but I dont want to give them the wrong advice.

For the devoted cat owner, nothing is scarier than that split second when you realize youre likely dealing with a veterinary emergency. And if youre anything like me, it often happens at an inopportune time - maybe late at night during a snow storm; or in the middle of a hectic holiday weekend. …