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Several years ago a noted pediatrician, Dr. Rene Spitz, became involved in the care of orphan infants. He found that in those orphanages where babies received little tender loving care but had all their survival needs attended to (clean diapers, baths, regular feedings, etc.), outbreaks of disease were common. Also, the babies didnt seem to thrive and some even developed a wasting disease known as marasmus. …

During the course of regular grooming, cats swallow some of their fur and it is natural for them to later regurgitate small sausage rolls of hair, often accompanied by loud and disturbing sounds of gagging, retching, and coughing. This should be no cause of alarm. Many cats simply void the fur in their stools. Cats who frequently vomit up fur balls benefit from a daily grooming and a few drops of fish oil or a…

In too many cases, it is we humans who are, perhaps unwittingly, responsible for a great deal of play aggression. Sometimes kittens are adopted too early, often around six to eight weeks of age. Its detrimental to a kittens continuing social development for her to leave her mother and littermates before shes twelve weeks old. …

A fearful cat may roll over on its back, turning its head to face the aggressor with all four paws ready for protection. This might appear to some observers as a submissive posture, like that of a dog, whose belly-up posture is intended to discourage an attack by signaling Okay, okay: Im lower ranking. But cats do not have specific dominance or subordinance displays. They convey their relative social status by a combination of offensive…

This is a very common form of aggression. Youre sitting on the couch. Your cat comes to you asking to be petted. Meow. Meow. Oh, how sweet. Let me pet you. Purrrrrr. You like that, kitty? Is that good? Yes, you like that, dont you? Purrrrrr. You really love it. I can tell! Silence. Ow! Now your hand has reddish pinholes in it, and your feelings are smarting too. What just happened? There are a few possible reasons for this kind of bait…

Did you know that cat owners take their cats to the vet less often than they take their dogs, not to mention less often than dog owners take their dogs? In fact, over the last two years, the disparity has gotten even worse. I recommend that you take your cat to a vet for medical checkups and teeth-cleanings as often as your vet recommends, but at least once a year, and certainly any time your…

[From Tufts September 2011 Issue]

I am a new subscriber, and have limited recent experience with cats. I have Grigino (Italian for nice little gray tomcat), a very personable 21-month-old cat whom weve had since he was 2 months old. He has been neutered. Every once in a while, he tries to bite our hands. When he does this, he will hit at the hand with his paw, probably to control the hand or line it up, before he bites at it.

Fortunately, he never bites hard, and he almost always has his claws retracted when he is playing at this or at most other things. He nevertheless will occasionally draw blood with these antics. Should I be concerned? In any event, how might I try to break him? Flicking him in the nose with my finger doesnt seem to work, as it just seems to intensify the game for him.
Al Cavagnaro

In most cases, cats will have blackheads and some hair loss on the chin. In severe cases, abscesses and cysts can form. Abscesses may need to be lanced, and in some cases, a drain may need to be placed. Without seeing your cat, it is hard to know from your description whether this was just an abscess, or if it was a cyst. Abscesses should resolve after lancing and antibiotic treatment. A cyst, on the other hand, needs to be completely removed surgically.

[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]

In past centuries, people invented fanciful explanations for cats mystifying behaviors. Modern science and common sense have debunked such notions as supernatural cats conspiring with witches. We know that cats have only one life, not nine. And black cats dont cause future bad luck by dashing across our paths.

But urban legends persist. Thats because old wives tales may include partial truths, or rely on an inaccurate and coincidental cause-effect notion, says Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, veterinarian and director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. So exactly whats truth, and whats fiction about common feline urban legends?

[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. …

I recently had to have my 8-year-old cat, Tasha, put to sleep after she threw a clot that paralyzed her back legs. She was in severe respiratory distress from congestive heart failure. My veterinarian said that it was probably hereditary, so we had her sibling, Gussy, tested for heart problems. The veterinarian did an echocardiogram and said that Gussy definitely has a bad ticker. He said it was borderline congestive heart failure. Hearing that nearly killed me. I adopted them when they were both 8 weeks old. Now, Im looking at losing them both. My veterinarian prescribed giving Gussy on a quarter of a baby aspirin twice a week. Even though its a small dosage, Im concerned because I keep reading how poisonous aspirin can be to cats. I understand that there are supplements available to strengthen the heart. What would you recommend?