Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we deliver professional 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 dad or mum 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 supply insights that may hold your kitty completely satisfied, wholesome, and feline effective. Keep tuned for professional steering on a spread of subjects that matter most to you and your cat, so you may make knowledgeable selections and supply the absolute best care in your furry companion.
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Assist! My Rescue Isn’t Very Social!
“Pricey Dr. Paola,
I’ve rescued my wee boy, James Connolly, when he was about 6 weeks outdated. He was deserted together with his mother and two sisters and was very shy and withdrawn, and subsequently was usually left alone with little meals. Since he’s been rehomed with me on his personal, inside 24 hours, the semi feral kitten grew to become a cuddle monster with a foolish persona. Nonetheless, he has issue socializing. He’s very jumpy and really anxious. He all the time must be with me, and I attempt my finest. I tried to be away for one weekend and left him with a cat sitter, and it was a catastrophe. The vet says he has anxiousness. How can I enhance his confidence and guarantee he feels secure even when I’m not bodily there? – Sarah
Hello Sarah,
Thanks for opening your coronary heart and residential to little James Connolly; what a wonderful title for such a courageous little soul. From what you’ve shared, it’s clear you’ve already remodeled his world. His shift from withdrawn and missed to cuddly and expressive says a lot in regards to the love and security you’ve supplied him. Cats who expertise early stress, notably those that’ve gone with out constant meals, maternal consolation, or light dealing with, usually develop what we name “insecure attachment types.” It’s much like a baby clinging tightly after being left alone too usually. It’s not simply worry, it’s a survival mechanism.
Serving to James construct confidence is a course of. Begin by making a predictable routine round meals, play, and relaxation; this rhythm turns into a security web. Attempt utilizing interactive toys like wand teasers or deal with puzzles to shift his focus outward and encourage unbiased play. Confidence can bloom by “secure wins,” that are small, non-threatening challenges he can overcome. In your absence, your scent could be a highly effective comforter, you may depart behind a worn T-shirt. You also needs to take into account artificial pheromone diffusers, which mimic the calming indicators cats affiliate with maternal presence. Gradual desensitization to quick absences, beginning with seconds, not hours, will help, however this should be completed slowly and patiently.
As a result of James has proven such intense separation anxiousness, it may additionally be useful to seek the advice of a feline veterinary behaviorist to discover choices like nutraceuticals or calming dietary supplements. These should not sedatives however light aids that may assist his emotional stability throughout coaching. You’ve already given him a lot. Now it’s nearly serving to him imagine that security doesn’t vanish while you stroll out the door.
Greatest,
Dr. Paola
If it is advisable to converse with a vet however cannot get to 1, head over to PangoVet. It is a web based service the place you possibly can discuss to a vet on-line and get the recommendation you want in your pet — all at an reasonably priced value!
Assist! I Am Seeing Blood in My Cats Poo!
“Hello Dr Paola!
I’ve a 7-year-old cat known as Myst. Periodically, we see a small quantity of blood within the litter field after she has a BM. She has had a number of exams, fecal research, and an ultrasound. All have been damaging. The suggestion now’s to have a colonoscopy. She eats Hill’s Z/D. She has a great urge for food & is playful. I simply don’t know if I ought to have this completed. Ought to I get one other opinion? What are your ideas, please?” – Pam
Hello Pam, thanks for sharing about Myst. It’s clear how deeply you take care of her, and I can perceive how regarding it’s to see traces of blood within the litter field, particularly when every part else about her appears regular. The truth that she’s consuming nicely, is playful, and is sustaining her routine is encouraging, however it’s additionally a bit puzzling when indicators like this persist and not using a clear trigger. You’ve already taken all the fitting steps: bodily examination, fecal research, and even an ultrasound, which tells me you’ve been very thorough and dedicated to getting her the care she wants.
At this level, a colonoscopy could be a affordable subsequent step. It’s one of the best ways to straight visualize the liner of the colon and presumably receive biopsies if there’s any refined irritation, polyps, or early illness that wouldn’t present up on different diagnostics. Nonetheless, earlier than shifting ahead, it’s completely legitimate to hunt a second opinion, ideally from a veterinary internist. Their perspective will help you are feeling extra assured about whether or not this step is critical proper now or if different much less invasive changes is likely to be value making an attempt first. Within the meantime, I’d counsel carefully monitoring Myst’s stool consistency, frequency, and any straining. Softer stools are likely to cross extra simply and should cut back minor trauma that may trigger bleeding, particularly if the colon is delicate. Encouraging hydration by a water fountain, broth-soaked kibble, or incorporating moisture-rich recent or moist meals will help naturally ease bowel actions and should supply some reduction if the bleeding is mechanical in nature. You’re doing a beautiful job advocating for Myst, and he or she’s fortunate to have you ever by her facet.
Dr. Paola
Assist! My Cat Meows All Day Lengthy!
“Pricey Dr. Paola,
My companion and I adopted a stray feminine (neutered) 1-year-old cat 6 months in the past. Her title is Maru. The worrying subject is that she retains meowing a number of occasions a day, loudly, at partitions and doorways. She has hip dysplasia, so she will’t bounce like a standard cat.
We all know she was dwelling exterior earlier than, however now she is meant to be an indoor cat. Our house is kind of large, so there is no such thing as a area subject, however the meowing is hectic for all of us. I’m practising together with her on a harness daily to get her happening exterior walks in the summertime, however we do not know if this may assist her. We play together with her a number of occasions a day (typically just a few hours in a row), she isn’t alone for too lengthy, and he or she is nicely fed and her litter field taken care of. I’m additionally giving her some no-stress treats, and many others. We additionally hung cat climbing stairs on the wall, and he or she has a number of scraping posts and good views from the massive home windows.We have now completely no concept what to do together with her to maintain the meowing to a
minimal and can be very grateful for some new suggestions “ – Emili
Hiya Emili, thanks for sharing Maru’s story.
She may be very fortunate to have discovered such a loving and attentive dwelling. From every part you describe, it’s clear that you’re doing a beautiful job supporting her bodily and emotional wants, particularly contemplating her hip dysplasia and her background as an outside cat. Cats like Maru, who’ve needed to depend on themselves in unpredictable environments, usually develop sturdy vocal habits as a technique to specific their wants or talk uncertainty. Even as soon as they’re secure and nicely cared for, these behaviors that grew to become recurring can proceed, even when issues are calm.
Her meowing at partitions and doorways may have just a few completely different explanations. Cats have extremely delicate listening to, and typically they react to sounds we can not detect, like plumbing, wind, and even small animals behind partitions. It may additionally be an indication of frustration associated to her mobility challenges. Cats are wired to climb and discover vertically, and when their our bodies restrict that means, they could really feel stressed or unfulfilled. That feeling can come out by vocalizing. You’re already providing her an enriched setting, which is great. Creating predictable routines round feeding, play, and relaxation will help some cats really feel safer and should cut back vocalizations over time. Your plan to begin taking her on outside walks throughout the hotter months sounds promising and may supply her a wholesome outlet for each psychological and bodily stimulation.
If her meowing is turning into extra frequent or intense, it’s value contemplating whether or not ache could also be taking part in a task. We even have a tele-triage veterinary service, PangoVet, the place you possibly can converse to one in all our skilled veterinarians on-line from the consolation of your property, the place they will help reply questions in actual time and assist information you towards the following finest steps. Power discomfort from circumstances like hip dysplasia can typically present up in surprising methods, and even refined reduction can deliver significant enchancment in her habits. You’re clearly providing her a secure and loving area, and that makes all of the distinction. I hope this helps!
Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola sequence
