Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, 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 father or mother or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is right here to offer solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting frequent behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that can preserve your kitty joyful, wholesome, and feline positive. Keep tuned for professional steerage on a spread of matters that matter most to you and your cat, so you can also make knowledgeable choices and supply the absolute best care to your furry companion.
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Assist! My Cats’ Again is Getting Sore!
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
My Kitty-Boy, Mash, might be 14 years previous in Could. I’ve observed that his again will get sore close to the tail. Can I give him one thing that might be wholesome for his kidneys and liver?” – Nikki
Hello Nikki,
Thanks for being such a loving and observant pet father or mother to your candy Mash. At practically 14, he’s coming into his golden years, and it’s not unusual for older cats to expertise discomfort within the decrease again or close to the bottom of the tail. This space is usually a hotspot for age-related adjustments similar to arthritis and even referred discomfort from different areas just like the hips or backbone. Similar to older folks might really feel stiff getting away from bed, senior cats can develop irritation of their joints that makes sure actions or contact uncomfortable.
Earlier than contemplating any dietary supplements or therapies, it’s vital to first pinpoint what’s inflicting the soreness. Whereas there are joint-supportive choices like omega-3 fatty acids (from high-quality fish oil), glucosamine, or green-lipped mussel that may be mild on the liver and kidneys, it’s greatest to rule out different potential points first, like hyperesthesia syndrome, spinal discomfort, and even early kidney-related adjustments that will trigger again sensitivity. As a result of Mash is a senior, I like to recommend scheduling a veterinary examination, ideally together with bloodwork and presumably X-rays. These will assist information secure selections and guarantee any complement or treatment helps his total well being. With the appropriate care, many older cats like Mash can keep comfy and lively effectively into their senior years.
Greatest,
Dr. Paola
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Assist! I Want Assist Getting My Cats to Like Every Different!
“Hello Dr Paola!
I’ve a cat, Looney, that adopted me 16 months in the past. I have already got 3 cats. Looney is about 2. When I discovered him, I took him to the vet and obtained all his pictures, and he was neutered.
I introduced him dwelling, separated him in a particular cat room with a cat door, home windows so he may take a look at water, a fountain, and a little bit robotic! Steadily, we put a leash on Looney to stroll round the home, inside the home so the opposite cats may see him, and he may odor the opposite cats. After 1 12 months, I took him off the leash and let him run round the home, which brought on a MAJOR PROBLEM. One among my cats, a male named Gio, doesn’t like Looney in any respect and freaks out each time he sees him. I don’t know tips on how to get these cats to love one another! Please assist!“ – Christine
Hello Christine,
Thanks for sharing your considerate, gradual, and loving strategy. It sounds such as you’ve really gone above and past for Looney, and it’s clear that your coronary heart is totally dedicated to all of your feline companions. Integrating a brand new cat into a house with established senior cats can typically really feel like introducing a younger whirlwind right into a quiet retirement village. Even with sluggish introductions, some personalities naturally conflict, particularly when the newcomer continues to be youthful and stuffed with vitality and the resident cat, like Gio, has a well-established sense of territory and routine.
Gio’s sturdy response suggests he might really feel threatened or overwhelmed by Looney’s presence, particularly if Looney is playful or assertive in methods Gio finds intrusive. Cats are creatures of management, and adjustments to their setting or social construction can unsettle them deeply. Whilst you’ve already executed a cautious introduction, in instances like this, it’s usually crucial to return just a few steps and reintroduce them extra regularly utilizing structured constructive reinforcement. Consider it as rebuilding a shaky bridge with persistence and confidence: tiny steps, effectively supported.
A method referred to as “website swapping” might help: let Gio spend time in Looney’s particular room with Looney confined elsewhere, so he can get used to Looney’s scent in a low-pressure means. Pair any visible entry between them with one thing each cats love, like treats or play, so they start to affiliate one another with good experiences. Multi-cat artificial pheromone diffusers and calming dietary supplements really useful by your vet can even assist ease underlying stress. If issues proceed to really feel caught, working with a feline behaviorist could make a world of distinction. They’ve the expertise required to notice delicate cues and might tailor particular methods to your distinctive family dynamics. With time, help, and consistency, many cats study to tolerate and even benefit from the presence of a once-unwelcome housemate.
Wishing you good luck,
Dr. Paola
Can You Assist Me Decide My Cats Breed?
“Expensive Dr. Paola,
Please, what breed is my a lot cherished cat George? I believed Turkish Angora, however his vet says he’s uncertain, perhaps a Maine Coon. He’s obtained an attractive huge bushy tail, 5 kg, and practically eight months previous. “ – Charlotte
Hello Charlotte,
Thanks for sharing a little bit about your great George. He sounds completely beautiful, and with that huge, bushy tail and stable construct at simply eight months previous, it’s no marvel he attracts consideration! Whereas his options would possibly resemble these of breeds just like the Turkish Angora or Maine Coon, the one option to know for certain is with a feline DNA check. These exams can reveal breed ancestry, coat traits, and even potential well being markers, providing an enchanting glimpse into what makes George distinctive. Understanding the breed simply from a photograph is oftentimes difficult, and it’s value noting that until he got here with pedigree papers, George is probably going an attractive mixed-breed cat with options paying homage to a number of longhaired breeds. However that doesn’t make him any much less particular; the truth is, among the most charming personalities and distinctive seems come from these pleasant blends.
That mentioned, whether or not he seems to have purebred roots or is an attractive mix of a number of lineages, each cat is ideal in their very own means. Their attraction, quirks, and companionship don’t come from a pedigree however from the bond they share with us, and it appears like George has discovered precisely the place he belongs. By the way in which, be at liberty so as to add his picture to our cat of the week contest; we like to see pics of our readers’ beloved pets! Wanting ahead to that pic!
Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
