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Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we convey professional recommendation instantly 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 puppy dad or mum or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions on your maximum urgent questions. From vitamin guidelines and preventive care to troubleshooting not unusual behavioral problems, Dr. Paola is able to be offering insights that can stay your kitty glad, wholesome, and pussycat wonderful. Keep tuned for professional steering on a spread of subjects that subject maximum to you and your cat, so you’ll make knowledgeable selections and give you the absolute best imaginable deal with your hairy spouse.
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Assist! My Hepper Loves Milk!
“Pricey Dr. Paola,
I’ve a male cat referred to as Sasja, 2½ years outdated. He likes milk very a lot. Is giving cats milk, even in small amounts, at all times damaging to cats?” – Christian
Pricey Christian,
It’s pretty to listen to about Sasja’s fondness for milk, however sadly, milk isn’t your best choice for many grownup cats. Whilst kittens produce sufficient lactase—the enzyme had to smash down lactose in milk—this talent frequently declines as they develop. Many grownup cats fight to digest dairy correctly, like people with lactose intolerance. Even small quantities can result in digestive disillusioned, inflicting unfastened stools, gasoline, or abdomen discomfort.
If Sasja enjoys the style of milk, you may believe lactose-free cat milk, which is particularly formulated to be secure for pussycat digestion. Then again, if he merely enjoys the regimen of a distinct deal with, you’ll be offering small quantities of water-diluted goat milk or a cat-friendly broth as a substitute. This fashion, he can nonetheless have a comforting deal with with out the prospective tummy troubles.
Type regards and absolute best needs,
Dr. Paola
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Assist! I Want Creation Guidelines!
“Hello Dr. Paola,
I introduced an 8-week-old kitten house and we even have two 12-year-old cats in the home. What are your absolute best advent guidelines and the way do we all know when it’s secure to allow them to have interaction freely? Thanks so very a lot!” – Chad
Hello Chad. Bringing a brand new kitten into a house with senior cats calls for endurance and a considerate advent procedure to verify a clean transition. The most productive recommendation I will be able to come up with isn’t to hurry it. Cats are territorial, and surprising introductions can create rigidity and rigidity. As an alternative of dashing, give your older cats time to regulate by way of putting in place a separate house for the kitten, whole with meals, water, a clutter field, and secure hiding spots. This permits your resident cats to change into aware of the kitten’s smell with out feeling in an instant threatened. It additionally permits the kitten to settle into the brand new setting and really feel extra calm and safe.
You’ll be able to accelerate smell trade by way of swapping bedding between them and the use of a cushy material to rub one cat, after which the opposite, so they begin associating each and every different’s smell with one thing acquainted.
As soon as the smell advent segment is going easily, permit temporary, supervised visible conferences thru a toddler gate or cracked door. All over those first introductions, it’s clue to observe their frame language intently. Indicators like flattened ears, raised fur, hissing, or growling point out unease or rigidity, whilst at ease postures and interest recommend they’re adjusting nicely. For those who see indicators of sure frame language, move forward and provides them a yummy deal with; don’t give one if rigidity is within the air. If issues are going nicely you’ll progressively development to brief, supervised interactions in a impartial house, and proceed the use of sure reinforcement akin to treats or mild reward to create sure associations. It is important to to provide them time and keep away from forcing interactions. You should additionally make sure that your senior cats have secure get away routes in the event that they really feel crushed.
I will be able to now not rigidity sufficient the significance of commentary; you’ll are aware of it’s secure to allow them to have interaction freely when their encounters stay calm—which means no competitive chasing, swatting with claws prolonged, or extended growling. Some hissing or temporary corrections from the older cats are standard as they identify limitations, nevertheless it must now not escalate into extended hostility.
Remember the fact that since your older cat is prone to have other power ranges than the kitten, you should make sure that they have got prime perches or quiet retreat spaces the place they may be able to chill out undisturbed. With endurance and cautious tracking, maximum cats modify through the years, nevertheless it’s at all times necessary to move at their tempo, give them some personal house, and do the paintings to fortify sure associations in an effort to handle a harmonious family.I want you just right success,
Dr. Paola
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Assist! My Hepper Seems to Be Humping?
“My 13.5-year-old neutered cat, Tuffy, has developed an unusual habit over the past few years. When kneading a soft microfiber blanket, he gradually enters a trance-like state and begins rhythmic movements resembling humping, though no direct contact or fluid discharge occurs. He stops either on his own or when gently interrupted, after which he immediately licks himself, seemingly to reduce discomfort rather than for further stimulation. No medical issues have been found during regular veterinary consultations. Tuffy has been well-socialized with other cats and remains active and healthy. Could this be a self-soothing behavior, a learned habit, or something else entirely?” – Ben
Hello Ben!Tuffy’s habits, whilst strange, isn’t solely unusual in neutered male cats. Kneading is a deeply ingrained kitten habits related to nursing, and plenty of cats proceed doing it into maturity as a self-soothing mechanism. The trance-like state suggests he’s extremely targeted and at ease, similar to how some cats suckle on cloth or toys. The humping movement layered onto this ritual may well be a realized or compulsive habits that evolved through the years, perhaps strengthened by way of the enjoyable sensation of kneading a cushy floor. By way of the way in which, have you ever examine Olga’s Toy Trance? Tuffy isn’t the one one with a consolation blanket.
Even if Tuffy was once neutered as a kitten, a cat’s mind nonetheless keeps some instinctual behaviors associated with mating. Some neutered men proceed to turn mounting or thrusting behaviors, particularly once they’re specifically content material or overstimulated. It’s fascinating that he doesn’t search out different items or interact on this habits out of doors of his kneading periods, suggesting it’s extra of a comfort-driven addiction somewhat than a hormonally pushed one. His post-kneading licking would possibly merely be a strategy to relax after an episode somewhat than an indication of discomfort or inflammation.
Since this has been going down for years and there aren’t any accompanying clinical issues, it’s most probably a innocuous, self-soothing habits. Then again, in the event you ever realize adjustments akin to over the top licking, swelling, issue urinating, or indicators of discomfort, a veterinary check-up can be a good suggestion to rule out urinary or penile problems. If this habits ever begins interfering together with his day by day existence or turns into obsessive, a teletriage veterinary carrier may assist assess whether or not intervention is wanted. It’s essential e book a choice with considered one of our skilled veterinarians at PangoVet if in case you have extra questions or need some make stronger. However because it stands, it feels like Tuffy has merely discovered his very private strategy to unwind!
I’m hoping this is helping,
Dr. Paola
This newsletter is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
