Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we convey professional recommendation directly 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 father or mother or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is right here to offer solutions for your maximum urgent questions. From diet pointers and preventive care to troubleshooting not unusual behavioral problems, Dr. Paola is able to be offering insights that may stay your kitty satisfied, wholesome, and pussycat effective. Keep tuned for professional steerage on a variety of subjects that subject maximum to you and your cat, so you’ll make knowledgeable selections and give you the very best conceivable handle your hairy spouse.
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Assist! I Am Anxious About Poisonous Elements!
“I’m a bit cautious of products containing certain ingredients. These products are just for me, but I’m a bit worried they might be toxic to my cat, Karlsson. Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil (abrikoskerneolie), and little amounts of Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil. Thanks!” – Daniel
Hello Daniel,
You’re completely proper to be wary, as many on a regular basis merchandise which can be risk free to us can pose dangers to cats. Apricot kernel oil (Prunus armeniaca kernel oil) in beauty or skin care merchandise is typically now not poisonous to cats. The worry with apricot kernels themselves is amygdalin, a compound that may free up cyanide, however cosmetic-grade oils are purified and secure for topical use. Except Karlsson have been to at once ingest a big amount of the oil, the chance from incidental publicity could be very low.
Rosemary crucial oil (Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil) calls for extra care. Rosemary, as a herb, is thought of as secure, however the crucial oil is extremely concentrated. Cats lack probably the most liver enzymes had to metabolize compounds in crucial oils, so exposures past easy touch can lead now not most effective to native inflammation however, in upper doses, to extra critical results corresponding to drooling, vomiting, tremors, and even liver harm. In beauty merchandise for human use, the quantities are normally very small and not going to reason hurt until Karlsson licks the product at once out of your pores and skin. The best possibility comes from undiluted oils, diffusers, or if such merchandise are implemented at once to a puppy.
The most secure means is to proceed the usage of your merchandise your self however keep away from letting Karlsson lick or groom spaces the place the product has been implemented, and make sure he has get right of entry to to well-ventilated areas. Should you ever understand indicators corresponding to drooling, unsteadiness, or vomiting after conceivable publicity, search veterinary consideration straight away. For on a regular basis peace of thoughts, teletriage veterinary products and services generally is a helpful useful resource to assist assess dangers briefly in non-emergency scenarios.
Best possible,
Dr. Paola
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Assist! My Hepper Licks the Partitions?
“Skittles likes to lick our partitions. This doesn’t occur always, however principally after I groom her, since I do that on a desk this is subsequent to a wall. What does this imply?“ – Marilyn
Hello Marilyn,
It feels like Skittles has advanced slightly grooming regimen of her personal all the way through your brushing classes. Cats continuously discover textures and surfaces with their tongues, and in lots of circumstances, wall licking is just a displacement conduct, very similar to how some folks hum or fidget when they’re being groomed or treated. The desk and wall could be making a small nook the place she feels safe, and licking may well be her approach of self-soothing in that surroundings.
That mentioned, it’s all the time price taking into account conceivable scientific and environmental elements. On occasion licking ordinary surfaces, known as pica, will also be connected to dietary imbalances, gastrointestinal discomfort, and even dental illness. If it occurs most effective in that exact context and now not at different occasions, it’s much more likely to be a behavioral fairly than a well being worry. To be secure, ensure your grooming space is freed from residues like cleansing brokers or paint flakes, as drinking the ones will also be damaging. You may additionally check out redirecting her consideration with a grooming mat or a lick mat with a secure deal with within reach, so she has one thing extra suitable to concentrate on whilst you brush her.
Should you start to understand Skittles licking partitions or different non-food gadgets steadily out of doors of grooming classes, it might be sensible to say this for your veterinarian so they are able to rule out scientific reasons. For now, preserving the grooming space secure and providing her a extra appropriate outlet is a gradual and efficient strategy to arrange the conduct. I’m hoping this is helping!
Best possible,
– Dr. Paola
Do My Cats Know They Are Beloved?
“My cats Darwin and Breebree are my small children. I’m handicapped. They’re the principle souls that handle and love me. They kiss me. I wish to know, after I kiss them — which is widespread — do they know they’re being kissed? Do they really feel and perceive my loving kisses? “ – Michael
Expensive Michael,
It’s very touching to listen to how a lot Darwin and Breebree imply to you. Cats would possibly not perceive the human idea of a “kiss” in the similar approach we do, however they’re very delicate to the goal at the back of our movements. While you lean in shut, discuss softly, and provides them a gradual kiss, they select up for your tone of voice, frame language, and the heat of your contact. Those cues keep in touch protection, affection, and consider, which cats completely acknowledge and worth.
Many cats come to affiliate kisses with convenience, similar to they perceive petting or being spoken to in a loving voice. Some even reply with gradual blinks or rubbing towards you, each pussycat tactics of unveiling affection and consider. So whilst they would possibly not interpret a kiss within the actual human sense, Darwin and Breebree are very most probably experiencing your kisses as expressions of affection. In their very own approach, by means of in quest of you out, appearing affection, and returning the ones moments of closeness, they’re telling you they really feel deeply bonded to you, too. And, as I’m certain nicely, there’s no higher feeling than that!
Sincerely,
– Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
Learn closing week’s questions right here: October 20, 2025
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