Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each and every Monday we convey knowledgeable 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 guardian or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions in 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 glad, wholesome, and tom cat advantageous. Keep tuned for knowledgeable steering on a spread of subjects that subject maximum to you and your cat, so you’ll be able to make knowledgeable choices and give you the best possible imaginable deal with your hairy spouse.
Have a query? Ship it in right here!
HELP! My Hepper Loves Consuming Grass, However It Makes Her Vomit!
“Expensive Dr Paola,
My 9-year-old cat, Bhelpuri, likes to munch on kitty grass once we pass out for supervised lawn time on a daily basis. Extra regularly than now not, she is going to throw it up mins later. She is in all alternative ways wholesome, so I’m curious if that is one thing advisable to her, or if I will have to take away the grass, despite the fact that she likes to chomp on it. Thank you!”
– Duncan
Expensive Duncan,
What you’re describing is in reality reasonably not unusual in cats. Many cats appear to experience chewing grass, and a few will vomit in a while in a while. We wouldn’t have definitive proof that cats consume grass in particular to urge vomiting, however it seems that to be a regular tom cat habits. Bring to mind it a little like an individual playing a specific crunchy snack. The habits itself isn’t essentially an indication that one thing is fallacious. The blades of grass can from time to time worsen the tummy lining or tickle the again of the throat, which would possibly cause vomiting quickly after ingestion.
If Bhelpuri is another way wholesome, keeping up her weight, consuming most often, and appearing no different digestive indicators, I might now not be overly involved. On the other hand, as a result of she vomits “more often than not” after consuming grass, it can be price restricting the volume to be had right through lawn time moderately than eliminating it fully. Providing a small patch of protected, untreated cat grass and discouraging massive binges would possibly assist. If the vomiting turns into extra common, happens when she has now not eaten grass, or is accompanied by means of adjustments in urge for food, weight, power degree, or stool high quality, a veterinary exam can be warranted.
For now, Bhelpuri feels like a cat who would possibly merely experience her lawn salad just a little too enthusiastically!
Sort regards,
– Dr. Paola
HELP! My Feral Hepper Has Itchy Ears!
“Dr Dr Paola,
Thanks for the entire superb stuff you do for our pets.
What do you call to mind SPRAY BANIXX for ear infections, yeast infections, ringworm, wounds, and sizzling spots? My feral kitty, Ninji, can not pass to a vet or be touched as she’s very afraid. She has scratched each ears to the purpose the place some fur has come off. I noticed her seeking to get her foot within her ear — it’s unhealthy. I believe it’s ear mites, and I used to be instructed this spray will assist.
What are your ideas, please?”
– Sybil
Hello Sybil,
Thanks on your sort phrases. I will be able to indubitably perceive your worry for Ninji. Gazing a anxious feral cat fight with itchy ears will also be heartbreaking, particularly when dealing with her isn’t an possibility.
Banixx Spray is advertised for various pores and skin and ear stipulations, however it’s not thought to be a confirmed remedy for ear mites. Ear mites are tiny parasites that stay deep inside the ear canal, and efficient remedy calls for a medicine in particular designed to kill them. If Ninji is scratching intensely, shedding fur across the ears, and making an attempt to achieve deep into the ear canal along with her foot, ear mites are one risk, however any other stipulations could cause very identical indicators, together with bacterial or yeast ear infections, allergic reactions, ear polyps, inflammatory ear illness, and even pores and skin parasites. The use of a twig that doesn’t deal with the underlying motive would possibly supply little get advantages and may extend efficient remedy.
As a result of Ninji can’t be treated, the most secure manner could also be to touch a veterinary health facility, safe haven veterinarian, or a teletriage veterinary provider for steering on some choices for treating feral cats. In lots of circumstances, veterinarians can suggest parasite therapies that may be implemented to the outside in the back of the neck (spot-on therapies) after humane trapping, and those merchandise are regularly efficient towards ear mites. If you happen to understand head shaking, a bad smell from the ears, discharge, lack of steadiness, or worsening wounds from scratching, veterinary consideration turns into extra pressing. Bring to mind the scratching as an alarm bell moderately than the issue itself. The necessary phase is figuring out what’s inflicting the itch so it may be correctly handled.
I am hoping this is helping!
– Dr. Paola
HELP! I’m Terrified About Sending My Hepper In a foreign country!
“Hi Dr Paola,
I stay in Oman, and rescued a Persian doll face and her kittens from the streets. I’ve had them for two years now, however sadly we need to transfer, and my Mother isn’t letting me take them with us. I’ve attempted to get them followed right here, however had no success, so my handiest possibility used to be to achieve out to shelters out of the country since there aren’t any right here. I discovered a rescue in Canada that agreed to take them, however my factor is they’ll must commute in shipment, and the temperature right here in Oman can rise up to just about 50oC (122oF). Will they be k?
I’m truthfully shedding sleep over this and waking up with panic assaults each day.
The Persian is 5 years previous. When she used to be outside, she used to be panting and drooling from the warmth. Please, do you may have any recommendation? Would you suggest I ship her out of the country? I’m in point of fact scared concerning the temperature as it in point of fact is very sizzling right here, and I don’t know what the temperature can be like in shipment.”
– Dana
Expensive Dana,
First, I wish to recognize how a lot you care about those cats. The truth that you’re shedding sleep over this resolution tells me you’ve been sporting an amazing sense of accountability for them. You rescued them from the streets, gave them a protected house for 2 years, and are actually seeking to safe their long term. This is an act of compassion, despite the fact that the placement is amazingly tough.
Your worry concerning the warmth may be very legitimate. Persian cats, even doll-face Persians, will also be extra liable to warmth tension than many different cats, and a historical past of panting and drooling in sizzling climate suggests your cat won’t tolerate excessive temperatures effectively. The excellent news is that respected airways that delivery pets across the world normally stay stay animals in a temperature-controlled, pressurized phase of the airplane, now not in the similar stipulations as common shipment.
The best chance is regularly now not right through the flight itself, however right through flooring dealing with, loading, unloading, and transfers. As a result of temperatures in Oman can manner 50°C (122°F), I might strongly inspire running carefully with the airline and rescue group to organize commute right through the best months imaginable, make a selection flights that leave or arrive right through cooler instances of day, decrease layovers, and test the airline’s live-animal temperature insurance policies. Many airways have temperature restrictions in particular to give protection to pets and would possibly refuse delivery if stipulations are unsafe.
If the Canadian rescue is skilled with global cat delivery, they’ve most likely navigated those considerations sooner than and might be able to suggest the most secure path and season. From an animal welfare point of view, I might normally believe a moderately deliberate adventure to a credible rescue preferable to abandonment or an unsure long term at the streets. Bring to mind the commute as a brief, worrying bridge to a doubtlessly a lot more secure lifestyles.
Sooner than committing, I might ask the rescue and airline detailed questions on temperature controls, switch procedures, and contingency plans for delays. Having the ones solutions would possibly assist change one of the concern with concrete data and help you take advantage of knowledgeable resolution on your Persian and her kittens.
Best possible needs,
– Dr. Paola
This newsletter is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola sequence
Learn closing week’s questions right here: June 15, 2026
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