Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we convey knowledgeable recommendation directly from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to lend a hand 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 diet pointers and preventive care to troubleshooting commonplace behavioral problems, Dr. Paola is able to be offering insights that may stay your kitty glad, wholesome, and pussycat 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 selections and give you the perfect imaginable take care of your hairy better half.
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Lend a hand! My Cats Grooming is Riding Me Loopy!
“Pricey Dr. Paola,
I’ve two cats which might be my youngsters. I’m handicapped. My cats take care of me greater than any human with their consistent love and speak to. My query: BreeBree eats and beverages advantageous. She will get together with her brother Darwin; then again, her overgrooming is riding me loopy. Even from time to time once I puppy her, she begins grooming. Most commonly her tail and the realm round her buttocks. Are they allergic reactions? Dependancy? Anxiety? Any information could be favored.” – Michael
Hello Michael,
Thanks for sharing about BreeBree and Darwin. It appears like they’re an enormous supply of affection and strengthen to your existence, and I will be able to believe how relating to it will have to be to peer BreeBree overgrooming herself so incessantly. Cats use grooming as each a bodily and emotional soothing instrument, so when it turns into over the top, it may sign discomfort or rigidity.
Overgrooming of the tail and hindquarters is incessantly connected to pores and skin inflammation, flea chew sensitivity, or underlying allergic reactions, both to meals or one thing within the surroundings. It could additionally turn out to be a compulsive conduct, very similar to how some other people would possibly chew their nails when fearful. The problem is that what begins as an itch from a clinical cause can evolve right into a dependancy, even after the preliminary purpose is long past. Since overgrooming can result in hair loss, pores and skin trauma, or infections, it is very important establish the basis purpose. A veterinary exam, preferably together with a pores and skin take a look at and occasionally hypersensitive reaction checking out or nutritional trials, is one of the best ways to transport ahead.
Within the interim, holding her regimen calm and enriched can lend a hand if rigidity is a part of the equation. Providing protected hiding spots, enticing play, and mild redirection when she begins grooming would possibly scale back the cycle. As a result of discovering the real explanation for overgrooming calls for a bodily exam, I’d counsel making an appointment together with her veterinarian. If mobility or logistics are tricky for you, our teletriage veterinary products and services at Pangovet can lend a hand information you on whether or not this appears extra like a behavioral factor or a clinical one, so what sort of in-person care to prioritize.
Type regards,
Dr. Paola
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Lend a hand My Hepper Gained’t Keep Nonetheless Lengthy Sufficient For Me To Lend a hand Her!
“My cat Lucy is an outside/inside cat. I found her outside a few years ago as a stray, and I’ve tried to domesticate her, but she won’t stay inside very long. She’s very affectionate and very loving, but then when I try to hold her, she won’t let me for very long. I’ve just discovered that she has an ear infection by going to a vet. I don’t know how I can help her with medication because she won’t allow me to hold her, and she gets upset and forces her way out of my arms. If I don’t take care of it, will it get worse, or will it go away by itself? I just don’t know how I could put medicine on her ear if I can’t hold her down long enough, and she’ll get upset with me and maybe even run off. I would appreciate your advice.” – Lorraine
Hello Lorraine,
Thanks for sharing Lucy’s tale. It appears like she has come far since her days as a stray, and her affection towards you is an indication of the consider she has constructed. On the identical time, cats with a semi-feral background incessantly have dealing with limits, which makes hospital therapy tougher. Ear infections in cats hardly get to the bottom of on their very own. If truth be told, with out remedy, they have a tendency to irritate, resulting in persistent ache, power irritation, and even deeper infections of the center or inside ear.
As a result of Lucy resists being held for lengthy, the most secure possibility is to paintings along with your veterinarian on a plan that fits her temperament. Some ear drugs are more uncomplicated to use than others, and in positive instances, an injectable or long-lasting remedy given on the health center can scale back the desire for day by day dealing with. Seeking to restrain her forcefully at house would possibly injury the bond you proportion and likewise possibility damage to either one of you. I strongly counsel talking along with your veterinarian once more to discover choices that require much less direct dealing with or to talk about protected techniques of administering her remedy.
Within the interim, you’ll be able to gently lend a hand through proceeding to construct her consider thru calm interactions, feeding routines, and warding off anxious makes an attempt at restraint. With endurance and veterinary steering, you’ll be able to give protection to her well being whilst keeping up the loving courting you may have labored so onerous to create. I am hoping this is helping!
– Dr. Paola
Lend a hand! My One Hepper Is Frightened of the Different !
“We’ve had our cat for four years. He’s very sweet and gentle. Our other cat died recently, so we adopted another cat, a female, nearly three years old. They were finally getting along and playing after a rough few days. Then last night she came to the bedroom, and he followed shortly after. I was petting her on the bed, and he jumped on the bed. She ran over to him in an aggressive manner and swatted him on the face, so he left. Then a few hours later the same thing happened. He hid under the bed this time. Is this something that they’ll just have to work out for themselves, or is there anything we can do to keep that from happening again? We don’t like how he’s afraid of her.” – Linda
Pricey Linda,
I’m sorry to your contemporary loss, and I know the way necessary it’s to your delicate boy to really feel protected as you welcome your new cat into the circle of relatives. What you might be describing is in fact moderately commonplace in pussycat introductions. Cats are territorial through nature, and whilst growth has obviously been made in the event that they have been taking part in in combination, surprising setbacks can happen when one feels insecure or overstimulated, particularly round prized sources like your consideration or the mattress.
The excellent news is that with endurance and somewhat of construction, solidarity may be very imaginable. Proceed reinforcing certain associations when they’re close to every different, comparable to providing treats or play that each can revel in in the similar area with out pageant. Give every cat predictable particular person consideration, so neither feels they will have to “guard” you. If she turns into assertive, steer clear of scolding, as this will building up stress. As a substitute, flippantly redirect her to any other process or area. Offering vertical choices like cat bushes or perches too can give them each get away routes and a way of keep an eye on, which is helping scale back war.
This isn’t one thing they only wish to “work out” on their very own, as a result of concern and repeated destructive encounters can hurt their bond. Together with your strengthen, consistency, and through making sure each cats have protected areas, you’ll be able to information them towards a relaxed courting. You may want to take a look at the use of calming aids, comparable to artificial pussycat pheromone diffusers, which will additionally easy the transition. Ensure they’re the “multi-cat” variations. Through the years, with delicate control, their courting must stabilize, and your candy boy will regain his self assurance. If you wish to have strengthen thru this procedure, please don’t hesitate to achieve out to us at Pangovet. We’re glad to lead you thru their socialization.
Perfect needs,
Dr. Paola
This text is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola sequence
Learn remaining weeks questions right here – September 15, 2025
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