ASK THE VET

Cat Care
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Apart from declawing a cat, what methods are available to keep them from scratching and tearing up the furniture? I do have a post but they don't use it all the time. I hear there is a spray? If so, what kind and how effective is it? Thank you for your time and have a blessed day.
  There is a product called soft paws which can be applied over a cat's nails to prevent them from causing damage when they scratch. If you would like more information, please call our office. Thank you.
 
i have a 10 yr old cat that last winter was infested with fleas and she was illergic to them. they gave her her shots and about 2 months later i had given her a flea bath. after this all happened sher was loosing hair and she now is peeing and pooping threwout the house. all she does is sleep and eat and not as active as she use to be. any answers.
  It sounds like there are several issues here. At this point, I recommend a thorough physical examination which would include a history of all of her symptoms since all of this started. Based on what is found, a course of action could be determined to help her feel better. Please call my office if you would like to schedule an appointment. Thank you.
 
A few days ago I moved my indoor/outdoor cat to a new home. She has been exploring the house daily and is becoming quite comfortable with her surrounds. How long should I wait until I start to let her outside? Also, is it a good idea to get her micro chipped?
  If your cat is accustomed to the outdoors, you can try letting her out for short periods of time under supervision. Be sure your cat is on internal and external parasite control. This is important for indoor cats as well but much more so for outdoor cats. I always recommend microchipping any pet that is allowed outdoors, especially if not kept on a leash.
 
Hi I have a 1 and half year old we think she is a Russian blue she has been going in to heat a lot it's like when she gos out of heat she gos right back into heat we just moved up here and we are on county I'm trying to find a low cost help to get her fixed and I was woundering how much you charge for my female cat to get fixed please get back to me thank you for your time
  Sometimes it seems that female cats are in perpetual heat. This could be because there is a male cat nearby. I encourage you to spay her before she becomes pregnant. The fee to spay her is $189. She would need to be currently vaccinated and examined prior to her surgery. We can give you more information about that if you give us a call. To help with the financial side of pet health care, we accept Care Credit. You can find out more about it on our website at www.newhartfordanimalhospital.com. We hope to see you and your kitty soon!
 
Hi, my name is Zara I have a male cat who will be a year in a week. I just had him neutered through the humane society. When I brought him home he was in a room where my 2 year old Netherland dwarf rabbit was. My rabbit was healthy and he passed away that night I brought my cat home. My cat has been acting normal though but today I realized that he had ripped his incision and it looks to be infected I'd like to bring him to you guys as soon as possible I just got a new job and still haven't received my first paycheck but can prove employment. Just wondering if you guys will see me and work with a payment plan with me even though I won't have any money until my first paycheck?
  I am sorry to hear about your bunny and that your cat is sick. We should see your cat as soon as possible if you haven't had him treated elsewhere. Please give us a call and we can speak with you about this. Thank you.
 
My cat is 1yr old and this is the first time she went in heat how long does it last for. Thank you
  A heat cycle can last for a up to a week and will happen every 28 days. However, if she is exposed to a male cat, her heat cycle could last for an indefinate period of time. If she is not going to have kittens, you should consider spaying her. It is relatively inexpensive and with Care Credit, you can take up to 6 months to pay with no interest. You can learn more about spaying and Care Credit on our website.
 
We have 3 cats, all adults, and all living together for years. Our oldest cat who has been litter trained since she was a kitten has started to go to the bathroom all over the house. Both her urine and feces are found around the house daily. We added another litter box and kept putting her in it, and she started urinating right next to it. This is very frustrating. One of her new favorite spots to go is on my leather computer chair. Please give us any advice you can on how to correct this problem. The cat is around 10 years old. Thank you.
  I am sorry to hear your kitty is having some trouble. The first thing you want to do, if you haven't already, is bring her to your veterinarian to rule out a urinary tract infection. You would also want to rule out arthritis. Some cats will avoid using the litter box if it is too painful for them to jump in and out of. She is 10 years old so this could be the problem. If there is no medical problem, we look for household changes such as changes in the type of litter you are using or changes in her environment. If this is the case, try purchasing a product called Feliway and keeping it near her litter box. This product gives off pheromones which help to make cats feel more comfortable in their surroundings. I hope this helps but if you need further advice, please give our office a call.
 
My cat is about 6 years old and although it is adorable she purrs very loud, is this normal?
  Some cats do purr loudly. This is completely normal unless she is making a noise that you think could be something other than purring. If you are concerned at all, check with your veterinarian. He or she should be able to examine her and tell if there is something else going on within her throat area. However, it sounds like she is just a happy and content kitty.
 
what is the best type of cat flea medication to use on a montly basis?
  It really depends on risk factors your cat might encounter in their environment and if they are an indoor or an outdoor cat. We recommend Revolution for most of our cats unless there is a possibility of tick exposure. Revolution prevents fleas and also several intestinal parasites, ear mites, and heartworm disease in cats. It is a monthly spot-on preventative that is safe and easy to apply. For your pet's safety, purchase Revolution from your veterinarian. There is a good deal of counterfeit product sold by other sources like Amazon and retail outlets. The product may look the same but it often is able to be sold less expensively because it is purchased from sources outside the united states. Feel free to call us for additional information.
 
I have a 2 year old cat that seems to like pulling her hair out. She has no fleas or worms.
  There are a number of reasons your cat might be pulling her hair out. It is possible that she has mites, ringworm, or even Cushings disease. Or it could simply be due to a food allergy or a nervous condition. Without an examination and history of when and how she is doing this, it would be hard to pinpoint the cause. If you would like to talk more about this, give us a call at 737-7387.
 
Hi, I have two cats that I take to your hospital. I would like to get them declawed in November. I was wondering what the surgery entails and pricing. Thank you! Amanda O'Connell
  Hi Ms. O'Connell. We do perform declaw surgery but only after a consultation and a recommendation to use softpaws. Declawing is basically amputation and we do not recommend it. We will perform the surgery only if left with no other alternative. If you have adopted your cats from a shelter, they prohibit any declawing procedures on pets they adopt out. Please call us and we can set up an appointment to speak with you in more detail about this. Thank you.
 
I have a small female cat (Sally) who started exhibiting mouth pain a couple years ago. She was thought to have an auto-immune disorder and removal of some teeth was thought the way to help her. That was done, but she remained in pain. I brought her back to a vet, but her mouth was too painful to get a look at, they said bad infection. She was put on clindamycin, but that has not helped her either. She still eats, but is thin and claws at her mouth frequently, whips her head around and her drool has stained her coat in the front. I think she will have to be tranquilized to even look at her mouth. She whimpers frequently. I've given her prednisolone sometimes, and that will seem to help some. Do you think you can help her? any ideas?
  We are so sorry to hear your cat is suffering and you haven't been able to find any answers. Once we assess her previous medical history and examine her, we can decide on a treatment plan together. Please, call our office for an appointment.
 
We adopted our 7 year old cat, Panther, about two months ago. He has had a check-up with Dr. Arnsman. Just within the last week or so he has begun kneading at the foot of my youngest daughters bed, and is now beginning to "hump" her blankets/teddy bears while he kneads. He also starts to shake as he does this. I have never had to deal with this with any of my cats and don't know what to do about this behavior. It is slightly disturbing and interrupts my daughter falling asleep. He also tends to show aggressive behavior from time to time, one minute we are petting him and the next he is trying to claw/bite us. My youngest is terribly afraid because of all of this. Any help or information would be appreciated, thank you!
  The behaviors Panther is exhibiting can be troublesome and we understand your concerns. There are several things to consider here. First, the humping and kneading can be a sign of dominance or it can be a behavior that Panther exhibits because he feels comfortable doing so around your daughter. The aggressive behavior while petting him is also something that cats exhibit. Each cat is different and some will tolerate only a certain amount of petting before they try to bite or claw. Petting the head area is usally safest but do so in small increments of time. There are many good online resources that teach the signs of petting aggression as well as other feline body language. Once you understand his behavior, you will be better equipped to avoid the situations that lead to those undersirable behaviors. Of course, we would be happy to see Panther for a behavior consult so feel free to call us if you have any other concerns. Good luck!
 
how much would a cat's first check up cost?
  Miss Burdick, The initial examination is $45.00. You also asked about flea control. We normally recommend Revolution for cats, but your Doctor will assess your pet's individual risks and make a decision based upon that. Please call the office to schedule an appointment.
 
Hello, My cat is about 8-9 years old. He is an indoor/outdoor cat. Meaning I let him play in the backyard. Few days ago I noticed a lump on his chest close to his left leg. He lets me touch it if I don't press hard on it . But now he is very slow and just laying around sleeping most of the time. This started yesterday and he is only eating 1/2 of his regular diet. Please advise. Thank you.
  We are sorry to hear your pet is not feeling well. Anytime a pet stops eating and becomes listless, they should be examined by a veterinarian. The problem could be as simple as a minor infection but it could be something more serious. Please give us a call and we can schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. Thank you.
 
My cat had kittens a few days ago, but the cat has a serious case of "mastitis". Her glands began swelling as soon as she became pregnant, but at the time I thought that was normal. I'm worried the kittens aren't getting any or much milk. I don't have the funds for any serious treatment. Is there anything I can do at home that might help. I've been feeding the kittens with an eye dropper since they were born Tuesday evening. How serious is this? THANK YOU for any advise.
  I am sorry to hear your cat is not doing well. Mastitis can be a serious medical condition. Your cat should be evaluated as soon as possible and if she does have mastitis, treated with a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Feeding the kittens with an eye dropper will help but they may not be getting proper nutrition without their mother’s milk. I am sure you are doing the best you can. If you have a vet, call and make an appointment. If you would like an appointment with us, we can arrange one. I understand your funds are limited but examination and treatment could cost as much as $100. We can try to do things as inexpensive as possible. Please call us if we can be of further help. Thank you.