The put up Ask Dr. Paola – Monday April 14, 2025 by Dr. Paola Cuevas MVZ (Veterinarian) appeared first on Catster. Copying over complete articles infringes on copyright legal guidelines. You is probably not conscious of it, however all of those articles had been assigned, contracted and paid for, so they don’t seem to be thought-about public area. However, we recognize that you just just like the article and would adore it for those who continued sharing simply the primary paragraph of an article, then linking out to the remainder of the piece on Catster.com.
Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” collection, the place each Monday we deliver professional recommendation straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to assist our readers higher perceive their cat’s well being and well-being.
Whether you’re a brand new pet dad or mum or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is right here to offer solutions to your most urgent questions. From vitamin ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting frequent behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to supply insights that can maintain your kitty pleased, wholesome, and feline positive. Stay tuned for professional steerage on a spread of subjects that matter most to you and your cat, so you may make knowledgeable choices and supply the very best care on your furry companion.
Have a query? Send it in right here!
Help! My Rescue Isn’t Very Social!
“Dear Dr. Paola,
I’ve rescued my wee boy, James Connolly, when he was about 6 weeks outdated. He was deserted together with his mother and two sisters and was very shy and withdrawn, and due to this fact was usually left alone with little meals. Since he’s been rehomed with me on his personal, inside 24 hours, the semi feral kitten turned a cuddle monster with a foolish persona. However, he has problem socializing. He may be very jumpy and really anxious. He at all times must be with me, and I strive my greatest. I tried to be away for one weekend and left him with a cat sitter, and it was a catastrophe. The vet says he has anxiousness. How can I enhance his confidence and guarantee he feels secure even when I’m not bodily there? – Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for opening your coronary heart and residential to little James Connolly; what a fantastic identify for such a courageous little soul. From what you’ve shared, it’s clear you’ve already remodeled his world. His shift from withdrawn and ignored to cuddly and expressive says a lot concerning the love and security you’ve supplied him. Cats who expertise early stress, significantly those that’ve gone with out constant meals, maternal consolation, or light dealing with, usually develop what we name “insecure attachment styles.” It’s just like a baby clinging tightly after being left alone too usually. It’s not simply concern, it’s a survival mechanism.
Helping James construct confidence is a course of. Start by making a predictable routine round meals, play, and relaxation; this rhythm turns into a security web. Try utilizing interactive toys like wand teasers or deal with puzzles to shift his focus outward and encourage unbiased play. Confidence can bloom by way of “safe wins,” that are small, non-threatening challenges he can overcome. In your absence, your scent generally is a highly effective comforter, you may go away behind a worn T-shirt. You also needs to think about artificial pheromone diffusers, which mimic the calming alerts cats affiliate with maternal presence. Gradual desensitization to quick absences, beginning with seconds, not hours, might help, however this have to be finished slowly and patiently.
Because James has proven such intense separation anxiousness, it may additionally be useful to seek the advice of a feline veterinary behaviorist to discover choices like nutraceuticals or calming dietary supplements. These will not be sedatives however light aids that may help his emotional steadiness throughout coaching. You’ve already given him a lot. Now it’s nearly serving to him consider that security doesn’t vanish while you stroll out the door.
Best,
Dr. Paola
If it’s worthwhile to converse with a vet however cannot get to 1, head over to PangoVet. It’s a web-based service the place you possibly can discuss to a vet on-line and get the recommendation you want on your pet — all at an inexpensive value!
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Help! I Am Seeing Blood in My Cats Poo!
“Hi Dr Paola!
I’ve a 7-year-old cat known as Myst. Periodically, we see a small quantity of blood within the litter field after she has a BM. She has had a number of exams, fecal research, and an ultrasound. All had been destructive. The suggestion now’s to have a colonoscopy. She eats Hill’s Z/D. She has a great urge for food & is playful. I simply don’t know if I ought to have this finished. Should I get one other opinion? What are your ideas, please?” – Pam
Hi Pam, thanks for sharing about Myst. It’s clear how deeply you take care of her, and I can perceive how regarding it’s to see traces of blood within the litter field, particularly when all the things else about her appears regular. The undeniable fact that she’s consuming effectively, is playful, and is sustaining her routine is encouraging, nevertheless it’s additionally a bit puzzling when indicators like this persist and not using a clear trigger. You’ve already taken all the best steps: bodily examination, fecal research, and even an ultrasound, which tells me you’ve been very thorough and dedicated to getting her the care she wants.
At this level, a colonoscopy generally is a cheap subsequent step. It’s one of the simplest ways to straight visualize the liner of the colon and probably acquire biopsies if there’s any refined irritation, polyps, or early illness that wouldn’t present up on different diagnostics. However, earlier than transferring ahead, it’s completely legitimate to hunt a second opinion, ideally from a veterinary internist. Their perspective might help you’re feeling extra assured about whether or not this step is critical proper now or if different much less invasive changes is perhaps value attempting first. In the meantime, I’d recommend carefully monitoring Myst’s stool consistency, frequency, and any straining. Softer stools are inclined to go extra simply and will scale back minor trauma that may trigger bleeding, particularly if the colon is delicate. Encouraging hydration by way of a water fountain, broth-soaked kibble, or incorporating moisture-rich recent or moist meals might help naturally ease bowel actions and will supply some reduction if the bleeding is mechanical in nature. You’re doing a beautiful job advocating for Myst, and he or she’s fortunate to have you ever by her aspect.
Dr. Paola
Help! My Cat Meows All Day Long!
“Dear Dr. Paola,
My companion and I adopted a stray feminine (neutered) 1-year-old cat 6 months in the past. Her identify is Maru. The worrying concern is that she retains meowing a number of instances a day, loudly, at partitions and doorways. She has hip dysplasia, so she will’t bounce like a standard cat.
We know she was dwelling exterior earlier than, however now she is meant to be an indoor cat. Our condominium is sort of massive, so there isn’t any area concern, however the meowing is irritating for all of us. I’m practising along with her on a harness day by day to get her occurring exterior walks in the summertime, however we don’t know if this may assist her. We play along with her a number of instances a day (typically a number of hours in a row), she isn’t alone for too lengthy, and he or she is effectively fed and her litter field taken care of. I’m additionally giving her some no-stress treats, and so on. We additionally hung cat climbing stairs on the wall, and he or she has a number of scraping posts and good views from the large home windows.
We have completely no concept what to do along with her to maintain the meowing to a
minimal and could be very grateful for some new ideas “ – Emili
Hello Emili, thanks for sharing Maru’s story.
She may be very fortunate to have discovered such a loving and attentive dwelling. From all the things you describe, it’s clear that you’re doing a beautiful job supporting her bodily and emotional wants, particularly contemplating her hip dysplasia and her background as an out of doors cat. Cats like Maru, who’ve needed to depend on themselves in unpredictable environments, usually develop sturdy vocal habits as a method to specific their wants or talk uncertainty. Even as soon as they’re secure and effectively cared for, these behaviors that turned recurring can proceed, even when issues are calm.
Her meowing at partitions and doorways may have a number of completely different explanations. Cats have extremely delicate listening to, and typically they react to sounds we can’t detect, like plumbing, wind, and even small animals behind partitions. It may additionally be an indication of frustration associated to her mobility challenges. Cats are wired to climb and discover vertically, and when their our bodies restrict that means, they might really feel stressed or unfulfilled. That feeling can come out by way of vocalizing. You are already providing her an enriched atmosphere, which is great. Creating predictable routines round feeding, play, and relaxation might help some cats really feel safer and will scale back vocalizations over time. Your plan to begin taking her on out of doors walks through the hotter months sounds promising and may supply her a wholesome outlet for each psychological and bodily stimulation.
If her meowing is turning into extra frequent or intense, it’s value contemplating whether or not ache could also be enjoying a task. We even have a tele-triage veterinary service, PangoVet, the place you possibly can converse to one in all our skilled veterinarians on-line from the consolation of your own home, the place they might help reply questions in actual time and assist information you towards the following greatest steps. Chronic discomfort from situations like hip dysplasia can typically present up in surprising methods, and even refined reduction can deliver significant enchancment in her habits. You are clearly providing her a secure and loving area, and that makes all of the distinction. I hope this helps!
Dr. Paola
This article is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola collection
- Read final weeks questions right here – April 7, 2025
- Find the total listing of previous articles right here
- Click right here to submit a query
The put up Ask Dr. Paola – Monday April 14, 2025 by Dr. Paola Cuevas MVZ (Veterinarian) appeared first on Catster. Copying over complete articles infringes on copyright legal guidelines. You is probably not conscious of it, however all of those articles had been assigned, contracted and paid for, so they don’t seem to be thought-about public area. However, we recognize that you just just like the article and would adore it for those who continued sharing simply the primary paragraph of an article, then linking out to the remainder of the piece on Catster.com.
