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Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” sequence, the place each Monday we carry skilled 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 guardian or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is right here to supply solutions to your most urgent questions. From diet ideas and preventive care to troubleshooting widespread behavioral points, Dr. Paola is able to provide insights that can hold your kitty pleased, wholesome, and feline high quality. Stay tuned for skilled steering on a spread of matters that matter most to you and your cat, so you may make knowledgeable choices and supply the very best care to your furry companion.
Have a query? Send it in right here!
Help! My Cat Plucks His Own Fur!
“Dear Dr. Paola,
My long-haired home orange cat, Frankfurt, tends to typically pluck his personal fur when he’s grooming. I checked for dry and pink pores and skin, fleas, and he has no irritation or redness of pores and skin, and there’s no signal of fleas. What else may or not it’s?
“– Jessica
Hi Jessica, when a cat begins overgrooming or plucking fur with out seen indicators of pores and skin illness or parasites, it typically factors to one thing a bit deeper: both inner discomfort or an emotional set off. Cats are extremely delicate creatures, and overgrooming could be a feline model of nail-biting or stress-eating in people. It’s their method of self-soothing. Changes of their atmosphere, conflicts with different pets, boredom, and even shifts in your day by day routine can all result in one of these habits.
However, it’s additionally essential to think about that some cats overgroom attributable to underlying ache or medical points that aren’t instantly seen on the pores and skin. For instance, discomfort within the bladder, joints, and even gastrointestinal irritation can typically trigger a cat to give attention to grooming in a selected space. If Frankfurt is focusing on the identical spot repeatedly, that’s a delicate clue price investigating. Since there’s no seen pores and skin concern or exterior parasite involvement, this can be a terrific alternative to attach with one in all our veterinarians on-line at PangoVet, which is a teletriage veterinary service. They might help you consider behavioral or delicate inner triggers primarily based on his grooming sample and up to date modifications in his life. If any indicators of discomfort or development seem, a hands-on bodily examination could be essential to rule out underlying ache or systemic causes. I hope this helps!
Good luck,
– Dr. Paola
If it is advisable communicate with a vet however cannot get to at least one, head over to PangoVet. It’s a web based service the place you may speak to a vet on-line and get the recommendation you want to your pet — all at an inexpensive value!
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Help! My Cat is Always Hungry?
“Why is my 5 and 1/2 years outdated feminine cat, Siya, all the time on the lookout for meals? I give her largely moist meals solely. Also, she is somewhat obese; she must drop a few pounds. What sort of meals do you suggest so she feels somewhat happy and nonetheless helps her to drop a few pounds?“ – Rekha
Hi Rekha,
It’s fantastic to listen to that you simply’re providing Siya largely moist meals, which is often extra acceptable for a cat’s pure hydration and dietary wants. When a cat is persistently looking for meals regardless of being barely obese, it’s typically a mixture of organic and behavioral elements at play. Some cats have a robust meals drive, particularly if meals are spaced far aside or in the event that they’re consuming meals that aren’t notably filling. Wet meals is a good base, however not all formulation are equally satisfying. If the meals is low in protein or excessive in carbohydrates, Siya could also be feeling full quickly, however by no means get really satiated.
To assist her really feel extra happy whereas gently decreasing weight, I’d suggest a high-protein, low-carbohydrate moist meals with reasonable fats content material. Cats thrive on animal-based proteins, and these are inclined to help lean physique mass whereas curbing starvation. Look for meals that listing actual meat as the primary ingredient and keep away from these with fillers like corn, wheat, or starchy greens. If your budgets enable for it, you might give contemporary meals like Smalls a attempt, they provide recipes that align way more carefully with a cat’s pure dietary wants. Fresh diets are typically decrease in carbohydrates and freed from pointless thickeners and plant-based components that cats don’t metabolize effectively.
Otherwise, Tiki Cat, Weruva (particularly the low-carb varieties), or Dr. Elsey’s CleanProtein could also be appropriate. Also, feeding smaller, extra frequent meals all through the day might help cut back food-seeking habits.
Using feeding toys or puzzle feeders may also gradual her consuming and hold her mentally engaged. If you’re not sure what number of energy Siya needs to be getting, a fast session with one in all our veterinarians at PangoVet. They might help you calculate her ideally suited day by day consumption and tailor her plan, all whereas staying aligned with a species-appropriate method.
It’s additionally essential to rule out medical causes like hyperthyroidism or early diabetes, particularly if her starvation has noticeably elevated. A fast check-in along with your veterinarian and blood pattern assortment shall be ideally suited. I depart this final since you talked about she must lose some weight, and cats with this situation are normally underweight, however nonetheless price checking her.
You’re clearly doing an exquisite job caring for Siya, and it’s seemingly that with only a few tweaks, Siya shall be effectively on her method to a leaner, happier life.
Good luck
– Dr. Paola
Help! My Cat Has a Lesion!
“Dear Dr. Paola,
My cat Garfield has had a lesion on his decrease lip for a 12 months. It now seems greater. He has not misplaced weight and has no downside with urge for food. I’m conscious of squamous cell carcinoma. Garfield is roughly 16 years outdated. He was born on my enterprise property (feral) and lives there as a barn cat. Not certain what one of the best motion to take is, as it is going to be tough to get him to the vet. Please advise.” – Joanne
Hi Joanne,
Thank you for looking for Garfield, particularly given his age and the challenges of his semi-feral life-style. A persistent lesion on the decrease lip that’s slowly enlarging, notably in a senior cat, completely deserves consideration. You’re proper to have squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in your thoughts; that is sadly one of many extra widespread oral cancers in older cats, particularly these with out of doors publicity. That stated, not each lesion is most cancers. Chronic irritation, eosinophilic granulomas, and even outdated trauma may also trigger related modifications, however a year-long historical past and up to date enlargement do increase considerations.
Because he hasn’t misplaced weight and is consuming effectively, it will not be inflicting him discomfort simply but, however cats are extremely stoic. Oral cancers can keep deceptively quiet till they attain a complicated stage. The solely method to affirm the character of the lesion is thru a veterinary examination, probably adopted by a biopsy. I perceive he’s exhausting to deal with, and that’s an actual consideration with feral or barn cats. In circumstances like this, a humane entice is likely to be probably the most sensible instrument to soundly transport him. Many veterinary clinics will work with you in the event you clarify the state of affairs upfront, and a few cellular vets or shelter-affiliated clinics are acquainted with dealing with ferals and should even sedate them within the entice for the examination.
Garfield has already crushed the chances by reaching 16, and he clearly means lots to you. Giving him the possibility for a correct analysis, even when therapy finally ends up being restricted by his life-style or consolation, is the kindest subsequent step. If it’s SCC, early palliative care might help preserve his high quality of life for so long as attainable.
Thanks to your kindness,
Dr. Paola
This article is part of our weekly Ask Dr. Paola sequence
- Read final weeks questions right here – April 22, 2025
- Find the total listing of previous articles right here
- Click right here to submit a query
The publish Ask Dr. Paola – Monday April 28, 2025 by Dr. Paola Cuevas MVZ (Veterinarian) appeared first on Catster. Copying over total articles infringes on copyright legal guidelines. You will not be conscious of it, however all of those articles had been assigned, contracted and paid for, so they are not thought of public area. However, we admire that you simply just like the article and would like it in the event you continued sharing simply the primary paragraph of an article, then linking out to the remainder of the piece on Catster.com.
