Ask the Vet Archives - Page 2 of 12

Whipworms in Cats – Causes, Signs & Care Tips

February 16, 2023January 25, 2023 by Genevieve Dugal

Roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and heartworms are all common internal parasites that can cause many health problems for cats.1 Their presence in your cat’s body can be dangerous for their health and contaminate your environment. But there is another type of worm that is less common in cats in North America: whipworms.2 Let’s learn what vets … Read more

Genevieve Dugal

Genevieve is a biologist and science writer. Her deep love for exotic animals has taken her worldwide to work and volunteer for several wildlife rehabilitation centers in Central and South America, Australia, and Canada. Genevieve is a Canadian expat who now lives in Argentina, where she wakes up every morning to horses and cows saying hello. She is the proud mom of three rescued dogs, Lemmy, Nala, and Pochi, and a frisky kitten, Furiosa.

Ear Infections in Cats – Causes, Signs & Care Tips

February 15, 2023January 25, 2023 by Misty Lane

It’s always terrible when our cats come down with something. Whether it’s a cold or an injury, we want to get them feeling better again as soon as possible. One of the more uncommon things a cat can come down with is an ear infection; because these are so uncommon in felines, people often have … Read more

Misty Lane

Misty Layne lives out in the woods in small-town Alabama with her two Siamese cats—Serafina and Jasper. She also has an array of stray cats, raccoons, and possums who like to call her front porch home. When she’s not writing about animals, you’ll find her writing poetry, stories, and film reviews (cats, by far, her favorite writing topic, though!). In her free time, Misty enjoys chilling with her cats, playing piano, watching indie and foreign films, photographing abandoned places, and catching up on her never-ending TBR list.

Conjunctivitis In Cats – Causes, Signs & Care Tips

January 31, 2023January 25, 2023 by Christian Adams

Conjunctivitis is a common illness that can affect a cat’s eyes. It has some easily recognizable signs and is fortunately treatable, but it’s vital for owners to be familiar with the condition. If conjunctivitis is suspected, owners must take their cat to the vet to be treated quickly; the condition can be infectious and spread … Read more

Christian Adams

Christian is the Editor-in-Chief of Excited Cats and one of its original and primary contributors. A lifelong cat lover, now based in South East Asia, Christian and his wife are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.

How Do Cat Claws Work? (How They Come Out & Retract)

February 17, 2023January 24, 2023 by Christian Adams

Cats are creatures of mystery and mischief, so much so that even their anatomy is fascinating. But no part of a cat’s body is as mysterious as its claws. A cat’s claws are its weapons of choice; cats flex their talons on toys, scratchers, and sometimes even on their owners! But where do they go … Read more

Christian Adams

How Do You Know When Cat Labor Is Over? (5 Signs)

January 24, 2023 by Jordyn Alger

If you’ve ever been in a delivery room or seen a character give birth on a television show, you have an idea of how stressful labor can be. While a cat in labor isn’t exactly comparable, it can still be stressful for you as the cat owner. During your cat’s labor, you may wonder, when … Read more

Jordyn Alger

Cats are Jordyn’s passion. Whenever she has the opportunity she loves to learn about animals and share her knowledge with everyone. She is devoted to her sassy tabby cat named Jack and works hard to buy him his favorite treats and toys. Discovering new ways to better care for her cat is always on her to-do list, and she is eager to help pet parents everywhere. In Jordyn’s spare time, she loves to write, read, and take long walks. She has a creative spirit, which often helps her to come up with funny cat names.

How Do Cats Squeeze into Small Spaces? (The Surprising Details!)

February 16, 2023January 24, 2023 by Genevieve Dugal

You may have come across a video of a cute kitty sleeping peacefully in a small glass vase or somehow sneaking under a bathroom door. These feats are impressive, and one can only wonder how cats can squeeze into such small spaces. The answer to this question involves multiple aspects of their anatomy. Let’s take … Read more

Genevieve Dugal

Are Cats Able to Feel Pain in Their Whiskers? (Vet Answer)

January 12, 2023 by Leigh Wilder

Your cat is cute as a button, with a friendly face made even more endearing by the presence of whiskers. But aside from their visual appeal, what purpose do whiskers serve in our feline friends? If trimmed or damaged, can cats feel pain in their whiskers? Thankfully, while cat whiskers can transmit sensory information, they … Read more

Leigh Wilder

Leigh is a veterinarian with almost 10 years of experience in the US. She has loved animals since she was a child, and grew up caring for hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, fish, and dogs. Leigh received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota and has worked in both small animal clinical practice and shelter medicine since graduation. Leigh enjoys small animal preventative medicine and surgery and loves helping pet owners by sharing her knowledge. Outside of work Leigh enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling.

Can a Cat Catch a Cold from a Dog? (Vet Reviewed Facts)

March 8, 2023January 6, 2023 by Ashley Bates

If you have a multi-person household, you know how common it is to start spreading seasonal sniffles when the time comes. It’s hard to live in close proximity to others and not share illness from time to time. Most of the time, colds are specific to the species. The same is true of our dogs … Read more

Ashley Bates

Ashley Bates is a freelance dog writer and pet enthusiast who is currently studying the art of animal therapy. A mother to four human children— and 23 furry and feathery kids, too – Ashley volunteers at local shelters, advocates for animal well-being, and rescues every creature she finds. Her mission is to create awareness, education, and entertainment about pets to prevent homelessness. Her specialties are cats and dogs.

Blood Clots in Cats (Aortic Thromboembolism) – Vet Answer on Causes, Symptoms & Care

February 3, 2023January 6, 2023 by Kim Podlecki

Feline Aortic Thromboembolism (abbreviated FATE) is a highly fatal disease caused by a blood clot becoming stuck at the aortic trifurcation—the area where the blood supply to both back legs occurs. This condition almost always occurs acutely, and can come as quite a shock to owners. FATE can occur when your cat has shown absolutely … Read more

Kim Podlecki

A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Podlecki has more than 12 years of experience working with small animals in the United States. Dr. Podlecki worked almost exclusively in emergency and specialty medicine for more than 10 years before transitioning to relief in both general practice and ER. Dr. Podlecki also owns her own consulting company (renewvetconsulting.com) with the focus of helping veterinary hospitals prioritize their staff to promote a healthier internal culture.

Can Cats Have ADHD? (Vet Answer) What You Need to Know!

January 27, 2023December 12, 2022 by Dr. Sharon Butzke DVM (Vet)

The short answer is that there is currently no clinical evidence to support the existence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in cats. We cannot definitively say that ADHD does not occur in cats, but presently, it is not a recognized condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), signs of ADHD in people … Read more

Dr. Sharon Butzke DVM (Vet)

Sharon has been drawn to animals for as long as she can remember. She was raised in Ontario, Canada and fulfilled her childhood dream when she obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2009. Since then, she has worked in a variety of small animal clinics, with a focus on cats and dogs. She loves sharing her knowledge and empowering people to take the best possible care of their pets! Sharon currently resides in British Columbia with her husband, daughter, and a loveable Great Dane named Parker.