Ask Dr K

So whats the real deal with hairballs? Ive lived with cats for years and have always assumed that its normal for them to hack...

I am the owner of Tassu, a 10-month-old cat I adopted from an animal shelter. A few weeks after I had her neutered, I noticed her behavior had changed. She seemed very lazy and not really interested in any physical activities, and she also lost her appetite. I took her to my veterinarian, and he found that she had pale gums, so he recommended she be tested for infection with feline leukemia virus (FeLV). To…

Why are cats paws so sensitive? If ever I touch my cats paws - even by accident - she jumps, swats at me and hisses. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to ease her tension? Its quite normal for a cat to have some sensitive area on its body, an area where it resists being touched. Of course youll want to make sure theres no physical problem with your cats paws. But if…

Im so upset about my cat, Bruiser. He was a big, fluffy, neutered male, and he died suddenly last week. He was only eight years old, and my veterinarian always told me he was the picture of health. His appetite was good, he hadnt lost any weight, and he was his old perky self the night before, but when I came downstairs in the morning I found him lying dead on the kitchen floor. My…

Although Im allergic to cats, I share my home with a black tabby named Buddy. While my allergist is helping me with my allergy problems, Im looking for ways that I can live more comfortably with a cat in my house. Is there anything I can do in my house or with my cat to reduce my allergy symptoms? …

I have a friend who wants to get a cat, but shes slightly allergic. Does a longhaired cat cause a worse allergic reaction than a shorthaired cat? Or is it something besides the hair itself that causes allergies? Also, are female cats easier on allergies than male cats? Doctors who treat human allergies routinely suggest that their cat-allergic patients not seek felines as pets - advice that often goes unheeded, as evidenced by your friend. …

I just had my annual physical examination and, of course, the nurse checked my blood pressure. Coincidentally, my cat had her annual exam the...

Sometimes my cat eats toilet paper! Im worried that this will hurt her. Is toilet paper poisonous? How can I get her to stop eating it? Im unaware of any substances in toilet paper (like perfumes or dyes) that would be particularly poisonous to cats. However, should your cat eat enough of the stuff, Im concerned that a wad of it could collect somewhere in her stomach or intestines and cause an obstruction. Nevertheless, Ive not…

Editors Note: My apologies to longtime readers of CatWatch whove read about George in previous winter issues, but to shield feline roommates of recent subscribers from his shocking problem, I decided to run it again. ---------- I have a fluffy cat named George, and in the winter his coat is dry and he is very prone to static electricity. All I have to do is touch him and I give him a shock. When he comes…

I guess I have flu on the brain. Id already been worried about the upcoming flu season, and then I read that some cats in Asia had gotten the flu from birds. I have lots of questions, but my two most burning ones are these: Can my cats get the flu from me, and can I get the flu from my cats? …

About once every month or two my three-year-old cat will suddenly run throughout the house and then throw himself on the floor and shake uncontrollably. He sometimes foams at the mouth and loses control of his bladder. This lasts for several minutes, then afterwards he looks confused and disoriented. Within an hour or so hes back to his old self. My veterinarian ran some tests, but found nothing. What can be causing this? …

Question: What is the teeth cycle of cats from kittenhood to adulthood? Do cats lose teeth as they grow older? Ive looked in one of my cats mouths and found fewer teeth than in my other cat. Is this normal? Also, is their tooth maintenance similar to ours (that is, regular cleaning, checking for cavities and periodontal disease, etc.)? How often do they require a checkup? …