Askelizabeth

We adopted the cutest little kitten from our local shelter last month. Bob apparently was exposed to feline distemper virus and, as a result, he wobbles and shakes when he walks, and falls over when he plays. He gets the most adorable determined look on his face when he wants to do something - and although it may take him longer to accomplish a task, we cant help but admire his persistent, sunny nature. Can you tell me about this condition he has and will he show any signs of improvement as he ages?

FIV is transmitted primarily by bite wounds, as it is found in high concentrations in the saliva of infected cats. For this reason, it is possible to house FIV infected cats with non- infected cats without an extremely high risk of transmission as long as the cats do not fight. FIV affects a cats ability to mount an immune response against infectious organisms, thereby making infected cats more susceptible to infections by viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Thank you for contacting us, and I am very sorry to hear about you kittys diagnosis. FeLV is a very common viral infection in cats, and while it is true that it often shortens the lifespan of infected cats (the average lifespan after diagnosis is approximately two-and-a-half years), it is important to note that infected cats can have a high quality of life for prolonged periods of time if they are managed appropriately.

My 10-year-old domestic shorthaired cat has just been diagnosed with high blood pressure during a visit to his veterinarian. I was shocked to learn this, as he does not show any signs of having a problem, and I am now very concerned about how to keep him healthy. I am working with his veterinarian to treat him, but should I be restricting his salt intake?

I have six adult cats and I am keeping them all separated from one another for fear of coronavirus infection and the development of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). I have had multiple cats tested for coronavirus, and some are positive. Should I be keeping those who have tested positive isolated from the others, and how should I manage this group of cats?

I recently adopted a male kitten from the local shelter and Im in the process of kitty proofing my house. Ive been doing some reading about things in my house that can be dangerous to my new feline friend. Could you give me some advice about how to make my house safe for this cute little guy?

Q: My 11-year-old male domestic shorthaired cat has just been diagnosed with diabetes. I am feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of managing this condition and concerned for his well-being. Can you tell me a bit about this condition, his prognosis and how it can be managed?

I am the proud mother of a middle-aged cat who requires extraction of two molars because of resorptive lesions [a painful disease in which resorption destroys the teeth]. I am very concerned about the anesthesia required for this extraction, and I wanted to ask if you can provide some insight regarding how best to assure that he is treated safely during this procedure.

I have a domestic female kitty who turned 14 this month. I noticed several months ago that she began to walk with a slight limp in one of her hind legs. Some days are better than others, and she has become a bit quieter than in the past. Can you provide some advice?

I am a breeder of Turkish Angoras, and recently Im seeing references stating that the incidence of deafness in white cats is 80 percent. This is much higher than the approximately 30 percent that we have seen in our breeding population. Can you shed some light on this discrepancy?

I am interested in feeding my 4-year-old Siamese cat a homemade diet and would like to make this a raw diet, as I have read that it is more natural for cats. Cat foods have so many artificial ingredients, and I am concerned that these additives may be harmful to him. What are your thoughts about these ideas?

Recently, a stray cat appeared on my porch, and he is the sweetest thing. I would like to adopt him and bring him into our house, but when I brought him to the veterinarian, he tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). I am concerned because I have two other indoor cats. Can you provide some advice about how to proceed?