Cats

As gross as it might seem, keeping close tabs on what your kitty’s stool looks like may actually help you catch health problems early. While most of us try to clean out the litter box as quickly as possible and be done with it, taking just a few seconds to learn what’s normal for your cat and noting when there are changes is actually very important—and extremely helpful for your veterinarian. Read on to learn what is considered “normal” for most cats and what some of the changes in your cat’s poop might mean. Monitoring Your Cat’s Poop There are a number of things to look to when trying to determine if your cat’s poop is normal. The most important factor is getting a feel for what the stool usually looks and smells like when your cat is not having any issues. The first factors to consider include the color and consistency of the stool. Although a cat’s stool is often covered in cat litter, simply breaking it in half as you scoop it will help you get a good look at the color and a feel for the texture without any extra effort. A quick look at the surface of the stool will help you to determine what’s a normal amount of mucus (that shiny coating on the surface of the poop) for your kitty. You should also check for any unusual objects (like hair ties or milk jug rings!) in your cat’s poop. Next, try to determine approximately how often your kitty defecates. Are you finding stool in the box once a day? Twice? More than that? If the frequency changes over time, that’s very important to note. And perhaps the last factor to take daily note of is the hardest to miss—what is the normal smell for your pet’s stool? This may vary from day to day, but if it suddenly becomes much more pungent, there may be some cause for concern. Changes in one or more of these parameters, especially if they’re combined with alterations in your cat’s attitude or appetite, can be critical in diagnosing an illness early. If you are noticing any changes, ask these questions: Is there a reasonable explanation? Did you change your cat’s food or treats? Is there something that could have caused your cat stress (recent move, new people or guests in the house, construction noise, stray cats, or different schedules)? Is your cat not acting normally? What is “normal” will also be different for each animal and can depend on things like age, exercise level, or diet.

While most dog lovers would be happy to interact with practically any dog, there are a lot of people out there who don’t feel the same way, explains Irith Bloom, a certified dog behavior consultant and the director of training at The Sophisticated Dog, a Los Angeles-based dog training company. “Some of them may have been attacked or bitten by a dog in the past and others may not like animals at all,” she says. “There are also people who are allergic to dogs, and in some cases, people just don’t want fur or drool on their clothes.” Whatever the reason, strangers have the right to their space and privacy. Bloom says it’s a good idea to teach your dog to wait for a signal from you before greeting people. “Instead of letting your dog rush up to, or drag you over to, every new person the dog sees, teach your dog that greetings only happen after you give a certain [physical or verbal] signal, such as the words ‘Say hello,’” says Bloom.,Think your dog is behaving badly? You may want to hold off on placing all the blame on your four-legged family member. Because when it comes to poor canine manners, pet parents are often the cause of unwanted behavior. Here are eight pet etiquette mistakes you might not even realize you’re making—and how to fix them.

2. Ear mites are also extremely common in kittens, though cats of any age can be infected. These parasites are contagious to other cats and less frequently to dogs. The most common sign of an ear mite infestation is a black/brown discharge in the ears that appears similar to coffee grounds. The kitten’s ears are usually itchy as well, and there may be sores and inflammation around the head and neck if the kitten has been scratching.,Over-the-counter ear mite treatments are available and work if you closely follow the directions, but your veterinarian can run a simple test to confirm that mites (and not yeast or bacteria) are responsible for your kitten’s symptoms and prescribe medications that will eliminate the mites with just one application. To eradicate ear mites from your home, make sure that all pets receive treatment.,By Jennifer Coates, DVM

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