Cats

By Carol McCarthy When it comes to your cat’s oral health, there is no such thing as being too vigilant. Gum disease can affect cats of all stripes. Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is chronic inflammation of the gums that worsens over time and occurs where the tooth and gum come together, says Dr. Cathy Lund, owner of City Kitty, a cats-only veterinary practice in Providence, R.I., and a board member of the Association of Feline Practitioners. As the body fights the accumulation of tartar, plaque and bacteria on the teeth and gum line, tooth health suffers. Over time, the disease damages the tooth and underlying root and bone, causing pain, infection and leads to tooth loss. Vets are unsure why some cats are more prone to gum disease. Many dentists who care for people blame mouth chemistry, an inherited factor, and sometimes gum disease results from a respiratory virus. Genetics play a role in autoimmune diseases in cats, and gum disease is a manifestation of that, but a definitive cause remains unknown. Regardless of the cause, pet parents need to be diligent about prevention and alert to signs — both apparent and subtle — that something is wrong. These include: – Bad breath – Angry, red gums – Bleeding (from the mouth or nose), sometimes spontaneously – Drooling – Difficulty eating – Eating on one side of the mouth or moving food around in the mouth – Lack of appetite – Mild swelling of the face – Loose or missing teeth – Looking unkempt or failing to groom What Gum Disease Looks Like in Cats Inflamed gums are easy to spot. “They will look really hot, red and angry. When they are, you know the cat is in discomfort,” Lund says. Mild facial swelling is also possible. The difficulty in eating occurs not because of tooth pain—cats actually use their teeth very little when eating, Dr. Lund says. The discomfort occurs as they stretch out their tongues to scoop food in and toss it toward the back of their mouths. This movement strains the gums. “It hurts to move the tongue, so they won’t do it,” she says. “We see some cats that stop eating because they are so uncomfortable.” If your kitty is no longer sitting pretty, it may also be a surprising sign of gum disease. A messy, unkempt coat is an oft-missed sign. When a cat’s gums are in pain, using her tongue to groom herself will be painful. In some cases, cats develop stomatitis, or inflammation of the whole oral cavity. “It is like lupus (an autoimmune disease) in the mouth,” Dr. Lund says. Cats with stomatitis “can’t even swallow their own saliva. They drool. They look like a Bassett Hound or St. Bernard,” she says. In these cases, surgery is necessary. When gum disease is severe, cats can suffer from painful tooth resorption, in which the teeth sink back into the diseased and receding gums until the body eventually reabsorbs the tooth. 

In This Article What Is Cat Hospice? View 6 More +

In This Article What Does Cat Hissing Sound Like? View 2 More +

WRITTEN BYWailani Sung, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB Veterinarian Dr. Wailani Sung has a passion for helping owners prevent or effectively manage behavior problems in companion animals, enabling them to…,Everyone has behavioral quirks, and sometimes it appears that our cats have them, too. Do you find it unusual that you buy expensive cat toys and your cat would rather play with a simple hair tie?  Cats may be mysterious creatures, but there’s usually a reason behind their behaviors or an explanation for their interests. If you’re curious as to why your cat likes the weird things he does, then keep reading for insight on the motivation behind your cat’s fascination. Drinking From Your Water Cup or the Faucet Instead of Their Fountain So, you purchase an expensive cat water fountain and your cat likes to drink out of your glass or from the faucet. Why does he do that? Your cat may not realize that your glass of water is your glass of water. He just may find it convenient that there is a vessel that contains water when he is thirsty, so he drinks from it. Cats in the wild will drink whenever they are thirsty and find a water source; they do not specifically look around for bowls of water. Another perspective may be that your cat watches you drink, and she wants to drink what you are drinking. If it is good enough for you, it is good enough for her. Some cats may prefer to drink from the faucet when you are busy washing dishes or brushing your teeth due to their fascination by water that suddenly appears. Or, your cat may just have a taste preference for running water compared to water that has been sitting in a cat bowl all day, which leads to bacteria formation. Plus, food particles may fall in and change the taste of the water. This is the reason why your cat’s water bowl should be changed several times a day and washed with soap and water at least daily.

In This Article FAQs

With the right habitat and a proper diet, certain species of frogs can thrive as pets. The key is to identify those species whose needs can be adequately met in captivity.,So you want a pet frog—but what are the best frogs for pets? While there are thousands of species of frogs, not all of them make great pets. Like any pet, frogs require specialized care, and their needs vary depending on the species. In this guide, we dive into the seven frog species that make the best pets.

A common sign that a cat is sick is slinking off to hide in places she doesn’t usually frequent. Be aware of what’s normal for your cat. A feline who can always be found snoozing on the recliner suddenly opting for the closet floor may be ill.,It’s all too easy to overlook the signs that your cat might not be feeling their best—they’re masters at disguising sick cat symptoms. This goes back to their wildcat roots, when they needed to appear to be healthy and uninjured to survive. After studying feline DNA, researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO found that today’s housecats are not nearly as domesticated as dogs. “When your dog is sick, he’ll typically make it obvious that something is wrong, but your cats— still genetically wild animals—are different. They’re still hardwired to hide their illnesses and injuries,” says Dr. Michel A. Selmer, DVM, CTCVMP, and owner of Advanced Animal Care Center in Huntington Station, NY. “This makes their regular health checkups even more important.“ So, how do you know when your cat is having a problem that requires a veterinarian’s attention? In general, “It’s important to remember that cats are creatures of habit, so any change in behavior is worth watching,” advises Dr. Selmer. That being said, Dr. Selmer points to these five sick cat symptoms that warrant a call to your veterinarian.

Cold-weather cat shelters can provide life-saving protection for community cats. In general, a cat shelter needs two things, says Richard Angelo, Jr., a Best Friends Animal Society legislative attorney who focuses on community cat initiatives: A covered interior that’s warm and dry, to protect them from cold air, ice, and snow. Bedding that will help keep them comfortable. If your budget allows, you can invest in a weather-resistant cat house and place it in an area where community cats already live. Look for an option that’s insulated, like the Trixie Natura Insulated Cat House. Other good options include a heating pad, like the K&H Thermo Mod Heated Cat House.,When the weather outside is frightful, we humans escape the cold winter by spending more time indoors. But what about community cats, aka colonies of feral cats who live outdoors? Despite their fur coats, cats are vulnerable to winter weather, and those who live outside face risks like hypothermia and frostbite when temperatures dip to dangerous levels. We talked to shelter and rescue experts to bring you tips to keep these vulnerable felines safe and healthy when it’s cold outside.

As much as we try to resist it or ignore it, we simply cannot deny that our cats age quicker than we do. Their needs and habits progressively shift, so our challenge as pet parents is to recognize change and helping our cats adapt. We want to keep them healthy and comfortable, just as we’d do for any of our beloved family members. The American Association of Feline Practitioners has developed new medical guidelines for senior cat care, which you can check out at AAFP. The AAFP classifies our aging pets as “mature” or middle age (7-10 years), “senior” (11-14 years) and “geriatric” (15+ years). To help out, two AAFP vets have offered their advice to make cat parents as senior-savvy as possible as Kitty edges toward her Medi-cat years. Read on to learn these invaluable tips for caring for a senior cat.

Ball pythons have a reputation for going on hunger strikes. While it’s true that they can be picky eaters, there’s usually more to the story. Let’s dig into the most common reasons they decide to skip dinner and what you can do about it.