One of the most common reasons cats are seen by a DVM is diarrhea and loose stools. Diarrhea can happen all of a sudden, or it can involve chronically abnormal bowel movements. There are many causes of diarrhea, and consequently, many ways to to treat it. Diarrhea can be painful, and it can indicate underlying issues, like cancer, inflammatory bowel...
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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition in humans that causes challenges in speech, nonverbal communication, social interaction, and restricted and/or repetitive behaviors. Based on feline behavior and the book 'All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum' by Kathy Hoopman, some people may believe that cats have autistic tendencies. But are cats autistic, or are we anthropomorphizing? What Are...
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Hypercalcemia in cats is a medical condition that occurs when the calcium levels in a cat's blood are elevated beyond what is considered normal. Elevated blood calcium can occur as a primary problem such as in hyperparathyroidism, or it can occur secondary to another medical problem. If your cat has been diagnosed with hypercalcemia, this article provides you with working...
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Do cats get hiccups? Just like humans and all other mammals, the answer is yes, cats hiccup. You may not recognize them because cat hiccups sound a little bit different than dog or human hiccups. Cat hiccups sound more like a chirp than the classic hiccupping sound. Cat hiccups are more rare than dog hiccups, and while they are usually...
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All mammals, including cats, have flatulence, which is simply defined as gas in the stomach, intestines, and colon. A small amount of intestinal gas is normal, but if you are noticing your cat passing excessive gas, excessively foul smelling gas, or if gas is accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, or loss of appetite, then it could indicate an underlying...
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Whether you are intentionally breeding your cat, or, more commonly, are suddenly surprised that your cat is pregnant, you need to know what to expect when your cat is expecting. In this article, we will be covering the basics of how cats give birth, the birthing process and the stages of labor, what to do when your cat is birthing,...
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Is it possible for cats to be born with Down syndrome? This question was made famous by Monty the cat, who was born with facial structure and health problems that were similar to those that a human born with Down syndrome would exhibit. After he took Instagram and the internet by storm, many cat owners created accounts for their own cats that had signs similar...
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Thanks to the advent of modern medicine, cats are living longer than ever. One of the challenges that comes with being the guardian of an elderly feline companion is feline cognitive dysfunction, otherwise known as feline dementia. Similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans, feline cognitive dysfunction can cause senior cats to experience disorientation, cognitive decline, disruption of the regular sleep-wake...
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If you find yourself sneezing, having watery eyes, skin rashes, a runny nose, or asthma attacks around cats, then you are likely allergic to cat dander. Cat dander is a normal part of having a cat, but if you have allergic reactions to cat dander, then what? Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize cat dander in your...
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You've probably seen cross-eyed cats in your life, and after marveling at their adorable expressions, wondered why they have crossed eyes. The condition that causes eyes to be continually crossed has a medical name: strabismus. Strabismus usually doesn't impact a cat's quality of life and isn't considered a problem in cats that are born that way, but if a cat suddenly develops strabismus later in life, it could...
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