Sincerely, Concerned Cat Owner

Dear Concerned,
It truly isn't unusual for cats to vomit when they don't appear sick. Assuming that your cat's appetite has not diminished, hasn't lost weight or had diarrhea as well, doesn't act lethargic and has been ruled free of parasites, I wouldn't worry too much. If any of these symptoms were present or if he were vomiting green or orange liquid, a medical problem is likely and a veterinarian should check him out. Otherwise, there are other logical causes of the vomiting: 1) eating too much or too fast and 2) hairballs. Eating too much, resulting in vomiting undigested food, usually only occurs in situations where cats have their food taken away, share with many other cats or are only fed at certain times of the day. Portioning out smaller amounts of food gradually might help. Also separating the cat from others during feeding may make a difference. Hairballs are an age-old problem of cats. While grooming, cats swallow hair that cannot be digested easily. The most popular solution is a hairball lubricant available through most pet stores and most veterinarians. Frequent combing and brushing are also helpful. There are a few hairball formula foods available, as well.

Regardless of the cause, if the vomiting is more than two or three times a week or other symptoms are present, see your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Sincerely, Jake

Dear Jake and Scout,
The corner of my cats eyes seem to be coming over the eye, like a covering; it doesn't look like it is cataracts. He doesn't act sick or anything, but I've learned that you can never be too safe when it comes to our pets. Can you tell me what it could be?

Sincerely, Kitty Koncerns

Dear Kitty,
Without actually seeing your cat to be sure what you are describing, I will assume that you are talking about the "third eyelid" that is present in the cat's eye closest to the nose and that it is coming up over the eye. This third eyelid is a protective lid that has tear ducts and produces some of the film that they eye needs to stay moist. Also, in cats with an underlying illness, this third eyelid gland can protrude. I suggest you take your cat in immediately to a veterinarian, as there may be some underlying illness (feline leukemia, feline infectious peritonitis, feline immunodeficiency virus, upper respiratory tract infections, etc) and many more problems (including a foreign object stuck between this third eyelid and the surface of the eye). It can be nothing, but nonetheless, don't delay!!!

Jake

Dear Jake and Scout,
I have just adopted a kitten and took it to the vet. The doctor said that it was healthy, but had ear mites. He gave us some drops and said that they should take care of the problem. My question is what exactly are ear mites? My vet explained the basics to me, but I am still curious about how my little kitten could have gotten them and if they have any long-term effects?

Sincerely, "Miffed" over Mites

Dear "Miffed,"
Ear mites are very common, probably one of the most diagnosed ailments affecting us pets these days. Don't worry too much, though. With many new treatment options, ridding your four-legged friend of these pesky mites can be very simple. Understanding ear mites is not too difficult either. Here is some more information to help you become a "master of ear mites!" Mites are microscopic insects that might be found on an animal's skin or inside its ears. Stray cats and kittens are especially susceptible to the mites, but ear mites are very infectious between cats and dogs. Prevention can be very difficult, particularly in multi-pet households. Ear mites not only generate irritation and scratching, but also increase the secretion of earwax, which can make the inside of the ear look dirty. The pet then tends to scratch its ears and shake its head. Left untreated, ear mites can lead to more serious ailments such as secondary bacterial or fungal infections, hematomas and damage to the inner ear. Mites should only be treated after a veterinarian has made an expert diagnosis, because treating unaffected animals may also lead to irritation and ear infections. A veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis by taking a sample from the infected area and examining it under a microscope. Ear mites are treated with special prescription eardrops. Cleaning the ears with an animal ear cleaner before administering the drops will help ensure treating the mites directly. Never insert a Q-tip directly into the inner part of your pet's ears. It is easier than you think to injure the eardrum, causing serious pain and hearing loss for your pet. Gauze sponges or a soft cloth are ideal for gently removing the ear "dirt." There you have it, Ear mites 101. Learning more about them can help keep your pet mite free from now on.  Good luck to you! 

Sincerely, Jake

Dear Jake
My person is always complaining that I scratch up all the furniture and carpets, even though I get my nails trimmed regularly and use my scratching post. The other day she made me an appointment to get declawed at the veterinarian's office. Sounds pretty awful. What can I do to change my "only natural" clawing ways?

Signed, Clueless about Clawless

Dear Clawless,
Declawing is a surgical procedure where your claws are permanently removed from your toes. It is as painful as it sounds, not to mention if you ever get outside you can't quickly climb a tree or defend yourself. I have a feline friend who had the same problem. Fortunately, his people took him to the Humane Society clinic where they recommended Soft Paws instead. These are little caps that glue over your claws and prevent you from being able to scratch up the furniture and people. My friend says that they are great and that they don't hurt a bit. He says that every few weeks one or two falls off and his person just reapplies new ones in their place. He's happy because they keep him out of trouble with his owner, they don't require surgery and they eventually wear off. That way if he does happen to get lost, he still has a fighting chance.

Sincerely, Jake

Dear Jake & Scout,
Please help me! My human friend wants to clip my nails again and I am terrified!! I know that I need them trimmed a lot, but every time she breaks out those clippers I panic! She does not mean to hurt me, but sometimes she trims them too short and they hurt. Isn't there any advice you can offer her to save me the anxiety next time?

Sincerely, Not so courageous Kitty

Dear Kitty,
I understand why you are nervous. As if having our nails trimmed isn't intimidating enoughÉhaving the fear of having them trimmed too short must be horrible for you! Let's see if I can help with some tips for trimming our nails.

First, for cats, well this could be a very tedious task! Cats are typically not too fond of having their feet messed with, but with practice, nail trims could become fairly hassle-free. It is recommended that you start with your pets at a very young age to accustom them to the routine. In between trimmings, try holding your pets paws in your hands regularly so they get used to it. When the time comes to trim the nails, it should be uneventful. This method also works well with adult cats, but may take a little more time. Fractious cats may require a cat bag (a humane restraint bag that can be purchased in pet supply stores) to get the job done.

The approach to trimming dog's nails is very similar. Begin holding the paws from early on to prepare him or her for future trimmings. Biting dogs may require a muzzle, as regardless of preparation, clipping the nails may still be stressful to some animals. Also, you may try putting your dog on its back during trimming. This not only makes the nails more accessible to you, but also puts the dog in a submissive position where they are less apt to fight.

Always use nail clippers made for animals. The human kind can crush, splinter and injure your pet's nails. Before clipping the nails, examine them carefully. If the nails are white, the pink colored quick should be obvious. Never cut below the quick. It will be painful to your pet and will bleed. Cutting right up to the quick can also cause some discomfort to your pet, so allow a very small amount of nail to remain. If the nails are dark, take care. Clip small amounts of the nail until reaching a satisfactory length. This means you may have to trim more often, but if you accidentally cut too much, your pet will be less cooperative in the future. Also, if your dog has dewclaws, or the "fifth toe", do not forget to trim these, as well.

I hope this helps some, Kitty. While nail trimming is by no means fun for any involved it is necessary to prevent injuries and other problems associated with overgrown nails.

Sincerely, Jake and Scout

Dear Jake and Scout,

You have got to help me!!! I overheard my human talking about declawing me... and boy am I scared! Not only does this sound extremely painful, but it will also leave me almost completely defenseless. I don't mean to tear up the furniture, it's just that I NEED to claw on something! I don't want to give up my claws! Aren't there any other options? Please help!
Fraidy Cat

Dear Fraidy Cat,
You're scared for a very good reason. Declawing IS a painful procedure that truly does leave a cat defenseless. Without claws, you aren't even able to climb trees to escape danger. Fortunately, there are many alternatives. One would be training with a scratching post. As with any training procedure, patience and persistence are the keys to success. Also available in most pet supply stores and catalogs are "Soft Paws" - flexible, unrestricting caps that fit easily over the cat's claws. While preventing damage to furniture, "Soft Paws" still allow for the cat's natural clawing action. Best of all, the cat is still able to defend itself... all without the pain of declawing. Tell your human about these options, and I'm sure declawing will no longer be even a consideration.
Jake & Scout

Dear Jake and Scout,
Yuck! Yuck! Yuck! I can't stomach one more disgusting taste of medicine. I know that I have to take them for this little cold, but I just know why they have to taste so bad! I know that my human tired of fighting me every time she has to medicate me, but I just can't help it! IsnÕt there anything that can be done to make them taste better? I love cheese, but I know that I can't have people food at all. Any suggestions?

Sincerely, Kitty Prescription Conniption

Dear Kitty,
I know exactly what you mean I have to take medicine every day myself, and like you, I used to run and hide every time my human came near me with a pill bottle. That all changed a few months ago when my veterinarian introduced me to FlavorX. FlavorX is a medicine taste to anything from groovy grape to Black Angus beef. There is a flavor that will suit any taste and costs only a few dollars more. Most medications can be flavored without any adverse affects to the medicine or its efficacy. Ask your vet today_ I guarantee you won't fret medicine time quite as much.

Sincerely, Scout

Dear Jake & Scout,
I'm a ten year old cat and my human does not understand why I seem to drool uncontrollably at times. I think it is just old age, but of course I can not tell her in english. Could you explain why I drool so much at night?

Thank you, Sleeps in puddle

Dear Sleeps,
First let me say that your problem is not as uncommon as you may think. Often excessive drooling is passed off as a temporary situation or just another sign of old age. The truth is that there are many possible conditions that may cause drooling, most of which are easily rectified. Nausea is the most common cause of drooling in pets. Perhaps an underlying internal problem is to blame. It's also possible that you may have what veterinarians call a cervical line lesion. That is, a cavity that goes to the root of the teeth, as we pets would say. Discomfort or pain in the mouth is certain to cause drooling. It is likely that the drooling occurs mostly at night or the quiet, sleepy hours because you are not aware of the problem until you wake. Without a doubt, your first step should be to pay a visit to your veterinarian. He/She will know exactly what to do to ensure you have a happy, healthy, dry life.
Sincerely, Jake