Feline Health

My Cat-astropic Year, Part Two: Losing a Cat to Aggressive Lymphoma Highlights the Need for Better Diagnostics and Treatment

Feline Health| 4 Comments
siamese-cats
Uli and Paterson

Guest post by Ingrid R. Niesman MS, PhD

During the first few months of 2022, I had two apparently healthy and happy Siamese boys. Until I didn’t.

Uli was diagnosed with asthma in January. Click here to read The Challenges of Treating Feline Asthma for his story.

Then, in March, heartbreak struck again. Big boy Paterson started vomiting. At first, it was just occasional, and we wrote if off as hairballs. By the third week of March, we became worried and scheduled a vet appointment.Continue Reading

What DNA Testing Can Tell You About Your Cat

Feline Health| 1 Comment

white-cat-blue-green-eye

Have you ever wondered about your cat’s genetic background? Maybe you want to know which breeds might make up her genes, or are curious about whether or not her coat color influences her personality. Perhaps you’d like to find out if she has any genetic health conditions so you can be proactive about preventing them from manifesting. Having a DNA test done on your cat can answer all these questions and more – and it can also contribute to our scientific understanding of the feline genome.Continue Reading

Buying a Water Fountain for Your Cat? Here’s What To Look For

Feline Health, Products| 3 Comments

cat-fountain

Water is critical to keeping your cat healthy. Lack of water can lead to chronic low-level dehydration, which in turn can lead to urinary tract and kidney problems. If you suspect your cat isn’t drinking enough water, a fountain might prompt her to stay better hydrated. Many cats are attracted to running water, so a fountain can be a great way  to encourage them to drink more.

In a recent article for Animal Wellness, I explained what to look for in a fountain.

Click here to read Buying a Water Fountain for Your Cat.

You can find all our favorite fountains in our Product Guide. Click on the image below to go directly to the fountains page.

product-guide-food-dishes-fountains

Why You Should Weigh Your Cat Once a Month

Feline Health| 7 Comments

cat-on-scale

Did you know that your cat’s weight is one of the most important clues to her state of health? Weight loss or gain can be an early warning sign of illness, but if it happens gradually it can be difficult to recognize. Visually assessing your cat’s weight, and annual or bi-annual weigh-ins at your cat’s wellness exam may not be enough to catch these changes, so weighing your cat once a month at home can help prevent problems from going undetected until they’re in more advanced stages.Continue Reading

Tooth Resorption in Cats: A Common, Painful Condition

Feline Health| 3 Comments

black-cat-teeth

Tooth resorption is a common condition in cats, affecting 20 to 60 percent of adult cats and close to 75 percent of cats five years or older. It is a painful condition and the most common reason for extractions. In the past, tooth resorption was referred to as feline oral resorptive lesions, feline odontoclastic resorptions, cavities, caries, cervical neck lesions, external or internal root resorptions, and cervical line erosions.Continue Reading

My Cat-astropic Year, Part One: The Challenges of Treating Feline Asthma

Feline Health| 5 Comments

siamese-cat

Guest post by Ingrid R Niesman, MS PhD

2022 was the year my human life intertwined with multiple cats’ lives. Somehow, in one year, I encountered a myriad of cat health, cat ecology and cat behavioral issues. Each unique situation provided me with ample material to weave the newest feline science and medicine into my personal accounts of what interacting and sharing life with cats means today. Continue Reading

Changing the Future of IBD and GI Lymphoma Diagnosis in Cats

Feline Health| 7 Comments

cat-parent-cat-veterinarian

This is a sponsored post, written by: Rowyn Rose, Science Communications Specialist at Basepaws*

When your cat isn’t feeling well, you want to help them to get better as soon as possible. As a cat parent, one of the hardest things to deal with is when your cat is sick, but it’s not exactly clear what’s wrong.

Symptoms such as weight loss, decreased appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea can be associated with a wide range of feline health issues. One of these is the cancerous condition called gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma—the #1 form of cancer seen in cats. Another is the non-cancerous condition known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which causes chronic irritation and inflammation of the GI tract.Continue Reading

Why Keeping Track of Your Cat’s Weight is Important

Feline Health| 4 Comments

cat-scale

Weighing your cat on a regular basis is one of the easiest ways to monitor her health. Gradual weight loss or gain is often not noticeable in cats until it has become quite dramatic. Consider that the average cat weighs 10 pounds. Weight loss of only 6% of a cat’s body weight is considered a clinical sign – that’s less than ten ounces. Depending on the size of your cat, visible changes to her weight may be too subtle to notice without actually weighing her.Continue Reading

Understand the Signs of Arthritis Pain in Cats

Feline Health| 9 Comments

orange-tabby-bed

Recognizing pain in cats can be challenging for even the most dedicated cat parent, especially when it comes to chronic pain caused by arthritis. Even veterinarians often overlook signs of pain in cats, partly because some cats won’t show pain in a stressful situation such as being at the vet’s. Cats’ ability to hide pain goes back to their wild origins. In the wild, a sick animal becomes prey, so not showing weakness is crucial for survival.Continue Reading