Learn how to tell whether your feline friend is just coughing or if he’s experiencing a more dangerous lack of air. If your cat is choking, it's an emergency. But it can be difficult to tell whether your cat is just coughing, or actually choking. Learn how to distinguish the two and what you can do at home if your cat loses consciousness. What Causes Cats to Choke? Things like dry kibble, pills, tinsel, or string can get stuck in a cat's throat or trachea (the tube connecting the throat to the lungs) and block air flow. An obstruction in the esophagus (the tube that goes from the throat to the stomach) can also cause choking if the stuck item is large enough to press on the nearby trachea, Aimee Simpson, VMD, medical director of VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia, explains. How Can You Tell the Difference Between Coughing and Choking? Coughing is often mistaken for choking. Cats may cough if they have hairballs, asthma, or heartworm disease. If your cat is coughing, you should have it checked out by your veterinarian. Choking, on the other hand, is a dire situation for which you should seek immediate veterinary care. "Cats that are truly choking have difficulty inhaling," Simpson says. "A choking cat may have reduced oxygen delivery resulting in cyanosis [bluish color of the tongue and gums] and may lose consciousness within two minutes if the airway is completely obstructed." Other signs of respiratory distress include: Noisy breathing (snoring-type sound or high-pitched noise) Increased breathing movement in the abdomen Open mouth Salivating What Should…

An early diagnosis provides the best chance for felines who may be suffering from cancer. A cancer diagnosis is something no one wants to hear, whether it's for us humans or our beloved pets. But cancer is a real fear, and one that increases as we (and our pets) age. In fact, it's estimated that one in five cats will be diagnosed with cancer. So while it's wonderful that our cats are living longer lives, it means an increased risk that cancer could strike. Thankfully, progress in how we understand and treat cancer means there are more treatment options available that can help ensure our feline friends are kept healthy and happy for as long as possible. What Causes Cancer in Cats? "Cancer" and "neoplasia" are blanket terms for when cells in your cat's body begin to divide and multiply out of control. This clump of poorly-behaved cells is a tumor, or neoplasm. Tumors can form anywhere in the body, and will look and act differently based on the original cells they came from. Benign tumors are lumps that are growing where they aren't supposed to be or beyond the bounds of that cell type's normal territory, but that don't invade other tissues or spread throughout the body. One of the most common forms of benign tumor in cats is a lipoma, or fatty tumor. While these squishy lumps can be unsightly, they usually grow slowly and don't destroy neighboring tissue. Malignant tumors invade and damage neighboring tissues and may also spread throughout the body. Tumor cells can break off and travel through…

Dementia is an ailment that can effect older cats. Learn how to recognize it and what you can do to help your senior cat continue living a quality life. With good care, many cats now live into their late teens and even twenties. Though with advanced age can come the problem of cat dementia or cognitive dysfunction. While some people have questioned if cats can get dementia in the past, it is now a recognized syndrome similar to “sundowners syndrome” in an elderly human. Symptoms of Cat Dementia Dementia in cats is a slowly progressive disease related to aging in your cat’s brain. At first, you may not notice some of the common symptoms of dementia, but over time, it suddenly becomes apparent that your cat is struggling. Signs of cat dementia may include: Pacing Extensive vocalization Excessive grooming Eating less Getting “stuck” in a corner or not knowing how to turn around More frequent accidents outside the litter box Diagnosing Dementia in Cats Your first step in diagnosing cat dementia is to rule out any physical ailments. For example, if your cat is arthritic, she may not be comfortable going down the stairs to her litter box location. There is no specific test for dementia, but together with your vet, a thorough look at your cat’s history, her current behavior, and any physical problems she might have will indicate the diagnosis of dementia. Once physical problems are identified and treated, you need to look at how to change your cat’s environment and care to help her with the changes associated…

Cat cataracts make it difficult for your kitty to see the world. Find out how to recognize cataracts in your cat and what actions to take first to alleviate them. If you notice your cat moving cautiously, hesitating to go outside in his catio, or jump on his favorite chair, he may have cataracts. This is especially true if he is a senior cat over 10 years of age. You might also notice a cloudiness or haziness in your cat’s eyes. Cataracts in cats rarely cause full blindness, but they can hamper how your cat sees the world. What Are Cataracts? A cataract is a change in the lens in your cat’s eye that blocks light from getting to the retina where their vision cells are located. Most cataracts start small, but they can grow and mature to a density that blocks sight. Some cataracts don’t grow, but will stay static. Cats easily adjust to the small loss of vision from those cataracts. Nuclear sclerosis is a change in the lens that also tends to come with age. This problem tends to show up in both eyes at once. While it appears similar (a haziness in the eyes), it does not usually cause any major problems for your cat’s vision. How Did My Cat Get Cataracts? Some cats have a genetic predisposition to cataracts. In certain cat breeds, the eye condition can show up in younger cats under 5 years of age. In contrast, most cat cataracts show up after 10 years of age. These cat breeds are genetically most likely to develop cataracts…

Cats are living longer lives, and much like humans, their advanced years often come with chronic diseases like feline osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, the signs of arthritis in cats are often dismissed as the animal naturally slowing down in its old age. But according to the Cornell Feline Health Center, cat owners shouldn’t assume that changes they see in their older cats are the unavoidable consequences of aging and therefore untreatable. Instead, if you notice changes in your older cat’s behavior and physical condition, it’s the perfect time to reach out to your veterinarian. In fact, pet owners play a particularly important role in helping veterinarians diagnose feline osteoarthritis because you have access to something your veterinarian doesn’t: knowledge of how your cat behaves and moves in her own habitat over time. Cats are notorious for hiding their pain and being uncooperative during veterinary exams (with good reason), so your careful observations are key.   While there is no cure for feline osteoarthritis, there are many things you can do to slow disease progression and improve your cat’s quality of life. What Is Feline Osteoarthritis? Feline osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is caused by the wearing away of joint cartilage (the connective tissue that protects the ends of bones). Without this cushion, adjacent bones are able to rub against each other, resulting in debilitating pain. The disease most commonly affects the hip, knee, ankle, and elbow joints in cats. And while the root cause of osteoarthritis in cats isn’t always known, the American College of Veterinary Surgeons says that injuries, abnormally shaped joints, and…

Cats may have nine lives, but snakebites should still be taken seriously! Some cats are perfectly content with being strictly indoors at all times. But for felines that roam the outdoors, there's a chance a curious cat could encounter a snake who isn't their biggest fan. So, what do you do if your cat suffers a snakebite? Cat Snakebite Symptoms If your cat has been bitten by a snake, they may start to exhibit certain symptoms. Unlike dogs, symptoms may not appear immediately, but instead within 12-24 hours after your cat is bitten. Keep an eye out for these signs. Bite marks Pain and swelling around the bite Bleeding from the bite Slow or ragged breathing Limping (cats are most often bitten on the leg) Whimpering from pain Sedation/sluggish behavior Nausea Shock Note: Some of these symptoms may not transpire if the snake that bit your cat was non-venomous. But you should still pursue medical care regardless if only a portion of listed symptoms are present. What to Do When Your Cat Has Been Bitten by a Snake First things first, call your veterinarian to let them know that you're en route to their office, even if you're 100 percent sure that the bite was non-venomous. Wounds can still get infected, whether venom was involved or not. Once you contact your vet, try to keep the wound below heart level so that blood flow is discouraged from spreading the venom. Your vet office may ask you to identify the snake either over the phone or in person, but do not focus…

Diabetes in cats can lead to weight loss, vomiting, dehydration, and even death. Just as diabetes requires attention in humans, diabetes in cats can significantly affect your darling pet’s life. You can manage the condition, but most diabetic cats need daily long-term care. There’s no easy one-time fix for cat diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine disorders in cats. It occurs when a cat’s body either doesn’t make insulin or doesn’t make enough insulin. What Causes Diabetes in Cats? Leah Cohn, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, an internal medicine specialist and professor at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in Columbia, Mo., refers to diabetes mellitus as “sugar-related diabetes.” It occurs when too much glucose (sugar) is circulating in the bloodstream due to a problem with the body’s production of or response to the hormone insulin, she says. Cells need insulin to be able to take in glucose and convert it into energy. This in turn helps regulate how much glucose is in the bloodstream. When the body doesn’t have enough insulin, the glucose in the blood can’t be used for energy and the body must turn to other sources, such as fats and proteins, to survive. Similar to humans, there is Type I and Type II diabetes in cats: With Type I diabetes, the cat’s body simply doesn’t make insulin. Cohn says that this is usually because the cat’s immune system has attacked and destroyed the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. A cat with Type II diabetes can still make insulin, Cohn says, but not enough. Your cat either…

When it comes to cat-friendly cleaning, it’s best to follow the directions when sanitizing your space so nobody gets hurt. There's something wonderful about a newly clean kitchen, bathroom, or dining room floor. Everything shines, the world smells good, and any chemical smells are a signal to your nose that you got a deep clean. But for cats, the household cleaners you know and love—including Lysol—can carry risks if not used properly. But that doesn’t you mean you have to forgo a squeaky-clean home or give up your favorite cleaning solution. It just means finding cat-safe household cleaners that can help reduce the risk of toxic reactions, poisonings, and other cleaner-related health problems in your cat. Can Household Cleaners Like Lysol Hurt Cats? Not if you follow the directions and keep cats away from surfaces that are wet with cleaners, says Ahna Brutlag, DVM, a veterinarian and board-certified veterinary toxicologist who works with the Pet Poison Helpline to answer questions about toxic substances. "Most ready-to-use household cleaners are safe to use around cats," Brutlag says. "The biggest dangers are when cats get exposed to cleaners while they're still wet." As for specific brand names, such as Lysol or Clorox, it’s probably less important to worry about the name of a product and more important to read the label and follow the directions for cleaning. If a label advises that you dilute the cleaner with water (e.g. Pine-Sol, Fabuloso, or good old fashioned bleach), follow the directions for the right proportion of water to cleaner. Allow the cleaner to fully dry before a…

Lilies and cats are a very bad combination! Dogs have a reputation for eating a lot of stuff you wouldn't think an animal would want to eat. But cats get into some weird stuff, too, especially plants. A few petals fell off a rose bouquet at my mom's house once, and her cat wolfed down those petals like he was afraid they'd run away. Rose petals are fine, aside from stomach upset if your favorite feline eats too many. But lilies are toxic to cats according to Tina Wismer, DVM, MS, DABVT, DABT, a veterinarian and senior director at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Lilies are bad for cats, from the petals and leaves to the stems and roots—even sniffing the pollen or drinking the water in a vase holding lilies can be harmful. Here's why lilies are poisonous for cats and what to do if your cat has come into contact with some of these flowers. Are All Lilies Poisonous to Cats? While the exact reason for lilies' toxicity for cats is not fully known, doctors have proven the plant and its flowers are dangerous, says Renee Schmid, DVM, DABVT, DABT, a veterinarian toxicologist who works with Pet Poison Helpline. "We know that the toxin is water-soluble and causes acute kidney failure and ultimately leads to the cat's death," Schmid says. The most dangerous lilies are those of the Lilium or Hemerocallis species. They include, but are not limited to: Easter lily Asiatic lilies (grown outside throughout the United States and commonly seen around Easter because of their festive, spring colors) Daylilies Japanese Show lily Red lily Rubrum…

Cat owners should steer clear of these houseplants or garden plants. (Sneak peek: Lilies and tulips are out. Orchids and roses are in.) Some dogs seem to get into everything, pulling food off the kitchen counter, begging for anything you're eating and binging on whatever they can find tipped out of the garbage can. Cats might be the more finicky eaters of our animal companions, but that doesn't mean they aren't still apt to eat things they shouldn't. While we may think we know why cats eat grass (and throw it up), our favorite felines also have a habit of nibbling, chewing, and swallowing other flowers and leaves from houseplants and outdoor plants. Some of these plants are fine for cats to get into (even if eating them leads to a bit of stomach upset or vomiting), but others are especially toxic and can lead to fatal poisoning in your cat. Plants Toxic to Cats Plants enrich the great outdoors, and many cats appreciate some of that greenery brought indoors for them to see, smell, touch and (sometimes) taste. While cats who eat a part of an indigestible but nontoxic plant may experience an upset stomach (think: vomit, constipation, or diarrhea), there are certain plants that are a bigger danger to cats. Ahna Brutlag, DVM and Senior Veterinary Toxicologist at the Pet Poison Helpline, says there are a number of plants pet owners should keep away from cats. Look Out for Lilies: Toxic to Cats Lilies are at the top of the list. These gorgeous blooms—found commonly in bouquets and growing in the garden—can…