Cat feet are fascinating. They function as shock absorbers when landing after aerial acrobatics. The pads on the paws are thick, with a substantial amount of adipose (fat) tissue just below the pad surfaces. This acts as a cushion, allowing for cats to walk quietly. To me, however, the most impressive parts of the feet are the claws. All members…
Body Parts – the Adrenal Glands I would venture that most people have heard of the adrenal glands. I would also bet that if asked about what the adrenals do, most folks would correctly guess that they make adrenaline, the “fight or flight” hormone that makes your heart race before that first big plunge on the roller coaster. But…
I’m sure you’ve heard of them, but do you really know what they are, or what they do? I’m talking about the lymph nodes, important structures that we don’t think about much, but play a crucial role in a cat’s ability to fight off infections. Lymph nodes are small, oval shaped organs that are dispersed throughout the body. They…
Body Parts – The Stomach by Arnold Plotnick, MS, DVM, ACVIM If you can’t stomach the thought of an article about the stomach, then this column may not be for you. But have no fear, I will make this material easy to digest. The stomach is an important part of the gastrointestinal tract. Food that is swallowed is propelled by…
Body Parts – The Kidneys by Arnold Plotnick, MS, DVM, ACVIM Like all mammals, cats have two kidneys, one on the left, and one on the right. They are shaped like…kidney beans, of course. Blood flows into the kidney through the renal artery, and leaves via the renal vein. As blood passes through the kidney, toxins are filtered from the…
Today we get a good taste – literally – of what Burma is all about, because we’re starting the day with a cooking lesson at the Bamboo Delight Cooking School. I set this up weeks in advance as a surprise for Mark. Cooking is his passion, especially Asian cuisine. He wasn’t expecting this, so he was majorly psyched. First…
Feline Body Parts – The Liver “Liver Me This” by Arnold Plotnick, MS, DVM, ACVIM Published in Catster Volume 1, No. 3, Sept/Oct 2015 “What am I? Chopped liver?” You’ve probably heard this figure of speech before, the speaker implying that he’s worthless. I can assure you, as a cat veterinarian, that the liver (unchopped, at least) is anything but…
Day 9 – Promenade Plantee, Cat Cafe, and Pompidou Center (Continued from Day 8) Our next-to-last day started at a hip breakfast place called Lockwood. They open early for breakfast, and stay open late for dinner and drinks and music. I started the day with pancakes, which immediately put me into a sugar coma. Next we were off to…
Day Four in Amsterdam – Markets, Parks, a Cat or Two, and the Eurovision Song Contest (Continued from Day 3) Saturday was our last full day in Amsterdam. We were going to check out the newly renovated Stedelijk Museum, but there was a change of plans. Our friend Udi was free that morning, and he suggested we check out some…
Common occurrence: I examine a cat that was brought in for a gastrointestinal problem. I asked the client what her main concern was, and she said that the cat was regurgitating frequently. I asked if the cat was truly regurgitating, or if he was vomiting. She said, “I didn’t realize there was a difference”. I would venture that most people…
As many of you know, in addition to my veterinary work, I also am a writer. I have this blog and I am the former medical editor and contributor to Catnip magazine. I was the Ask the Vet columnist for Cat Fancy for many years. Sadly, Cat Fancy is no more, and was replaced by a new magazine, Catster. I am…
Simply wonderful! Georgia Engel – star of film, television, and stage – lover of felines – brought her cat in to see me at my cat hospital for a check-up. She is known for her role as Georgette Franklin Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and has also appeared on The Love Boat, Coach, The Office, Mork and Mindy,…
Most cat parents ask me what the best diet for their healthy cat is. These days, it is becoming more difficult to answer this seemingly simple question. Many people feel that cats should be fed canned food only, and that dry food is terrible for their cat. Other people feel that the composition of the food is much more important…
I was examining a young female cat that had been adopted a few months before from a rescue organization. The owner had brought her in for behavioral issues. “She’s been making trilling noises, and she sticks her rear end in the air, and is rolling around on the carpet all squirmy”, said her owner. “She’s also become super-affectionate. I have…
I took a few photos of my polydactyl cat Mittens