Just inside a cat’s anus are two small glands: the anal glands (sometimes referred to as anal sacs). If you imagine your cat’s anus as the face of a clock (that might be the strangest beginning to any sentence I’ve ever written), the anal glands are located at the 4 and the 8 position.  These glands produce a foul-smelling secretion.…

Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. Cats are living longer than ever.  When I began my veterinary career, a 20-year-old cat was a rarity.  Now, I see at least a dozen every year.  It’s wonderful that we get to spend additional years with our beloved companions, but increased longevity is a double-edged sword.  A longer lifespan also…

Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. Disease processes occur in the mouth more than anywhere else in a cat’s body.  Dental disease is very common, and if untreated, it can lead to bad breath, swollen and bleeding gums, difficulty eating, and oral pain.  Cats are secretive by nature, and they often don’t reveal that they are experiencing…

Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. Persistent coughing and labored breathing in humans have taken on heightened significance in the past year, as they are commonly reported symptoms of covid-19 infection.  Not all coughing and wheezing in humans is of viral origin, however.  Asthma in humans is a disease of the lower airways that can cause coughing,…

Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. Dental disorders are amongst the most common medical issues seen in cats.  If unaddressed, dental problems can lead to a variety of consequences including bad breath, loose teeth, oral pain, and difficulty eating.   Sometimes it can be challenging to tell if a cat is experiencing oral discomfort because cats by nature…

Written By Dr. Arnold Plotnick; Originally published on Catster. My friends have heard me complain many times about my spouse’s loud snoring. A snoring cat, however, has never bothered me. My beloved cat Crispy, who died in 2017, was a notorious snorer. When she slept on the bed, I found her rhythmic respiratory sounds soothing and reassuring. If the environmental…

Until I adopted my cat Mittens, I had never had a cat who liked to sleep in the sink. One day I went into the bathroom and found her in the sink, and it was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.  I hadn’t thought much about since, until I recently saw another photo of a cat in a sink that…

Although cats are generally more discreet about what they put in their mouths compared to dogs, some cats have a penchant for chewing unusual objects.  One thing both dogs and cats often chew on are electrical cords.  This can be a hazard for two reasons.  First, it can be a danger to your cat, because of potential electrical burns.  Second,…

Hear the science behind uncommon female orange tabby cats and the extremely rare tortoiseshell or calico male cat. Question: I have heard that all orange tabby cats are male, and to find one that is female is rare and worth up to $1,000. I also have heard that calico cats and tortoiseshell cats are female and to find a male…

When Peggy Lee sang “Fever isn’t such a new thing, fever started long time ago”, she wasn’t kidding.  Since the beginning of recorded history, fever has been a hallmark of disease.  Body temperature is regulated by a structure in the brain called the hypothalamus.  It controls the body’s “thermal set point” in very similar fashion to a thermostat. When body…

They’re lurking quietly: in your kitchen; in your garden; in your medicine cabinet; on your nightstand. Substances potentially hazardous to your cat are everywhere. Medications. Human medications are a very common cause of toxicity in cats. Cats have a unique metabolism, and some drugs that people tolerate well can be harmful or even fatal to cats.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)…