Take a breath after a busy week and enjoy this pure cuteness. Who knew snoring could be this adorable? ๐ฅฐ #CutenessOverload #SleepyKitty
Zoey chirping
Check out this adorable video of Zoey chirping at a bird! ๐ฑ๐ฆ Ever wonder why cats chirp? Chirping is believed to be a behavior rooted in their hunting instincts. When cats see birds or insects, they may make chirping sounds that mimic the noises their prey makes. It's like a reflexive response triggered by excitement and anticipation. We think it's the cutest thing ever! Does your cat do this? #CatChirping #CatBehavior
We may be a feline only clinic, but we watch over our canine neighbors too!
2 Dogs (Pub), not 2 ducks!!! ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
Who said a cat isn't allowed to have fun while visiting their Veterinarian? It wasn't us!
It's National Scoop the Poop Week!
Although the task is a stinky one, cleaning your cat's litter box is a necessary part of being a responsible pet owner. Daily scooping will help minimize the spread of illnesses and parasites between animals- including humans (zoonotic diseases). It is also an easy way to monitor the digestive and urinary health of your cat. Not to mention, frequent scooping keeps the odors to a minimum!
When their litter box is clean, you get a happy cat!
Happy Walking Day!
After a week of unpredictable weather, take a little time to go for a walk outside and enjoy the sunshine. :) Maybe you can take your feline companion too??? You never know the new friends they might meet...
Just Jonathan with something appropriate to tear apart.
Does your cat have destructive tendencies? Provide an opportunity to express that behavior! #catenrichment
This is one of the biggest reasons we recommend adopting in pairs: play fighting. If they didn't have each other for biting and wrestling, they would terrorize their housemates and/or us. Play fighting is normal healthy cat behavior, but without a proper outlet it can turn into unwanted frustration related aggression. That unwanted behavior causes negative interactions that create stress for everyone in the home. Get those kittens in bonded pairs! #adoptinpairs #catsofinstagram #kittensofinstagram #kittensplayfighting
Water enrichment for cats! Persephone is available for adoption at the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center.
Haboob with Chipmunk
From Natalie RVT: Haboob has appropriated a chipmunk caught and killed by Pequod in the catio. When cats catch prey, real or toy, they aren't likely to share. Growling, hissing, and swatting at the approach of other cats or people is normal cat behavior. Haboob is simply letting us all know how important this resource is for him. Some owners remove toys from their cats when they exhibit this behavior, but there is no need to take the toys away or prevent access to them. Most cats will eventually lose interest and walk away. If a toy is the source of regular spats between housemates, consider getting one or two more so they don't have to share. In the case of real prey, what you do will depend on your personal preferences and the disposition of your cat!
When you get stuck on repeat.
Constipation in a geriatric cat
It's all about poop today. A client allowed us to share this video for educational purposes. This is a geriatric patient with constipation showing a classic straining posture. Senior and geriatric patients, especially those with kidney disease, are at increased risk of developing constipation. Older cats have smaller, weaker muscles, making it difficult to pass hard poop. This behavior is sometimes interpreted as straining to urinate, and you'll notice this cat does pass a small amount of urine. Owners may also notice vomiting outside the litterbox. This may occur in cats with severe constipation after intense straining. Prevention includes increasing water intake by feeding exclusively canned food or using water fountains, and using stool softeners. Discuss use of any stool softener with a veterinarian first to be sure you're using something safe and effective for your cat. Canned pumpkin is a common home remedy for poop problems but there are better, more effective options available. Treatment for obstipation, when your cat can't pass poop, requires enemas with or without sedation and/or manual removal of poop. Just another reason to monitor litter box use!
Feline Orofacial Pain Syndrome
Orofacial pain syndrome is an indication of severe oral pain. It has been reported in kittens during teething or with severe periodontal disease and oral cancer. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) has been implicated as a potential cause as well. You may see this type of behavior in cases of oral foreign bodies when cats swallow objects like needles or string. In this case, we were trying to find a combination of pain medications that would alleviate Kaspar's pain. This behavior was seen mostly during or after eating. Treatment of this disease is challenging. Trials of multiple drugs may be necessary to find relief. If your cat is showing this behavior and you aren't aware of any current oral health problems, schedule an appointment right away to find out what is causing the pain and distress.
TV enrichment available on YouTube. #enrichmentforcats
The early bird catches the worm.
Step Two: Fiona's Paw Training
Step Two of the claw clipping training program: handling paws. Because the goal of the program is "cooperation" on the part of the cat, I'm asking Fiona to offer her paw rather than grabbing it and holding onto it. This is a snippet of her second paw training session. She's a little distracted today after having a trip to the vet for vaccination, but I'd say she did quite well.
Another way to slow down your enthusiastic eater: Place kibble in multiple parts of a folded up towel.