by Nomi Berger
 
Anisocoria is a condition in which a cat’s pupils are different sizes. In some instances, the abnormal pupil may be the smaller one and in other instances, the abnormal pupil may be the larger one.
 
This condition is typically caused by one of the following:
• Congenital defect of the iris, when the tissue fails to develop properly.
• Corneal injury such as an ulcer.
• Brain injury or injury to the nerves running to the affected eye, such as Horner’s syndrome.
• Glaucoma, a disease marked by increased pressure within the eye, resulting in a dilated pupil.
• Uveitis, an inflammation of the eye’s interior, causing that eye’s pupil to be constricted.
• Scar tissue formation between the iris and lens that may develop following uveitis.
• Retinal disease.
• Iris atrophy, a decrease in the tissue within the iris, usually associated with aging.
• Cancer within the affected eye.
• Spastic pupil syndrome that may be associated with FeLV (feline leukemia virus).
• Other infectious diseases such as FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) or toxoplasmosis.
 
Besides a discrepancy in pupil size, and depending on the reason for it, the white part (sclera) of the affected eye may be red, the cornea (the outer surface of the eye) may be cloudy or bluish, there may be a discharge from the eye, the eyelid on the affected eye may droop, the cat may be squinting or rubbing her eye, the third eyelid may be raised, or she may be less active than usual.
 
Should you notice any of the above in YOUR kitty, seek veterinary care immediately to reduce the risk of her vision being permanently affected. Your vet will perform a thorough physical examination of your cat, including a detailed examination of the structures of the eye in question. Depending on these findings, your vet may then measure the tear production and intraocular pressure for both eyes; stain the cornea of the affected eye with fluorescein dye to look for underlying corneal injuries or ulcers and obtain conjunctival scrapings or biopsies to be sent to a diagnostic lab for specialized testing. Blood tests may also be performed to determine if your kitty has a systemic condition such as FeLV or FIV. In some cases, your vet may refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist for even further diagnostic testing.
 
Because treating anisocoria depends entirely on the condition causing it, your vet will discuss the options most appropriate for your cat, with the prognosis for a full recovery also dependent upon the condition causing it. In some cases, your cat may require long-term medication to control that condition. Sadly, however, if your cat should go blind as a result of her condition, it’s unlikely that her blindness can be reversed.

by Nomi Berger
 
Have you noticed your kitty drinking water from her water bowl, not with her tongue but with her front paws, using them like a tiny furry paddle or cup? A common sight, purr-haps, and yet, have you ever wondered WHY she’s behaving this way?
 
If so, paw-lease consider the four following paws-ibilities.
 
The water bowl is too small: Since our feline friends favor having easy access to a large supply of water, and that supply, i.e., their bowl is too small, they may have difficulty drinking from it properly and comfortably. Enter ingenuity! How clever of them to dip their paws into the water as their way of getting several cool and refreshing sips from the bowls to their mouths. If your kitty is drinking water like this, check the size of her bowl and replace it with a larger one.
 
She may be experiencing “whisker fatigue”: As odd as this phrase may seem, truth, as they say, is often stranger than fiction. Cats have extremely delicate and sensitive whiskers on their faces that can be easily irritated by rubbing against the unforgiving sides of their water bowls. It makes purr-fect sense then, for them to drink their water by using one or both paws and avoid irritating their whiskers even more. And so, if your kitty is getting her water in this manner, replace her current bowl with one of the many available commercial bowls designated as being “whisker-friendly.”
 
She may simply be playing: As naturally curious, not to mention, creative, animals, kitties enjoy experimenting and doing things differently. Case in point: they LOVE “playing” and engaging with various parts of their bodies, such as chasing their tails and grooming themselves. Therefore, when your “meow-meow” uses her front paws to splash around in her water bowl, she may “see” this as another form of experimenting, exploring and engaging in play.
 
Cats turn up their noses at tepid water. Finicky about what they drink, felines tend to avoid any water in their bowls that fails the “fresh” test. And because they LOVE moving water, they’re never shy about sipping water from the sink faucet or attempting to drink from the toilet bowl. By using their paws in their water bowls, they’re literally “stirring” the water up to create more movement and flow. The solution: invest in an automatic pet fountain that will allow your purr-ecious puss to either drink from the fountain’s bowl or from its continual stream of clean and fresh falling water.

by Nomi Berger
 
What purr-cisely is this condition called alopecia?
 
Alopecia is the partial or total lack of hair in areas where a cat’s hair is normally present.
 
Hair loss can be either congenital or acquired. Congenital hair loss is caused by the failure of hair follicles to develop and is obvious shortly after a kitten is born. In some cases, kittens can be born with a normal coat only to suffer local or generalized hair loss as young adults.
 
Acquired hair loss, on the other hand, occurs in cats born with normal hair coats, only to lose it because of a disease that destroys the hair follicles or shafts or interferes with the hair’s growth. These diseases range from inflammation in a cat’s bladder, kidneys, gastrointestinal system or anal sacs, hyperthyroidism, recent metabolic stress, such as pregnancy, nursing or fever to cancers, including cutaneous lymphoma, thymoma, pancreatic carcinoma and bile duct carcinoma. While acquired hair loss can be inflammatory or noninflammatory, the most common cause of alopecia is an inflammatory disorder.
 
Capable of damaging or destroying a cat’s hair shafts and/or follicles and causing itching or pain are bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections and allergies such as flea allergy dermatitis; deep skin infections; skin trauma such as burns or radiation; and, on rare occasions, iodine, mercury or thallium poisoning. Culprits that either slow or inhibit the growth of hair follicles include nutritional deficiencies -- especially protein deficiencies -- or hormonal imbalances. Significant hair loss is also quite a common occurrence in cats recovering from respiratory infections. Not to mention friction from poorly fitted halters or collars and excessive grooming, so often caused by stress.
 
Congenital hair loss can either be symmetrical in nature or localized to one region on a cat’s head and body and isn’t usually accompanied by inflammation. Signs of acquired hair loss are varied and include change in a cat’s skin color, excessive shedding, inflammation, itching and redness or thickening of the skin. In some cases, secondary skin conditions may develop such as an infection or fluid discharge. Alopecia caused by hormonal disorders isn’t usually itchy at first unless a secondary skin infection is involved.
 
Should your kitty be suffering from alopecia, bring her to the vet who will take a detailed history and perform a thorough physical examination of her skin. But for a more precise diagnosis, your vet will, in all likelihood, order lab tests to check for bacterial, fungal or yeast infections, do a flea combing, collect skin cultures, and do skin scrapes to look for parasites. If your vet suspects a hormonal problem, blood and urine tests will be ordered. A skin biopsy may be performed, and an elimination diet trial recommended using prescription food for eight to 12 weeks to test for food allergies.
 
Because a successful treatment plan depends on a specific diagnosis and may take some time, your vet will either provide or prescribe medication(s) to relieve some of your kitty’s discomfort, including any itching and scratching. Once the underlying cause of her alopecia is identified and appropriate treatment pursued, her hair will probably grow back. But it’s essential that you work closely with your vet, follow instructions and schedule regular follow-up visits to achieve the best outcome paws-ible.

by Nomi Berger
 
From body language to vocalization, cats use various signs and signals to communicate – with other cats and with humans. And although we may not be able to detect them, pheromones rank highest on that list. What, then, ARE pheromones?
 
Pheromones are a form of chemical communication that felines employ when engaging with each other, with the world around them and with their pet parents. The “messages” they send are released from special glands located throughout their bodies, and they produce a wide assortment of pheromones that influence many of their behaviors, emotions and interactions. Different pheromones send different “messages” or signals to other cats, both indoors and outdoors cats, which all cats, young and old, will understand.
 
Many of the glands that release pheromones are located on cats’ faces -- on their foreheads, lower ears, cheeks, chins and around their mouths. They’re also located in their paw pads to help them “mark” their territory when they scratch and/or knead, and around the nipples of females. To share or deposit these messages, your own cat will engage in a range of behaviors – the most positive of which is rubbing her head on you, on various household objects’ surfaces, even doorways, throughout your home, and bumping heads with you and, when applicable, with her feline friends. These are clear signals that your kitty is happy, relaxed and content in her environment, and that by putting her scent on them and on you, she’s marked them and you as being “safe.”
 
Pheromones are used, among other things, to help mother cats and kittens bond, identify and be in harmony with each other, to self-soothe as well as to signal discomfort, stress or fear. All cats use a special organ called the vomeronasal organ (VNO) that’s located in an opening on the roof of their mouths to recognize pheromone messages throughout their environment. When detecting them, your cat will open her mouth slightly and pull back her lips, exposing the roof of her mouth. If you witness your cat standing still with a strange expression on her face, she’s clearly detecting and receiving a single “message” or more.
 
On the other hand, many cats may suffer from anxiety or stress caused by changes in their environment such as adding a new cat to your household, decorating, moving and visiting the vet. Their anxiety will most commonly manifest itself in such negative behaviors as biting, excessive scratching, hiding, refusing to eat, urinating and defecating outside of the litter box, fighting with the other kitties and/or spraying. Should your kitty exhibit any of these behaviors, try using artificial pheromone products.
 
The most popular ones are plug-in diffusers and sprays. Cat calming plug-in diffusers and sprays can help with general anxiety in individual cats and promote harmony in multi-cat households by emitting a synthetic version of the feline facial pheromones given off by mother cats while nursing their kittens.
 
In instances where such measures have little to no effect, animal behaviorists encourage worried pet parents to contact their vets. Hopefully, with an appropriate behavior modification program, including positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior and desensitization along with counter-conditioning, these ‘fraidy cats can overcome their fears or anxiety regarding certain situations and live calmer, happier lives.

by Nomi Berger
 
When cats are constipated, it not only makes them uncomfortable and restless, it could be a sign of a serious underlying medical problem.
 
Cats, on average, move their bowels about every 24 to 36 hours. If yours doesn’t pass one as frequently, strains when attempting to poop or doesn’t leave any poop in her litter box, she may be constipated. While most cases of constipation are mild enough to be treated at home, it’s wisest to contact your vet if yours hasn’t moved her bowels in more than 48 to 72 hours.
 
If you’re unfamiliar with the many possible causes of feline constipation, consider the following:

· Insufficient fiber in their diet
· Dry food 
· Stress or anxiety
· A bowel obstruction due to bones or string blocking it
· Excessive grooming (this results in extra hair inside their digestive tracts)
· Arthritis pain
· Pain or spinal issues
· Kidney problems
· Feline megacolon (this occurs when a cat’s colon gets so large that the muscles are unable to squeeze, leading to a buildup of dry, hard stool)
· Allergies
· Nerve problems
· Ruptured or impacted anal sacs (both can cause pain when defecating)
· Narrow places, tumors or other problems within the colon
· Chronic conditions like hyperthyroidism, diabetes or kidney disease
· Inflammatory bowel disease
· Perianal disease
· Cancer
 
As to the various signs and symptoms of cat constipation:
· Inability to defecate at all
· Straining or crying when inside the litter box
· Avoiding the litter box
· Going into and leaving the litter box numerous times without pooping
Any one of these behaviors merits an immediate call to your vet since your cat may be suffering from a serious urinary tract problem.
 
And because constipation can be a sign of other underlying health issues, you may notice that your kitty is exhibiting one or more of these symptoms:
· Decreased appetite
· Drinking more or less water
· Urinating more
· Difficulty jumping up
· Loss of muscle
· Hiding
· Walking stiffly
· Weight loss
· Nausea
· Vomiting
 
In short, the reason(s) for your kitty’s severe constipation must first be properly diagnosed, then promptly treated to decrease the risk of permanent damage due to prolonged distension of her colon.
 
If, however, your kitty’s constipation is both infrequent and mild enough to be treated at home, consider the following suggestions:
· Help her maintain a healthy weight
· Minimize her stress and anxiety
· Provide her with probiotics
· Switch to a hypoallergenic diet, one with lamb or chicken and special, limited ingredients to reduce any intestinal inflammation
· Try fiber-rich foods, a teaspoon of canned, pureed pumpkin once or twice daily, or ginger as natural remedies
· Increase her exercise to both help her lose weight and keep her active, thereby reducing stress and promoting normal movement within her intestines
· Use over-the-counter laxatives (before doing so, consult your vet since they may worsen symptoms in cats with underlying or chronic diseases) *
· Keep track of how often your cat poops in her litter box and the consistency of her stool at least twice a week initially, then every week or every two weeks thereafter if all is well.

by Nomi Berger
 
Curious about the amount of time cats sleep, and why they seem to sleep so much? Consider then, the following comfy, cozy feline facts.
 
Cats are fundamentally predators and being crepuscular creatures, are most active between dawn and dusk. Why? Because their ancestors, who lived in the wild millions of years ago, realized that hunting during those hours enabled them to avoid predators and maximize their chances of catching prey. They, therefore, developed a unique sleep cycle to support that lifestyle.
 
Our domesticated cats sleep, on average, between 12 and 16 hours a day, an extensive period that’s essential for their overall health and general wellbeing. They’re designed, anatomically and physiologically, to “hunt” for their food even if it’s provided for them in a bowl or involves them, their toys, tunnels and cat trees. Not only is the effect the same, they employ the same energy-intensive techniques such as stalking and pouncing, running, chasing and climbing. And since they use high levels of adrenaline to keep their body fueled during these relatively short periods of time, the result is, understandably, the need to re-charge their batteries by curling up for a long, satisfying snooze.
 
Like humans, cats experience different stages of sleep, including rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep. During REM sleep, cats will very often be seen twitching their whiskers, paws and tails, possible indicators of the fact that they’re dreaming. Non-REM sleep, on the other hand, is a deeper, more restorative sleep, so essential for both their physical and emotional health.
 
Kittens and older cats tend to sleep more than adult cats – up to 20 hours a day. Additionally, any changes in their usually familiar environment as well as various, assorted health concerns can impact both the duration and quality of their sleep. Unusual sleep or excessive wakefulness patterns, however, may indicate an underlying health condition that pet parents don’t know about. If they’re ill, they may exhibit other symptoms such as changes in their “bathroom” habits, signs of disorientation and/or unusual weight gain or loss.
 
Any changes at all in their sleep patterns, any symptoms that are out of the ordinary, are red flags for conscientious pet parents to promptly arrange a visit with their vet.

by Nomi Berger
 
Does this sound familiar? You’re tenderly petting or gently playing with your favorite feline when she suddenly becomes hyperactive or lashes out at you by biting and/or scratching. According to veterinary behaviorists, this erratic and unpredictable behavior is known as “overstimulation.”
 
Whether your overstimulated kitty is acting aggressively or fearfully, it’s a psychological response to her being overwhelmed by some external factor. Examples: excessive touching and/or handling, sudden changes at home, from a recent move or a new pet to household construction. Being overstimulated may even cause her to overreact to seemingly “normal” occurrences such as a familiar family member approaching her or the customary noises emanating from your household appliances. Because an overstimulated cat runs the risk of injuring herself by slamming into furniture or knocking over objects, it’s essential to recognize the earliest warning signs, prevent the situation from escalating, and help her return to a calm state of mind.
 
While any cat can be overstimulated, it’s more likely to affect those not receiving adequate mental enrichment or exercise and those struggling with stress and anxiety -- both of which lower the threshold for them to become overstimulated. Besides the “triggers” mentioned before, others include bright and/or flashing lights, loud noises such as thunderstorms, fireworks, dogs barking and vacuum cleaners, overly intense play and ingesting catnip or silvervine.
 
The signs of an overstimulated cat include dilated pupils, fur standing on end, hiding, hissing, tense body posture and tucked tail. Overstimulation can, besides biting and scratching, also result in such aggressive behaviors as frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs), commonly known as “zoomies,” growling, pouncing and chasing, swiping, and a tail that swishes back and forth.
 
When your cat is overstimulated, promptly remove or reduce whatever potential causes that you can control: ending your petting and/or playing session, dimming the lights, turning off the vaccum cleaner and so on. Place her in a quiet, private location complete with food and water bowls, perches, a litter box and a bed, and give her time to decompress. This can range from several minutes to several hours, so please, please be patient with her.
 
To keep your kitty from becoming overstimulated again, you must address the underlying causes behind it. If excessive petting or exuberant playing seems to be the culprit, pet her for as long as she’s comfortable and shorten your play sessions. If the sound of a vacuum cleaner upsets her, place her in a quiet and confined area while you’re using it. If catnip or silvervine overstimulate her, reduce or eliminate it completely.
 
And last but not least, to prevent your cat from becoming bored, the second “trigger” for overstimulation, make certain that she has an assortment of mentally enriching toys to play with on her own during the day such as puzzles and food dispensers.

by Nomi Berger
 
While the average lifespan of our feline friends is 13 to 17 years, many can live to be 20 years old or more. With such a long life, ensuring that your cats receive the proper care for each stage of their lives is essential, especially when they enter their senior years.
 
According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), cats are considered seniors after they turn 10. Many veterinarians, however, may begin treating cats as seniors at the age of seven, thereby increasing your own aging kitty’s wellness exams from yearly to every six months.
 
Some of the health conditions that senior cats can develop include:
 
Cancer: intestinal, mammary and oral cancers are all more common in seniors.
 
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome: 80% of cats suffer from cognitive dysfunction syndrome or dementia at 15 years of age and older. The telltale signs include disorientation, having accidents in your home, hiding, poor grooming, sleeping more than usual and vocalizing, particularly at night.
 
Dental disease: 80% of cats over the age of five suffer from dental disease. Daily toothbrushing at home coupled with annual dental cleanings at the vet’s can help keep your cat’s teeth and gums healthy and her breath fresh.
 
Diabetes: extremely common in older cats, especially those who are overweight, makes a concerted weight management program on your part vital in preventing this disease and its myriad complications.
 
Hyperthyroidism: increased appetite, weight loss and vocalization are classic characteristics of feline hyperthyroidism.
 
Inflammatory bowel disease: diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss are three of IBD’s typical symptoms in both middle-aged and senior cats.
 
Kidney disease: 20% of all cats suffer from kidney disease. Symptoms of this condition can be either subtle or overt and include increased drinking, lack of appetite, larger clumps of urine in your kitty’s litter box and slight weight loss.
 
Osteoarthritis: over 90% of cats 10 years of age and older suffer from arthritis, a degenerative joint disease.
 
Ensuring that your purr-ecious kitty’s senior years are truly “golden” begins with consistent and considerate in-home care.
 
Since senior cats sometimes forget to eat and drink or find it difficult to climb up and down the stairs in a house, make certain that your kitty always has easy access to fresh food and water. As for litter boxes -- keep one on each floor, although low, large litter pans will be easier on her joints.
 
All cats love warm places, especially seniors. Consider keeping yours comfy cozy by providing her with a heating pad or a heated cat bed.
 
To keep her looking – and feeling – her best with the least amount of effort on her part, groom and brush her every few days.
 
Because senior cats should be fed a senior-specific diet to meet their unique needs, most veterinarians recommend transitioning them to a senior diet by the time they’re seven years old. When it comes to choosing between over-the-counter diets and prescription diets, dry kibble and canned food, consult your vet who knows your cat best and make this all-important decision, based in part on her health and weight, together.
 
Purchase a high quality scale (one that weighs accurately to an ounce or less) to monitor her weight, allowing you to catch any sudden weight loss early and easily.
 
As mentioned before, bring your beloved senior kitty to the vet every six months for a basic wellness exam that includes a complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry profile, urinalysis, thyroid hormone testing, and blood pressure assessment.
 
In between these visits, observe her closely for any physical or behavioral changes, making note of them and contacting your trusted vet for guidance.

by Nomi Berger
 
Does your kitty put her paw on your mouth? Have you ever paw-ndered the reasons behind this behavior? If so, consider the following explanations.
 
Affection: Blissfully unaware of “invading” your personal space, your cat may be putting her paw on your face as a show of true and tender affection. It’s one way of getting as close to your body as possible (faces and chests are also feline favorites), and because you use your mouth when talking to her, consider it the equivalent of a seal of approval, or in cat-speak: all paws up in acknowledgment.
 
Attention: If you aren’t paying enough attention to your cat, she may place her paw very strategically on your mouth: purr-haps as her way of asking you to “listen” to her silent request. If this gesture inadvertently achieved positive results in the past, it’s likely she’s learned that putting her paw on your mouth is the best way to get your attention: whether she wants an empty food bowl re-filled or she wants to cuddle up with you and take a nap.
 
Comfort: Should your kitty companion be nestling cozily against your chest and putting her paw on your mouth, accept this as a coveted and highly desired sign of comfort on her part, particularly if she punctuates it by purr, purr, purring.
 
Playfulness: If your favorite feline is feeling especially frisky, she might crawl up on you and put her paw on your mouth as her way of enticing you to play with her. Should her eyes be dilated, her tail whipping around and/or her body tensing, grab her favorite wand toy, a feather teaser or a laser pointer and allow her to romp and frolic through the room to constructively burn off some of her excess energy.
 
Trust: When your cherished cat puts her paw on your mouth, this is not only a very intimate action but one that demonstrates how much she trusts and adores you with every feline fiber of her being.  
 
And yet … Your mouth is an entryway to your digestive system with links to your respiratory system. What then, does this mean? It means that your cat’s paw is capable of transmitting various kinds of bacteria, fungi and viruses into your body. And although she may appear to be as fresh as the proverbial daisy, in reality, as she makes her way through her litter box, she often comes in contact with her own urine and feces.
 
In short, by putting her paw on your mouth, she’s depositing tiny eggs there carrying anything from e. coli and parasites to salmonella that can be transmitted into your system and infect you. To prevent this from happening, it’s essential to keep up with routine parasite prevention. But, even if you do, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and keep your precious puss from putting her paw on your mouth.

by Nomi Berger
 
Have YOUR favorite felines suddenly developed a fondness for eating their cat litter? If so, consider the various possible reasons for this behavior.
 
Pica: Pica is a condition where cats either chew on or eat such items as cardboard, plants, soil, wood and yes, even cat litter. While pica can be a behavioral problem, it can also be caused by medical conditions like endocrine diseases, gastrointestinal diseases and parasitic infections.
 
Dietary Deficiency: Cats may feast on their cat litter as a way of “compensating” for essential nutrients that their daily diet lacks. Consult with your vet to ensure that your cats are not only eating high-quality cat food, but that they’re also eating appropriate portions.
 
Anemia: Often related to nutrient deficiencies, particularly iron, some anemic cats might start eating their cat litter. Riboflavin, vitamin B12 and niacin deficiencies can also cause anemia. Other signs of this condition include lethargy, little stamina and pale gums.
 
Curiosity: Being naturally curious, some cats might decide to both play with and sample their cat litter. Why? They might enjoy the feel of its texture and assume it’s a texture worth tasting – several times before they’ve satisfied their curiosity and lose interest.
 
Flavor: Some cats may enjoy the flavor of their cat litter a little too much! This happens when it’s made with such natural materials as cornhusks, grass and/or wheat. Switch to a brand of cat litter made with different materials and provide your cats with cat grass as a safe alternative.
 
Boredom: Bored or anxious cats might start eating their cat litter as a way of “coping” with these negative feelings. The solution is to ensure they get enough exercise and playtime: one-on-one playtime with you coupled with such mentally stimulating items as treat dispenser toys.
 
Coprophagia: This condition causes cats to eat their own feces. Although cats with coprophagia appear to be eating their cat litter, they’re actually eating their poop. Since coprophagia can be the sign of an underlying health condition such as colitis, dementia or malnutrition, it’s essential that your cat be thoroughly examined by your vet.
 
Hyperthyroidism: The most common endocrine disease in cats and most prevalent in older ones, hyperthyroidism (high levels of thyroid hormone) can increase their appetite and metabolism, resulting in them eating their cat litter. Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism are drinking more water than usual, poor body condition, weight loss and an enlarged thyroid gland.
 
Again, only your veterinarian can, by a through physical examination combined with specific diagnostic tests, find the reason behind your cat’s behavior. Once a diagnosis has been made, you’ll be provided with a treatment plan to help restore your cat to good health. In most cases, cats will stop feasting on cat litter once they’re better.