Dear Judy,

Pets can develop pancreatitis for any number of reasons, including anything from gum infections to tumors to consuming people food. You will need to do have a vet do a full exam that includes blood work and x-rays ato discover how your pet is doing physically. When you collect this data, it will be a lot easier to determine if this is a physical or emotional response. We recommend a ful exam twice a year exam for pets over 10 years of age. Also keep in mind that pets have difficulty recovering from diseases as they grow older.

You need to have a full testing on your pet to see why he's not recovering as quickly and why he is "getting old". Arthritis and other problems could also be contributing factors.

Best of luck, and please keep us posted as to your pet's recovery!

Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

Dear Dr. Florez,

I have a kitten that I got form Humane Society. It had a cough & sneezes. Took it to a vet & got medicine for it. Vet said it was upper respiratory infection. A week after meds are finished, she is a lot better & her eyes aren't gooky any more but she still has a bit of a cough & sneezes. Her chest is not wheezy any more. Vet said something about it evidently being virule (?) . Is there anything I can do? Have to have her spayed in about 6 weeks & am afraid of her being put under for the surgery. Have just lost my bestest friend end of Nov. A cat I had delivered & fed because her mom couldn't. She was only 10 1/2 years old. Am so afraid of something happening to this little one. She is a bit over 4 months old.

Will be so grateful for any possible help you may be able to give me.

Many thanks,
Kathy D

Dear Kathy,

I'm sorry about your loss last year. It's always difficult to lose our loved ones. But, you have a chance to help another creature now and it should not be a problem.

Your kitten most likely had a viral infection. It's very common in places where there are a large number of pets being boarded. Your kitten should be fine for spaying at 6 months of age. You should, however, bring your kitten in for booster vaccinations and also for physical exams periodically until your kitten is fully vaccinated.

As usual, your veterinarian should examine the cat before he/she is put under anesthesia to be sure it's safe.

Best of luck with your new kitten!

Diego Fernando Florez, DVM

Dear Dr Florez,

My 20 year old cat, Garfield, has deteriorating vision, arthritis, and advancing kidney problems but he seems happy enough in his own little world. He's pain free and in no discomfort, but several people have told me that I'm cruel to keep him going. What is your opinion?

Sincerely,
Pauline Dewberry (UK)

Dear Ms.Dewberry,

Quality of life is the primary consideration when we are deciding whether a patient is "old" or simply has the normal aches and pains of anyone who is geriatric. For example, a cat that is 20 years old is equivalent to a person who is approximately 95 years old.

I have several patients that are over 20 years of age and they are doing just fine. You need to be sure that your cat is seen regularly by a veterinarian to monitor kidney levels. You may also want to consider taking steps to control Garfield's arthritis and pain if necessary. Be sure to speak with your veterinarian in regards to any supplements or medications that could be used to treat arthritis pain. Also be sure that Garfield's food is a prescription diet which is specifically formulated for the kidneys. Your veterinarian can recommend a good food to try. (Be sure to follow your veterinarian's recommendations when changing food if you choose to do this, as rapidly changing a pet's diet can disrupt their digestion system. It is best to make this change gradually, over a period of time.)

When it becomes obvious that a pet is no longer enjoying its life - not eating, drinking, or doing things that they normally enjoy doing, then it is time to think about euthanasia. Of course that is a very personal call. You should take time to speak with your regular veterinarian so that they may assist you with this decision. While they will be able to give you medical advice and recommendations, Garfield will ultimately be your best source for the answer to this difficult question.

Best wishes,
Dr. Diego Florez, D.V.M.

Dear Dr. Coughlin,

We've noticed these days that one of our three cats (probably 6-month-old Kashmir) is doing his "stuff" in the basement, in front of a tall cupboard on a pile of old clothes/fabrics, instead of in the litterbox. I'm wondering if he might be trying to tell us something (if he's sick, he's acting quite normal, though!) or if he's just developing a bad habit. A couple of days ago he vomited twice after eating a mouse, so I wonder if perhaps something was wrong with the mouse? He didn't vomit any more, as far as I know.

Should we get him checked by a vet, or should we just try to break him out of the habit? How do we break him out of the habit?

Thanks,
Maia

Hi Maia,

First, about the vomit after the mouse. That is not such an unusual practice (out cats were indoor/outdoor out in the country where I grew up and ate a lot of mice, and threw up parts all the time). Now some cats will get parasites from this, so routine dewormings or fecal checks at least would be a good idea; I would use a full spectrum product like Drontal dosed according to size, 2 doses 2 weeks apart. An alternative is a topical parasite control like Revolution or the newer Advantage multi as they provide limited internal parasite protection as well as flea, heartworm, and ear mite control.

For the second part - you did not specify whether Kashmir is urinating or defecating out of the box. The general rule of thumb is 1 box per cat plus a spare (ie 2 cats, 3 boxes), so make sure you have enough boxes, clean them daily, and have them in different parts of the house. If you have declawed cats, the clumping litter is considered to be more comfortable, and we prefer unscented litter in uncovered boxes. If he is urinating on old clothes, he may want a softer, more comfortable litter. A new product that I haven't tried is Kitten Cat Attract, from the company that makes the original Cat Attract- Dr. Elsey's. The concept is a clumping litter that has herbs that cats think smell like dirt, and therefore want to use to go to the box, instead of your floor or plants. My cats love this stuff, and the great thing is the brochure in every bag that has a nice guide to why cats stop using the box, what else you can do to help, and coupons for both the litter and other useful products. If you call their toll free number, Dr Elsey will oftentimes get on the phone and talk to you to help out (he did this for a receptionist I worked with and guaranteed it would help with her cat's problem, and it did). The kitten version is new, and is supposed to be softer and easier for them to dig in. The only reason I haven't tried it is I don't have any young cats now. There is also a new senior cat version as well, again that I haven't tried yet (not at my Petsmart so far). It is usually found in the pet stores, and if you have a pet store that doesn't carry it, ask if they can order it for you. If these suggestions don't help, then definitely take him to your vet for a check up and a urinanalysis, and made sure to get him neutered- unneutered cats do mark territory and it smells AWFUL as they age. I hope this helps, and thanks for reading PetsWeekly!

Dr. Lori L Coughlin, DVM