When two veterinarians come
together in marriage, there will never be a shortage of pets. Such is the case at Welshire Farm, refuge for
two working Border Collies, a spoiled Pembroke Welsh Corgi (my husband’s
description), two “special needs” house cats, a slew of cherished barn cats,
and now “Jobey,” a little male, tuxedo kitten with a big attitude.
Many
are the times my husband has been sent on farm calls, only to return with a
kitten in his coveralls. I always know
what has transpired when I hear the sound of his heavy feet thundering in the
back door, followed by the slam of a cage gait as a tiny voice meows loudly in
protest. With a roll of my eyes, I mutter to myself “say it isn’t so, Joe,” but
I know it is.
I
must say it has been a while since we have had a really young kitten in our
household, but Jobey has reminded me of the importance of recognizing and
acknowledging feline behaviors, good and bad.
Many negative cat behaviors are rooted in medical problems that only
need identified and addressed to put an end to them. More importantly, most bad feline behaviors
are manifestations of undiagnosed pain or discomfort that the cat is
experiencing.
The
number one behavioral reason that cats lose their happy homes is inappropriate
eliminations outside the litter pan. There’s no denying that this is an
unacceptable behavior. However, cats
that urinate inappropriately are often feeling intense pain associated with
inflammation, hemorrhage, crystals, or stones anywhere in their urinary tracts.
Geriatric
cats are most likely to develop kidney stones or bacterial urinary tract
infections secondary to kidney failure, while cats of any age living in crowded
or perceived stressful conditions are likely to have FIC or Feline Interstitial
Cystitis. FIC is defined as hemorrhage and inflammation of the urinary bladder
with no known cause. Your veterinarian will conduct urine and blood tests, and
use x-rays or ultrasound to diagnose the cause of and help you put a stop to
your cat’s urinary mistakes.
Cats
that defecate outside their litter pans may also be experiencing perceived environmental
stress, but did you know that this behavior could also signify Inflammatory
Bowel Disorder (IBD), food intolerance, or hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid
hormone production)? Cats with IBD are no doubt uncomfortable and this may be
the only way they can communicate just how lousy they feel, so please tell your
veterinarian about this bad habit.
If
your cat is normally a mellow fellow and suddenly becomes irritable and
aggressive toward you or other pets in your home, you should consider this
behavioral change a cry for help. Cat
aggression is often misunderstood, but it can actually be a manifestation of a
painful disease like osteoarthritis, feline hyperesthesia, hyperthyroidism, or
hypertension. Even the intense hunger
associate with diabetes can make your loving cat somewhat cranky.
Cats
that have joint pain will be less likely to seek favorite high perches as they
hover over heating vents or close to warm appliances. Ask your veterinarian about a pain medication
trial and glucosamine chondroitin supplementation, as they may make a significant
improvement in your cat’s joint discomfort and behavior.
Feline
hyperesthesia is defined as “sensitivity to touch” that provokes cats to
sometimes hurt the ones they love most.
Cats with this syndrome will appear as though their skin is rolling as
they twitch, then attack, when touched even very lightly during routine
petting. This syndrome is vaguely
understood and the cause is unknown.
Some cats are so bothered by this disease that they will self-mutilate,
spin or vocalize. Your veterinarian may
prescribe anti-anxiety or seizure medications after ruling out other causes for
your cat’s “crawling skin.”
Like
humans, cats can also suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) associated
with hyperthyroidism, diabetes, kidney, or heart disease. Left untreated,
elevated blood pressure can cause damage to the retinas, brain, and blood
vessels resulting in aggression, blindness, numbness, seizures, cognitive
problems, and strokes. Cats can have their blood pressure measured and
appropriate medications will be prescribed, but the true treatment may be as
simple as identifying and treating an underlying metabolic disease such as
hyperthyroidism or diabetes. Say “yes” to your veterinarian’s recommendation to
do routine blood pressure screening for your pet to avoid this silent killer.
When
your cat cries out to you for help through changes in behavior, please don’t
ignore the call to action. See your veterinarian to unveil the source of your cat’s
discomfort.
Author: Dr. Bonnie Jones
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