- Cat questions answered by veterinarian Dr Carra Walters:
- Cat questions answered by pet nutritionist Megan Bayne:
- Cat questions answered by animal behaviourist Jessica Prinsloo:
Welcoming a cat into your home can be an exciting experience, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. In celebration of Cat Month, we’ve consulted with experts in the field: veterinarian Dr. Carra Walters, pet nutritionist Megan Bayne, and animal behaviourist Jessica Prinsloo. In this special feature, they provide valuable insights and practical advice on topics ranging from sudden vomiting and over-grooming to cat allergies and behavioural concerns. Read on to find answers to some of the most pressing questions cat owners face, ensuring your feline friend stays happy and healthy.
Cat questions answered by veterinarian Dr Carra Walters:
If a cat suddenly starts vomiting and refuses to eat, what could be causing this, and what immediate actions should the owner take?
When a cat suddenly starts vomiting and refuses to eat, it can be quite concerning. There are several potential causes for these symptoms, including gastrointestinal problems, ingestion of toxic substances, infections, or even systemic diseases like kidney or liver issues. Hairballs can also be a common culprit, particularly in long-haired breeds.
Immediate steps that an owner should take include:
- Withholding Food: Don’t offer any food for 12-24 hours. This allows the stomach to settle.
- Providing Water: Ensure the cat has access to fresh water to prevent dehydration.
- Monitoring Behaviour: Keep a close eye on other symptoms such as lethargy, diarrhoea, or continued vomiting.
It’s crucial to work with a vet to determine the exact cause and necessary treatment. Persistent vomiting or refusal to eat should not be ignored.
What could be the underlying issue if a cat is excessively grooming to the point of developing bald spots, and how should it be treated?
Excessive grooming that leads to bald spots is known as over-grooming and can be caused by several issues:
- Stress and Anxiety: Cats can develop compulsive grooming behaviours as a response to stress or environmental changes.
- Allergies: Fleas, food, or environmental allergens might cause itchiness, leading to over-grooming.
- Dermatitis or Skin Infections: These can result from fungal, bacterial, or parasitic infections.
Treatment should first focus on identifying and addressing the underlying cause. This could involve:
- Providing a Stress-free Environment: Ensuring the cat’s environment is calm and predictable.
- Flea Control: Regular use of flea preventatives.
- Dietary Management: Implementing hypoallergenic diets if food allergies are suspected.
- Use of Medications: Anti-anxiety medications, antihistamines, or topical treatments for skin infections may be prescribed.
Veterinary consultation is key to accurately diagnosing and effectively treating the condition.
How do you know if you are allergic to a specific breed of cat?
Cat allergies are typically caused by proteins found in the cat’s saliva, skin, and urine. These proteins can cause reactions regardless of the cat’s breed, although some breeds may produce fewer allergens.
To determine if one is allergic to a specific breed:
- Exposure: Spend time with cats of the breed in question to observe any allergic reactions.
- Medical Testing: Performing a skin prick test or specific IgE blood test can confirm an allergy to cats.
It’s important to note that even so-called “hypoallergenic” breeds can still cause allergies.
What is the best approach to treat a skittish cat experiencing severe alopecia on her tummy and lower legs, possibly due to over-grooming, given that allergies are unlikely on a vet-recommended diet?
For a skittish cat with severe alopecia possibly due to over-grooming:
- Behavioural Interventions: Create a calm and enriched environment. Use pheromone diffusers to reduce anxiety.
- Regular Play: Engage in interactive play sessions to provide mental stimulation and reduce stress.
- Environmental Modifications: Ensure the cat has safe spaces and minimize any potential stressors in its environment.
- Veterinary Supervision: Continue to work closely with your vet to monitor the cat’s condition and adjust treatments as necessary. This might include the use of anti-anxiety medications if behavioural modifications alone are not effective.
A comprehensive approach addressing both physical and psychological factors is key to managing over-grooming.
About Dr Carra Walters
Veterinarian
Dr. Carra Walters is a dedicated veterinarian with expertise in emergency medicine and critical care. She holds a BSc in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry from Exeter University and a veterinary degree from The University of Edinburgh. Dr. Walters leads Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital, a 24-hour practice in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal. She also founded Just for Pets, an online pet store, and hosts the Paws and Effect podcast, where she shares veterinary insights and interviews fellow professionals. She is currently pursuing a Masters in pet nutrition.
Cat questions answered by pet nutritionist Megan Bayne:
What immediate steps should an owner take if they suspect their cat is having an allergic reaction to its food?
Always remember that very few animals are actually allergic to their foods, or proteins. They are likely sensitive or intolerant. If you suspect your kitty is having a reaction, then the first step is always to head to your veterinarian for some relief from the response. The next step would be to try a hypoallergenic food while you schedule a consult with a qualified pet nutritionist to find the best long-term plan for your kitty. While allergy testing is available, the results are not always 100% reliable if the pet has been on cortisones, antibiotics or is in an active flare-up at the time of testing. Working with a nutritionist will allow for a dietary plan and monitored exclusion diet to see what works for YOUR pet.
If a cat refuses to eat commercial cat food, what can be done right now to ensure it receives the necessary nutrition?
While not uncommon, we do have some unique cases where a cat refuses to eat commercial dry foods. I firmly believe that a fed pet is the best pet, so in order to meet those vital nutrient requirements that cat’s have; it would be wise to try perhaps a different type of commercial food. Try opt for some tinned foods, retorted foods, fresh cooked or raw foods and see if that doesn’t peak your feline’s interest. Always make sure that the foods are labelled as complete and not complementary. (remember that commercial is any food being sold, regardless of diet model). For a long-term solution to a picky kitty, booking a diet session with a qualified pet nutritionist would be ideal!
How can an owner determine if their homemade cat food is meeting all of their cat’s nutritional needs, and what are the risks of nutritional deficiencies?
The best way to ensure your cat’s nutritional needs are being met is to feed a complete food, or have a complete recipe created for your cat by a nutritionist. There are many homestyle feeding models that are available, but cats are unique in their nutritional requirements and can get sick really quickly when they are eating imbalanced foods for a longer period of time. An example of this is that cats need plenty of taurine, which you get from high-quality meats like beef, chicken and lamb. Cats are also obligate carnivores, which means that they have a very high requirement for animal protein in their diets and should not be eating huge volumes of grains and vegetables / fruits. Some common signs that your cat is not getting the appropriate nutrients are things like weight loss, lethargic, diarrhoea, itchy skin, an unkempt coat (they look dishevelled) and vomiting.
What should a first-time cat owner consider/know about cat food – raw, pellets, cooked?
First time cat ownership (or parenting, as I call it!) is a huge learning curve. As I always say, a fed pet is best. Feeding the best that you can afford is exactly what you need to do. Some pointers, though, that work for any diet model is to prioritise that protein content. Animal protein is the best, bioavailable form of amino acids that play a vital role in organ health, growth, and overall structural health. Opting for a higher protein food, whether dry or fresh, is the best option for your cat. If you do opt for dry food, consider boosting the moisture content to aid with the digestion and kidney health long term. This can be done with liquid toppers (bone broths and plain boiled water) or with added tinned foods and moisture rich sachets. Should you choose fresh feeding as the diet model to follow, your cat will naturally have a much higher moisture content which aids with reducing the strain on the GI health and Kidneys. If you are concerned about your cat’s health, booking a consult session with a qualified pet nutritionist is the way to go. There are very few cooked cat foods on the market at the moment, but should you go for a raw food, please make sure it is from a reputable company and that the product is DAFF registered. There are some great options locally for fresh feeding your cat!
About Megan Bayne
Pet Nutritionist
Megan Bayne is a pet nutritionist and the CEO of Claws ‘n Paws (CnP), a leader in pet nutrition since 2016. Inspired by a passion for veterinary medicine, Megan shifted her focus to specialized areas like Animal Science, Dietetics, and Traditional Chinese Medicine after working at a veterinary practice in Cape Town. Under her leadership, CnP excels in personalized pet nutrition consultations and the development of high-quality pet foods, treats, nutraceuticals, and supplements.
Cat questions answered by animal behaviourist Jessica Prinsloo:
How can an owner stop a cat from scratching furniture right away, and what are some effective long-term solutions?
The most important thing to remember is that cats need to scratch. Firstly, it helps to keep their claws healthy by shedding the outermost layer of their claws. Next, it’s a way of marking their territory, both as a visual cue and by depositing scent from the pads of their paws. Lastly, it’s great exercise and helps to stretch their muscles.
Preventing furniture scratching is always easier than fixing it, so providing them with a designated scratch post as soon as they come into your home will go a long way to keep your furniture safe. Cats are naturally curious an will likely try it out immediately as soon as you’ve brought it home (although many will find the box it came in just as interesting!). If they don’t investigate on their own, you can gently rub their paws on the vertical areas to deposit their paws’ scent, which may prompt them to initiate scratching.
If your cat is already scratching the furniture, wash the areas that they have scratched to remove their scent, then cover the areas with packaging tape or foil (don’t worry, this is temporary). Put their scratch post as close as possible to the foiled area (one post per area). Once they learn that this is their ‘legal’ scratching area, you can start moving the post to your desired location (or it can stay where it is). If at any time your kitty scratches the “off-limits” areas, gently redirect them to the scratch post. Do not shout or punish, as this will either be seen as attention, which reinforces the unwanted behaviour, or it heightens stress which increases their need to scratch. Once they are reliably scratching their post, you can remove the tape/foil, but keep supervising so that you can prevent them from falling back into their old habits.
If a kitten refuses to use the litter box and is soiling around the house, what urgent steps can be taken to correct this behaviour?
If the kitten is very young (4-6 weeks), they’re still learning about the litter box so it’s normal for them to get it wrong once in a while. In older cats we refer to this as “inappropriate elimination” and it can happen for a multitude of reasons. The first step is always a vet check-up to rule out pain and urinary or gastrointestinal issues. If they are physically healthy, then there is a sensory or emotional reason for the behaviour.
Firstly, even if they have access to the outdoors, most cats prefer to wee and poop in their core territory, which happens to be your home—much like how humans prefer having an ensuite bathroom to an outhouse. Include one litter box per cat, plus at least one extra, placed in different areas of your home (three litter boxes stacked next to each other count as one!). It may be that they don’t like the type of litter; cats prefer a substrate similar to beach sand, but this is rarely the consistency of commercial litter. Changing the litter to a fine, clumping brand is recommended.
Next, make sure the litter boxes are cleaned regularly; stools must be removed daily, and litter changed at least once a week, depending on the number of cats in the home—more cats equals more frequent cleaning. Be mindful of where the boxes are placed; a private space away from foot traffic is best. Thoroughly clean all the areas that have been soiled with a biological detergent (do not use ammonia!). Either prevent access to these areas temporarily while the kitty learns new habits or place the litter boxes in the near vicinity, giving them an appropriate toileting area. If your cat continues to eliminate outside of the litter boxes, there may be an underlying issue that needs further investigation, which would require an assessment with a qualified cat behaviourist.
Can cats be just as clingy as dogs?
Cats can certainly become very attached to their guardians, however, as a species, they tend to be more independent than dogs. This is because dogs are further on the evolutionary timeline of domestication than cats; dogs depend on humans for survival, whereas cats retain their hunting abilities and can survive independently.
How do you introduce a kitten to small dogs, 1 being a puppy?
Slowly! Humans live in a fast-paced, instant-gratification world and we want to see our pets become best friends in an instant. Unfortunately, this isn’t how relationships form—humans, and pets alike, need time to build trust.
Cats are a prey species, which means they will instinctively be more fearful of a puppy than a puppy will be of a kitten, so we need to move at the kitten’s pace. First, keep the animals in separate rooms without visual access (no glass windows or doors!). Next, swop their blankets to get each other used to the other’s scent. Switch rooms so that they can have a chance to explore new areas of the home; another opportunity to become accustomed to the other’s scent.
After a few days (depending on the sensitivity of each animal), allow visual access between a secure barrier, such as a glass door or baby gate. Use food to build a positive association by providing their meals during these interactions as far away from each other as possible. Gradually move the food sources closer together. Once they are comfortably eating about a metre apart from each other, you can allow them to meet without a barrier.
Make sure to keep these initial introductions short and to give the kitten an exit route so they can retreat if they feel unsafe. It’s also helpful if your puppy knows their name, a “stay”, or “leave it” cue so that you can call them away from the kitten should you see that the kitten looks uncomfortable.
About Jessica Prinsloo
Animal Behaviourist
Jessica is a COAPE International Companion Animal Behaviourist (CCAB, CAPBT, ICAN). She is the owner of Beyond Behaviour and is passionate about animal welfare and specialises in cat behaviour modification. Jessica is also a Certified Parent Educator and is currently completing her psychology degree through SACAP. She hopes to combine her knowledge of animal and human psychology to support families to get the most out of their relationships.
Caring for a cat involves understanding their unique health, nutritional, and behavioural needs. The expert advice from Dr. Carra Walters, Megan Bayne, and Jessica Prinsloo highlights the importance of prompt action and professional consultation in maintaining your cat’s well-being. Celebrating Cat Month is the perfect time to reflect on and improve our care for these beloved companions. Whether you’re dealing with sudden health issues, dietary challenges, or behavioural quirks, these insights can help ensure your feline friend thrives. For more personalised advice, always consult with your vet or a qualified pet nutritionist or behaviourist.
