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Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions page!
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Topics are listed in the box below. Click on a topic to
jump to that Q&A.
Some topics are linked to a printable report you can
download if you have Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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Q: What are your hours?
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A: The Cat Hospital of Wichita is open until 7:30 am
till noon and 1:30 p.m. till 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Thursday noon to 7:30
p.m. and 9:00 a.m. until noon on Saturday to better serve our patients.
Drop-off service, for those on a tight schedule, is available at the Cat
Hospital of Wichita. Emergencies will be seen at any time during regular
hours. After hours, please contact the Wichita Emergency Veterinary Clinic
316-262-5321.
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Q: Is it safe to give my cat Tylenol?
A:
Absolutely not.
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is poisonous to all cats. Even a very small
amount can quickly lead to death. If you feel your cat needs pain
medication, please consult with your veterinarian for a safe medication.
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| A: Not all flea medications are equal. There are
generally two types of flea medications: over the counter and prescription
strength. The over the counter type can be purchased at most stores where
pet supplies are sold. These products are not as strong, and therefore, not
as effective as medications that can be purchased at a veterinary clinic.
Also, the pet store brands can sometimes cause adverse reactions in cats
such as tremors, salivation and seizures and in rare cases, death. The flea
medications that you purchase from your veterinarian are usually very safe
and extremely effective. Contact our office and we can help you decide
which brand is right for you and your cat.
Whether you purchase your flea medication at a veterinarian
or a pet store, you should always take the time to read the instructions and
use the medication only as instructed. Cats are very sensitive to flea
medications and adverse reactions do occur. Never use dog flea medicine on
your cat or kitten. If you think your cat is having a reaction, bathe your
cat to remove the flea medication if possible. If your cat seizures,
salivates or is having tremors, call a veterinarian immediately. |
Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) – It seems unlikely
that a cat would be interested in this green goo that drips out of our
radiators. Surprisingly, however, this fluid is quite tasty and seems to
attract animals and children. Unfortunately only a small taste of this fluid
can be fatal. If you suspect your cat has ingested antifreeze, call a
veterinarian immediately. Early treatment is crucial for survival. An
antidote is available, but must be given before kidney damage has occurred
to be effective. The best thing is to avoid exposure of this deadly liquid.
Always be sure to clean up any spills, check for leaks on your car and never
leave leaky bottles lying around.
Tylenol (acetaminophen) – Most people don’t even know that this very
common pain medication is lethal to their cat companion. Just a small piece
of one Tylenol tablet can prove fatal to a cat. It initially causes kidney
failure, and it your cat survives that phase, the next phase is liver
failure. There is an antidote, but the antidote must be given early to be
effective.
Lily – Yes, this common houseplant is extremely toxic to cats. Just a
nibble of the flower, leaf or bulb is almost always fatal. It has the same
effect on cats as antifreeze. Unfortunately, there is very little hope for
this problem once symptoms occur. The best solution is to avoid exposure to
the plant.
Diffenbachia – This common houseplant can cause harm to your cat, but
is usually not fatal. This plant can cause swelling of the throat, making it
difficult for your cat to swallow and breath. The cat can have symptoms if
it eats the leaves or even drinks the water that a starter plant may be
soaking in. Consult your veterinarian if you cat starts drooling, having
difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Mistletoe – If your cat eats even a small taste of this plant, it can
prove fatal. So, be sure to keep the mistletoe where your cat cannot touch
it.
Poinsettia – This common holiday plant can prove to be quite a
problem if your cat ingests even a little. Just a single leaf can be fatal.
If your cat only eats a small amount of this plant, it can have violent
stomach problems as well as kidney and liver problems. Always keep this
plant where your cat cannot reach it.
De-Icer – This product can cause disorientation and severe vomiting
if ingested. If you think your cat has swallowed some de-icer, contact your
veterinarian immediately. |
A: There
are a few reasons why your cat might start urinating out of the box. First and
foremost, you should have your cat examined by a veterinarian to be sure there
are no problems with the urinary tract. This is easily accomplished with a
small urine sample. If everything checks out fine with the urine, then your cat
may have a behavior problem. Some reasons that a cat may choose not to use the
box are pain while urinating, the litterbox is not clean or the litter is not
what the cat prefers to use, or the litterbox is in a less than favorable
location. Use the following link to download "Starting out right with your new
cat and the litterbox."
Starting Out Right with Your New Cat and the
Litter Box.
Note:
requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
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Q: My cat seems to be drinking a lot of
water. Does this mean anything?
A: It may.
In older cats there
are several common problems that will cause a cat to drink more water than
usual. If your cat has had weight loss and a change in appetite in
addition to increased thirst, then you should take your cat to your
veterinarian for a check-up.
Some problems may be treatable or at the
very least, we can slow down the disease progression. |
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Q: My cat has bad breath!
Should I brush her teeth?
A: One of the first signs of peridontal disease is "cat
breath." A clean mouth shouldn't stink. Cats are prone to periodontal
disease. Beginning a maintenance program early may prevent problems later in
life. Research indicates that regular dental care may actually prolong your
pet's life. Left unchecked, bacteria from the mouth can course through the cat's
bloodstream, perhaps eventually affecting its heart or kidney.
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| To
learn more about dental care for cats, click here to read
Cats Have Teeth Too!
Note: requires Adobe Acrobat
Reader
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Q: Which diet is best?
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A: There is not one specific diet that is best. Today, we are
fortunate to have a variety of high quality diets from which to choose. Things
that you should look for when selecting a diet for your cat are the
ingredients. You want high quality ingredients such as meat, natural
preservatives and no by-products. Also, a diet of all canned food
might be indicated if your cat has dental problems, constipation or recurrent
bladder problems. If you are not sure, contact your
veterinarian for help. |
Q: What is safe for my cat to play
with?
A: You
always need to choose your cat's toys carefully. Not all toys sold in pet
stores are safe for your cat.
Try to avoid toys that have long strings or small
parts (such as bells) that can be swallowed. Try to choose toys that will
stimulate your cat's natural hunting instinct such as fur covered toys or toys
that they can chase, pounce on or toss in the air.
Remember that sacks and
boxes are usually favorites too!
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Q: My cat is tearing up my furniture.
Should I have her declawed?
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A: There is no right or wrong answer to
this question. First of all, there are a few non-surgical options to
Declawing. Regular nail-trimmings can be easily mastered, especially if
you start your cat young with monthly nail trims. This will keep the nails
short and less sharp allowing for less-destructive behavior. Soft Paws
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are small, plastic caps that can
be glued to each nail. Covering the sharp nail allows the cat to exercise
naturally without destroying furniture. These need to be replaced every 4
- 6 weeks as they fall off. Declawing should be done only in cats that are
causing damage to walls or furniture. Declawing an aggressive cat could
cause it to be more likely to bite. Declawing is a painful procedure, but
is less painful and has a quicker recovery period in kittens. The older
and larger the cat is, the more bleeding, pain and post-operative complications
that occur. If you are concerned about post-operative pain, talk to your
veterinarian about newer drugs that can be used to manage pain after surgery.
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"What's this thing for?" |
Q: How do I get my old cat to get
along with my new cat?
Getting a new addition to your cat family can be very
exciting and at the same time, very frustrating. Cats are social animals,
but they are also territorial animals. Because of this, introducing a new
cat into a house that already has a cat can be difficult. If the new cat is
a kitten, always be sure the kitten is protected while you are away. Never let the kitten roam with the adult cat until you are absolutely
sure that the adult will not harm the kitten.
A good way to introduce cats is to keep the cats separated by isolating one
cat in a room and letting the other cat roam the house. Alternate which cat
is put in the room each day. This allows for the new cat to investigate
their new home without being attacked by a resident cat. It also allows the
resident cat to become accustomed to a new cat in the territory without
feeling the need to fight. Hissing and growling are all natural forms of
communication between cats, but they also signal an impending fight. If the
cats are hissing and growling at the door, don’t try to introduce them. Once
the hissing has stopped, allow the cats to meet each other. A good rule is
to reward good behavior. A reward can be a treat, food, playing with a
favorite toy or simply praising and petting. So, if the two cats walk into
the same room and don’t display aggression, they get a reward! If you don’t
get the desired reaction, then simply separate the cats and try again on
another day. Keep in mind that cats communicate with body language more than
vocalization. Therefore, if you see one of the cats displaying aggressive
body language, such as ears pinned back, tail swishing quickly, lowered head
or staring, then stop the interaction before any further aggression has
occurred. For cats, it can be much more of a threat to be stared at by
another cat, than to be hissed at. This process of separation and
introduction can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. At the very
least, most cats can usually co-exist without fighting. However, before you
know it, your cats will probably become best friends! |
Q: My cat seems healthy; do I need
to take her to the veterinarian?
| Health problems can occur at any age. Even young cats can
be victims of illness, and annual examinations can detect problems early.
Even something as simple as fleas or being overweight can cause serious
health problems. We try to encourage the cat owner to not wait for problems
to escalate out of control before calling for help. Early intervention on
most health problems can make all the difference in the quality of your
cat’s life. An ounce of prevention… |
Q:
Kids and Cats: what are the safety concerns?
Cats can usually be quite happy and comfortable around
children. However, it does require work if you want to have a safe
relationship between your children and your cat. First of all, cats will
usually run away if they do not want to be bothered. If you can teach your
child to not chase the cat this will be a big first step. If possible,
provide a “safe-haven” for your cat to go to if it needs to get away. A
baby-gate or elevated perch usually will do the trick.
Teach your child about cat language. No, we don’t expect you to teach your
child how to meow and purr, but to understand cat body language. Teach your
child to leave kitty alone when the ears are pinned back, the tail is
thumping or the head is lowered. Teach your child to not pick up the cat –
this can frighten and even injure your cat. Teach your child how to “pet
nice”. Most cats hate to be petted against the lay of the hair, and they
definitely don’t like to be patted roughly or have their coat tugged at.
Also, be sure to teach your child to stay away from the litter box. Those
little presents in the box are not really Tootsie Rolls! Even very young
children can quickly learn the proper way to interact with a cat, so start
early. If your child can learn these techniques, you will find that the
child and the kitty can have a great relationship.
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Q: Do you only treat Cats?
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A: Cats are
our only patients (most veterinarians that treat both dogs and
cats spend 65%-75% of their time with dogs). The Cat
Hospital of Wichita has been designed specifically for cats - and
owner's - comfort and convenience.
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Q: Should my cat wear a collar?
| The City of Wichita does not require that cats wear
identification tags. However, if your cat goes outdoors, it might be wise to
provide the kitty with some sort of identification so that neighbors know
the cat is not a stray. If you have a collar on a young kitten, be sure to
check the collar frequently. Kittens grow extremely fast, and their collar
can get too tight very quickly. To check for proper fit, you should be able
to easily slide two fingers under the collar. Also, when selecting a collar
for your cat, be sure to use a “break-away” collar. These collars are
specially designed for cats to “break-away” or release if the cat gets hung
up on something. This safety design has saved countless cats from
strangulation. Stop in today to color coordinate your collar to your kitty!
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Last updated:
07/20/2007 10:38 AM
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