Cat Advice

It can often seem daunting to medicate your own little lion but we have some helpful tips to keep the situation calm for both of you.

With autumn upon us it’s time we turn our attention to the season that is often dreaded by owners of anxious pets.

As your cat gets older, it can be more challenging for them to do basic things around the house, like getting up onto that comfy sofa or turning around to groom their back. They may have arthritis, or cognitive dysfunction. They may need to use the litter tray more than they used to or drink more water

The market is awash with gifts for your pet and it’s often difficult to decide on what to buy.  We’ve separated our top gifts into four categories to help that decision making a little easier.

With the winter just outside our door we often feel like staying at home, and for some of us, with the current virus, we have to.

Recently we have seen a rise in the number of cats suffering from stress, and it’s mostly to do with lockdown. Lockdown has not only had a huge effect on our mental health but our pets too.

We are receiving many questions asking if you can give your pet paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin. We understand that during lockdown combined with the difficulty of bringing your pet to the vets that the easier option may be to medicate them yourselves. Unfortunately, poisoning is common and we advise strongly against this.

We are well into summer and the BBQ season so we wanted to remind you of a few things for pet safety while you are grilling.

Just like us, most cats love the great outdoors, especially in the summertime. Here are our top tips to ensure your cats are safe and happy when outside...

It's not just humans who need protection from the sun – did you know that cats can also get sunburn?

One of the most common problems we see is obesity. When pet owners are recommended that their pet should lose weight, 90% fail without support. We all know ourselves how difficult weight loss can be but overweight pets have a shortened life span and are prone to conditions such as osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and certain cancers.

How many of us place our cat’s food in a bowl and walk away?  But according to experts, that’s not how we should be feeding our feline friends. By simply placing their food in their bowl our cats are failing to engage their natural hunting instincts and more likely to become overweight. 

Feline resorptive lesions (previously known as feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions, FORLs or neck lesions) are a very common cause of dental pain in cats. Studies have shown that at least 50% of cats over the age of 5 years are affected.

We all love to receive flowers, but did you know that lilies are extremely toxic to cats?

Ethylene glycol, or antifreeze, is used in car radiators and in some screen washes and de-icers to prevent freezing. Unfortunately, it is extremely toxic to cats, and every year many cats die from antifreeze poisoning.

Have you been asked to provide us with your pet's urine sample recently? Do you know what tests we run and what your pet's sample can show?

Cats with asthma or bronchitis can present with signs similar to those seen in people, such as coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing. If you suspect your cat suffers from asthma, or your cat has already been diagnosed then do read on...

Many cats love the warm weather, but too much sun can lead to problems such as dehydration, sunburn and even skin cancer.

Here are our top tips for keeping your cat safe in the sun:

One of our vets has written some tips on how to make your cat's autumn years that little bit easier.

A visit to the vets does not have to be stressful for you or your cat.

Here are a few helpful tips;

As our pets grow older exercising can become increasingly difficult. They are more reluctant to go outdoors, play and can develop conditions such as osteoarthritis which can make it challenging. It is still, however, important to encourage the right kinds of exercise to help sustain a healthy weight and to maintain mobility.

A visit to the vets does not have to be stressful for you or your dog.

Here are a few helpful tips:

Teeth can fracture just like bones. If there is exposure to the sensitive pulp of the tooth this can be extremely painful for our animals, and, as such, will create a reluctance for them to eat.

Gingivitis is a term to describe inflammation of the gums, where stomatitis is inflammation of any of the other soft tissues within the mouth, including lips, back of the throat, tongue etc. Combined they lead to a painful and often debilitating disease in cats called Chronic Feline Gingivostomatitis, where they are often too painful to eat anything.

Rosie presented to Pennard Vets with a large red swelling on her cheek. After several bouts of antibiotics which seemingly helped, but did not fully resolve the swelling, further investigation was indicated.   

The term parasite describes any creature which uses another ‘host’ to live. They range from endoparasites (within the body), including lungworm and tapeworm, to ectoparasites (outside the body), including fleas, ticks and mites. Our pets are very prone to being infected by any of these parasites, but with effective parasite control it is preventable.

Animals have very acute hearing, (particularly cats) so loud bangs and whistles will startle them and cause them stress.

Spring is in the air and new life will be arriving soon. This can sometimes be a stressful time for animal loving cat owners, as their companions bring in feathered and furry ‘presents’ to surprise them.