Frequently Asked Questions

• What does a healthy cat look like?
• My cat has fleas. What can I do?
• Why should I have my cat spayed or neutered?
• Is there any financial assistance for spaying and neutering?
• What can I do if my cat is vomiting?
• My cat is sneezing. What should I do?
• My cat has diarrhea. What should I do?
• Should I get a pet sitter?
• Should I board my cat?
• How does a cat get Heartworm Disease?
• How do I care for an orphaned kitten?

What does a healthy cat look like?
The eyes should be bright and clear. Any discharge or cloudiness is not normal and should be examined by the doctor.

Ears should be clean, and they sometimes contain some shiny or brown wax. Discharge, or your cat itching his ears, could indicate the presence of ear mites (PIC) or an infection. An ear cytology—in which a swab sample is taken, stained, and examined under a microscope—can pinpoint the problem and allow the doctor to determine what medication is needed.

Teeth should be white and free from visible tartar. A small amount of plaque is normal, but discolored teeth, tartar, or bad breath are often signs of a problem that should be examined further by the doctor.

The haircoat should be shiny. Dry or dull fur, flaky skin, or mats may a sign of a nutritional deficiency or other cause for concern.

Mats occur when a cat is not grooming properly or when a substance adheres to a cat’s fur. Mats are painful and can snowball into a much larger problem if not taken care of. They are best avoided by brushing your cat and keeping him on a good diet  (link to our recommended diets). But if they do occur, caution is needed when clipping them, since cats’ skin is often sensitive, paper thin, and subject to lacerations.  Pet owners may find the task best left to a professional. Just Cats sedates cats during grooming, for your pet’s comfort. (Link to grooming info)

Nails should be clean and trimmed about once a month. Pet owners usually handle this task at home.  Small nail clippers should be used to just trim off the hook at the end of the nail without cutting into the quick (the blood supply). Direct pressure will alleviate bleeding, but it’s best to avoid cutting too short. Some cats have extra toes that can be a concern if they get too long and grow into the pad of the foot.

The digestive system is vulnerable to an array of problems. Any behavior that is out of the ordinary—such as defecating in places other than the litter box, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation—warrants a trip to the doctor’s for an exam. (link to vomiting FAQ).

Oftentimes, cats eliminate inappropriately when they’re experiencing either an internal or a behavioral problem. There are many variables involved in making a diagnosis, however, so it’s best to bring your cat in for an appointment to discuss the situation with the doctors.

The circulatory system includes the heart, lungs, and blood. Pet owners are sometimes not aware that cats can develop heart disease, asthma, and leukemia. Regular annual exams that include evaluations of these systems can help keep your cat healthy.

Thyroid function requires particular watching in cats, because many cats become hyperthyroid. This means that their thyroid gland produces too many hormones, and these hormones speed up their metabolism. Symptoms that may or may not be present include increased appetite, weight loss, and muscle wasting. At Just Cats, we check the thyroid level as part of our routine wellness-checkup blood work. Early detection can mean many extra years with your cat. Treatments for thyroid disease include medication, thyroidectomy, and radiation therapy, which we offer right here at our facility.

My cat has fleas. What can I do?
Apply a prescription product such as Advantage, Frontline, Revolution, or Advantage Multi purchased through our clinic. These are topical liquid solutions that are applied to the back of the neck monthly. All pets in the house should be treated for at least three consecutive months in order to break the life cycle of the flea.

We advise against any over-the-counter flea products, because they have been known to cause serious adverse reactions, including death.

Why should I have my cat spayed or neutered?
Just Cats is always concerned about the overall care of your cat. Here are some compelling reasons:

• Spaying or neutering reduces your cat’s risk of developing cancer.
• Unneutered cats stray away from home looking for a mate and are often hit by a car or injured other ways.
• Unneutered cats mark their territory by urinating and spraying.
• Unneutered cats exhibit other behavior problems, including fighting.
• According to Alley Cat Allies, 70% of cat’s deaths are from intentional killing at shelters. Shelters are overfull with unwanted cats and are forced to euthanize healthy cats because there is no room for them.

Is there any financial assistance for spaying and neutering?
We accept all forms of pet insurance. We also participate with CareCredit (www.carecredit.com). CareCredit offers no interest and low interest extended payments plans that best fits your need.

What can I do if my cat is vomiting?
If vomiting is violent and more than 7-10 times in a 24 hr. period, then seek our care as soon as possible. First you must ask yourself a few questions to find the cause:

• Have you changed anything in his or her diet? If you have, then the new food may be the culprit. Remove food twelve hours and then offer a bland diet such as baby food (Stage II chicken or turkey) or cooked chicken. We recommend slowly introducing a new brand of food over time so it doesn’t upset the cat’s digestive system.
• Have you not changed your cat’s diet but you’re seeing undigested food in the vomit? If so, it could be that your cat eats too fast. Try placing a large ball in the dish so the cat has to eat around it, or try offering several small meals throughout the day. Also, we do recommend feeding cats a quality canned food, and this may lessen the vomiting. If these changes don’t resolve the vomiting, then an appointment at Just Cats is recommended. Please call to schedule an appointment or speak with one of our technicians.
• Is the vomit actually a hairball? If so, we recommend Laxatone two or three times daily by mouth for a few days. This product is available at our clinic.
• Is the vomit a clear or yellow liquid? If so, and it has occurred more than three times in a day, we recommend that you check the cat’s mouth area and open the mouth to see if anything is stuck. If you are concerned that your cat may have eaten anything inappropriate, please call us for an appointment. We have seen cats swallow string, and it can cause a great deal of damage, including death.

My cat is sneezing. What should I do?
Occasional sneezing is the cat’s way of removing dust or hair from the nasal passages, just like we do. If you notice your cat has sneezed several times over a one- or two-day period, we would recommend a physical examination, which is the only way we can ensure the health of your pet. Discharge from the cat’s nose or eyes would also warrant an examination.

Usually colds are caused by a virus, but they often can result in a bacterial infection that may need antibiotics. Our veterinarians can prescribe medications only when there is a valid patient-doctor relationship.

My cat has diarrhea. What should I do?
If the diarrhea just started, we recommend removing the cat’s food for 12 hours. Do not feed your cat anything, but allow him or her to drink water. Then begin introducing a small amount of food (see our food recommendations). (link)

Arrange to obtain a small fresh sample of the stool and bring it in to be tested for parasites. Sometimes parasites can cause diarrhea.

If your cat has any other symptoms—such as decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting, or weight loss—an appointment is indicated. The veterinarian can evaluate the complete situation and examine the cat to diagnose the problem.

Should I get a pet sitter?
Just Cats does offer boarding at our clinic. However, we understand that many cats prefer to stay in their own environment while you are away. We have a list of reputable cat sitters who our clients use and recommend. If you have a pet sitter not from this list, then do your research when looking for and selecting a sitter for your cat, especially if your cat requires any special care or medicating. We recommend asking for at least three references and making sure the sitter is insured.

Should I board my cat?
We offer boarding services at our clinic. See boarding info.

Our costs directly reflect the level of service provided at our clinic. Our veterinarians and support staff are professionals, and your cat receives optimal care while at our clinic.

How does a cat get Heartworm Disease?
Heartworm infection takes place when a mosquito carrying heartworm larvae bites a cat. These larvae enter through the bite wound, where they develop through the tissue. The immature worms then enter blood vessels and are carried to the arteries and lungs, where they cause an inflammatory response. A lot of the worms will die at this stage, causing further inflammation. If the worms do make it to the adult stage, they can live a few years in the body undetected. When the adult worms die, enough inflammation can occur to cause the death of the cat.   

• What if the heartworm larvae never develop into adult worms?  Cats don’t need an adult heartworm to show clinical signs. In fact, larvae (or immature heartworm) can be the main cause of problems.
• Is it easy to test for heartworm disease in my cat?  Heartworm disease in cats is very difficult to diagnose because even negative antigen and antibody tests do not rule it out. However, if the tests come back positive, the test is significant. Unlike in dogs, we do not have to test cats first before putting them on heartworm preventative.
• How does heartworm affect my cat?  The word heartworm is misleading, since the disease affects the lungs more than the heart. Symptoms can often be mistaken for feline asthma, bronchitis, or other respiratory diseases.
• What symptoms are associated with heartworm-induced respiratory disease? Among the signs are anorexia, blindness, collapse, convulsions, coughing, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, fainting, lethargy, rapid heart rate, sudden death, vomiting, and weight loss.
• But my cat stays indoors, so he/she is safe, right? It takes only one mosquito to infect a cat. Since mosquitoes can get indoors, even indoor cats are at risk and should receive heartworm prevention.
• Isn’t heartworm mainly a dog’s disease? Heartworm disease is not just a canine disease. Heartworm affects cats differently from dogs but can cause serious problems in both..ot have to test cats first before putting them on heartworm preventative.

How do I care for an orphaned kitten?
Occasionally we find very young motherless kittens that need human help in order to survive. Many members of the Just Cats staff have fostered kittens, bottle feeding and grooming them as the mother cat would do.

This brief overview outlines what the care of orphaned kittens involves. If you have any concerns or questions, please call our office.

Feeding every 2–4 hours, depending on the kitten’s weight. KMR kitten formula is recommended, rather than cow’s milk or powdered milk. In order to survive, kittens need the extra nutrition added to the formula.

Bath every 6–12 hours. A warm washcloth is used to clean the entire kitten. This stimulates digestion and keeps the kitten clean.

Bowel movement and urine time. Stimulate a bowel movement by massaging the anogenital area and the lower abdomen. A fluid motion that mimics the mother cat’s licking is ideal.

Bathe the kitten again just on the hind end, if needed. Kittens’ stools should be soft but formed. If the stool is hard or the kitten is straining, he may be dehydrated, which can result from diarrhea.

Bedtime. A kitten needs clean, dry bedding. If it’s chilly, a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel is also offered. This substitute for the mother’s body heat helps keep the kitten warm, since newborn kittens can’t regulate their own body temperature.