I work full time and take online classes at night. My eighteen-month-old neutered indoor…

My oh my, your big boy is a typical cat! Those confident Christopher-Columbus-type kitties love to be the center of attention, and how better to get your focus than to plop a furry tail on top of the homework? In addition, cats seem to want to be “top cat” in any given situation. It may not seem like much to us humans, but perching atop even a textbook sends a subtle feline statement. You may be able to satisfy both your needs (shhh, don’t tell him it’s a trick!) by having a couple of extra “decoy” books or stacks of papers nearby. That way he can settle on a big old heavy dictionary, for instance, while you’re perusing thinner tomes.

Remission of Diabetes in Cats

Sieber-Ruckstuhl, N. S., S. Kley, et al. (2008). "Remission of diabetes mellitus in cats with diabetic ketoacidosis." J Vet Intern Med 22(6): 1326-32.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in cats. DM in cats appears most similar to type 2 DM in humans, with obesity being a strong risk factor. A serious complication of DM in cats is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a hyperglycemic emergency. While remission has been reported in up to 50% of cats with DM, remission in cats with severe DKA has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate medical records of cats presenting with DKA with diabetic remission and to compare them with those of cats with DKA without diabetic remission and those of cats with uncomplicated DM and diabetic remission. In this retrospective case review, the records of 12 cats with DKA and 7 cats with uncomplicated DM were analyzed. Of the cats with DKA, 7 experienced remission. These cats had more components of a stress leukogram and had pancreatic disease more often than did cats with uncomplicated DM and diabetic remission. They also had been treated more often with glucocorticoids. The researchers conclude that complete or partial remission of DM in cats presenting with DKA is possible. This finding is important as it may influence the willingness of owners and veterinarians to treat cats presenting with DKA.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Zeugswetter, F. and M. Pagitz (2008). "Ketone measurements using dipstick methodology in cats with diabetes mellitus." J Small Anim Pract. [Epub ahead of print]
>> PubMed Abstract

Bruskiewicz, K., R. Nelson, et al. (1997). "Diabetic ketosis and ketoacidosis in cats: 42 cases (1980-1995)." J Amer Vet Med Assoc 211(2): 188-192.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Seizures in Cats

Schriefl, S., T. A. Steinberg, et al. (2008). "Etiologic classification of seizures, signalment, clinical signs, and outcome in cats with seizure disorders: 91 cases (2000-2004)." J Am Vet Med Assoc 233(10): 1591-7.

Epileptic seizures can occur in cats for many reasons, such as metabolic or toxic conditions, inflammatory or infectious diseases, or neoplasia. Seizures with no identifiable cause are called idiopathic epilepsy, which has been considered rare in cats. The purpose of the study reported here was to evaluate associations among etiologic classifications of seizures and signalment, clinical signs, and outcome in cats with various seizure disorders. In this retrospective case series, data was collected on 91 cats presented for seizure disorders to Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich from 2000 to 2004. During this period, the incidence of seizures in all cats presented to this hospital was 2.1%. Etiology was classified as reactive in 20 (22%) cats, symptomatic in 45 (50%), idiopathic or presumptive idiopathic in 23(25%), and cardiac syncope in 3 (3%). Focal seizures were recorded in 52% of the cats, and generalized seizures in 48%. The mean age of cats with idiopathic seizures (3.5 years) was significantly lower than that of cats with reactive seizures (8.2 years) or symptomatic seizures (8.1 years). Cats with idiopathic seizures survived the longest.
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Timmann, D., S. Cizinauskas, et al. (2008). "Retrospective analysis of seizures associated with feline infectious peritonitis in cats." J Feline Med Surg 10(1): 9-15.
>> PubMed Abstract

Bailey, K. S., C. W. Dewey, et al. (2008). "Levetiracetam as an adjunct to phenobarbital treatment in cats with suspected idiopathic epilepsy." J Am Vet Med Assoc 232(6): 867-72.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

I have a one and a half year mixed breed cat–she is a tortoise shell domestic mixed with…

Sorry to hear your cat is having a hard time. It's great that your cat improved with treatment but I have some concerns about your cat getting regular steroid injections. First, it sounds like she has a hard time at the vet and I'd like to try to minimize her stress if possible.

Second, we haven't tried to really figure out what the underlying cause is. Could this be an allergy to something your cat comes into contact with or something else like fleas or food? Were there any changes in the house when this started?

Steroids, like your cat was given, can be very helpful but I usually try to see if other treatments like a diet change or alternate topical medication may help. Injectable steroids also tend to have more side effects than other steroids and there is less control over levels in her body. I would consider using perhaps an oral steroid rather than injectable if other treatments will not work.

My cat has had loose stool issues for years. We have gone to four different vets and…

I feel for you. I have also had a cat with chronic loose stool issues. One approach is to try to get to the bottom of why this is happening. If you have been to multiple vets, I would assume at least a general baseline of labs etc. have been done. If those are all normal, I consider a couple additional tests. A blood test to look at folate and vitamin B12 levels as well as a test called a TLI can be helpful in cats with diarrhea. Abnormalities in folate or B12 levels can help us know where disease may be lurking and also what additional treatments can be done. In many cases, biopsies of the intestines taken through endoscopy or surgery are needed to give us an answer. Many cats have what we call Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and biopsy is the best way to diagnose this.

Another option is to continue to try medications for the symptoms. If you've done food trials, I would want to be sure you've done a limited ingredient diet for at least eight weeks with absolutely no other food or treats during that time. It can be very difficult to do this and one slip up with extra food can throw it all off. Another treatment option I would throw out there is an oral anti-inflammatory like prednisolone. This corticosteroid is usually the mainstay treatment for inflammatory bowel disease and can often make a big difference in the treatment of chronic diarrhea. Cats tend to have minimal side effects with steroids (compared with people or other animals) and do very well. Hope this helps and that you can find some relief for your cat.

Can you give probiotics to animals for digestion or for yeast infections in the ears? I…

Before any product is given, I usually recommend you consult your veterinarian. My concern for your cat based on what you've described is that he is constipated. With constipation many cats will have straining followed by diarrhea. This is because they push down loose stool around the constipated part. This may also explain the puckering of his bottom. If he is constipated, a probiotic, cat lax or digestive enzyme will likely not help.

Probiotics can be used for some medical conditions but the first thing is to know for sure what condition you're dealing with and if a probiotic is the best option for treatment. There are some cases where handling a condition "naturally" is appropriate and I am certainly not opposed to that but from what you describe I feel your cat may need additional care. Good luck.

Can you tell me about pet access doors and how they would keep my kitties safe from…

Most regular pet doors can often let in other unwanted visitors. If you really want only your cat to come through the pet door, the best option is one that has a magnetic key to it. Your cat would wear a collar that has the a magnetic key on it; this triggers the door to unlock so that only your cat can go through and no other animals. Most pet stores carry these and they do tend to work well. Just be sure to fit the collar correctly so your cat can not get it off or her access to the garage would be stopped.

I wanted to know if you know of a drain cleaner that will unclog my drains but is safe…

Most products can have the potential to cause problems if our cats ingest them or come in contact with them. Drain cleaners usually use very strong chemicals. They are usually very effective but I would be sure to follow the directions carefully and also keep your cats away from the sink until any cleaner is washed away and keep the cleaner out of reach. I have heard of some people using baking soda followed by vinegar for clogged or slow drains. An internet search may result in a recipe for this. Last but not least, certainly a safe way to deal with a clogged drain is with a plumber, no chemicals but certainly more expense.

I have a six year old cat that eats only one type of food (Figaro Albacore Tuna). It has…

Although the tuna used for canned cat food is not much different in quality than the tuna used for human consumption, the Figaro Tuna does not contain any added vitamins and minerals that are required by the cat. These added vitamins and minerals are required to ensure the canned cat food is nutritionally complete. Therefore, feeding only tuna intended for humans could result in nutritional deficiencies or imbalances if fed for a long period of time. It is recommended that if tuna intended for human consumption is to be fed it should be fed as a treat on a rare basis along with a nutritionally complete cat food. Since you are already feeding a complete diet in Cat Chow Indoor, your cat should do just fine on this diet alone. If your cat continues to insist on receiving "treats," there are a number of high quality, highly palatable treats specifically formulated for cats (Whisker Lickens’) available in your grocery store that you can try. Additionally, there are also a number of high quality canned cat foods on the market (Fancy Feast, Friskies) that contain a fair amount of tuna that you could try.

I have feline leukemia kitten about 6 months. He is not a good eater. I offer him dry…

Cats will demand as much variety as they have come to expect. Constant diet changes, as well as feeding food from the table can create a finicky eater. Our diets vary from day to day in order to provide a balance of all of the nutrients we need to stay healthy and strong. Cat foods, such as Purina Cat Chow brand cat food however, are complete and balanced for all stages of a cat's life. These diets provide formulas that are highly desirable by most cats. High quality ingredients in combination with special palatability enhancements make these diets very tasty. When you feed your cat Purina Cat Chow, you can be assured that your cat is receiving not only all the nutrients it requires, but the proper proportions of those nutrients, as well. With respect to the feeding of wet foods, you may have to try alternative flavors or forms (loaf, chunk in gravy) to try and find the one he eats the best. If you’re concerned about wasting food you might try only giving your cat a small portion of the canned food each day. The remainder of the food can be kept refrigerated for future use (but should be warmed up to room temperature before giving more to the cat). This may help in determining the variety that your cat likes best. Although your cat may like wet food his finicky nature may make it economically infeasible to continue to feed in this manner. Be assured that feeding of either dry food will meet his nutritional needs to stay healthy and strong.