Category: Cat Care

MEMO and the Vomiting Cat – A Case Study

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6

Miso, a 5 year old NM cat, was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis when he was 3 years old. Pancreatitis presented as episodes of violent vomiting every 1-2 months. In addition to giving anti-emetics, managing these episodes involved fluid therapy and antibiotics, and the occasional ER visit.

In cats, the common bile duct and the main pancreatic duct join together into a single shared channel before opening into the small intestine. When a cat vomits, the gut contents from the proximal intestine move into the stomach, exposing the pancreas to bacteria and concurrent inflammation on the way (Reference 1). 

The overall strategy is to keep Miso from vomiting. We decided to try a schedule of frequent meals combined with environmental enrichment (MEMO) (Reference 2).

MEMO stands for Multimodal Environmental Modification, a therapeutic framework pioneered by Dr. Tony Buffington of Ohio State University to aid in the treatment of cats suffering from Lower Urinary Tract Syndrome and from “Pandora syndrome”.

MEMO and the vomiting cat – the feeding schedule

 

 

Miso is fed both canned and dry food in multiple small meals as recommended for vomiting cats (see Managing the Vomiting Cat – Dietary Strategies). About half his calories come from canned food; the remainder from dry food. He is monitored closely for signs of an impending episode of pancreatitis (, i.e. nausea and vomiting).

Feeding Schedule  
Time Food
6:00 am 10 kibbles of dry food
6:30 am 50% of morning ration of canned food.
7:30 am 50% of morning ration of canned food.
12:00 pm 10 kibbles of dry food
6:00 pm 50 % evening ration of canned food
7:00 pm 50 % evening ration of canned food
9-10 pm 20 kibbles of dry food

MEMO and the vomiting cat – Environmental Modifications

 

 

We try to fulfill the physical, nutritional, social and behavioral aspects of MEMO while managing Miso’s pancreatitis.

Physical: In additional to having access to scratching posts and places to rest and hide, Miso takes a morning walk on a leash. The leash is mainly used to keep him from eating grass, which causes him to vomit.

Nutritional: We feed Miso and his roommates their canned meals at individual feeding stations (hard plastic cat carriers) located in the corners of the dining room. The cats are out of sight of each other while being fed. This gives each cat an opportunity to eat their dinner without interference from the other cats.

Social: The cats enjoy daily positive interactions with people in the process of being fed.

Behavioral: The evening meal is fed in two portions: half is fed at the cats’ feeding stations while the human dinner is prepared. The second half of is fed later when we sit down for dinner. The canned food is spread on textured silicone “lick mats”, keeping the cats off the counter and dining table while the humans are having dinner.

The nighttime snack of dry kibbles is fed using food puzzles (foraging behavior) or tossing the kibbles for the cats to chase and “hunt down”.

This routine may seem complicated but actually works quite well. Canned meals sandwich the morning routine of breakfast and getting ready to go out for the morning. Canned meals sandwich the evening routine of preparing then serving dinner.  The bedtime routine tells everyone to prepare for a good night’s sleep.

Memo and the vomiting cat

 

 

Feeding small frequent meals helps manage Miso’s chronic pancreatitis. It is more work compared to ad lib feeding of dry food but it is worth the reduction in the severity and frequency of Miso’s vomiting episodes. After implementing this regimen, a bout of pancreatitis occurs every 2-3 months and only requires only a few days of oral medication with minimal vomiting, no ER visit and often no fluid therapy.

The silver lining: The cats seem to enjoy eating more often and it is can be fun to watch them work the food puzzles or to toss them kibbles. The four cats even seem to get along better together!

references

  1. Batchelor DJ, Devauchelle P, Elliott J, et al. “Mechanisms, causes, investigation and management of vomiting disorders in cats: a literature review”. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2013;15(4):237-265. doi:10.1177/1098612X12473466
  2. Herron ME, Buffington CA. “Environmental enrichment for indoor cats”. Compend Contin Educ Vet. 2010 Dec;32(12):E4. PMID: 21882164; PMCID: PMC3922041.

Want to keep up with the world of cats? Subscribe to The Feline Purrspective!

Subscribe

 

Environmental Tactics to Manage The Vomiting Cat

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6

It is a common misconception that it is normal for cats to vomit. The last post investigated dietary and feeding strategies that can help reduce vomiting and make cats more comfortable.

Sometimes, there is an emotional component to gastrointestinal distress. Many of us are familiar with the “butterflies in the stomach” preceding a stressful event. Emotional stress can upset your stomach, and an irritated gut can send distress signals back to your brain (Reference 1). Like people, cats experience anxiety which can affect their GI tract. Here are some tips to help a vomiting cat manage anxiety.

Environmental Tactics to Manage The Vomiting Cat 

 

 

MEMO stands for Multimodal Environmental Modification, a therapeutic framework pioneered by Dr. Tony Buffington of Ohio State University to aid in the treatment of cats suffering from Lower Urinary Tract Syndrome and from “Pandora syndrome”.

Pandora syndrome refers to cats suffering from multiple medical ailments that do not resolve with appropriate medical treatment. Instead, the symptoms are chronic, waxing and waning in response to environmental stressors (see Reference 2).

MEMO addresses the environmental needs of cats, dividing these into five categories (Reference 3).

  • physical resources – elevated perches, multiple scratching posts, hiding places
  • nutritional – multiple, separate food and water stations out of sight of other pets
  • elimination – multiple, separate litter boxes in quiet areas
  • social – consistent routines and predictable interactions with humans and other pets
  • behavioral – opportunities for predatory play and foraging for food

Adam Rudinsky, a small animal internal medicine specialist at Ohio State University, recommends implementing MEMO in addition to medical treatment to help cats with chronic vomiting (Reference 3).

Environmental tactics to manage the vomiting cat – Did you get the memo?

 

 

Physical Resources

Having quiet places to retreat to can help a cat manage fear, anxiety and stress. Multiple, separate feeding stations, litter boxes and resting places in secluded areas allows a cat to avoid harassment by other pets while eating, eliminating and snoozing. A little “alone time” sometimes works wonders.

Nutritional and Social

Feeding smaller meals more frequently (see “Managing the Vomiting Cat“) means we will be meal feeding our cat, not leaving out a big bowl of kibble for them to graze on. Meal feeding respects the physiology of the cat, who has evolved to eat small prey and has a relatively small stomach. Wild cats typically eat alone and spend most of their waking hours hunting and foraging for food (see “Why Meal Feed your Cat”).

Meal feeding brings social elements into feeding the cat:

  • Predictable human-cat interactions as the human gives the cat food
  • Establishment of routines involving feeding
  • In homes with more than one cat, each cat must feed at their own feeding station. These stations should be separated to keep cats from “stealing” each other’s food and prevent timid cats from gorging, eating their food too quickly and vomiting (see “Why Separate Cats when Feeding“).

Nutritional, Social and Behavioral

Although canned foods provide a more rapid transit through the stomach, dry food can still be part of the vomiting cat’s diet. A fun game to play with your cat is to toss them a meal of dry food. This gives a cat the opportunity to listen for, chase and pounce on their food.

Feeding our cats smaller meals more frequently gives us opportunities to allow the cats to engage in foraging behaviors with food puzzles or timed feeders placed around the house. Food puzzles can accommodate both canned and dry foods (see “Cats at Work: Using Food Puzzles“).

MEMO and the Cat with Hairballs

Cats that live indoors have a lot more time on their paws than their outdoor counterparts. Indoor cats tend to spend more time grooming and ingesting fur. MEMO can help reduce stress and boredom that  gives rise to excessive grooming in house cats and the accompanying hairballs.

Vomiting is commonly reported by feline caregivers. Per AI generated searches, it is considered normal for cats to vomit once or twice a month. Such vomiting is not “harmless” and steps should be taken to find the medical cause. Even if there is a clear medical cause, treatment can include dietary and environmental tactics to manage the vomiting cat, giving them a better quality of life.

references

  1.  “The Gut-Brain Connection”, July 18,2023. Harvard Health Publishing.  https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connection.  Viewed 8/8/2026.
  2. Meyer, Phyllis. “Treating Pandora Syndrome in Cats: The environment”, January 14, 2024. https://www.felinepurrspective.com/treating-pandora-syndrome-in-cats-the-environment/
  3. Herron ME, Buffington CA. “Environmental enrichment for indoor cats”. Compend Contin Educ Vet. 2010 Dec;32(12):E4. PMID: 21882164; PMCID: PMC3922041.
  4. Rudinsky, Adam. “Approach to the Vomiting Cat: Causes, Treatment, and Management”. Webinar. https://catvets.com/events/approach-to-the-vomiting-cat-causes-treatment-and-management/

Want to keep up with the world of cats? Subscribe to The Feline Purrspective!

Subscribe

Managing The Vomiting Cat – Dietary Strategies

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6

Daily meals for a cat

Vomiting is a common finding when taking a feline medical history. Cat owners seem to accept that all cats vomit and are often not concerned if a cat is vomiting several times a month or weekly. If you do a Google search,“how often do cats vomit” , the AI overview will state something like “It is considered normal for cats to vomit occasionally, typically once or twice a month, often due to hairballs or eating too quickly.” 

Managing the vomiting cat

 

 

Per Dr. Adam Rudinsky at Ohio State University, there is “no such thing as harmless vomiting”. There are a number of possible medical causes, ranging from gastritis and food reactions to cancer and kidney disease (Reference 1). But what about the cat who is diagnostically healthy? And is there more (apart from medications and supplements) we can do to manage those cats that vomit regularly due to a chronic condition such as Inflammatory Bowel disease?

Coughing or vomiting?

 

 

When a cat vomits, the abdominal muscles and diaphragm contract at the same time. The diaphragm moves forward while the abdominal muscles compress the stomach, forcing the contents up and through the esophagus (Reference 2).

The diaphragm and abdominal muscles are also active when a cat coughs but there is no retching and production of stomach contents when a cat coughs. Sometimes violent coughing can result in vomiting.

Both vomiting and coughing use the same muscles, hence the confusion that “hairballs are coughed up”. The cat must vomit to expel a hairball – you will see the stomach heaving back and forth in intense, rhythmic contractions that you don’t see in coughing. Many cats will vocalize, lick lips, and drool prior to vomiting.

Dietary tools in Managing the Vomiting Cat

 

 

The tools available to the caregiver of a cat prone to vomiting are dietary and behavioral. Let’s first look at how we may modify the cat’s diet.

The vomiting cat’s diet must meet their nutritional needs and also be (Reference 4):

  • Palatable
  • Reduce excess stomach and intestinal secretions
  • Keep food moving through the digestive tract

The diet should be easily digested and contain enough protein to maintain lean body mass. There are veterinary diets that are formulated to be palatable and easily digested.

What form of food?

 

 

The form of food (e.g., liquid, canned or dry) affects how quickly the stomach empties. Liquid diets are the fastest to leave the stomach, followed by canned foods and finally dry kibble. One study aimed at determining the optimal time to fast a cat before anesthesia found that some dry kibble could be found in the stomach after an 8 hour fast whereas canned food was gone in less than 4 hours (Reference 3).

Vomiting is associated with fluid loss. Cats with mild fluid deficits can be managed with oral water intake or fluids under the skin. If the cat will eat it, canned food can provide moisture and faster transit through the stomach. If your cat is a confirmed dry food eater, adding some warm water to their dry food can offset some of the fluid loss and improve palatability (Reference 4).

Vomiting may trigger food aversion in some cats. You may want to use a diet made with different ingredients than the regular diet during an episode of vomiting.

Small meals frequently

 

 

Consider feeding smaller meals more frequently ( 3-6 meals daily). Smaller meals result in less stomach distention, reduce gastric acid secretion, and transit the stomach faster (Reference 4).

Hairballs

 

 

Cats prone to hairballs can benefit from the addition of fiber to their diet to help clearance of swallowed hair. Commercial hairball diets blend insoluble fibers such as cellulose and soluble fibers, typically beet pulp.

Managing the vomiting cat includes several dietary strategies:

  • Adding more canned food in their diet
  • Feeding smaller meals more frequently 
  • Feeding a diet with fiber added if hairballs are a problem

The type of diet, form of food, or number of meals is often not the full picture. The asocial cat becomes a social eater living in the human home. Next up, behavioral concerns with managing the vomiting cat.

references

  1. Rudinsky, Adam. “YouTube Live: Chronic Vomiting Cats: What Can We Do?”. October 4, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkZsUYhswGk. Viewed 7/18/26.
  2. Batchelor DJ, Devauchelle P, Elliott J, et al. “Mechanisms, causes, investigation and management of vomiting disorders in cats: a literature review”. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2013;15(4):237-265. doi:10.1177/1098612X12473466
  3. Castro, JLC et al. “Determining the Optimal Time of Gastric Emptying in Cats Using Dry or Wet Food”. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, 2016. 44: 1365. Pub. 1365I. 24June2016
  4. Purina Institute, Centre Square. “Feline Chronic Enteropathy”. https://www.purinainstitute.com/centresquare/therapeutic-nutrition/feline-chronic-enteropathy, viewed 7/14/26.

Want to keep up with the world of cats? Subscribe to The Feline Purrspective!

Subscribe

Dental Health and Your Cat’s Happiness

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6
Premolars on cat's upper jaw
Upper premolar teeth in a cat.

Dental health and your cat’s happiness are linked together. Just like people, cats’ dental health is tied to their overall health. Lack of regular dental care causes pain and tooth loss, and increases the risk of severe systemic infections affecting the heart, liver, and kidneys. 

By the time cats are 2 years old, 85% of them have some form of painful dental disease. The most common forms of dental disease in cats include (Reference 1)

  • gingivitis
  • periodontitis
  • tooth resorption
  • stomatitis
  • broken teeth.

Dental Health and your cat’s happiness

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is an early stage gum disease caused by bacterial plaque buildup. It presents as tender and red gums – look for a redline where the teeth meet the gums. Treatment: professional teeth cleaning at your vet’s clinic and a home oral care plan ).

Periodontitis

 Left untreated, gingivitis becomes periodontitis, a chronic bacterial infection of the tissues supporting the teeth – the gums, the bone forming the tooth socket, and the ligament that holds the tooth in place. The plaque buildup leads to inflammation, irreversible destruction of supporting bone, and eventual tooth loss.
Treatment: The plaque, both the visible, pottery-like accretions and that plaque below the gum lines, must be removed during a professional teeth cleaning at your vet’s. Tooth extraction maybe necessary; antibiotics are rarely used in the treatment of periodontitis (Reference 1).

Tooth Resorption

Tooth resorption is a common, painful dental condition. Statistics show that 20-60% of cats suffer from this malady. The cat’s body breaks down and absorbs the tooth and root, starting at the gum line. X-rays are necessary to confirm this, and show us problems both below and above the gumline. 
Treatment: Extraction of affected teeth (Reference 1).

Stomatitis

Stomatitis is a severe, painful inflammation of the mouth and gums. Thought to be an improper immune response to oral bacteria, affected cats often lose weight and don’t groom themselves well. (Reference 1)
Treatment: Treatment typically involves partial or full mouth extractions.

Broken Teeth

If a fracture opens up the root canal, pain and infection can result.
Treatment: The affected tooth is usually extracted although a dental specialist can perform a root canal on feline canine teeth (fangs).

Dental health and your cat’s happiness are linked together. Even if your cat continues to eat, they could be suffering pain every day due to dental disease. Cats are masters at hiding pain. Caregivers may or MAY NOT notice jaw chattering, changes in the chewing behavior or connect changes in activity and play behavior to dental pain.

Periodontal disease and tooth resorption in a 2 year old cat. Kitty was happier after all the teeth behind the canines were extracted.

does your cat need those teeth to be happy?

Notice that most treatments for feline dental problems include extractions. While this may seem extreme, many of the options for humans such as filling cavities or implants, either don’t work or are just not practical for your cat.

Here are some questions raised by cat owners faced with extractions for their cat.

 

 

Is anesthesia necessary?

YES – Dental cleaning and surgery has to be done under general anesthesia because we use ultrasonic scalers and power drills in addition to hand instruments to clean and remove teeth. Even if the cat were to tolerate having their mouth open for an extended period of time, any small movement of their  head could result in injury (Reference 2).

Are dental x-rays necessary?

Dental x-rays allow us to see what is happening above and below the gum line, allowing the veterinarian to determine whether a tooth needs extraction. Like human dentistry, a small film or sensor is needed to capture the images. Most cats will not tolerate having something wedged into their mouths when awake and x-rays must be done under anesthesia.

Will my cat be able to eat dry food after extractions?

YES. Cat’s teeth are different from human teeth: cats are carnivorous and are designed to eat primarily meat. Their teeth are designed to slash and slice; they do not have the flat surfaces that humans and other omnivores have to grind food. They often swallow small pieces of food whole and are able to eat kibble with fewer or no teeth (Reference 3).

Will my cat’s jaw be more prone to fracture after extractions?

After extractions, the tooth roots will not longer be there to stimulate the bone and the bone will recede. The jaw will temporarily be weaker but should stabilize once the bone heals. Leaving diseased teeth in place will result in more severe bone recession than a properly done extraction. The veterinary dentist may use a synthetic, bioactive ceramic bone graft material to fill sockets after tooth extraction, to maintain the jaw near “pre-extraction” height (Reference 3).

Oral surgery can be painful. Be sure to administer all your cat’s pain medication after surgery. If you are having difficulty, ask your vet if there are alternate forms of pain meds.

Dental health and your cat’s happiness are linked together. Treatment of the common dental problems suffered by cats often involves extracting painful teeth. Use of dental tools and the need to take dental x-rays requires the dental cleaning be done under general anesthesia. Most cats are able to eat dry cat food after having teeth extracted and proper dental technique minimizes bone loss in the cat’s jaws. Regular dental cleanings are the key to a healthy and happy life for your cat.

references

  1. Lobprise H Co-Chair, St Denis K Co-Chair, Anderson JG, Hoyer N, Fiani N, Yaroslav J. 2025 FelineVMA feline oral health and dental care guidelines. J Feline Med Surg. 2025 Nov;27(11):1098612X251398793. doi: 10.1177/1098612X251398793. Epub 2025 Nov 29. PMID: 41319038; PMCID: PMC12665832.
  2. The Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA) and the Feline Oral Health and Dental Care Guidelines Task Force oppose anesthesia-free dentistry and endorse previously published position statements concerning anesthesia-free dental treatments (2025): https://avdc.org/PDF/Dental_Scaling_Without_Anesthesia.pdf
  3. Rochette J. Avoiding the “no”. Can Vet J. 2011 Dec;52(12):1361-2. PMID: 22654147; PMCID: PMC3215476.

Want to keep up with the world of cats? Subscribe to The Feline Purrspective!

 

Subscribe

Fear or Sedation at the Vet?

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6

Acute severe stress triggers the body’s “fight-or-flight response”. Your heart beats faster, your blood pressure increases and you breathe harder. Your muscles become tense, you may feel nauseous. Wild animals can actually die of stress during capture and relocation as a result of a condition known as “capture myopathy”. Muscles are damaged as the animal struggles to escape; the damaged muscle releases toxic substances into the bloodstream, causing kidney failure, high temperatures and sometimes death or a subsequent deterioration in health (Reference 1).

While few cats have been documented as suffering from “capture myopathy”, restraining a struggling, terrified cat for a procedure at the vet clinic has a potential to cause physical as well as emotional damage.  If pre-visit medications aren’t enough, the cat owner has a choice: fear or sedation at the vet?

Fear or sedation at the vet?

Sedation can be a gift for a fearful and/or fractious cat. Sedation can (Reference 2):

  • provide comfort and analgesia while reducing anxiety and stress
  • prevent injury to veterinary staff
  • promote a better hospital experience for cats undergoing minor procedures

When properly done, sedation can be a safe procedure for most cats. On the other hand, general anesthesia may be more appropriate for cats with neurological problems, cardiac or respiratory disorders (Reference 2).

sedation vs general anesthesia

Sedation is similar to general anesthesia: the drugs used can cause unconsciousness, amnesia and loss of protective reflexes such as gagging and swallowing (if possible, the cat is fasted prior to the procedure). The risks to the sedated cat are similar to those encountered by the anesthetized cat: the most common issues are cardiovascular and respiratory (Reference 2).  

Sedation is chosen for minor procedures where the cat will be only be under the effects of sedative drugs for a short time. A cat may be sedated to acquire blood and urine samples, have x-rays of painful limbs, or have an abscess flushed and stitched up. In such brief procedures, typically an airway is not established with an endotracheal tube nor is an intravenous catheter placed. The goal is to finish the necessary tasks and wake the cat up, returning them to a normal physiologic state as soon as possible.

Good practice dictates that the veterinary team be prepared to transition to general anesthesia if necessary, providing oxygen, intubating the cat and placing an intravenous catheter for fluid therapy if needed.

Monitoring (Reference 2) during sedation is not as comprehensive as that of general anesthesia due to time constraints. An abbreviated protocol follows the cat’s physiologic status.

  • monitor depth of sedation – eye blink reflex
  • measuring oxygen saturation in the blood (pulse oximetry)
  • measuring pulse rate and blood pressure

Comfort and Pain Relief

Sedation protocols for cats are typically a combination of a pain medication (usually an opioid) and a sedative. The combination of the two drugs produces a greater sedative effect compared with either drug given alone. Lower doses of the drugs can be used when they are given together (Reference 2), reducing adverse cardiac and respiratory side effects.

The drugs can given intramuscularly (IM) or intravenously (IV) depending on the drug combination. IM protocols are popular because is often easier to give a frightened, struggling cat an injection in the muscle compared with trying to inject drugs in a vein.

Pre-visit medications can be an adjunct to the sedation procedure, reducing the dose of sedative drugs needed and making administration of these drugs less stressful.

recovery

A warm, dark, quiet area allows cats waking up from sedation or anesthesia to be monitored to ensure a smooth recovery. Additional pain medication may be administered and food may be offered if appropriate.

returning home

  • Watch your cat closely once they are home. Consider confining them to a room with all their resources so that they can safely settle back into the home environment and routine. Be sure to check in on them until the effects of the sedative drugs have worn off.
  • Cats identify each other by smell. In multi-cat homes, a cat returning from the vet clinic has picked up the smell of the hospital and may be “shunned” by their housemates. Keeping the returning cat separate from their housemates followed by a reintroduction is appropriate here.
  • See “Aggression Between Cats After a Vet Visit”

 

The choice: Fear or Sedation at the Vet?
In cats with fractious temperaments or showing fearful behavior, sedation can replace moments of sheer terror with a better hospital experience. Gone is the struggle, muscle tension, and fear associated with full-body restraint. The gift of sedation can help cats live longer and healthier lives due to better veterinary care.

references

  1. Breed D, Meyer LCR, Steyl JCA, Goddard A, Burroughs R, Kohn TA. Conserving wildlife in a changing world: Understanding capture myopathy-a malignant outcome of stress during capture and translocation. Conserv Physiol. 2019 Jul 5;7(1):coz027. doi: 10.1093/conphys/coz027. PMID: 31304016; PMCID: PMC6612673.
  2. Simon BT, Steagall PV. Feline procedural sedation and analgesia: When, why and how. J Feline Med Surg. 2020 Nov;22(11):1029-1045. doi: 10.1177/1098612X20965830. PMID: 33100168; PMCID: PMC10814218.

Want to keep up with the world of cats? Subscribe to The Feline Purrspective!

Subscribe

Tactics to Make the Vet Visit Better for Cats

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6
A relaxed, calm cat approaches a veterinary staff member.

Veterinary medicine has markedly improved for companion animals – we recognize that cats and dogs experience pain and suffering, which in turn affects their quality of life. Routine checkups, vaccinations,  and dental cleanings reduce disease and improve the health and welfare of our pets.

Cats are becoming members of the family and not just valued mousers.  There is a trend away from brute force handling of cats to “get it (blood sample, vaccination) done” to trying to make the vet visit better for cats, avoiding fear and arousal as much as possible.

make the vet visit better for cats

Some of the programs in place to help veterinary staff address the feline patient include:

  • Cat Friendly Practice (Reference 1)
  • Fear Free Program (Reference 2)
  • Low-Stress Handling (Reference 3)

All of these initiatives have the same goal – to deliver medical care to animals without the complications of fear and arousal. We want to avoid the trauma that can result from an unpleasant or frightening event. We want to avoid overwhelming an animal’s ability to cope and triggering survival mechanisms such as fight, freeze or flight.

How can we make the vet visit better for cats? When they arrive at the veterinary clinic, the cat has been taken out of his home environment and transported to a strange place – it smells of other animals, many of whom are afraid; it may be cold and noisy. The cat is most likely scared and anxious, not knowing what will happen next.

How we handle cats in the veterinary hospital has direct consequences on the cat’s welfare. To reduce stress and bad memories, we start with a quiet exam room and an assessment of how kitty is doing today.

the behavior traffic light – Go? Caution? stop!

green – go?

  • The “green” cat is relaxed and may approach veterinary staff.
  • Handling may include petting if the cat solicits it.
  • Exam can be in the cat’s carrier, on the owner’s lap, or wherever the cat is comfortable.
  • Restraint is minimal – handling focuses on stabilizing the cat.
  • Food/toys may be used to distract the cat and keep them happy.

yellow – caution?

  • The “yellow” cat shows early signs of anxiety or fear – they are tense, ears flattened, the tail may be tucked under.
  • Handling may include a towel to give the cat a place to hide and feel more secure.
  • Position or location may change as needed to gain the cat’s cooperation (see “Preparing for the Cat Friendly Exam”).
  • The visit should be prioritized, with the exam number one on the list.
  • Optional procedures like a nail trim may be put off for another day.

Some cats will freeze and seem easy to handle but they are fearful and may “explode” with aggression.

red – stop!

  • A “red” cat may hiss, growl, bite or swat at someone trying to handle them.
  • They actively resist handling.
  • These cats are fearful and defensive and may try to hide.
  • Handling should be stopped immediately to avoid injury to the cat or the handler.
  • If the cat calms down after a break, a limited exam can be attempted.
  • Sedation or anesthesia will be recommended instead of force for urgent procedures.

Can “stop” make the vet visit better for cats?

It is important to realize that the cat learns from traumatic handling. They are likely to repeat the same behavior in a similar situation; they will associate the room, the people, the type of touch with the traumatic experience.  “STOP” allows us to do a “reset” to that point before things started to go wrong and try to make the vet visit better for cats.

Sedation

Sedative drugs cause a state of calmness or sleepiness. Sedating cats who are fractious or fearful allow us to provide them with pain relief and reduce their anxiety and stress, while performing diagnostics and minor procedures.

In urgent cases, sedation is an option for the “red” cat who does not have a history of health issues, or if a limited exam is possible and does not present any red flags.

In non-urgent situations, the owner may consider trying pre-visit medication for a repeat visit, with the option of sedation if needed. 

What are the risks of sedation? These questions will be answered in the next post.

references

  1. Cat Friendly Practice ® Program. © Copyright 2012 – 2025 International Cat Care and Feline Veterinary Medical Association. https://catvets.com/cat-friendly/cfp/. Viewed 9/2025
  2. Fear Free®. © 2025 Fear Free. All rights reserved. https://www.fearfree.com/. Viewed 9/2025
  3. Dr. Sophia Yin’s Low-Stress Handling. ©2025 Veterinary Information Network. All rights reserved https://cattledogpublishing.com/ Viewed 9/2025

 

Want to keep up with the world of cats? Subscribe to The Feline Purrspective!

Subscribe

Feeding Your Cat in 2025 – Trends in feeding cats

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6

Finicky cat with food choices

Cat ownership is on the rise. The pet food industry sees the cat food market as a place for potential growth. How will trends in the pet food market affect feeding your cat in 2025?

feeding your cat in 2025

How do cats owners choose cat food?

A survey done by the market research company Packaged Facts found that cat owners primarily choose foods that their cats will eat. 

  1. My cat likes it 64%
  2. I trust the brand 51%
  3. Price 38%
  4. Veterinarian recommendation 26%
  5. packaging nutritional information 25%

(Cats:US Pet Market Trends and Opportunities, 2nd ed. Packaged Facts; September-October 2023 (numbers do not add to 100% as multiple responses were allowed.  (Reference 1))

Feeding Your Cat in 2025 – My Cat Likes It

The old dry food stand-by is not as popular with us and our cats these days. Sales of dry cat kibble have dropped from 93% in 2021 to 79% in 2024  (Reference 2).

Cat owners value variety in their cats’ diets and are more likely to feed both canned and dry foods to their pets. Canned cat food sales have increased by several percentage points in the past 2 years (Reference 1). Look for increasing varieties and formats on both canned and dry cat foods.

Feeding your cat in 2025 – health concerns

Fresh Cat Foods

In spite of the limited choice of fresh refrigerated or frozen cat food (products for dogs outnumber those for cats), sales of these foods are increasing as cat owners worry about the healthfulness of highly processed pet foods (Reference 2).

Senior Cats

Senior cat diets may be next in line for an update. Many of these foods were formulated before recent research showed that age-related physiological changes such as immune function and cognitive changes can respond to nutritional intervention (Reference 3).

Energy requirements increase as a cat passes the 12 year mark. Reduced gastrointestinal function, dental disease, and cognitive changes can affect a cat’s food intake. Digestibility becomes paramount. Look for foods designed for senior cats  featuring highly digestible protein, increased calories per serving and added supplements including antioxidants, B-vitamins, carnitine, and specific amino acids such as arginine (Reference 4).

Feeding your cat in 2025 – keep him busy and happy

Cat experts recommend using food puzzles to mimic the foraging behavior of wild cats, keeping the indoor cat busy and portioning out his food.  A brief Internet search will turn up a plethora of puzzles and remote feeding systems.  Food puzzles range from silicone slow-feeding mats and  treat balls the cat rolls around to fleece snuffle mats and puzzles cats have to manipulate to uncover the food.

However, food puzzle use has remained unchanged from 2018 to 2024 – a survey in 2018 (Reference 5) found about 30% of cat owners surveyed used food puzzles; a 2024 survey found that 29% of participants used food puzzles while 21% hid food around the house for the cats to find (Reference 6).

Keep tension low in your household by preventing competition for food. The survey done in 2024 found that most owners (60%) provided the same number of food bowls as cats (Reference 6). Go one step further – give each cat his own food bowl and feed him separately.

Feeding Your Cat in 2025

  1. Look for high-quality and healthful foods for your cat in 2025. But before you buy, check the food label to see if the food is complete and balanced or just intended for supplemental feeding!
  2. Replace that bowl of kibble you leave out when you’re gone with some food puzzles.
  3. Give each cat a separate place at the table.

 

references

  1. Landry, Shannon. Why it’s time to pay attention to cats. Pet International Magazine, November 2024, pp. 57-58. https://view.publitas.com/pets-international-1/pets-international-magazine-november-2024/page/58-59
  2. Phillips-Donaldson, Debbie. Feeding of alternative cat foods rises with cat population. petfoodindustry.com/blogs-columns/adventures-in-pet-food/ February 12, 2025. 
  3. Bermingham EN, Patterson KA, Shoveller AK, Fraser K, Butowski CF, Thomas DG. Nutritional needs and health outcomes of ageing cats and dogs: is it time for updated nutrient guidelines? Anim Front. 2024 Jun 20;14(3):5-16. doi: 10.1093/af/vfae008. PMID: 38910950; PMCID: PMC11188961.
  4. Molier, Sarah-Jane. Nutritional needs of geriatric cats – time for a change? Pet International Magazine, November 2024, pp. 63-64. https://view.publitas.com/pets-international-1/pets-international-magazine-november-2024/page/63-64
  5. Delgado M, Bain MJ, Buffington CT. A survey of feeding practices and use of food puzzles in owners of domestic cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2020 Feb;22(2):193-198. doi: 10.1177/1098612X19838080. Epub 2019 Mar 26. PMID: 30912700; PMCID: PMC10814572
  6. O’Halloran C, Cerna P, Barnicoat R, Caney SM, Gunn-Moore DA. How and why pet cats are fed the way they are: a self-reported owner survey. J Feline Med Surg. 2024 Feb;26(2):1098612X231209894. doi: 10.1177/1098612X231209894. PMID: 38381461; PMCID: PMC10911312.

 

Picking Up Your Cat- Ask First -Don’t Get Scratched

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6
Art by Kal Meyer

This post was originally published on 9/11/22.  This newer version has been updated to reflect  recent changes in handling and training cats.

Picking up your cat can be frightening for him. Imagine being suddenly snatched up by a giant from your favorite chair. You are lifted up into the air, your legs flailing as you try to maintain your balance. Scary, huh?

Some of the more exciting scenes in fantasy movies include the hero or heroine being snatched up and taken away. In the Wizard of Oz, a troop of flying monkeys swoop down and grab up Dorothy and her dog, Toto, taking them to the castle of the Wicked Witch of the West. A giant ape carries Ann Darrow up the Empire State Building in the movie “King Kong”, as the audience shrieks and squeals.

But, you say, I pick my cat up all the time and he does not seem to mind.  In certain circumstances though, he might redirect his fear as aggression and  bite or scratch you, if you try to pick him up, say, to move him away from the vacuum cleaner.

Okay, so maybe you can coax him to go where you need him to by using treats or a target stick. But there still will be times when picking up your cat is necessary – for example, you may need get him out of the way of a car. What can you do?

Picking Up Your Cat – ask first please and don’t get scratched!

Gus, a street cat caught in a live trap, would thrash and flail, biting and scratching when he was picked up. Gus responded well to training so I wondered if I could teach him to be picked up, in the same way he learned to sit and target.

Picking up a cat involves the following steps:

  1. Slide one arm under his chest and the other over his hindquarters, supporting his back legs underneath.
  2. Lift and carry.

I broke down the process of being picked up into the following steps:

  1. Tell the cat that you are going to pick him up. “I am going to pick you up” or “OK to pick you up?”
  2. Count to 3 before reaching out to touch him.
  3. Get next to the cat and slide your arms around him, like you are going to pick him up. Give the verbal cue “UP”, then say “DOWN” put him down as you release him. Say “Good” and reward.
  4. The next step is to pick him up briefly, lifting him off the ground, with the cue “UP”. Say “DOWN” as you put him down on his feet. Say “good” and reward.
  5. Increase the time you hold the cat after picking him up. Be sure to mark picking up with the cue “UP” and putting down with “DOWN”. Let kitty know he’s done well by saying “Good” and rewarding him.

Key points to take away

  • Go slowly – if your cat starts to flail or squirm, go back to the step before: hold him for a shorter period of time or don’t lift him as high.
  • Be sure to alert your cat to the fact he will be picked up. Whenever possible, give your cat time to process that he is going to be picked up – count to 3 before reaching to pick him up.
  • When training the “pick up” behavior, allow the cat a few seconds to process what has happened before lifting him higher or for longer – give him a break between trials.
  • Don’t hesitate to “talk” your cat through the process, telling him what is going to happen and what is happening. The sound of your voice and what you are saying will keep him consciously engaged in the process, instead of panicking and flailing, because he is fearful of the outcome.

Picking up your cat does not need to be traumatic.  Training Gus to be picked up was so successful that I taught all my cats this. Gus still squirms sometimes when the hold is taking him somewhere he does not fancy going… but, the biting and scratching has stopped! And he is rewarded for his patience with treats or head rubs when we arrive at our destination.

 

Want to keep up with the world of cats?  Subscribe to The Feline Purrspective!

 

Subscribe

Caring for the Coughing Cat with Asthma

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6
A cat receives medication for asthma using a inhalation chamber.

Does your cat cough? Are you waiting for a hairball to appear? If this is a frequent occurrence – say daily, a few times a week, even just once a month – it may be time to pay your veterinarian a visit.

A phlegmy, wet, productive cough often accompanies viral or bacterial infections. A hacking cough, where your cat crouches down during the coughing episode is typical of feline asthma.

the coughing cat with asthma

Feline asthma is an allergic response to something in the environment. Untreated, asthma can result in changes in the lungs that block air flow. The coughing cat with asthma who is not being treated can end up at the ER, breathing through her mouth (very un-catlike), panting and using her abdominal muscles to help push the air out (Reference 1).

Although the asthma cough is described as “coughing up” a hairball, remember that hairballs are hair that is ingested by the cat as she grooms. Hairballs are swallowed and end up in the stomach. The cat must vomit them up. This is a different motion than the pushing done by the abdominal muscles to clear the lungs of air during an asthma attack.

the vet visit

Be prepared to describe your cat’s cough:

  • Is the cough wet or dry?
  • How frequent is the cough?
  • How long has your cat been coughing?

Other questions can include:

  • Does your cat go outside?
  • Do you deworm your cat?
  • Has your cat lost weight?

diagnostics (Reference 2)

After taking a detailed history and performing an examination, your vet will recommend some diagnostics to help rule out other diseases that share similar clinical symptoms with asthma. These include heartworm disease, bronchitis, and viral, parasitic and bacterial infections.

  • Blood work to assess major organ function
  • Chest x-rays
  • Fecal assays and heartworm testing

Occasionally, additional testing is needed.

  • Bronchoscopy – a specialist will examine the cat’s airways with a small camera
  • Samples of bacteria and cells in the airways can be collected during the bronchoscopy

treatment for feline asthma

If your vet is able to rule out viral, bacterial or parasitic infections, the next step is to initiate treatment for feline asthma.  Treatment aims to help the coughing cat with asthma breathe better by reducing the inflammation and constriction in her airways.  Untreated asthma can result in structural changes in the airways (Reference 1, 2).

The go-to therapy includes:

  • oral corticosteroids such as prednisolone
  • inhaled steroids that your cat can breathe in
  • bronchodilators to decrease airway constriction. These can be given by injection (terbutaline) or by inhaler (albuterol).

Steroid therapy is lifelong for the coughing cat with asthma. Typically, your cat will start on oral steroids. If her cough responds to oral steroids, your vet will most likely recommend transitioning your cat to inhaled steroids, given by a metered dose inhaler.

benefits of inhaled steroids for cats with asthma

Although cats in general tolerate oral steroid therapy well, there are side effects to long-term administration:

  • increased thirst and urination
  • increased risk of infections
  • weight gain
  • muscle wasting
  • diabetes

Taken by the oral route, medications are processed by the GI tract before entering the bloodstream and then going to the lungs. Inhaled steroids are delivered directly to your cat’s lungs; very little steroid enters the bloodstream, and side-effects are greatly reduced.

ADMINiSTRATION OF INHALANTS TO CATS

Unlike humans, who can place an inhaler between their lips, and breathe the medication in, the coughing cat with asthma, like young human children, must inhale the medication from a chamber.

The chamber is a cylinder with a port for the metered dose inhaler on one end and a valve with a soft, silicone mask on the other. The inhaler is actuated, the medication sprays into the chamber, mixing with the air in the chamber. The cat can then breathe in the air/steroid mixture via the mask. A valve keeps the medication in the chamber until the cat takes a breath.

Per Trudell Animal Health (Aerokat), the medication is available in the chamber for 30 seconds.  The cat must take 7-10 breaths to empty the chamber and get his medication.

training a cat to use an inhalant chamber

Training a cat to use one of these chambers is a multi-step process that may take a month or more.  The oral steroid medication will overlap this training period.  Visit “Teach Any Cat Aerokat” for a 5 step training program.

Environmental changes

Feline asthma is thought to be an allergic reaction to inhaled allergens.  Treatment with steroids is the first step, but you can also keep your cat more comfortable by minimizing her exposure to irritants such as smoke, aerosols, and dust.  Consider using HEPA air purifiers and humidifiers indoors (Reference 1, 2).

Feline asthma is a diagnosis of exclusion.  Once viral, parasitic or bacterial infections are found to be unlikely, treatment with corticosteroids and bronchodilators can begin.  These are lifelong treatments but the prognosis for a treated feline asthmatic is good.

references

  1. Garrity S, Lee-Fowler T, Reinero C. Feline asthma and heartworm disease: Clinical features, diagnostics and therapeutics. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2019;21(9):825-834. doi:10.1177/1098612X18823348
  2. Deininger K., “Understanding Feline Asthma”. Veterinary Health Center, University of Missouri.  Uploaded 10/2016. https://vhc.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/feline_asthma.pdf, viewed 11/2024.

Better Vet Visits: Carrier Training for Your Cat

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6

cats with carrier and treats

Cats love boxes and a carrier is just another box! However, your cat may have a love-hate relationship with her carrier – when the carrier comes out, she runs and hides under the bed. On the other hand, she may be relieved to enter it at the vet clinic at the end of her visit.

This post was originally published on February 12, 2023 as part of  the “Better Vet Visits” series.  This post has been updated and new material added.

Carrier Training for your cat

Why your cat may not like her carrier:

  • It only takes her to the vet
  • The carrier is not comfortable – maybe it too small, too big or too open like a cage?
  • The carrier is an unfamiliar object and does not smell like her – smell means a lot to cats who use odors to communicate.

One of the reasons to do carrier training is to try and give your cat some positive associations with her carrier. We want our cats to feel safe in their carriers. It should be a little piece of home that travels with them.

carrier training for your cat: the carrier

SIZE MATTERS

Your cat should be able to stand up and turn around in her carrier. If she can’t, it is time for a new carrier.  For tips on choosing and maintaining a carrier see  https://www.felinepurrspective.com/tips-for-choosing-a-cat-carrier/

SCENT MATTERS

Start by cleaning the carrier.

  • Hard, plastic carriers: clean with a mild detergent, rinse and wipe dry.
  • Fabric carriers: Launder the “slipcover” on the pad in the bottom. Wash the carrier with mild detergent (unscented if possible) and water, then rinse and let dry. If you are concerned about urine in a fabric carrier, be sure to use an enzymatic (biological) laundry detergent.

Most laundry detergents these days contain enzymes to break down protein and fat based stains in fabrics. However, there are detergents designed to clean materials such as wool and silk that do not have enzymes. Check the list of ingredients on your detergent to see if enzymes are listed.

Once the carrier is clean, place a towel, blanket, or cushion in it. Select something that your cat sleeps on. We want something with her scent on it in the carrier. Place the carrier in a quiet place where your cat hangs out.

carrier training for your cat: the basics

You might be able to simply leave the carrier out with your cat’s blanket and some catnip or treats in it. Your cat may go and take a nap in the carrier. Other things you can do to make the carrier a homey place is to play games around the carrier and offer your cat treats or food in the carrier.

If you have worked with your cat and trained him to relax on a mat or blanket, use this mat/blanket in the carrier (see Reference 1; also “Miso Relaxes on his Blanket” )

carrier training for your cat: what happens next

The next steps are coaxing your cat to enter the carrier, having her stay in the carrier, and moving the carrier.  Here Zelda the cat demonstrates this process.  If your cat already enters the carrier or you have a one piece carrier, start at step 3. Each of these steps make take several days or more to complete. Your cat must feel confident that she is not trapped, and will be able to come out soon.

Step 1 : Top off

  • Coax your cat into the carrier bottom with a trail of treats or target stick.

Step 2: Door off

  • Assemble the carrier leaving the door off.
  • Lure your cat in with a target stick or treats. 

Step 3: Door open

  • Put the door on the carrier.
  • With the door open, coax kitty into her carrier with treats or catnip.

Step 4: Close the door

  • Lure Kitty into her carrier and close the door.
  • After a minute or so, let her out.
  • Repeat, once or twice.

Step 5: Move the carrier

  • With your cat in the carrier, pick the carrier up and move it to another room.
  • When you arrive in the other room, open the door and let her out.

 

The next stage of the vet visit is the car ride.  Like carrier training, this is a multi-step process.  This will be the subject of the next post: “The Vet Visit: Help Your Cat Cope with the Stress of the Car Ride“.

Don’t have Time to Train?

Life often gets ahead of us. Suddenly, you may realize that your cat is scheduled for her dental cleaning next week! Don’t panic!

Even if you just have a week, bring out the carrier and let your cat get reaquainted with it. Be sure to clean it and put comfy bedding in it. Start with taking the top off (if you can) and offering yummy treats or food in the carrier.

Ask your vet about pre-visit medication. Bonqat is a feline friendly formulation of pregabalin. This can be offered to your cat an hour or so before she has to get into the carrier. It is a liquid and can be mixed in a small amount of food. Bonqat works by inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters that carry messages of anxiety and fear (Reference 2).

A few hours before you have to leave (or the night before if your cat is fasting and must be dropped off early), coax your cat into a room where there are no beds to crawl under or other hiding spaces – a bathroom or walk-in closet can work. Give her the pre-visit medication about an hour before putting her in her carrier.

If you have a two piece carrier, see if you can coax her into the bottom half, and “build” the carrier around her. If she is really anxious, cover her with a blanket or towel, place her in the carrier and put the top on.  Cover one piece carriers to make them dark and appealing.  Above all, stay calm and be patient during this process.

Carrier training for your cat requires time and patience. Ideally, your cat would know how to relax on a blanket or mat on cue before entering the carrier and being transported in the car.  But even if you are not able to complete such a program, leaving the carrier out where your cat can nap in it or play games around it, can help make the carrier a little piece of home.  Pre-visit medication such as Bonqat helps reduce fear and anxiety and can make traveling in the carrier easier for your cat.

references

  1. Bradshaw, J. and Ellis, S. The Trainable Cat, pp 167-171, ©2016 Basic Books, New York.
  2. Lamminen, T.; Korpivaara, M.; Aspegrén, J.; Palestrini, C.; Overall, K.L. Pregabalin Alleviates Anxiety and Fear in Cats during Transportation and Veterinary Visits—A Clinical Field Study. Animals 2023, 13, 371. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13030371

Want to keep up with the world of cats? Subscribe to The Feline Purrspective!

 

Subscribe

Verified by MonsterInsights