Dear Dr. Fox:
I have two rescue cats, Emmy and Oscar, both about 6 years old. Every now and then, Oscar stands over his water bowl and hisses at it. He’ll hiss for a bit, sometimes holding up his paw, before eventually walking up to it and drinking.
The cats have water in a large bowl in the kitchen and in a small glass upstairs in the bedroom, and they drink from both.
I’ve seen Oscar hiss at the bowl and the glass on different days. It happens only occasionally, and with long spans in between, but I can never determine why he’s doing it. I’m hoping it isn’t a medical issue.
Do you know what the reason could be?
E.S., Herndon
DF: Cats hiss when they are afraid. I doubt that Oscar is seeing his reflection in the water and reacting as though there is another cat.
The most likely explanation is that your cat has received static electricity shocks when his whiskers connect with the edge of the bowl or with the water. This is very likely with a metal bowl on a synthetic fiber carpet or mat. Try a rubber mat and ceramic water bowl, if you aren’t using those.
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Another possibility is pain associated with drinking because of a broken or infected tooth or gums. Have this possibility evaluated at his next wellness checkup.
SEPARATION ANXIETY
Dear Dr. Fox:
Our sibling cats, now about 9 years old, have been with us since they were a few months old. They have been healthy since the beginning. Recently, our only son (who gave them lots of affection) left for college, and the cats’ behavior has changed.
The female, Milkie, who usually was pretty quiet and reserved, has started to meow and cry loudly and often, for no apparent reason other than wanting attention.
The male, Waffle, comes to our bedroom door first thing in the morning, and meows until we open the door. The thing is, Waffle’s meow is very high-pitched at times, sounding like a squeaky mouse instead of a cat. It’s so weird-sounding! What could be the reason for this new squeak?
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R.B., Hopewell Junction, N.Y.
DF: Your cats are grieving the loss of your son in their lives. This sometimes happens when a family member goes off to college.
The most dramatic instance reported to me was of a cat that began excessive self-licking to the point of self-mutilation when the girl in the home went off to college. The cat recovered when the daughter came home during a mid-semester break.
If your son were to come home soon, it might help the cats understand that he simply went away but is not gone forever.
This kind of separation can be stressful for human-attached cats, leading to cystitis, anorexia, fearfulness, anxiety and depression.
Give your cats lots of attention, and if your son can’t come home soon, have him mail a couple of T-shirts he has worn for a few days so they have the comfort of his familiar scent. This does seem to help animals suffering from separation, and I have advised the same practice to prison inmates who have contacted me, worried about how being apart from their cats and dogs could upset their animals.
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PAPER-EATING DOG
Dear Dr. Fox:
For some reason, my 14-year-old cockapoo mix has decided to eat toilet paper. He had a kidney removed this year because of a cyst and cancer before this behavior began.
He is eating prescription food with a lot of coaxing and has been on blood pressure medicine since the surgery. Is there any connection between these two events? Could he be missing something in his diet?
J.B., O’Fallon, Mo.
DF: This behavior is called pica. Animals that are sick or feeling pain (especially abdominal) or are experiencing nausea will eat various materials, such as paper and leaves, possibly to alleviate the discomfort, and often to induce vomiting.
You should consult with your veterinarian about this behavior and try an analgesic or anti-nausea medication. After considering these possibilities for his toilet paper craving, I would next consider his diet. He might need a higher level of good-quality protein and a phosphate binder to compensate for kidney dysfunction.
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The basic diet for animals with cancer, which must be fine-tuned if there is a kidney problem, is high-quality protein, fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, with little to no starches.
BEST AGE FOR SPAYING
Dear Dr. Fox:
For large-breed dogs such as my Rottweiler, is there a preferable age to have them spayed, in terms of future health issues? My Rottie will soon be 6 months old.
C.S., the District
DF: Because some cancers might be prevented by not spaying, some veterinarians are now removing only the dog's uterus and leaving the ovaries intact.
This is a different surgical procedure, performed under general anesthesia, and the optimal age is somewhat debatable — before the first heat or a few weeks afterward to avoid excessive bleeding if the operation is done when the dog is just coming into heat.
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Some dogs come into their first heat at about 6 to 8 months of age, and for them it might be better to wait until after the second heat, so they are more mature in terms of skeletal, joint and external genitalia development.
Micro-vulva and skin folds around the genital area leading to urine burns, inflammation and infection are associated with early spaying, as is dogs becoming obese. Urinary incontinence can also develop.
More dog owners and veterinarians are opting not to spay their dogs, instead dealing with the minor twice-yearly blood spotting with sanitary pads designed for dogs, and appropriate behavioral control or confinement.
Michael W. Fox, author of a newsletter and books on animal care, welfare and rights, is a veterinarian with doctoral degrees in medicine and animal behavior. Send letters to animaldocfox@gmail.com or write to him at United Feature Syndicate, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. 64106.
2015 United Feature Syndicate
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