Ask Dr. Moses

Cancer in Cats

brenda — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:20:08 -0500

Q: Do cats get cancer?

Top 10 Human Medications That Poison Our Pets

jerpaul — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:17:53 -0400

This article originates from the ASPCA.

Although pet parents are well aware of poisons lurking around their home, many don’t realize that some of the biggest culprits are sitting right on their own nightstands. In 2007, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center received 89,000 calls related to pets ingesting over-the-counter and prescription medications. To help you prevent an accident from happening, our experts have created a list of the top 10 human medications that most often poison our furry friends.

Toes You Can Really Count On

jerpaul — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 11:50:51 -0400

Q: My partner and I adopted a cat over the weekend. It's been a real adventure, and a lot of fun. We noticed that it has huge feet, though, and tons of toes. One paw has seven toes! What's going on?

A: Cats normally have five toes on each of their front paws, and four on each of their back paws. Occasionally, cats show up who are more gifted in the toe department than others. Cats with extra toes are called polydactyl, meaning “many fingers/toes.” It tends to be caused by cats inbreeding too much. So if your cat calls its parents “Uncle Dad” and “Aunt Mom,” it probably has extra toes. Such cats are also sometimes called “Hemingway Cats” or “Hemingway’s Cats.”

Ernest Hemingway was a big fan of cats and kept quite a colony at his home. Currently there are about sixty cats at what was his home, and half of them are polydactyl. They are, at least some of them, descendents of a six-toed cat he was given by a ship’s captain.

Polydactyly doesn’t seem to slow down most cats, and many find it a distinct advantage. More than one wily kitty, born with what amounts to a thumb or two, learns to open cabinets and doors. Be thankful they don’t all have thumbs, or they would have long since learned to open food cans for themselves.

Disclaimer: Ask Dr. Moses is not a substitute for seeing your vet. We are, however, happy to do our best to answer any questions. Just drop us a line!

Health Benefits From Owning a Cat

adamswart — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:07:59 -0500

Q. I heard that having a cat as a companion animal may lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke--is this true?

Do Your Homework Before Declawing

adamswart — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:10:56 -0500

Q. I just adopted a new kitten. When I brought it home, it scratched on my leather sofa all night long. What are the risks associated with declawing a cat?