Albuquerque Journal Articles

Everybody’s Scalp needs to be Scratched Question: Thomas escapes whenever possible and we always find him rolling in the very dry dusty dirt. This cat loves it; he rolls so many times a day you can’t keep count. I have had cats all my life and never remember having one that rolled in dirt all the time.   Dr. Nichol: Thomas is stimulating his skin and leaving his scent. A cat’s scalp, like ours, needs stimulation to loosen skin flakes. Many kitties accomplish the same thing by grooming with their tongues or by brushing or bathing from their owners. Be…

Antidepressant Medication can Help; Advice on Adding another Cat Question: I recently lost one of my 6 year old cats. “B” and “J” are mostly indoors. The last time I let them out was the last time I saw B. I live in a large apartment complex; I sort of think someone took him. No one has answered any of my ads or flyers. Now J sleeps more and follows me from room to room. I pet him, play with him, and talk to him a lot, but after a month he’s still sticking pretty close. What to do with my sweet…

Discourage Access to your Yard or Spay & Neuter Question: My neighborhood is infested with stray cats. I made the mistake of feeding some and now I have 6-7 cats looking for feed at my door twice a day.  My neighbors tell me the block is going to stink to high heaven. How do I get the cats to eliminate on the side of my house where I can rinse the area with a hose a few times a week?   Dr. Nichol: That’s a tall order. Only naughty indoor cats eliminate on hard surfaces like sinks, counters, and bathtubs.…

Learn a Kitten’s History & be Observant Question: We recently had to put our beloved cat to sleep after 16 years. This cat was so loving to us, sat in our laps, talked to us, he is a tremendous loss.  How do we find another cat that will be loving to us?  Should we be looking for a younger or older cat?   Dr. Nichol: I understand the grief you feel over the loss of your fine boy. Our 18 year old family cat “Raoul” passed away a few years ago. It took us a long time to feel ready…

Tranquilizing the Cat First can make it Easier Question: Sage, a beautiful and loving 18 year old cat, is now blind and has begun to have potty accidents and some vomiting. Although she is a love with us, she becomes feral when a veterinarian approaches (no offense).  Even with a home visit, cat bag and elbow gloves, she is too much to handle! We can see that soon she will be leaving us. Is there a home administer pill we can give her to euthanize her safely and comfortably?   Dr. Nichol: There is no question that euthanasia needs to…

Pets are Valuable for Most of Us Question: I would not have any tricky problem with any sick cat. I grew up on a farm in 30’s and 40’s and there was not any money for sick cats or dogs. They were quickly destroyed and buried. We did not enjoy this, but it was the only way. We always had 10 to 20 cats. All animals were well treated but a sick cat was disposed of quickly.   Dr. Nichol: You’re right; times have really changed-and not just in veterinary medicine. Before WW II, 85% of Americans lived on farms,…

Great Ways for Cat Owners  to Protect Mother Earth Question: While I focus on going “green” (i.e. no plastic at the check out line, thank you) how do I best get rid of the “brown” litter?   Dr. Nichol: Here are some excellent suggestions plus one of dubious value submitted by a friend of mine. I’ll be watching my mail carefully. “We use 3/16″ alfalfa pellets sold at feed stores. It is totally biodegradable, the nitrogen fertilizes the lawn as it breaks down.  It stays fresh smelling, the cat has no objections and it’s cheap.”   “We use World’s Best…

Safe & Good Fun for Cats of All Ages Catnip can be a Good Reward Question: Is catnip to cats what alcohol or recreational drugs are to people?  Is it okay to let the love of my life, Miss Molly, my cat, have catnip?   Dr. Nichol: Ahem. Are there any feline DARE officers reading this? OK, let’s have a frank discussion. Catnip produces a euphoric or hallucinogenic reaction in 50-75% of cats. The unlucky minority are not genetically equipped to respond. The fun lasts for about 15 minutes after it is sniffed.   There are no known ill effects for cats who…

There are a Few Routes; All take Education Question: How does a person become an animal behaviorist? Does one need to go through veterinary college or something more like an apprenticeship?   Dr. Nichol: There are a few choices. A veterinary behaviorist is a veterinarian (4 years of undergraduate study plus 4 years of veterinary medical school) who has also completed a residency program and passed a national board examination. Veterinarians, whether board certified or not, are the only people legally able to diagnose and treat medical and behavioral problems in animals, including prescribing medications.   You could become an…

Cats are Highly Territorial & become Stressed when Taken From Home Question: We had two cats when we lived near Central and Tramway in Albuquerque and when we moved to Second and Osuna we left one cat at the old house with our adult daughter, and the other we brought with us. That one ran away after a couple of weeks. After 10 weeks he showed up at the old house! How in the world did he find his way back there? We’ve decided to leave him there since he worked so hard to get there.   Dr. Nichol: Stories…