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Last in a series Larry’s teeth and gums felt much better; modern medicine also lifted his oppressive anxiety. Curley gained confidence and was learning to relax – out from under the bed. They were still kept separated from Moe, while swapping halves of the house with him. Perching on floor-to-ceiling cat trees and venting their predatory proclivities on stalk and pounce toys had all of them feeling like real cats. Fulfilling lives for these former feline foes reduced their collective angst and diminished the risk of nuclear conflict. Keeping the peace, on the other hand. would be a lifelong challenge. For these gentlemen to ever safely comingle, they would also need alone time. Cats are social creatures, but only to a point. Richard was pretty handy. I advised him on building and installing hide boxes at various heights in different rooms. Much like their wild brethren, his and Karen’s kitties…

Third in a series Problems with any organ system can impact the firing of the brain’s neurons. Oral pain is a frequent offender but arthritis, ear infections, itchy skin, and nausea are also common. Moe, the 2 year old feline interloper, passed his physical exam with flying colors. Curley’s was normal too. But Larry? His gums were suffering from nasty, long-standing infection. It even hurt when he laughed, poor guy. I told Karen and Richard how insidious dental disease can be while assuring them that Larry would be OK. When he felt better we expected him to behave better too. We got his procedure scheduled quickly. Keeping interior doors closed and rotating these little sneakers between rooms was difficult. I get it; my cats have never been rule followers either. But the longer Richard and Karen could keep Larry and Curley from having even visual contact with Moe, the more…

Second in a series The combatants were in their corners; the cacophony of cussing and the hurling of insults had ended.  Somehow, each cat was remarkably unscathed. Their well-intentioned humans, on the other hand, suffered blood loss, although relatively minor. Richard and Karen had made the common mistake of hoping for a Disney ending to a complex behavior challenge. Their plan had  been to quickly and easily integrate Moe into Larry’s and Curley’s lives. They’d had cats for years and had never seen this problem. Couldn’t everybody just join paws around the campfire and sing kumbaya? Their emotions in tatters, they called my office to report a hate crime. Our consultation began with me listening carefully as Karen and Richard vented their frustration and grief. Was there any hope? I explained that cats can quickly associate intense fear and hostility with just the sight of an adversary. They had done…

First in a series Karen and Richard loved “Larry” and Curley”, a couple of fuzzy BFFs who’d shared their home with them since kittenhood eight years earlier. Everybody snuggled. It was feline nirvana. Then a college kid they knew needed to move and couldn’t keep his kitty, 2 year old “Moe”. Mmm, they reasoned. This could work. So they dropped by Moe’s house to size him up and, wow, another sweet cat who loves to cuddle! What could go wrong? What Richard and Karen didn’t understand is that Larry and Curley, having never shared their indoor lives with anybody but each other, had developed permanent brain networks that supported only their little world. Cats are actually programmed to live in colonies – “villages” that raise the youngsters. Some adolescents and adults come and go. Those living in this type of fluid environment, including permanent residents in feline foster homes, do…

Pet lovers are kind and empathic folks. This is good for more than just our cats and dogs. We are healthier humans for bringing out the best in others – of any species. A recent article on this newspaper’s opinion page (below) recounted the overwhelming panic of a cat who was chased around the confines of its home, finally trapped in a corner, and then pushed into a carrier. After arriving at the veterinary clinic she became defensive aggressive. Every bit of this was unnecessary. I usually inject a bit of humor into my columns because it keeps them interesting but on the subject of making sport of anybody’s misery, I just can’t muster the levity. This kitty feared for her life. She could have coped just fine if she’d only been set up to succeed. I’m a well-trained veterinarian in all organ systems of non-human animals. My post-doctoral residency…