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My Pet World: Separating 'visiting' cats might be best option

By Steve Dale, Tribune Content Agency on

TORONTO, CANADA -- These cat questions were answered by three board members for the non-profit Winn Feline Foundation here for a meeting and the Winn Feline Foundation Annual Symposium. Chiming in: Dr. Drew Weigner, of Atlanta, GA; Dr. Brian Holub, Boston, MA Chief Medical Officer of VetCor veterinary clinics; and board president Dr. Glenn Olah, of Albuquerque, NM.

The Winn Feline Foundation is a non-profit that supports cat health studies. Much of what's now known about cat health, from how to treat most illnesses to vaccines they may receive, was once funded by Winn. Learn more at www.winnfelinefoundation.org.

Q: Every winter, I head to Florida, and my daughter takes my two cats to live with her three cats. The males get along well, and her female stays to herself but isn't a problem. The problem involves my female, Callie. Dickens, my daughter's male cat, frequently attacks Callie and prevents her from using the litter box. As a result, Callie has started peeing in the bathtub. I've suggested shutting my cats in a spare room with a litter box while my daughter is at work, but she thinks they'd be lonely. Can you help? -- J.R., Shrewsbury, MA

A: You didn't mention how long your daughter cares for your cats each year. If we're talking months, Olah suggests all the cats might be happier if your two were separated in an extra bedroom, the den, or the basement. Of course, it's best to pick a room your daughter spends time in, so she can play with the cats. The room should have a litter box (two is best for two cats), food, water with toys. Providing places for the cats to climb and hide is equally important.

In your home, these two cats live together without other cats, so Olah isn't sure what your daughter means by saying they might be "lonely" in a separate room. This set up will make life less stressful for your daughter, her cats and your cats.

Still, Olah suggests plugging a Feliway diffuser into the special room for your cats, as well as in the room on the other side of that closed door, just to ease anxiety further, as even behind closed doors, your two will smell the other cats. Feliway is a copy of a naturally occurring calming pheromone.

 

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Q: I'm at a loss about what to do for my 11-year-old Siamese mix, who has acne on his chin, and sometimes around his mouth. I use ceramic or steel bowls and wash them daily. I've read that wiping cider vinegar on the affected area helps. I also gently rub the area with warm water and soap. This acne has been a problem for years. Any advice? -- M.S., Henderson, NV

A: Olah, Weigner and Holub all agree that the cider vinegar "cure" is misinformation apparently spreading online, and is not likely to help. Even water is unlikely to do anything (except possibly make matters worse).

First, your veterinarian should rule out pemphigus (an auto-immune skin condition), mites and ringworm, and check to see if the cat might also have a bacterial infection. If any of the above is discovered, treat appropriately. If these factors are not present, change to glass bowls for the cat's food and water. Ceramic and stainless steel dishes have been associated with a condition known as feline acne.

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