Posts in Category: The Cat’s Meow

As we head into 2022, most of us are considering ways in which to make this the best year ever. As you lay out your goals for the new year, Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital hopes that you will include your furrier family members and make some resolutions for pet health, too. 

Whether they are stray or just indoor/outdoor cats, felines are pretty independent in most cases. When the temperatures start to drop in the winter, however, some of these outdoor cats might need a little help to stay warm and avoid issues like frostbite and hypothermia, both of which can be deadly. 

Diabetes affects many cats (most of them are older, but even young felines can deal with this disease). Being able to recognize the early symptoms of diabetes in cats is one of the best ways to start managing it early. At Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital, we want your cat to have access to effective treatment options for diabetes.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month for everybody, and that means pets, too! Your friends at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital want to help you figure out what you need to know about pet vaccines so you can be sure your furry friends are protected and healthy.

For cat owners and people that love the feline species in general, every day is a “cat day.” When we’re not with our cats, we’re probably thinking about them. As far as we’re concerned, kitties rule the roost and we wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Even with all the unofficial cat days, there is an International Cat Day to celebrate together. The International Fund for Animal Welfare created this worldwide event as a way to raise awareness. Every August 8th, people unite in order to improve the health and welfare of domestic cats around the world. What could be better than that?

There are probably few things that terrify cat owners more than the thought of bathing their cat, let alone brushing their teeth. You may be surprised, though, that this necessary task will become surprisingly easy with the right techniques, patience, and positive reward. 

The biggest reward, however, is that you are being instrumental in keeping your cat’s teeth healthy, which in turn contributes to overall health. Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here with some tips on brushing your cat’s teeth for optimal at home dental care.

If you have watched an episode of Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell by cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, you probably have heard the term bush dweller or tree dweller. These distinct terms describe those cats that prefer being high in the air or those who want to be close to the ground and hidden. In the wild, your typical tree dwelling cat, such as leopards and cheetahs, want to hang out in trees and bush dwellers, like bobcats, need to be in dens, bushes, and other low lying places.

So, if you are curious about your favorite furry friend, you are in luck! The team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here to answer your questions about whether your cat is a bush or tree dweller. 

Cats with access to the great outdoors may have more feline fun, but this freedom can come at a high price. The potential for serious falls, car accidents, and fights with other animals leads many owners to keep their fluffy buddies strictly indoors. Many cats are content to hang around the house, but depend on their indoor environment to keep them busy, engaged and entertained. However, without daily physical and mental stimulation, owners can possibly expect some destructive cat behavior.

Cats are already cute to the max, but what if you added an extra furry toe or two? Without a doubt, polydactyl cats take adorableness to a whole new level, but their extra toes deliver more than looks. A cat with “kitty mitties” has even better balance, greater climbing capabilities, and finer predatory skills. If you have a polydactyl cat, our team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is ready to serve their unique cat wellness needs.

Thanks to their wider, larger paws, polydactyl cats come equipped to handle life’s challenges!

Of all their beautiful features, your cat’s long whiskers are probably among your favorites.

While they may not get as much credit as the highly capable eyes or ears, whiskers bring a lot to the table. They make your cat look really cool and help them navigate the ever-changing world around them. But since they poke outward from the sides of their face, can these touch receptors suffer from whisker fatigue?