Thanks for stopping by the final edition of Matt’s Cats. I am so pleased with the kind response from the readers this past trimester. As will all other issues, in this last article, I have gathered questions from members of the Seaholm community and have recieved input from a Veterinarian, as well as included my personal opinion regarding the questions.
For this issue, the veterinarian answers will come from Dr. Sharon Friedman. She graduated from Michigan State University in 1995 and has been employed at the Berkley Animal Clinic for over 10 years.
This first poorly written limerick comes from Peter Shaheen, a teacher:
"There once was an old man in need of a cat, But his allergies were awful; o drat! So hence he decided to write this letter: To query what feline might be better- For a sneezer geezer. What say you, Matt?"
Vet's Answer:
"It's not actually the cat you're allergic to, it's the dander; small proteins that cats shed from their skin. You can try to decrease the contamination in the environment by bathing or spraying your cat with a product designed to minimize cat dander, vacuuming and dusting frequently to minimize the dander in your house, and purchasing a HEPA filter to clean the air. Your veterinarian can prescribe Ace allergy drops, which you add to your cat's water dish daily, to help minimize the amount of dander. Finally, some breeds of cats have a reputation of being 'hypoallergenic'. These include the Devon and Cornish Rex cats, the Sphynx and the Siberian cat."
Matt's Answer:
First off, the question was addressed to me, so I'd appreciate if the vet would stay out of this. I mean, the last words in his rhyme were "What say you, Matt"- not "What say you, Sharon". "Sharon" doesn't even rhyme with "cat" or "drat". Here I am, trying my best to give this guy the advice he needs, and this vet just chimes in- unbelievable.
This second question comes from my home slice, Jack Isler, a sophomore:
"My cat Milo is always getting into trouble. I love him, but how can I properly discipline my cat?"
Vet's Answer:
"The best way to discipline a cat is when he's not looking! ... For example, if he is jumping onto the table or counter, try putting down plastic wrap and smearing the surface with baby oil. He won't be able to see it, but he'll definitely feel (and not like) it when he jumps up, prompting him to immediately jump off and decreasing the chance he'll do it again. If he is scratching furniture, first provide him with a scratching post in the area, then cover up the furniture corner with a large piece of double sided sticky tape (available at pet stores). Again, he will not like the sticky feel on his paws, which should prompt him to avoid the furniture and look for a new spot to scratch- hopefully his new scratching post."
Matt's Answer:
Politely ask him to stop. If that doesn't work, try offering money.
If you have questions about your cat, please do not e-mail me with this form.
