The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [69]
What is it about plastic bags that entice cats? Some speculate that cats like the coolness, the texture on their tongue, or the sound it makes when they lick or touch it. The most logical reason I’ve heard is that cats do this because gelatin is utilized during the manufacture of some plastic bags. Gelatin is an animal product, and some cats are attracted to the gelatin smell. Although this is still a theory, it makes sense to me.
Pumpkin’s case is an excellent example of how a behavioral issue — a crazy craving for plastic — can lead to a potentially dangerous medical condition: gastrointestinal obstruction. Pumpkin’s owner may want to consider old-fashioned cloth diapers for her next baby.
Contributed by Arnold Plotnick, DVM
A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR (OR TUNA)
Who said medicine must taste bad to do good? Check with your veterinarian about compounding your cat’s pills into flavored, easily administered liquids instead. Pharmaceutical companies now offer a dozen or so feline-friendly flavors such as grilled tuna, roast lamb, and Angus beef for more than 350 veterinary prescriptions.
In addition, the companies can take the bitterness out of medicines like metronidazole or prednisolone while maintaining their potency. Some medications for hyperthyroidism can be made into transdermal gels that can be massaged into the tip of your cat’s ear to be absorbed through the skin rather than swallowed.
Taking It under the Chin
Q I was scratching my three-year-old cat, William, under his chin recently when I felt some scabby bumps and noticed flakes of what looked like dirt. I know he doesn’t have fleas, and he’s always taken good care of his coat. I was afraid that he might have mange or even skin cancer, but my veterinarian diagnosed it as feline acne. I’ve never heard of this condition. Can you tell me more about it?
A Teenagers aren’t the only ones who develop acne — some cats do, too. Medically speaking, feline acne is a keratinization disorder, which is a fancy way of saying that pores under the chin become blocked with cellular debris, causing blackheads. Left untreated, these clogged pores can become swollen and infected. They eventually rupture and create bloodied scabs, raised lesions, and patches of baldness. Cats with white chins may look like they have goatees.
FELINE FACT
The main reasons for a cat to develop itchy skin are allergic reactions, fleas and other parasites, diseases such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism, dry environment, poor diet, poor grooming, and bacterial or fungal infections.
Veterinary experts do not know what causes this condition or how prevalent it is among the feline population. Popular theories point to heightened stress, use of plastic feeding bowls, fleabites, a genetic predisposition, or allergies as possible triggers. Feline acne can appear just once and disappear forever or it can last for the cat’s entire lifetime.
Keeping a case of feline acne under control requires working closely with your veterinarian and possibly a veterinary dermatologist. There are a variety of treatments available, from over-the-counter ointments to prescription medications, but the trick is finding which one works best on your cat. Here are a few common treatments:
FLEA COMB. Run the comb gently under the chin on a daily basis to lift and remove dried scabs and blackhead flecks.
MEDICATED ACNE PAD. Dab your cat’s chin once or twice a day to keep the blackheads on the chin from worsening. Let the area air-dry.
EPSOM SALT COMPRESS. Hold a warm compress on the chin for three to five minutes a day to dry out the area and reduce inflammation. Then apply Vitamin A ointment to repair damaged skin cells.
PRESCRIPTION SHAMPOO. Apply this with warm compresses to cleanse and exfoliate dead skin in the chin area. Check with your veterinarian for dosage instructions.
BENZOYL PEROXIDE GEL. This prescription medication typically contains 2.5 to 3 percent benzoyl peroxide that penetrates