I got this message from Billie and Mark, which they addressed to “Dr. Hotchner.” While I am humbled to be trusted by my listeners, I recommend that anyone with a troubling medical situation turn to the Official Second Opinion Vet of my radio shows, Dr. Donna Spector (link to her website is www.SpectorDVM.com).

Our 10-year-old male cat was diagnosed with diabetes last Monday. Since then we have been treating him with two units of Prozinc (protamine zinc) insulin. Last night Jack had difficulty walking and became extremely lethargic, from the literature that we have read we thought that he was hypoglycemia. So we started treating him with honey at around 2:00 AM when it appeared that he was worsening we took him to the emergency room. His glucose was 557, twelve hours later his glucose level 550. They are administering insulin via an intravenous drip.

He will spend tonight at the emergency facility and we will take him to our vet in the morning. If you were his Doctor, would you expect any improvement? I know that this is a difficult question not having seen Jack, but I would value your opinion.

I replied:

First of all, I am not a doctor, just a pet expert!

I am honored that you have sought my advice, but you need to turn not just to a veterinarian, but to one who is a board-certified veterinary internist — someone who has a big perspective and can work long distance with you and your own vet. Dr Donna Spector (CC’ed here) is the Official Second Opinion vet of both my radio shows and I recommend you contact her immediately to help you understand exactly what is going on with Jack and to make sure you know how to deal with it. It is so valuable to have a “veterinary detective” — which is how I think of internists! — who is aware of all the latest research and can support your own vet’s decisions or give you other ideas, too.

In your situation I would get in touch with her right away.

I can also urge you to go to my website www.TheCatBible.com to learn the dangers of feeding dry food, which is the only known cause of type II diabetes in cats. “Kitty crack” is a harmful and addictive product for obligate carnivores, who need canned meat only. My website has a printable list of Cat Chat approved flavors and brands.

Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins is the official Vet of Cat C hat and her book YOUR CAT is a valuable resource you should have on your shelf, too!

Good luck
Tracie

I got this question from Jan on my FB page (I really prefer getting questions on the PETS BEST Facebook page where I have an Ask Tracie section):

Hi Tracie!! I love your show. I am emailing you rather than calling your show because I need an opinion asap.

I just went to a cat show on Saturday in search of a Persian breeder. (I live in Minneapolis.) Just as I was leaving the show I saw a 5 month old kitten who won me over, so I adopted him on the spot. I noticed as soon as I got him home he had BROWN liquid-y discharge from his eyes and [his] nose was running (not sure if the liquid coming from his nose was clear or also brown) and he was sneezing. The kleenex I used had a splotch the size of a quarter stained brown. I went to the vet this afternoon and she said he has Feline Herpes Virus, and some other infection. Looking at him, his eyes are runny, nose runny, she said he had some tan discharge and swelling – she called conjunctivitis or epiphora.

Here is my dilemma. While he’s not TERRIBLY sick, on death’s door, he IS sneezing and has the abnormal discharge. Should I return this kitty to the breeder? Is the FHV a condition that I will have a lot of maintenance issues with medication through the years? I understand that FHV is very common and rare it would progress to a chronic illness. What are your thoughts? I am not attached to him yet, mainly because he was sick and knew I had to get some answers before I made a decision.

The breeder would probably get him well and then adopt him out again. Is that ethical? Or is this virus so common and rampant it’s more the norm than the exception? My vet referred to it as “a cold,” but is it really MORE than a cold? I’d appreciate any response as soon as you can, I need to make a decision. Your opinion is just that, an opinion, and I’m gathering them and doing reading on the subject so I can be educated about it. Anything you can say would be much appreciated.

I replied:

Did you BUY a kitten or adopt one?? You speak of a breeder, and going to a cat show, but adoption is not purchasing and there would be no breeder involved. Please clear this up as it is relevant to both your understanding of how you got your cat and their obligation if you bought the cat from a breeder.

Feline herpes is well described in Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins book YOUR CAT and you MUST get it ASAP — yes, this illness can be a lifelong problem is not handled properly but it involves a lot of treatment and medications.

I believe that all cat owners need a copy of this book on their shelves to help make good medical decisions in partnership with their vet. My book THE CAT BIBLE is thorough on all topics, but Dr. Elizabeth handle the medical issues in great detail and clarity.

If you bought the kitten from a breeder they should be paying all your vet bills and supporting your medical decisions. Only the vet knows how severe the case is, what the kitten is responding to (or not) etc. Asking opinions of people who have not examined the kitten is not a good way to make a decision.

–Tracie Hotchner

Martha, a dedicated CAT CHAT® listener on her way home from work every Wednesday,  said that if she called in and waited on her cell phone she would be in a “dead zone” by the time I got to her. So she wrote me instead with a question about Greenies:

I love the information on your show and I tell people all the time about avoiding “kitty crack” and vaccinations. I have 5 cats – one older than 20, another 15 (he is the one with the thyroid problem), an 8 year-old, and two who are 17 and 16 months old. I also have 3 dogs: 2 Pugs and one Akitalab.

I have found a web site for pill pockets that my vet suggested to give a pill to a cat who isn’t too happy about it! The only company I’ve found that makes them is Greenies… from what I remember they were very bad for dogs, with claims that they brush the dog’s teeth when chewed?  But my question is whether they are okay to give a cat? My cat has hyperthyroidism and we have to give him pills for this as neither surgery nor the radioactive iodine is an option.

So I checked with Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, the Official Vet of the show, and she said that the pill pockets are not that bad. They have a very small amount of sugar and they do work well for cats that are difficult to pill. But Dr. Elizabeth wants to know whether you are feeding dry food? (My website has loads of blogs and Q&As and especially about the harmful effects of feeding dry food, which is known as Kitty Crack around here, as you probably know by now!). She wanted me to ask Martha why your vet says that I131 is not possible? Dr Elizabeth said, “Chances are, your vet is just wrong. If you don’t know why your cat can’t have the treatment, you NEED TO ASK. I know you everyone has heard this tirade from me before, but pet-owners deserve information, not just patronizing one-liners from their vet as though they are too stupid or not deserving of actual detailed reasons for decisions the vet is making on their pet’s behalf. I want to know WHY this cat cannot have the I131. Chances are Martha needs a second opinion, unless her cat has serious renal failure already. She also needs to read my chapter in YOUR CAT on hyperT as I discuss (and criticize) many vet’s views that you cannot treat cats with early CRD with I131.”

So Martha, if you call in to CAT CHAT® and say to my engineer Jimmy “It’s Martha and I cannot stay on hold,” I promise he’ll move you right to the top of the list and I’ll interrupt whatever I am doing to help you.  That radioactive treatment is a lifesaver- no more pills (which you have to increase over time, too) and a total cure. You should try to find a “cats only” vet (listed on my website under veterinary care and see whether you can get a treatment and forget all about those troublesome pills!

Tracie

I just recently received satellite radio (in my car only) and started listening to your program. I appreciate all your concern in regards to cats, and wish I could listen to you everyday.

My little 11-year-old female, Scout, has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. She was vomiting for about a month and down to 6.5 lbs. (down from 11 lbs. a few years ago) when I finally took her to my vet. She gained a whole pound in 5 months after being on medication (.25ml of methimazole in the a.m. and .5ml in the p.m.). In the last 2 weeks, I’ve put all my 3 cats on wet food (store brands you recommended) and took them off of the dry “kitty-crack” (Scout’s brother, Addicus, is a big boy so I’m hoping he’ll lose a little weight on the wet food). Scout did fine last week on the wet food, but now has vomited 2 days in a row. My question(s): Is there an alternative to giving her the methimazole that the vet says she will need for the rest of her days? Do you have any suggestions for the vomiting issue?

I really don’t want to see her waste away again and you seem to be in the “know” when it comes to our furry friends’ health. I hope this is enough info for your response…

Thank you in advance for your answer and thank you for caring so much,
Rhonda in Washougal, WA

Dear Rhonda- So sorry to have taken so long to get back to you because I know you have an urgent medical situation with your kitty Scout. I was trying to get an answer from Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, the Official vet of CAT CHAT®, but she has been traveling. Only now did I realize that you need to get a copy of her book YOUR CAT right away – there is a whole chapter on hyperthyroidism that will help you understand it – and also help you get Scout off of medication. Dr. Elizabeth has her own page on my website and you can click right there to buy the book – which is now in paperback and very affordable. That medication,  and the hyperthyroidism itself,  can cause gastrointestinal upsets, so the sooner you follow Dr. Hodgkins’ advice in her book, the sooner Scout will be on the mend.

However, I will tell you that one of my most devoted listeners on CAT CHAT® is Michelle in Chicago and when her pussycat Samson had a bad stomach she went to the Spirit Essences page of my website and ordered the Essence called Happy Tummy. These are holistic remedies based on the Bach flower essences (like Rescue Remedy for people) and Michelle said it really fixed Samson’s stomach problems. There is also an immune system booster in the Spirit Essences and Scout is going through some difficult physical challenges and can use any help you can give her. And please let me know whether YOUR CAT answered your questions and whether the Spirit Essences made a difference. Good luck to you!

P.S. If you have SiriusXM radio in your car then you automatically have it in your house, too! You can use your computer as a “radio” by going to the Sirius website, getting a password (any subscriber can get one) and then you can listen to anything on the channel from your computer (but especially CAT CHAT®!)

Tracie

Hello I am writing to you for your opinion about my cat Merlyn. He has hyperthyroidism and is on methimaz 5mg a day. His vet is recommending radiation isotope or something like that. His other option is surgery. He has lost 5 pounds since diagnosed. He weighs 10 pounds 9 oz. His breed is Ocicat and we are waiting on blood work to determine if his kidneys are failing. After the vet injected subdermal fluid due to dehydration he perked up. I was wondering what you have heard about for his condition. Thank You Very Much for your time. Sincerely, Richard

Richard – I am answering your query before dozens of others because this is the breed of my official vet, Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins, who also shows her Ocicats –- and it sounds like you need some emergency advice.

I am going to get her respond to your question but I know she will want to know — as I do — whether you are feeding kitty crack (dry food) of any kind? If so, it is dreadful for the health of all cats, but one with a tumor on the thyroid, especially so. How old is he?

It would seem that the fluids are related to kidney issues. Dr H will let us know whether a thyroid tumor would also dehydrate like this?

Where are you located? Is there a feline-only vet anywhere near you? (the website for the feline-only vets- AAFP – is linked on my website or www.catvets.org)

Please send back any lab test results you have in order for Dr H to be able to comment. She also can do a paid consultation with you and/or your vet which I would highly recommend. She has been able to give my listeners valuable assistance this way

Good luck with your sweet little kitty.

Tracie

Thank you, Tracie. I will get the test results tomorrow I took him off dry [food] months ago after I started listening to your show. He turned 15 on Thursday the 19th. The medication he is on has a side effect of excessive thirst and within the past week he has started drinking quite a lot. When the vet took a urine sample he said it was mostly water. For the next 5 days we are in Southgate MI. We travel around the country with him and one other cat in a semi truck. Thanks for getting back so soon. I know your time is valuable.

Richard – this was Dr. H’s comment:

“The hyperT chapter in my book YOUR CAT is very informative for any owner with a cat with this problem. It is pages and pages long and now that it is in paperback, quite the deal for all that info. I think Richard should grab a copy and read and then we can answer his questions if he still has any.” So will you please do that ASAP and we’ll go from there?”

Tracie – I just came back and the vet said his kidneys are just showing signs of degradation. So we put him on meds to combat the hypertension. We took him off of raw chicken which he is fanatical about. We are doing the radio isotope but we are going back out on the road for 2 months to generate revenue to cover it. He ate a little more today as well as more fluid intake. He also is on an antibiotic to fight gingivitis, something he has had a problem with since he was about 2. The first time we had him on an antibiotic for this the script was prescribed at too high of a dose and he started having seizures. I will order YOUR CAT tonight from Amazon if it isn’t at Borders.

Thank You,
Richard

I was distressed to learn that your vet might sway you to abandon the excellent diet you’ve been providing. Nothing could be better for him than a raw chicken diet professionally prepared with ground bone and added taurine. Is this the same vet who overdosed your cat on antibiotics? Why do you stay with him? I feel terrible that you are driving extra truck routes to pay for vet advice this questionable. And what is up with the blood pressure medication — taking a cat’s blood pressure is rarely done, and is unreliable because in a vet’s office it is always sky high. So the measurement is dubious at best but then the vet is giving this poor cat even more medication for it??

Here is Dr Hodgkins’ comment:

“If he gets my book he will read what I say about the MYTH of low-protein diets for cats. Yes, the chicken has helped the cat for sure and making the cat’s life miserable with a horrible diet is not the solution now, that’s for sure. Between the hyperT and CRD (chronic renal failure) chapters, Richard should be better informed about both diseases when he finishes.”

–Elizabeth Hodgkins DVM, Esq.

Last word from Richard was that Merlyn was eating and drinking well and begrudgingly taking his medications. I just wish he could get to a good feline-only vet, or better yet a holistic one who isn’t so fast to take away good nutrition and throw so many medications at the problems.

UDPATE:

Richard wrote back:

“The vet likes the idea of a wet diet but he said the raw chicken had too much sodium for hypertension. I did not think chicken had high sodium without adding it. I will be getting YOUR CAT today.”

I wrote to him: You are sensible and smart and logical — seems more so than the vet. After you read Dr H’s book you will be even smart and more logical!

Here is Dr. H’s last comment:

“I’d be interested in knowing how high this cat’s BP is actually is as few vets even measure it. Feeding chicken isn’t going to complicate this cat’s hypertension even if he did have it. I think I liked it better when vets KNEW they didn’t know anything about this stuff.”

Tina in British Columbia had responded to an earlier blog that she couldn’t imagine how I could continue to crusade against dry cat food against all the opposition from cat lovers themselves. When I wrote her back that it was the shared conviction of people like her that inspired me, she wrote back once again as follows:

Thank you Tracie for responding to my reply: that was very nice of you. I guess being on the internet on different sites like Catster I get shot down a lot in the forum discussions, so that is what frustrates me. It just makes plain sense to me to feed our pets a species appropriate diet, not kitty krack!

I know though that I have helped a lot of cats in the last 2 years, so I’ll just keep on trying. Thank you for the signed bookplate you offer and my cats Shadow and Wilson look forward to getting it. Another question though is it all right for me to give your website link to people on Catster for nutrition info? Or to subscribe to your podcasts? Also it seems that I always get the question about the vets that I get my info from, they want credentials, and bios. I wonder where I can find this info? As they seem to think that I get this info from people that are not educated enough. Also I’ve just read the book Not Fit for a Dog, and it was excellent. I already have 3 people waiting to borrow it. I hope that maybe you will write another book too.

Dear Tina – Delighted to hear back from you and will be sending your autographed bookplate along with samples for some important additions to your kitties’ diets, like Nordic Naturals omega-3 fish oil and Platinum Performance joint supplement. It’s funny that you should have problems on the Catster forum because I write a daily tip for Catster that goes to those who’ve signed up for it, and I haven’t had a lot of resistance to ideas I’ve put out there, but I think forums in general can get sort of overheated and discouraging. OF COURSE send them to my website, there’s no better place for them to get the messages they need to hear! And the podcast of DOG TALK® often has cat-related guests and callers, so that’s a great resource, too. As far as skeptical vets or others who are threatened by novel nutritional theories (i.e. logical concepts about obligate carnivores that threaten what they learned to sell out of a bag in vet school) you can steer them to my book and to Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins book YOUR CAT (she also was a co-author of Not Fit for a Dog.) On my website there is also a listing of cat nutrition-related websites like the one run by Dr. Lisa Pierson, a vet renowned for her championing of feline nutrition with her website www.catinfo.org. Another excellent site is www.catnutrition.org. These two and other sites can be accessed through www.felineoutreach.com.

Tracie

The Cat Bible

Following a pretty unpleasant exchange with someone on Catster.com about whether her cats were overweight, I think it’s a good idea to bring up the topic here of how much your cat should weigh. The person arguing with me said her vet wanted to fatten up a 14 lb. cat, which I thought was terrible advice. Talking about average cats, my research indicates that a good rule of thumb for the weight of the average DSH cat is 8-10 lbs. Some can be in the low teens but above 14 lbs and you’re talking overweight – beyond 16 is obese. These are the operative rules that both Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins and I came to independently – she as a renowned feline-only vet and someone who breeds and shows Ocicats and myself researching THE CAT BIBLE with a background as an investigative journalist. In Dr. Hodgkins excellent book YOUR CAT on page 137 she has a section entitled “How to know if Your Cat is Overweight.” It says that an adult female cat should weigh between 7 and 11 lbs. at the most with exceptions being three purebred cats: Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat and Ragdoll, in which females can weigh as much as 12-14 lbs. An average male cat should weigh 9-12 lbs. at the outside and males of the mentioned breeds can weigh 13 to 18 lbs. normally.

I brought this discussion topic to her attention – of a vet encouraging weight gain in a 14 lb. cat, or saying that 18 lbs was a healthy weight for a domestic shorthair cat – and this was her reply:

I have oodles of experience with all breeds, not only as a vet but as someone who has been in hundreds of show halls with thousands of these purebred individuals. Maine Coon cats, the largest breed, almost never weigh more than 15-16 lbs (adult MALES) in good show shape. The females are 2-3 pounds less in show shape. I have yet to meet any vet, I mean any vet at all, including my friends who are vets, who actually know what is the correct weight for any cat, and especially the pure breeds. I have heard breeders say they have 20 pounders at home who aren’t fat, but oddly enough, those cats are never in the show hall, leading me to suspect they are not in good enough shape to be shown.

I think that professionals don’t know that a cat should have a waist when you stand him on his hind legs. It has been years since most people (including vets) have seen truly svelte, healthy weight cats. The “norm” has simply shifted, and since no one, including vets, think of obesity as a cause of diseases (all kinds), no one steps back from a cat with, say, IBD or cardiac disease or hypertension, and evaluates whether the poor thing is fat or not…

Don’t look now, but physicians are just as derelict about this….

BTW, no Turkish Van should ever be more than 12-13 lbs. They are very finely boned cats, even though tall, and are not at all heavy, even in adulthood

Elizabeth Hodgkins DVM, Esq.

Hi Tracie:

I’ve heard wonderful things about you through the years. I checked out some of your work and you are amazing! I’m writing because I’m conflicted over my little cat, Cesar.

I found him as a feral 5 years ago. He had his shots and he is totally indoors. He’s very sweet and grooms his adoptive cat siblings. Recently,he developed severe gingivitis and I took him  to the vet who gave him a look and said “wow” — there’s cancer tissue in his mouth now. It’s very red. He gave me antibiotics for him which he finished 3 days ago and prednisone which he is still taking. His mouth isn’t as red but it’s still not normal looking. I’m on a limited income. Taking him to the vet is very traumatic as his feral instincts kick in and he screams and moans and chews at the wire caging. Is there any homeopathic procedure I can do or homeopathic medication I can administer? He’s started to drool again. Someone recommended having  his teeth pulled. That seems extreme. Also, expensive. I want to give him the best shot possible to get him better, as do all pet owners. Can you offer any directives, please?

I turned this one over to Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins, the Official vet of Cat Chat® because when I saw cancer I thought the worst and wondered whether maybe humane euthanasia was a possibility. But Dr. Elizabeth is not only a vet but a lawyer and she immediately saw what I had missed: cancer cannot be diagnosed visually. So her learned opinion is that a vet who would look at a cat’s mouth and declare cancer without talking a biopsy is a QUACK! She also said harsher things than that and I don’t blame her. She also asked since it is an ex-feral, whether the cat is FIV positive? But first and foremost she wanted to know what is the cat eating?  If you haven’t listened to CAT CHAT® or seen my website, or gotten The Cat Bible or Dr. Hodgkins book Your Cat then you had better do all those things immediately.

Actually, before you do anything else, ditch the kitty crack (the dry cat food you’re inevitably feeding) and get some decent canned food right away. Our books and my website and shows will explain why. Poor kitty.

Tracie

Hello Tracie,

I actually have a few questions to ask you, along with a little story.

About 8 months ago I lost my best friend of 16 years, a wonderful and absolutely crazy fun cat named Frisky. We went through a lot in the last 4 months of his life. I grew up with this cat, and always just listened to what my parents told me to do with him for the most part, until 6 years ago. I was becoming more of an adult and Frisky started gaining weight. I researched Feline nutrition and switched frisky over to a wet food (Castor & Pollux Organix). He slimmed down a bit, but he continued to stay a slightly larger (but my vet said -not overweight-) cat.

The last 4 months of his life he began to lose some weight. The vet said he was still in great health, and not to worry… but I did anyway. I didn’t really freak until I noticed changes in his appetite, his behavior, and he started to vomit yellow, which scared me. This is when I decided my vet didn’t know a damn thing and took Frisky to other vets. It turns out he was having liver problems. While every place I took him to told me the same things about his liver, none of the vets or animal hospitals could tell me why it was happening or how to help him. They all prescribed Hills Prescription diet (which Frisky would not eat) and sent me home. Eventually his illness progressed and he became unhealthier and skinnier and his kidneys began to fail. He was taking medication for that, but his appetite waned to barely anything and I had to begin syringe feeding him. All the while Vets and Hospitals still could not tell me what was causing this and how to help or what to change or what to do!?

Frisky went through weeks of ups and downs. Right before he died he went through a wonderful month long period of getting better. I actually thought that he was going to get better for good that time. He even started eating on his own again. Then, during his last week it all went downhill. The vomiting started again, he had absolutely no appetite and despite all of our efforts, it got to the point where I was afraid to sleep because I didn’t want him to die while I was asleep, alone and in pain (I think, at the most, I slept 3 or 4 hours that entire week). So, we took him to the animal hospital and had him euthanized.

This was the worst experience of my life. I don’t say that because of his death… I am okay with him dying now. He was an older cat and I wasn’t expecting him to last forever. But I knew my cat, inside and out, and he had never had a serious illness or any health related problems his entire life. Up until his last 4 months, Frisky was acting just the same as he always had… Rambunctious, sometimes a little nasty, but always had energy and a big bad boy “I own this place.” attitude. Up until the night he died, he was still trying to get up and jump around and do all of his little rituals and routines. I know he didn’t want to die, and that hurt me the most of all. Knowing that this cat wanted to be better, but the vets and hospitals and clinics had no answer after thousands of dollars (I don’t regret one cent!), dozens of scary tests, hospitalization, and months of his precious time left.

It still upsets me, to this day, how horribly every Vet, Animal Hospital, and Emergency Animal Clinic treated me and my slightly mean old cat. Why do they know so little? Why is there no proven treatment for these illnesses? What is wrong with the animal health care community that they cannot treat a failing liver correctly and my cat had to suffer for months? In Frisky’s own words “grrrrrrrrr”.

So, I have to admit, my main reason for contacting you is for advice in a new veterinarian choice and information on holistic / total feline health care and nutrition.

I’m about to adopt a beautiful Tortoiseshell female from Bobby & The Strays (no kill) Animal Shelter in NY. She’s 2 and a half years old and overweight. From picking her up, I’d place her anywhere between 16-18 pounds. She’s currently on a diet of [1] 3oz can of wet food per day and a free feeding bowl of kibble.

What is the best way to transition her to a good quality wet food and routine meals? What is the best brand of food and amount to feed for this size cat to help her get down to a healthy weight? Or should I keep her food consistent with what was fed in the shelter for the first month or two at home and then start a transition. She is a rescued feral and my first priorities are making her feel safe, giving her a home and people she can own and trust, and getting her in good health and wellness. I had my Frisky from 10 weeks old, and I had very minimal, easy experience changing him over to a wet food diet… (even when he was fed dry food, he still had feeding times). So, I’m really unsure of how to go about this with a cat that barely knows me and has a history of neglect. She is a sweetheart of a cat (I have visited with her over the past two weeks to get a sense for her personality) but I don’t want to screw her up. She deserves the best after being rescued and I really want to make her transitions as smooth as possible.

I also want to know if you can recommend any books (besides your own, which I absolutely love!), that give a reliable approach to total Feline Health during all stages of a cat’s life. When Frisky got sick, I was absolutely astonished at the lack of reliable information on Feline health risks and the illnesses of senior cats. Beyond even that, I was abhorred by how little veterinarians actually know about feline health and treatment. What should I be looking for in a new vet this time around? I want to try to do as much right as I can this time, and make sure my new girl is as healthy and as happy as can be. Any Advice is greatly, greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Adrianna
(and sorry about the length of the email…)

Dear Adrianna,

I took some time before responding because I share your rage and horror at the incompetence and even seeming disinterest of all those vets who could not diagnose nor treat nor protect your lovely boy, despite your relentless efforts to do the best by him. I wish I had some words of wisdom, but all I can do is offer the comfort of empathy for what you both went through.

I am going to share your email with Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, the official vet of CAT CHAT® and a seriously generous woman with her time, wisdom, advice and her own sense of moral outrage at how cats are often mistreated by her profession.

I will tell you right off the bat that the book you are looking for is YOUR CAT by Dr. H – it is linked on my website www.TracieHotchner.com on Dr. H’s own page as the vet of Cat Chat® – you’ll be glad to have this excellent book as a complement to mine (by the way,send you address and I’ll send you an autographed bookplate to put in The Cat Bible and some goodies as well.

As for The Transition: go cold turkey, as they say. Get that kitty crack right out of your house — literally out of the building or the cat will smell it’s noxious fumes from wherever you stash it and may beg for more of what he’s hooked on, with all its downsides. Give what’s left over to a feral cat rescue or a private shelter/rescue — they all have financial burdens and that can be of use to them.

My website is filled with Q&A’s and Blogs about feeding — you’ll get all the info you need on how to offer two wet meals a day and in your case there is no issue about rejecting wet food, so it’s going to be a piece of cake.

The only other thing I would BEG you to do is sign up right now for pet insurance — with your bookplate I can send you a card for Pets bet insurance with a discount as my listener but don’t even wait — call the toll free number on my website and let them give you a quote — it should be really reasonable for a young kitty and the rate locks in for 8 years. You know only too well the cost of quality vet care these days (even when the outcome is not “quality”) so protect yourself from day one, please. And I hope you never need it!

Keep up your good spirits and enjoy life with your lucky new pussycat – he’s got a great guardian in you.
Tracie

I got this note from Monica in California after she called into CAT CHAT the other night:

I appreciate all the education that you provide us with. My cats and dogs are healthier because of your show. I called on your evening show today and here is the information you asked me for: Sneakers is 17 neutered male indoor cat. He lost about 4 pound within 2-3 weeks. He eats EVO and Wellness canned and sometimes fresh cooked chicken. He is eating, pooping and peeing as normal. I am feeding him extra when he acts hungry. He weighs 5 lbs and was normally about 9 lbs. His white blood count is now 19000. It was 24000 and he was given antibiotics for a week. He is now on a liquid antibiotic for 2 weeks. His red blood cell count is 24.5. He had an ultrasound on Monday and they did not find anything wrong. His thyroid is normal and I had it tested twice. All other blood work was within range per two vet offices. I am now thinking of trying acupuncture just to try and rejuvenate whatever is not correct in his body.

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Monica : I am so glad you wrote – REALLY glad. I have been very worried about Sneakers since you called and I was hoping to get some fast feedback from Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins, the wonderful official vet of Cat Chat. Well she came through with flying colors and you are going to be surprised by her immediate reaction: your cat’s normal thyroid tests do not mean his thyroid is normal – he probably has hyperthyroidism (also called Hyper T), which needs treatment, preferably with an injection that will require a few days in the hospital but then will return him to health. I beg you to immediately buy Dr Hodgkins’ lovely book YOUR CAT – Go right to my website www.CatChatRadio.com and find her page- on it there is a link to the book which explains all this so well. I know you have been to 2 vets but they missed it – and Dr H explains how that is possible in her book. While you are waiting for the book to arrive take the following advice from YOUR CAT. Have the vet you prefer do another blood test and this time have them check the T4 again so see if it has risen even a little since the previous test(s). Dr H’s book explains why this proves it is HyperT your cat is suffering from. In addition they need to do another test from the same blood sample: a T3 suppression test. Her book explains why but meantime you want to get this under control ASAP, so don’t waste a minute. Please let me know what happens.
–Tracie
P.S. If you already have a copy of THE CAT BIBLE or are going to get one, let me know and I’ll send you an autographed bookplate inscribed to Sneakers to put in the front!