cats

What to Do If Your Cat Is Choking

If you ever think your cat is choking, your heart will race and your brain will want to do ten things at once. Take a breath. A calm, step-by-step response can truly save a life. As a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, I have seen that the biggest danger is losing time, either by assuming the...

How to Clean a Cat’s Ears

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I get asked this all the time: “How do I clean my cat’s ears without stressing them out or hurting them?” The good news is that many cats do not need routine ear cleaning, or they only need it occasionally. Some cats (including those with...

Cat Itching: Causes, Relief, and When to See the Vet

If your cat is scratching, licking, chewing, or over-grooming, you are not imagining things. Itching is one of the most common reasons cats come into my clinic, and it can look like everything from a few extra scratches to dramatic hair loss, scabs, and cranky behavior. The encouraging news is that...

Why Does My Kitten Have Diarrhea?

Seeing diarrhea in a kitten can feel scary, especially because little bodies dehydrate fast. The good news is that many causes are treatable once you know what to look for and when to call your vet. I am Shari Shidate, a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, and this step-by-step guide will help...

Why Cats Pee on the Bed

If your cat is peeing on the bed, please know this first: they are not being “spiteful.” In vet medicine, we treat bed-peeing as a big, blinking sign that something is off, either medically, emotionally, or in the home setup. Because the bed smells strongly like you, it can become a comfort...

Cats Vomiting: Causes, Care, and When to Worry

Seeing your cat vomit can be scary, and I get it. As a veterinary assistant, I hear the same question all the time: “Is this normal, or is this an emergency?” The answer depends on what came up, how often it’s happening, and how your cat is acting the rest of the day. This guide will walk you...

Can Cats Be Constipated?

Yes, cats can absolutely get constipated, and it is more common than many pet parents realize. In the clinic, constipation is one of those issues that can look minor at first, but it can become painful quickly and sometimes signals a bigger underlying problem. The good news is that many mild cases...

Cats and Diarrhea: Essential Advice

Diarrhea in cats is common, but it is never something to ignore. Sometimes it is a simple food issue that settles quickly. Other times it is your cat’s body waving a red flag for dehydration, parasites, infection, inflammation, or something more serious. As a veterinary assistant, I like to think...

Feral Cats: Definition, Overview, and Care

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I meet a lot of cats with very different life stories. One of the most misunderstood groups is feral cats . People often mean well, but the right help for a feral cat is not always the same as the right help for a friendly stray. This guide gives a...

Easiest Way to Give a Cat a Pill

Giving a cat a pill can feel like a tiny wrestling match you did not sign up for. I get it. As a veterinary assistant, I have helped a lot of families through this exact moment, and the good news is that there often is an “easiest way” for most cats. It is usually pill hiding first, and if that...

Why Your Cat Meows at Night

If your cat starts vocalizing the moment you turn out the lights, you are not imagining it and you are not alone. Nighttime meowing is one of the most common concerns I hear from pet parents. The good news is that in many cases, it is fixable once you figure out the why. Cats meow to communicate...

Family-Friendly UTI in Cats: Symptoms, Care and Litter Box Help

When a cat gets a urinary tract infection (UTI) or any urinary problem, the whole family feels it. You might notice your sweet cat suddenly peeing outside the litter box, crying in the box, or licking their private area more than usual. It is stressful, confusing, and honestly a little scary. As a...

Is It Normal for Cats to Sneeze?

Cats sneeze for a lot of the same reasons we do. Sometimes it is totally normal. Other times, it is your cat’s way of saying, “Hey, something is irritating my nose,” or “I’m not feeling so great.” As a veterinary assistant, I like to reassure pet parents while also helping you spot the...

Natural Flea Treatment for Kittens

Fleas on a kitten can feel like an emergency, because in a way, it is. Kittens are small, their skin is delicate, and fleas can cause anemia in very young or tiny kittens faster than many people expect. The good news is there are safe, evidence-based ways to get relief using gentle,...

How to Get Rid of Fleas on a Cat

Hi friend, Shari here. Fleas on cats are frustrating, quick to spread, and surprisingly sneaky. The good news is you can get control of a flea problem without guessing, as long as you treat the cat , the home , and any other pets at the same time. That three-part approach is what breaks the life...

Cats and Hairballs

Hairballs can look dramatic, but most of the time they are a very normal side effect of a cat being an excellent groomer. Still, frequent hairballs can signal an underlying problem, and a rare but serious emergency can look similar to “just a hairball.” In this handbook, I will walk you through...

Socializing Kittens

The first weeks of a kitten’s life shape how they feel about people, other pets, and the everyday sounds of a home. Socialization is not about forcing “bravery.” It is about building calm, positive associations, one tiny step at a time. As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I see...

How Long Will My Cat Be in Heat?

If you are hearing loud yowling at night, noticing extra affection, or watching your cat assume a “butt up” posture (hindquarters raised, also called lordosis), you are probably dealing with a heat cycle. As a veterinary assistant, I want you to know two things right away: heats are normal for...

Cystitis in Cats Symptoms and Solutions

If your cat is visiting the litter box over and over, crying out, or having accidents, it can be scary. One common cause is cystitis , which simply means inflammation of the bladder. As a veterinary assistant, I have seen how quickly worried pet parents feel better once they understand what to look...

Causes of Diarrhea in Cats

Seeing diarrhea in your cat is stressful, and I get it. In clinic, one of the first things we look at is whether this is a mild, short-lived upset or a sign of something that needs urgent care. The good news is that most cases have a clear cause once you know what to watch for and what questions to...