cats

Cat Urinates on the Bed: Care and Training Tips

When a cat urinates on the bed, it feels personal. But in my experience as a veterinary assistant, it is rarely “spite.” It is your cat communicating a problem, and your bed is often a soft, comforting place that smells strongly like you. The good news is that most bed-peeing cases improve a...

Male Maine Coon Names and Health Guide

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I get asked a surprisingly common question: “Do names matter?” For male Maine Coons, the answer is yes in a practical way. A name that is easy to say, easy for your cat to recognize, and easy for your vet team to document can actually make...

How to Give a Cat a Pill by Mouth

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, and the good news is that many cats can learn to accept medication when you use the right technique, the right timing, and a calm...

How to Help a Sneezing Cat

Sneezing in cats can be as simple as a little dust in the nose, or it can be an early sign of an infection that needs medical help. As a veterinary assistant, I like to remind people of two things: (1) a few sneezes now and then can be normal, and (2) patterns matter. If your cat is sneezing...

Cats With Constipation: Step-by-Step Facts

If your cat is straining in the litter box, skipping their usual routine, or leaving behind small, dry nuggets, you are not being “too worried.” Constipation is common in cats, but it can become painful quickly and sometimes signals a bigger health issue. As a veterinary assistant, I have seen...

How to Know If Your Cat Is in Heat

If your female cat suddenly becomes extra vocal, affectionate, and determined to escape outside, you might be seeing her first heat cycle. As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I can tell you this is one of the most common questions we hear from cat parents, and it can feel surprising if...

How to Train Kittens to Use the Litter Box

Bringing home a kitten is pure joy, until you find that little “surprise” behind the couch. The good news is that most kittens learn the litter box quickly because the instinct to dig and cover waste is already there. Your job is simply to set them up for success with the right box, the right...

Cat Kidney Failure Symptoms

If you are here because your cat is “just not acting like themselves,” I want you to know you are not overreacting. Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common health conditions we see in senior cats, and the symptoms can be subtle at first. The sooner you recognize the signs and get your...

How to Tell Your Cat’s Age

If you adopted your cat as an adult, approximating their age can feel like a mystery. As a veterinary assistant, I can tell you there are several clues we use every day in clinics to estimate age range. The goal is not a perfect birthday. It is getting close enough to make smart decisions about...

How to Treat a Cat With a Cold

If your cat is sneezing, has a runny nose, watery eyes, or sounds a little congested, you may be dealing with an upper respiratory infection (URI), what many of us call a “cat cold.” As a veterinary assistant, I want you to know two things can be true at once. Many mild URIs improve with...

Kitten Litter Box Training

Bringing home a kitten is pure joy, until the first “oops” outside the box. The good news is that kittens are naturally inclined to dig and cover, so litter training is usually more about setting them up for success than forcing a new habit. In this handbook, I’ll walk you through exactly...

Teach Your Cat to Walk on a Leash

Leash walking is not just a dog thing. Many cats can learn to enjoy safe, supervised outdoor time on a harness and leash, especially when you go slowly and make it positive. As a veterinary assistant, I love leash training because it can enrich your cat’s life and, compared with unsupervised...

Diarrhea in Cats: Causes and What to Do

Seeing diarrhea in the litter box can be alarming, and I get it. As a veterinary assistant, I have talked with many cat parents who feel worried, grossed out, and unsure what counts as an emergency. The good news is that many cases are mild and short-lived. Still, diarrhea can lead to dehydration,...

How Do Cats Show Pain?

Cats often hide pain. In the clinic, I have seen sweet, social cats quietly “go inward” when something hurts, and their families often feel blindsided because there was no obvious limping or crying. That is not your fault. It is feline instinct, and it also varies from cat to cat. This guide...

Vet-Approved Tips for Cat Diarrhea

Finding diarrhea in the litter box is stressful, especially when your cat seems “mostly fine” otherwise. The good news is that many cases are mild and short-lived in otherwise healthy adult cats . The not-so-good news is that diarrhea can also be an early warning sign of dehydration, parasites,...

Symptoms of UTI in Cats

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have seen how quickly a simple urinary issue can turn into a serious emergency for cats. The tricky part is that “UTI” is often used as a catch-all phrase, but many cats actually have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) , which can...

Preparing for a New Kitten

Bringing home a kitten is one of those life moments that feels pure joy and pure chaos at the same time. As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have seen the difference a little preparation makes. A kitten-proofed home, the right supplies, and a simple plan for the first week can...

Why Do Cats Throw Up Their Food?

If you live with a cat, you have probably seen it: your cat eats, walks away, and then suddenly you hear that unmistakable retching sound. It is stressful, messy, and honestly a little scary. As a veterinary assistant, I want you to know two things can be true at once: an occasional hairball or...

What To Do If Your Cat Has a Seizure

If you have ever seen a cat have a seizure, you know how scary it feels. The good news is that many cats recover quickly, and what you do in the moment can make a real difference in their safety and your veterinarian’s ability to help. As a veterinary assistant, I like to keep this topic simple...

Does My Cat Have Fleas?

If your cat is suddenly itchy, restless, or leaving little “pepper specks” on their bedding, fleas are high on the list of suspects. The tricky part is that cats are excellent groomers, so you might never see an actual flea even when they are there. Let’s walk through the most reliable signs,...