cats

How to Get a Tick Off a Cat Safely

If you just found a tick on your cat, take a breath. Most ticks can be removed safely at home. The key is using the right tool, removing the tick in one piece, and keeping the bite site clean while you watch for any problems. As a veterinary assistant, I have helped many pet parents through this,...

Why Cats Groom Each Other

If you have more than one cat, you have probably seen it: one cat leans over the other and starts licking their head like a tiny salon appointment. It looks sweet, and often it is. This behavior is called allogrooming , and it is one of the clearest ways cats show social bonding and maintain...

Why Does My Cat Drool When I Pet Him?

Nothing makes your heart melt like a cat who leans into your hand and purrs like a tiny engine. Then you feel it: drool . If you are wondering why your cat drools when you pet them, you are not alone. As a veterinary assistant, I see this question often, and the good news is that drooling can be...

Why Do Cats Hiss?

As a veterinary assistant, I like to remind cat parents of one simple truth: a hiss is communication, not “bad behavior.” In most cases, your cat is saying, “I’m scared,” “I’m overwhelmed,” or “Please give me space.” Understanding what’s behind the sound helps you respond in a...

How to Tell the Sex of a Kitten

If you have a new kitten at home, it is completely normal to wonder, “Is this a boy or a girl?” The good news is that you can usually tell at home with a quick, gentle check. The key is to keep your kitten calm, use good lighting, and know exactly what you are looking for. As a veterinary...

Can Cats Taste Sweet Things?

If you have ever offered your cat a tiny lick of ice cream (and then wondered why they looked unimpressed), you are not imagining it. Most cats do not experience “sweet” the way we do. And the reason is one of my favorite little pieces of pet science because it is simple, surprising, and it...

Are Spider Plants Toxic to Cats?

As a veterinary assistant, I hear this question all the time: are spider plants toxic to cats? The reassuring answer is that spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are considered non-toxic to cats by widely used pet safety references like the ASPCA Animal Poison Control database. But here is the...

Hairballs vs. Vomit in Cats

If you live with a cat, you have probably found a “surprise” on the floor and wondered: Was that a hairball, or is my cat actually vomiting? As a veterinary assistant, I can tell you this is one of the most common worries I hear, and it is a good question. Hairballs can be normal sometimes, but...

Why Do Cats Loaf?

That adorable moment when your cat tucks their paws under their chest and turns into a little bread-shaped “loaf” is more than just cute. In most cases, the loaf position is a sign of comfort, warmth, and quiet alertness. But like many cat behaviors, context matters. A relaxed loaf can mean...

Can Cats Catch Colds From Humans?

If you are sniffling and your cat starts sneezing too, it is completely normal to worry you passed your cold along. The reassuring news is that most human “common cold” viruses do not infect cats . But cats do get their own upper respiratory infections that look a lot like a human cold, and...

Why Does My Cat Lie on My Chest?

If you have ever been pinned down by a purring cat who insists on settling right on your chest, you are in very good company. As a veterinary assistant, I hear this question all the time, and the sweet truth is that chest-sitting is usually a sign of connection, comfort, and trust. That said, cats...

How to Check for Ear Mites in Cats

Ear mites are a common cause of itchy ears in cats, especially kittens and cats who spend time outdoors or around other pets. The good news is that ear mites are treatable, and the sooner you spot them, the sooner your cat can get comfortable again. As a veterinary assistant, I always tell pet...

Stop Male Cat Spraying Indoors

If your male cat is spraying inside, you are not dealing with “bad behavior.” You are seeing a normal cat communication tool showing up in the wrong place. Spraying is most often driven by hormones, stress, conflict with other pets, outdoor cat pressure, or a medical problem that makes your cat...

Why Is My Cat Staring at Me?

If you live with a cat, you have probably felt it: you look up from your phone or the TV and there they are, staring like they have a question, a complaint, or a secret. The truth is, a cat’s gaze can mean many different things, from affection to anxiety to a simple request for dinner. The key is...

Can Cats Have Peanut Butter?

If you have ever opened a jar of peanut butter and noticed your cat sniffing the air with interest, you are not alone. Peanut butter is a common human snack, and many pet guardians wonder if it is safe to share. The short, evidence-based answer is this: peanut butter is not inherently toxic to...

Why Cats Knock Things Off Tables

If you live with a cat, you have probably watched it happen in slow motion. A paw reaches out. Your cat looks you right in the eyes. And then your keys, your pen, or your glass of water goes over the edge. It is tempting to call this “spite,” but in most cases, it is not personal at all. It is...

Do Cats Dream?

If you have ever watched your cat snoozing with tiny paw twitches or whiskers quivering, you have probably wondered: do cats dream ? While we cannot ask a cat what they saw in their sleep (or prove dream “storylines”), the science of feline sleep strongly suggests that cats experience...

Are Roses Toxic to Cats?

If you share your home with a cat and you love gardening, you have probably asked the big question: are roses toxic to cats? The reassuring answer is that true roses (genus Rosa ) are generally considered non-toxic to cats . For example, they are commonly listed as non-toxic by reputable pet poison...

Cat Years to Human Years

If you have ever looked at your cat and wondered, “How old are you really?”, you are not alone. As a veterinary assistant, I hear this question all the time because cat aging does not follow a simple one-year-equals-seven-years rule. Cats mature quickly in early life, then the pace slows down....

Foods That Can Kill Your Cat

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I can tell you this with love: cats get into trouble fast with “people food.” Their bodies process certain ingredients very differently than ours, and some common pantry items can trigger life-threatening anemia, seizures, organ failure, or a...