cats

Why Cats Bite Ankles and How to Stop It

If you have ever walked past your cat only to feel a quick chomp on your ankle, you are not alone. As a veterinary assistant, I can tell you this behavior is common, usually fixable, and rarely about “being mean.” Most ankle biting is a mix of normal cat instincts, communication, and learned...

Signs Your Cat Is in Pain: Hidden Red Flags

Cats are experts at hiding discomfort. In the clinic, I have seen sweet, quiet cats come in for “just acting a little off” and end up being diagnosed with painful conditions like dental disease, arthritis, urinary issues, and GI problems. The tricky part is that many pain signals look like...

Cat Itching: Fleas, Allergies, and Dry Skin

If your cat is suddenly scratching, licking, chewing, or over-grooming, it is easy to assume it is “just fleas.” Fleas are common, yes, but they are not the only reason cats itch. In my work as a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have seen itching caused by everything from flea...

Cat Aggression Toward Other Cats at Home

Living with more than one cat can be incredibly sweet, until one day it is not. A swat at the food bowl turns into stalking. A quick hiss becomes a full chase. If you are seeing tension between cats at home, you are not failing. Cat-to-cat conflict is common, and in many cases it is manageable once...

How to Stop Cat Hairballs With Diet Changes

If you have ever stepped on a “surprise” hairball first thing in the morning, you are not alone. Hairballs are incredibly common, especially in cats that groom a lot, have longer coats, or shed heavily. The good news is that for many cats, you can reduce hairballs significantly with smart,...

Are Grapes and Raisins Dangerous for Cats?

As a veterinary assistant, I get this question a lot because most of us have heard the warning for dogs: grapes and raisins can be dangerously toxic. With cats, the story is a little different, but the safest takeaway is simple: do not offer grapes or raisins to your cat , and call your...

Cat Throwing Up After Eating Fast: How to Help

If your cat eats like they are racing a timer and then throws up minutes later, you are not alone. In veterinary clinics, we see this a lot, and the good news is that many “scarf and barf” cases improve with a few simple feeding changes. Still, vomiting can also be a sign of a medical issue, so...

Cat Vomiting White Foam: Causes and Care

If your cat has ever vomited a little puddle of white foam, it can be alarming. I have seen many worried pet parents in clinic who fear the worst. The good news is that foamy vomit is often tied to mild nausea or an irritated, mostly empty stomach. The important part is figuring out why it happened...

Most Dangerous Indoor Plants for Cats

If you share your home with a cat, you already know they explore with their mouths. A quick nibble on a leaf can seem harmless, but some popular houseplants can trigger anything from painful mouth irritation to rapid onset kidney injury. As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have seen...

Homemade Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs

If your cat seems to vomit often, has loose stools, gets gassy, or turns their nose up at meals, you are not alone. In my work as a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I see a lot of sweet cats labeled as having “sensitive stomachs.” Sometimes it truly is food intolerance. Other times,...

Cat Cold Symptoms vs Allergies: When to Worry

If your cat is sneezing, sniffling, or has watery eyes, it is natural to wonder: is this a simple “cat cold,” or could it be allergies? As a veterinary assistant, I see this confusion all the time. The tricky part is that upper respiratory infections and allergies can look very similar at...

Safe Human Foods for Cats Quick Reference List

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I get asked this all the time: “What can I safely share with my cat?” The answer: there are plenty of cat-friendly human foods, but the details matter. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their bodies are built to thrive on animal-based...

Homemade Cat Treats: High Protein, Low Carb

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their bodies are built to thrive on animal-based protein and fat, with no known dietary requirement for carbohydrates. That is exactly why homemade, high-protein, low-carb treats can be such a smart upgrade, especially if your cat struggles with weight...

Balanced Homemade Cat Food for Weight Loss

If your cat needs to slim down, diet is usually the biggest driver you can control. And here is the part I love as a veterinary assistant: weight loss does not have to mean “less joy” or a hungry, cranky kitty. With a balanced homemade plan, you can keep meals high in protein, moderate in fat,...

Vet-Approved Homemade Cat Food Basics

If you have ever looked at a cat food label and thought, “I am not even sure what half of this is,” you are in good company. As a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, I talk with cat parents every week who want to feed better, but also want to do it safely. Homemade cat food can absolutely be...

Vet-Informed Homemade Cat Food Weekly Feeding Schedule

If you have ever flipped over a bag of cat food and felt confused by the ingredient list, you are not alone. As a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, I hear the same question all the time: “Can I make homemade cat food that is truly complete and safe?” Yes, you can. But with cats, it has to...

Cat Biting During Petting: Causes and Solutions

One minute your cat is leaning in, purring, and asking for love. The next minute, there is a sudden bite on your hand. If you have ever thought, “But you were enjoying this,” you are not alone. As a veterinary assistant, I see this all the time, and the good news is that most petting-related...

Cat Aggression Triggers and Fixes

Few things feel more confusing than a cat who seems sweet one minute and spicy (swatty or bitey) the next. As a veterinary assistant, I can tell you this is very common, and it often improves once you identify the trigger and meet the underlying need. Aggression is often your cat’s way of saying,...

How to Bathe a Cat (If You Must)

As a veterinary assistant, I can tell you this up front: most cats do not need regular baths. They are expert groomers, and for many cats, a bath is more stressful than it is helpful. But sometimes life happens. A skunk encounter, a medical mess, a sticky substance on the coat, flea dirt, or a...

Do Cats Remember People?

If you have ever left for a trip and wondered whether your cat will “forget” you, you are not alone. As a veterinary assistant, I hear this question all the time, especially from families bringing home a new rescue or visiting a cat they have not seen in years. The sweet truth is that many cats...