cats

How to Remove Ticks From a Cat

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I can tell you this with love: ticks are common, and they are sneaky. The good news is that removing a tick from your cat is usually very doable at home if you have the right tools, a calm plan, and you know what to watch for afterward. This guide...

How to Groom a Cat With Matted Hair

Mats happen to the best-loved cats. One missed brushing week, a winter coat change, or a senior kitty who cannot twist around like they used to, and suddenly you find tight clumps of fur that pull at the skin. The good news is that many mild mats can be handled at home with patience, the right...

Cat in Heat Care and Training Tips

When your cat goes into heat (also called estrus), it can feel like your sweet, calm companion suddenly turned into a loud, restless, affectionate escape artist. If you are dealing with yowling at 2 a.m., rolling on the floor, and nonstop attention-seeking, you are not alone. I am Shari Shidate, a...

Stop Your Cat From Pooping on the Floor

If your cat is pooping on the floor, I know how stressful and confusing that can feel. As a veterinary assistant, I can tell you this is rarely “spite” or revenge. It is usually a sign of a medical issue, a litter box problem, stress, or a mismatch between what your cat needs and what the home...

What Does It Mean When Your Cat Has Diarrhea?

As a veterinary assistant, I know how alarming it is to find diarrhea in the litter box, especially when your cat seems “mostly fine” otherwise. The good news is that many cases are mild and short-lived. The not-so-good news is that diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration, and it can also be a...

How Do I Know My Cat Is Sick?

Cats are masters at hiding illness. In the clinic, I have seen many quiet kitties who looked fine at home, but their bodies were working overtime to cope. The good news is that you do not have to guess. If you know what to watch for and you trust your instincts, you can catch problems earlier and...

How to Tell if a Cat Is Pregnant

If you have an unspayed female cat who has been outdoors, slipped out for a few hours, or lives with an unneutered male, pregnancy is definitely possible. The tricky part is that early pregnancy can look a lot like a normal heat cycle, a little weight gain, or even a mild tummy upset (mild stomach...

Introducing a New Cat to Your Home

Bringing home a new cat is exciting, and it can also feel a little nerve-wracking, especially if you already have pets. In my work as a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I have seen the same truth play out again and again: slow introductions help reduce stress, lower the risk of fights,...

My Cat Is Constipated: What Can I Do?

If your cat is straining in the litter box, passing tiny dry stools, or going longer than usual without a bowel movement, it can be stressful for both of you. Constipation is common, and many cases can be helped at home, but it can also signal pain, dehydration, an intestinal blockage, or another...

Why Cats Poop Outside the Litter Box

If your cat is pooping outside the litter box, it is easy to feel frustrated or worried. I get it. As a veterinary assistant, I can tell you this behavior is usually your cat’s way of saying, “Something is off.” The good news is that most causes are fixable once you narrow down whether the...

Why Did My Cat Poop in My Bed?

Finding cat poop in your bed is one of those moments that can make any cat parent feel confused, grossed out, and honestly a little hurt. I get it. Cats are usually very clean, and when they choose your bed, it is often not random. The good news is that most of the time, this behavior is your cat...

Potty Train a Kitten

Bringing home a kitten is pure joy, but potty training can feel intimidating at first. The good news is that most kittens naturally want to bury their waste, so you are not starting from zero. With a clean, easy-to-reach litter setup, a gentle routine, and a little patience, you can help your...

How You Know Your Cat Loves You

Cats do love deeply, but they show it in quieter, more subtle ways than most dogs do. As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I hear this question all the time: “Does my cat actually love me, or am I just the food person?” The research-backed answer is that many cats form real social...

Treating a Cat With a Cold

If your cat is sniffling, sneezing, or has watery eyes, it is natural to wonder: “Is this just a little cold, or something more serious?” As a veterinary assistant, I can tell you that most cat-cold symptoms are caused by infectious upper respiratory disease , usually viral. Many mild cases can...

How Old Is My Kitten?

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, one of the most common questions I hear from new kitten parents is, “How old do you think my kitten is?” It matters more than people realize. Age helps you choose the right food, plan vaccines and deworming, schedule spay or neuter, and...

Why Cats Poop Outside the Litter Box

If your cat is pooping outside the litter box, I want you to hear this first: this is very rarely “spite.” Cats are consistent creatures. When they stop using the box, they are usually telling us something is off with their body, their setup, or their stress level. Punishment almost always...

What It Means When Your Cat Is Drooling

Seeing drool on your cat’s chin or finding a wet spot where they were lounging can be surprising. Cats are usually tidy, and many have a fairly “dry mouth” most of the time, so drooling tends to grab our attention. The tricky part is that cat drooling can be completely harmless in one moment...

Proven Signs Your Cat Is In Pain

Cats are experts at hiding discomfort. In the clinic, I have met plenty of sweet, quiet cats whose pain was easy to miss until you knew what to look for. If something feels “off” with your cat, trust that instinct. Pain is not always loud. Often, it shows up as small behavior changes that...

Cat Pain Symptoms

Cats are masters at masking discomfort. In the clinic, I have seen sweet, social cats suddenly become “grumpy” at home, or quiet cats start having litter box issues, and the real story was pain. The tricky part is that cat pain rarely looks like obvious crying or dramatic limping. More often,...

Fun Cure Cat Constipation: Understanding & Solutions

If your cat is visiting the litter box a little too often, producing tiny hard stools, or crying out while trying to go, constipation can feel scary and frustrating. The good news is that many cases respond well to simple, evidence-based changes at home. I am Shari Shidate, a veterinary assistant...