cats

Train a Cat Not to Claw Furniture

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I see this all the time: a sweet cat, a beautiful couch, and scratch marks that make everyone feel frustrated. The good news is that scratching is not “bad behavior.” It is normal feline care. Your job is to give your cat a better place to...

Clever UTI Tips for Female Cats

As a veterinary assistant here in Frisco, Texas, I can tell you this: urinary tract issues in cats can go from “a little off” to “this is an emergency” faster than most pet parents expect. The good news is that many feline urinary flare-ups can be reduced, and early action really does help....

How to Trim Your Cat’s Nails By Yourself

Trimming your cat’s nails at home can feel intimidating, but it is one of those small routines that makes a big difference. Shorter nails can mean fewer accidental scratches, less snagging on blankets, and less damage to furniture. Most importantly, you can do it in a way that is calm, gentle,...

Why Your Cat Meows All the Time

If your cat meows constantly, you are not imagining it and you are not alone. As a veterinary assistant, I hear this concern all the time. The good news is that frequent meowing is usually your cat trying to communicate something specific. The harder news is that sometimes it can be a sign of a...

Dementia in Cats: Signs, Help, and Care

Cats are masters at hiding when something feels “off.” So when a sweet, steady older kitty starts yowling at night, staring into corners, or seeming lost in their own home, it can feel unsettling and heartbreaking. One possible reason is cognitive dysfunction syndrome , sometimes called...

Diabetes Symptoms in Cats

When a cat develops diabetes, it can feel confusing and even a little scary for the whole family. The good news is that feline diabetes is very manageable, especially when you catch it early and build a simple routine at home. In the vet clinic, I have seen cats go from tired and unwell to...

Why Is My Cat Vomiting?

Cat vomiting is one of the most common reasons pet parents reach out to a clinic, and I get it. It is messy, stressful, and it can be confusing because sometimes it is harmless, and sometimes it is an early warning sign. As a veterinary assistant, I like to start with two grounding truths: vomiting...

How to Tell If Your Cat Has Arthritis

Cats are masters at hiding pain. In the clinic, I have seen sweet, stoic kitties with significant joint changes who still purr and head-butt like nothing is wrong. That is why feline arthritis often gets missed until the discomfort starts affecting daily life. The good news is that once you know...

How Fast Do Cats Age?

If you have ever looked at your cat and thought, “Wait, how are you already a grown-up?” you are not imagining it. Cats develop incredibly quickly in their first two years, then changes tend to become more gradual and incremental. Understanding this timeline helps you choose the right food,...

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...