Posts in Category: The Cat’s Meow

Extra fluffy cats may be all the rage on social media, but overweight cats make the staff at Harpeth Hills Animal Hospital feel a little sad. Feline weight management is key to good cat health, and many kitties need a little help in that department. Read on to learn why cats become overweight, the risks of cat obesity, and how to help your cat stay svelte.

Hearing loss in pets requires a different approach when it comes to care. While you’ll still feed them and shower them with attention, you might need to change the way you communicate. You’ll also need to stay alert for health and safety hazards that could spell trouble for them. The following tips should help you adapt to the new normal.

Sudden Deafness in Cats

Your cat can suddenly lose his hearing due to a middle or inner ear infection. Drug toxicity and noise trauma can also be to blame. Although some cases of hearing loss are temporary, others could be permanent.

Cat lovers are united in their appreciation of all members of the family Felidae. Whether you love the cheetah, lynx, leopard, lion, tiger, or any of the 37 species on this family tree, you’re bound to have equal admiration for the domestic cat. Despite being linked genetically, wild cats and domestic cats are seemingly from different worlds. On a journey that began over 10,000 years ago, the history of domestic cats continues to captivate people worldwide.

While our kitty companions may be good at pretending like they don’t really need you, the truth is that cats love and become attached to their owners as well. While separation anxiety is a well-described and recognized phenomenon in dogs, our team at Harpeth Hills Animal Hospital understands that feline separation anxiety is a real thing, too. Here’s what you need to know:

For some, simply knowing that cats stare at people isn’t enough to dismiss it. Indeed, it can be deeply unsettling to be the target of intense feline focus. 

While a staring contest with your cat might be the perfect pandemic activity, it still doesn’t explain why they do it. Cat behavior is often puzzling, but we think we might have a few ideas to explain this particularly odd conduct of kitties.

Cats may seem invincible, but much to our dismay they are subject to the same forces that any other living creature is. They certainly have a few weaknesses, and if we had to pinpoint one organ that doesn’t always pull its weight, it would be the kidney.

Feline kidney disease is a common diagnosis here at Harpeth Hills Veterinary Hospital. Because of the tremendous impact it can have on our feline patients, it is one disease with which all pet owners should be familiar. By catching it early and managing it aggressively, kidney disease in cats is definitely something that we can help our furry friends navigate. 

If you have pets, you know what a mood boost it is to see your dog greet you at the door after a long day at work. Or how good it feels to have your cat jump up on your lap for some snuggle time. This human-animal bond is something we can all feel, and perhaps even explain. But did you know that pet ownership is also good for your health? Aside from the feel-good aspect of pet ownership, there are mental, emotional, and physical benefits, too. What’s not to love?

Harpeth Hills Animal Hospital sees the bond between pets and their people every day, and it’s one of the very best parts of our job. So, we were excited to dig deeper into the health benefits of owning a pet. Continue…