Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Dr. Marty Becker

Kitten HuntingQ. Do kittens instinctively know how to hunt or must they learn from another cat?

A. A little bit of both, actually. The biologist Roger Tabor has noted that kittens who are able to observe their mothers hunt and kill become better at these skills themselves. But all healthy kittens show at least some interest in predatory behavior, even though we often refer to what they're doing as playing with toys.

When kittens chase a string, a wadded up piece of paper or the moving dot from a laser pointer, they're tapping into - and in some ways practicing - behaviors that have kept cats alive for countless generations. Many cats who weren't taught to hunt by their mothers will figure it out on their own, even if they're being fed plenty by loving owners.

But while the cat's hunting behavior has long been of benefit to us by keeping down rodent populations, these days predation by cats has never been more controversial. As we

By Linda Lombardi

See More on vetstreet.com:

* Cesar Millan Announces End to "Dog Whisperer"
* 10 Trendiest Pet Names of 2012
* Top 10 Most High Maintenance Dog Breeds
* Do Dogs & Cats Get Depressed?

By Shayna Meliker

Broadway's newest leading lady has four paws and some pretty big shoes to fill.

Animal trainer William Berloni visited NBC's Today Show this morning to introduce the dog who will play Sandy in the upcoming Broadway revival of Annie. The canine star's name is Sunny, and she's a former shelter dog from Houston, Texas.

"For the last 35 years, I've been only using shelter dogs for productions," Berloni explained. "Because dogs in shelters, there's nothing wrong with them. They're actually great, and they make great stars on Broadway and great stars in your home."

Related: Movies That Made These 10 Dog Breeds Famous

The renowned trainer began his career in 1977 when he cast a Connecticut shelter dog as Sandy in the original musical. Since then, he's discovered and trained dozens of rescues to play Sandy in national tours and anniversary productions of Annie.

This time around, it hasn't been all fun and games for Sunny. She began by learning basic

By Dr. Marty Becker

cat bowlQ. My cat turned out to be allergic to her food, and my veterinarian told me to switch her to a special diet. But no matter what I do, she won't eat it. I let her go hungry but still nothing. What next?

A. First, never let a cat go without eating for more than a single meal: It can kill them. Cats are susceptible to a condition known as hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease. We don't really know exactly how or why they suffer so much from not eating, or whether there has to be some other cause along with the lack of food that sets off this liver disease. But we do know that affected cats are very sick, and may well die without expensive and difficult treatment.

Related: Why are Cats So Finicky About Food?

So what can you do when your cat has to have a change of diet, but has no intention of cooperating?

First, realize your cat isn't just being finicky. Cats in the wild are known to "imprint" on specific shapes,

By Laura Cross

Make your senior pet more comfortableAs your furry companion enters his golden years, you'll want to make sure that he's as comfortable as possible and that he can easily get around the house. Creaky joints, as well as vision and hearing loss, can make going up and down stairs and traveling from room to room a challenge for your senior pet. Here are 5 simple ways to make your senior pet's life a little easier.

1. Upgrade Her Bedding
To help your cat or dog feel more comfortable in her old age, add some extra cushioning to her bed. Dr. Patty Khuly recommends bedding made from egg-crate foam. Although they're more expensive, waterbeds are another great option for soothing your pet's achy joints - just be sure to keep his nails trimmed so he doesn't poke a hole in the mattress.
Related: Should I Let My Dog or Cat Sleep In My Bed?

2. Clean Up Cluttered Floors

If your senior pet is starting to go blind, make his life a little easier by cleaning up any clutter on the floor. Also, make sure he has a clear

By Sally Deneen

See More on vetstreet.com:

* 7 Animals With the Longest Life Spans
* Top 10 Most Patriotic Pups
* 10 Surprising Things About How Animals Sleep
* Do Dogs & Cats Get Depressed?

By Dr. Marty Becker

Q. My cat is sneezing and has a runny nose. I searched the web for her symptoms, and I'm pretty sure I know what's going on. Should I take her to the veterinarian, or can I treat her sniffles at home?

A. While upper respiratory infections are not uncommon in cats - and it is likely but not certain that's what your cat has - you need an accurate diagnosis to be sure of the cause of the symptoms. Without the right diagnosis, you won't get the right course of treatment. And left untreated, even a "routine" viral infection could get deadly serious, with complications such as pneumonia.

See Also: 10 Most Dangerous Creatures for Your Pets -- Many Are in Your Own Backyard

Your question brings up a very important point: Not all illnesses can be treated at home. While the Internet is a useful source of information and can help you assess your cat's symptoms in a very general way, it does not and cannot replace the hands-on

By Nora Zelevansky

The old saying states that in order to truly know someone, you have to walk a mile in his shoes.

That's not really possible when it comes to our four-legged buddies, who tend to go barefoot, but - at the very least - we can learn about their feet.

See Also: Do Dogs & Cats Get Depressed?

Dr. Tara Miller, DVM, of West Hollywood's VCA TLC Animal Hospital, and Dr. Rachel Barrack, DVM, CVA, who's based in New York City, shed light on the story behind our pets' paw pads.

"The pad is made up of hairless, pigmented skin overlaying a thick grouping of fat and tissue," explains Dr. Miller, who also points out that the surface texture can differ based on an animal's environment. "They're often tough in dogs who are exposed to rough surfaces, and more smooth and sensitive in cats and dogs who do not walk much or who are always on smooth, soft surfaces."

Paw pads aren't just for decoration. In both cats and