Dr. Steffen Runquist

What Cat Lovers are Asking this Week…

• Q:

  Dr. Steffen, our 2 year old housecat has very long fur growing from the bottom of her paws. Should we trim this fur, or let it be?

  A:

  Great question! Lots of really fluffy cats will get these cute little sprouts growing in between their paw pads. In most cases it can be left alone. But I will trim this hair if the cat goes outside and has the potential to get into sticky things...like seeds, tar, mud etc. If you do decide to trim it, I do not recommend ever using scissors because it can be so easy to accidentally cut your cat. Instead I pick up a pet shaver or even a beard/mustache trimmer can work.

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• Q:

  My cat licks me hard every time I pet him on his lower back, is this a sign that it hurts?

  A:

  This is not an atypical behavior in our cats. This can be a difficult area for cats to groom, especially those that may be overweight or have arthritis.
  
  Because of this, we suspect this area itches a little more and that is why cats lick or nibble when they are pet here. I suppose for some cats it may just annoy them. It is unlikely that your cat hurts here. I would not be concerned unless you were seeing other signs like limping, a swelling or changes in your cat’s normal habits.

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• Q:

  My cat likes to wipe his nose on me? Should I be concerned about this?

  A:

  Many cats like to wipe their cheeks, face and nose on their owners. They do this to mark you as their territory, which as gross as it can be, is a compliment! This is likely nothing to worry about especially if your cat is healthy and you have a healthy immune system.

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