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Questions from "It's a Cat's World... You Just Live In It" - Dr. Justine Lee
Questions from ” It’s a Cat’s World… You Just Live In It “
Some sample questions can be found at my cat blog!
Chapter 1: CATS RULE AND DOGS DROOL
Why do cats purr?
Why do cats hiss?
How well do cats see in the dark, and why do they have vertical pupils?
Do cats get cavities?
Do cats have belly buttons?
Did curiosity kill the cat?
Does it hurt if my cat’s whiskers get cut?
Do cats fart?
Why do cats shed?
How do I make my cat shed less?
Why, when you shave your cat, does the hair grow back a different color?
Can I share clippers from my neighbor to shave my cat?
Why do cats shed more at the vet?
Why does my cat sleep so much?
Are all cats good mice catchers?
Why do cats like to be at the highest place in the room but then act like they’re afraid of heights?
Do cats always land on their feet?
Why do cats prefer to drink running water?
Do cats like to swim?
Why are orange tabbies almost always male while calicos and tortoiseshells always female?
Are black cats bad luck?
Why does my cat like NASCAR?
Why do cats like laser pointers? Will they go blind from them?
Are Siamese cats ever identical?
What in the world is anal atresia?
Why do Manx cats lack a tail?
Is it true cats have two pairs of eyelids?
Does my cat listen when I talk?
Why do cats like to lie exactly where you are reading?
Why do cats arch their backs?
Why do cats like to sleep in the sun?
Why does cat pee stink worse than dog pee?
Why do cats follow you into the bathroom?
Chapter 2: CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT
Am I a cat person or a dog person?
Is one cat year really equivalent to seven human years?
How many cats are too many?
Is it better to get a kitten or an adult?
Should I get a short-haired cat or a long-haired cat?
Are purebred cats better?
What breed is best for me? What are the most popular varieties of purebred cats?
How long is my girlfriend’s cat going to live?
Should I dump my boyfriend because he doesn’t like my cat?
What are the top ten hottest cat names?
Is it better to buy a purebred cat or a “mutt” (domesticated short-haired cat)?
How do I pick the right cat from a breeder?
Do cats really have nine lives?
How do I pill my cat?
Why are so many people allergic to cats and what causes these allergies?
Can I get a hypoallergenic cat?
I love my cat, but I’m so allergic! What should I do?
Do I have to get rid of my cat because my kids are allergic?
How can I make my own cat more tolerable for guests with allergies?
Why does a cat’s rear limb nails seem to grow slower than the forelimb nails?
How do I cut my cat’s nails and how often do I have to do it?
Why does my cat use my couch as a scratching post and how do I make him stop?
Is declawing cats cruel?
Can I let my declawed cat outside?
Why does my cat has extra toes?
Can my cat donate blood?
What are FIV and FeLV?
What’s hyperthyroidism?
Are cats with white fur and blue eyes deaf?
What does it mean when my cat starts losing weight?
Why do cats puke so much?
Why do cats get hair balls and why do they look like poop?
Why do cats lick down there?
What is FLUTD and how do I treat it?
Can my cat get acne?
Chapter 3: FANCY FELINE
How much is this cat going to cost me?
Should I get pet insurance for my cat?
Can I dye my cat’s hair?
Can I paint my cat’s nails?
Is there kitty day care? Can I set up playdates for my cat?
Can I bring my cat to a hotel?
Can I take my cat on road trips with me?
Can I take my cat on the plane?
Does Tigger like to wear costumes or clothes?
How do I prevent kitty dreadlocks?
Can my cat give me fleas if he sleeps with me?
Can I give my cat a breath mint?
Which cultures still worship cats?
Do I have to teach my cat how to use the litter box?
Can I train my cat to use the toilet?
How many kitty litter boxes do I need?
Should I buy a covered or uncovered litter box?
How often do I really need to clean my cat’s litter box?
Clay, clumping, or crystals?
How big of a clump is normal?
How much kitty litter is dumped into landfills each year?
How can I make the litter box smell less unpleasant?
Why does my cat suck on my cashmere sweater?
Do cats get high from catnip? Can I use my cat’s catnip?
What’s kitty crack?
Chapter 4: KRAZY KITTY
Are there cat whisperers or pet shrinks out there?
Can I give my cat my Valium?
Are cats vengeful?
Do cats think?
Do cats cry?
Do cats mourn?
Why do cats rub their faces and bodies all over you, your furniture, and your houseguests?
Why do cats seem to like the one houseguest who hates cats the most?
What’s my cat doing when he’s kneading my blanket?
Why does my cat attack me when I rub her belly?
Why does my cat attack my ankles from across the room?
Do cats instinctively hate dogs?
How can I stop my cat from attacking my dog?
How do I make my boyfriend like cats?
Does my cat have an inner clock and how do I turn it off?
How do I stop my cat from begging for food at five forty-five a.m.?
Why do some cats cover their poop and others don’t?
Does my cat recognize herself in the mirror?
What’s the best way to hold a cat?
Is it true that cats can “suck a baby’s breath?”
Can cats really predict death or cancer?
Is it true that cats usually run away to die?
What’s my cat’s tail telling me?
Do cats cause schizophrenia?
Chapter 5: TRAINING THE FOUR-LEGGED BEAST
What’s Feliway and what does one do with these feline pheromones?
How should my cat’s collar fit?
Can I train my cat to walk on a leash or body harness?
How do I prevent my cat from killing small, innocent creatures?
Why does Tigger torture small creatures prior to killing them?
How do I prevent my cat from bringing in dead animals and leaving them on my bed?
How do I train my cat from getting stuck in trees?
How can I make my antisocial cat more social?
How can you make an unaffectionate cat affectionate?
Why don’t cats come when called?
Can I teach my cat tricks?
How do I exercise my fat, indoor cat?
Why does my cat suddenly break out in sprints, like he’s training for the Olympic 200-meter race?
Why does my cat knock things off my countertops?
Chapter 6: CATKINS DIET
What’s my cat’s ideal weight?
My cat is overweight. What should I do?
Is the Catkins diet like the Atkins diet?
Is obesity expensive?
Can I give my cat milk?
Why do cats eat grass?
How can I make my cat stop binge eating?
Can I make my cat a vegetarian?
Is canned food really bad?
If my cat is being picky, can I just starve him until he eats?
Can people eat canned cat food?
If I pay more for cat food, does it mean it’s better?
Can I prepare a homemade diet for my cat?
Is it OK to feed my cat people food?
Why don’t some cats like table food?
Does canned food cause hyperthyroidism?
Why do some cats try to cover their food after eating?
Why does my cat like to chew on my hair?
Chapter 7: THE GREAT INDOORS
Do outdoor cats have more fun?
Why do cats want to come right back inside when they just begged to go out?
Why do cats make that weird guttural sound when they see a bird outside of the window?
How many songbirds do cats kill a year?
Is it safe to let my cat catch mice and squirrels?
Can I leave my cat outside on a leash?
What’s a feral cat?
Can I get a “wild” housecat?
If I had the space, could I domesticate a tiger or wildcat?
Can I leave my cat out all night?
Is it safe to let the local stray become our family’s new pet?
Chapter 8: POISONING THE PUSSY
What are the top ten toxicities for cats?
Can household plants be poisonous to cats?
Tigger likes the tinsel on the Christmas tree. Is this OK?
Why you shouldn’t floss your teeth… unless you flush.
If I see string hanging from my cat’s butt, should I pull it?
If I see string hanging from my cat’s mouth, should I pull it?
Can I give my cat a Tylenol?
What’s the difference between the cheap stuff and the good stuff? Flea products, people, flea products…
It’s two a.m. Do I need to bring my cat in to the emergency vet?
Why are air fresheners poisonous to cats?
Why are glow sticks poisonous?
Why can’t rat poison only kill rats?
Chapter 9: SEX, DRUGS, AND ROCK AND ROLL
Why is it so difficult to sex a cat?
Why do tomcats have bigger heads?
Is it true male cats have a backward (spiked) penis; or, “Why do alley cats scream?”
How come I never see my cat’s penis?
Why does my cat spray?
Are there cat sperm donors out there?
What does a cat in heat look like?
What’s this about a Q-tip?
Is a “spay” the same as a “hysterectomy”?
Is “neutering” the same as “castrating?”
Do cats masturbate?
What’s a cat sex change?
Does neutering animals decrease the risk of cancer?
I want my cat to have one litter to teach my child about the miracle of life. What do I need to know?
Are there inbred big cats?
Is it true a lot of zoo cats have kitty AIDS?
Can I get herpes from my cat?
Why do cats like to have their rump smacked?
Are kittens identical or fraternal twins?
Do I have to get rid of my cat when I’m pregnant?
Will my cat and my baby get along?
Chapter 10: THE VET AND THE PET
My cat gets really stressed from the vet trip – can I just keep him indoors and never vaccinate him again?
How many vaccines does my cat really need?
Should I get my cat vaccinated for feline leukemia?
Why shouldn’t my cat get vaccines between the shoulder blades?
Should I get my new kitten tested for FeLV or FIV?
Why don’t cats get Lyme disease?
What is cat scratch fever?
Plague: The new rage…
Why is heartworm disease becoming more prominent in cats?
Do I have to take my cat in for vaccines if I only keep her indoor?
What is your vet really doing when she takes your cat into the back room?
How often do vets get bitten by cats?
Are veterinarians allergic to cats?
Do vets have fleas?
What are the top ten reasons people bring their cats in to the vet?
What’s a veterinary specialist?
What is Justine’s biggest veterinary pet peeve?
Should I trust a veterinarian who doesn’t own cats?
Do you do CPR on animals?
How much does it cost to euthanize?
Do I have to be present for my cat’s euthanasia?
Can I have a living will for my cat?
Do vets do autopsies on pets?
What are my options for disposing of my cat’s remains?
Is it true vet school is harder to get into than medical school?
Why are so many veterinarians women?
Do vets hate it when they hear, “I used to want to be a vet, but I couldn’t deal with euthanizing animals…”
Do you see animal abuse cases?
How do I know if I’ve found a good veterinary hospital?
What are the health benefits of having a cat?
Questions from ” It’s a Cat’s World… You Just Live In It “
Some sample questions can be found at my cat blog!
Chapter 1: CATS RULE AND DOGS DROOL
Why do cats purr?
Why do cats hiss?
How well do cats see in the dark, and why do they have vertical pupils?
Do cats get cavities?
Do cats have belly buttons?
Did curiosity kill the cat?
Does it hurt if my cat’s whiskers get cut?
Do cats fart?
Why do cats shed?
How do I make my cat shed less?
Why, when you shave your cat, does the hair grow back a different color?
Can I share clippers from my neighbor to shave my cat?
Why do cats shed more at the vet?
Why does my cat sleep so much?
Are all cats good mice catchers?
Why do cats like to be at the highest place in the room but then act like they’re afraid of heights?
Do cats always land on their feet?
Why do cats prefer to drink running water?
Do cats like to swim?
Why are orange tabbies almost always male while calicos and tortoiseshells always female?
Are black cats bad luck?
Why does my cat like NASCAR?
Why do cats like laser pointers? Will they go blind from them?
Are Siamese cats ever identical?
What in the world is anal atresia?
Why do Manx cats lack a tail?
Is it true cats have two pairs of eyelids?
Does my cat listen when I talk?
Why do cats like to lie exactly where you are reading?
Why do cats arch their backs?
Why do cats like to sleep in the sun?
Why does cat pee stink worse than dog pee?
Why do cats follow you into the bathroom?
Chapter 2: CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT
Am I a cat person or a dog person?
Is one cat year really equivalent to seven human years?
How many cats are too many?
Is it better to get a kitten or an adult?
Should I get a short-haired cat or a long-haired cat?
Are purebred cats better?
What breed is best for me? What are the most popular varieties of purebred cats?
How long is my girlfriend’s cat going to live?
Should I dump my boyfriend because he doesn’t like my cat?
What are the top ten hottest cat names?
Is it better to buy a purebred cat or a “mutt” (domesticated short-haired cat)?
How do I pick the right cat from a breeder?
Do cats really have nine lives?
How do I pill my cat?
Why are so many people allergic to cats and what causes these allergies?
Can I get a hypoallergenic cat?
I love my cat, but I’m so allergic! What should I do?
Do I have to get rid of my cat because my kids are allergic?
How can I make my own cat more tolerable for guests with allergies?
Why does a cat’s rear limb nails seem to grow slower than the forelimb nails?
How do I cut my cat’s nails and how often do I have to do it?
Why does my cat use my couch as a scratching post and how do I make him stop?
Is declawing cats cruel?
Can I let my declawed cat outside?
Why does my cat has extra toes?
Can my cat donate blood?
What are FIV and FeLV?
What’s hyperthyroidism?
Are cats with white fur and blue eyes deaf?
What does it mean when my cat starts losing weight?
Why do cats puke so much?
Why do cats get hair balls and why do they look like poop?
Why do cats lick down there?
What is FLUTD and how do I treat it?
Can my cat get acne?
Chapter 3: FANCY FELINE
How much is this cat going to cost me?
Should I get pet insurance for my cat?
Can I dye my cat’s hair?
Can I paint my cat’s nails?
Is there kitty day care? Can I set up playdates for my cat?
Can I bring my cat to a hotel?
Can I take my cat on road trips with me?
Can I take my cat on the plane?
Does Tigger like to wear costumes or clothes?
How do I prevent kitty dreadlocks?
Can my cat give me fleas if he sleeps with me?
Can I give my cat a breath mint?
Which cultures still worship cats?
Do I have to teach my cat how to use the litter box?
Can I train my cat to use the toilet?
How many kitty litter boxes do I need?
Should I buy a covered or uncovered litter box?
How often do I really need to clean my cat’s litter box?
Clay, clumping, or crystals?
How big of a clump is normal?
How much kitty litter is dumped into landfills each year?
How can I make the litter box smell less unpleasant?
Why does my cat suck on my cashmere sweater?
Do cats get high from catnip? Can I use my cat’s catnip?
What’s kitty crack?
Chapter 4: KRAZY KITTY
Are there cat whisperers or pet shrinks out there?
Can I give my cat my Valium?
Are cats vengeful?
Do cats think?
Do cats cry?
Do cats mourn?
Why do cats rub their faces and bodies all over you, your furniture, and your houseguests?
Why do cats seem to like the one houseguest who hates cats the most?
What’s my cat doing when he’s kneading my blanket?
Why does my cat attack me when I rub her belly?
Why does my cat attack my ankles from across the room?
Do cats instinctively hate dogs?
How can I stop my cat from attacking my dog?
How do I make my boyfriend like cats?
Does my cat have an inner clock and how do I turn it off?
How do I stop my cat from begging for food at five forty-five a.m.?
Why do some cats cover their poop and others don’t?
Does my cat recognize herself in the mirror?
What’s the best way to hold a cat?
Is it true that cats can “suck a baby’s breath?”
Can cats really predict death or cancer?
Is it true that cats usually run away to die?
What’s my cat’s tail telling me?
Do cats cause schizophrenia?
Chapter 5: TRAINING THE FOUR-LEGGED BEAST
What’s Feliway and what does one do with these feline pheromones?
How should my cat’s collar fit?
Can I train my cat to walk on a leash or body harness?
How do I prevent my cat from killing small, innocent creatures?
Why does Tigger torture small creatures prior to killing them?
How do I prevent my cat from bringing in dead animals and leaving them on my bed?
How do I train my cat from getting stuck in trees?
How can I make my antisocial cat more social?
How can you make an unaffectionate cat affectionate?
Why don’t cats come when called?
Can I teach my cat tricks?
How do I exercise my fat, indoor cat?
Why does my cat suddenly break out in sprints, like he’s training for the Olympic 200-meter race?
Why does my cat knock things off my countertops?
Chapter 6: CATKINS DIET
What’s my cat’s ideal weight?
My cat is overweight. What should I do?
Is the Catkins diet like the Atkins diet?
Is obesity expensive?
Can I give my cat milk?
Why do cats eat grass?
How can I make my cat stop binge eating?
Can I make my cat a vegetarian?
Is canned food really bad?
If my cat is being picky, can I just starve him until he eats?
Can people eat canned cat food?
If I pay more for cat food, does it mean it’s better?
Can I prepare a homemade diet for my cat?
Is it OK to feed my cat people food?
Why don’t some cats like table food?
Does canned food cause hyperthyroidism?
Why do some cats try to cover their food after eating?
Why does my cat like to chew on my hair?
Chapter 7: THE GREAT INDOORS
Do outdoor cats have more fun?
Why do cats want to come right back inside when they just begged to go out?
Why do cats make that weird guttural sound when they see a bird outside of the window?
How many songbirds do cats kill a year?
Is it safe to let my cat catch mice and squirrels?
Can I leave my cat outside on a leash?
What’s a feral cat?
Can I get a “wild” housecat?
If I had the space, could I domesticate a tiger or wildcat?
Can I leave my cat out all night?
Is it safe to let the local stray become our family’s new pet?
Chapter 8: POISONING THE PUSSY
What are the top ten toxicities for cats?
Can household plants be poisonous to cats?
Tigger likes the tinsel on the Christmas tree. Is this OK?
Why you shouldn’t floss your teeth… unless you flush.
If I see string hanging from my cat’s butt, should I pull it?
If I see string hanging from my cat’s mouth, should I pull it?
Can I give my cat a Tylenol?
What’s the difference between the cheap stuff and the good stuff? Flea products, people, flea products…
It’s two a.m. Do I need to bring my cat in to the emergency vet?
Why are air fresheners poisonous to cats?
Why are glow sticks poisonous?
Why can’t rat poison only kill rats?
Chapter 9: SEX, DRUGS, AND ROCK AND ROLL
Why is it so difficult to sex a cat?
Why do tomcats have bigger heads?
Is it true male cats have a backward (spiked) penis; or, “Why do alley cats scream?”
How come I never see my cat’s penis?
Why does my cat spray?
Are there cat sperm donors out there?
What does a cat in heat look like?
What’s this about a Q-tip?
Is a “spay” the same as a “hysterectomy”?
Is “neutering” the same as “castrating?”
Do cats masturbate?
What’s a cat sex change?
Does neutering animals decrease the risk of cancer?
I want my cat to have one litter to teach my child about the miracle of life. What do I need to know?
Are there inbred big cats?
Is it true a lot of zoo cats have kitty AIDS?
Can I get herpes from my cat?
Why do cats like to have their rump smacked?
Are kittens identical or fraternal twins?
Do I have to get rid of my cat when I’m pregnant?
Will my cat and my baby get along?
Chapter 10: THE VET AND THE PET
My cat gets really stressed from the vet trip – can I just keep him indoors and never vaccinate him again?
How many vaccines does my cat really need?
Should I get my cat vaccinated for feline leukemia?
Why shouldn’t my cat get vaccines between the shoulder blades?
Should I get my new kitten tested for FeLV or FIV?
Why don’t cats get Lyme disease?
What is cat scratch fever?
Plague: The new rage…
Why is heartworm disease becoming more prominent in cats?
Do I have to take my cat in for vaccines if I only keep her indoor?
What is your vet really doing when she takes your cat into the back room?
How often do vets get bitten by cats?
Are veterinarians allergic to cats?
Do vets have fleas?
What are the top ten reasons people bring their cats in to the vet?
What’s a veterinary specialist?
What is Justine’s biggest veterinary pet peeve?
Should I trust a veterinarian who doesn’t own cats?
Do you do CPR on animals?
How much does it cost to euthanize?
Do I have to be present for my cat’s euthanasia?
Can I have a living will for my cat?
Do vets do autopsies on pets?
What are my options for disposing of my cat’s remains?
Is it true vet school is harder to get into than medical school?
Why are so many veterinarians women?
Do vets hate it when they hear, “I used to want to be a vet, but I couldn’t deal with euthanizing animals…”
Do you see animal abuse cases?
How do I know if I’ve found a good veterinary hospital?
What are the health benefits of having a cat?