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    Colloidal silver?

    I have heard it recommended by vets. I think it is good as a complement to standard medical treatment or in cases where conventional medicine does not offer a solution. But talk to your vet about dosing, because colloidal silver is silver and too much can cause heavy metal poisoning.
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    new w/ questions

    Are your other cats spayed and neutered? Unneutered males can sometimes harm tiny kittens. Otherwise, the risk is minimal but it's still wise to confine and expectant mother when she gets close to delivery.
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    Will she leave?

    It's not impossible that a cat could run away, obviously, but it's very unlikely - they won't leave their home and the all-you-can eat cat food buffet if they have a choice! But letting a cat outdoors does carry risks, and you have to decide for yourself if the risks are acceptable to you. I...
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    I want this cat back

    Hissy, you've just illustrated why I always deliver my foster cats to their adoptive home personally (after checking vet references, etc). This way, if I don't like what I see, I walk straight out the door and the cat comes with me. I actually learned this after I placed a kitten who was still...
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    when to spay?

    Right now. Her first heat will come along any time now. Call the vet to make an appointment. She will benefit greatly if she is spayed before her first heat cycle, as her risk of mammary cancer will be reduced to nearly zero. Additionally, it is slightly more difficult to spay a cat who is in...
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    Calling kitty...

    Most of my cats respond to their names, but I know they also respond to the voice I use with them. My cat Roger, for instance, comes almost every time he's called (he's even been known to get up from a sound sleep!), but he only responds to other people when they mimic my "Roger voice" when they...
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    Antibiotics

    In that situation, I would give the dose as soon as I remembered it, delay the next dose by a couple of hours if at all possible, then go back to the normal schedule.
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    FIV vaccine-does it work?

    They will not get FIV even if they are not vaccinated. The virus only spreads from saliva to blood, through deep bites that puncture the skin. This kind of fighting happens pretty much exclusively between unneutered male cats fighting for territory and females. It's not at all comparable to the...
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    How long does it take for a hairball to work its way out?

    Cats don't actually "cough up hairballs". They vomit them. I'm actually not sure where the phrase "cough up hairballs" originated, but it is not accurate. Cats do cough sometimes, just like people. If it's just an occasional thing and the cat is fine otherwise, there is no need to worry. If she...
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    Question please

    They don't begin using the litterbox until about 4 weeks, but at that time I like to use World's Best (corn based) or Swheat (wheat based). They clump and are totally safe if (okay, when) the kittens try to eat them. They are a little pricey, though. If cost is an issue, you can also use plain...
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    I want this cat back

    I agree. Give it time and see what happens. I agree that this adoption doesn't sound like the best match (shy cat + small children + father who doesn't really want a cat = not the best possibility for success), but stranger things have happened and it's very possible that Dad could fall in love...
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    Rescued Stray Cat

    This cat is in need of medical attention, but it sounds like his problems are routine and related to years of fighting and probably not of a life-threatening nature, at least not in the short term. Call the area rescues and find out what vets they use for low-cost neutering. Usually, these...
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    Paw Pad - Weird Question

    This is pretty normal. I suppose you could use something like udder cream on them, but be sure to rub it in well so it's not slippery for him.
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    Should I be worried?

    I would reschedule the spay appointment for sometime next week, just to give her a chance to bounce back from the vaccines. Give the vet a call in the morning.
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    need advice on emotional distance

    Not quite. I have saved literally thousands of lives by focusing on spay/neuter first and foremost. Thousands of births have been prevented. Hundreds of friendly cats and young kittens have been placed in homes. All this because I looked at the problem and saw what the solution really was. In...
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    Feral Mama Kitty Outside (Sugestions)

    Well, keep in mind that the cats were evaluated when they were brought in to spay/neuter clinics. At this time, they had not been sterilized or vaccinated. There is no information provided as to what proportion had a regular feeder. Probably most did and some didn't. At any rate, the data...
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    From the Best Friends Forum...the new ad for Bailey

    The "before" ad was really pretty comical. I mean, who on earth would think someone would read that and want to adopt that cat! But I can understand, too - these tough cookies are hard to market!
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    need advice on emotional distance

    Of course you can't say "never" - there are exceptions to every rule. But there's a reason why the rules are there. Truly feral cats - those who have lived outdoors and/or without substantial human contact for their entire lives - are wild animals and are best served by being respected as such...
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    Feral Mama Kitty Outside (Sugestions)

    http://www.alleycat.org/pdf/buildingthebody.pdf This summarizes several studies that appeared in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). Full texts are available on the AVMA website, but you do need a password. You can probably also purchase copies. As for the...
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    high quality cat food

    You're kidding! I think I remember seeing one of the Friskies pouches that was also byproduct-free. I didn't try it because I don't buy Purina products unless absolutely necessary due to personal ethics (they're owned by Nestle). I don't think I'll be switching to Meow Mix anytime soon, but...
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