1. Primordial pouch
The standout article of the year was a short piece explaining the unusual flap of skin a large number of cats have on their belly which is often incorrectly assumed to be due to weight gain. Pet owners have several names for the primordial pouch including spay sway, belly flap, apron and fat pouch.
2. Dying cats
A sad but necessary article that looks at the behavioural and physical signs which occur in the final stages of a cat’s life as well as deciding when the right time is to say goodbye and questions you can ask to help with that difficult decision.
3. Causes of scabs on cats
Lumps, bumps and scabs are a common occurrence on cats with many possible causes. The size, shape and location of the scabs can narrow down a diagnosis. We look at the common causes of scabs on cats and how they are treated.
4. Cat and kitten in different languages
Do you want to know what the word for cat or kitten is in different languages? We cover an extensive list of countries and how they spell cat and kitten.
5. Antiseptics safe for cats
Many common antiseptics which are safe for us to use are toxic to cats. Not only can they damage the skin, but toxicity can occur if the cat licks skin or fur treated with antiseptics. This article looks at which antiseptics are safe and which ones should not be used on a cat.
6. Dilated pupils
The pupil is the black slit/circular shape in the middle of the cat’s iris (the coloured part of the eye). The role of the pupil is to control the amount of light entering the eye. It does this by dilating (becoming large) and constricting (becoming small/slit-like).
A pupil which remains dilated even in increased light can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. This article looks at when pupil dilation is normal, and medical conditions that can cause the pupils to dilate.
7. Feline acne
Feline acne is a very common disorder that is characterised by blackheads (comedones) on the chin. It can range in severity from mild to severe. Common causes include the use of plastic food bowls, hormones, allergies, excessive chin rubbing, overactive sebaceous glands, stress and improper grooming.
8. Fattening up a cat
This article looks at possible medical causes of loss of appetite and/or weight loss in cats and ways to help a cat safely put on weight.
Read more about fattening up a cat here.
Medically known as iris freckles, iris freckles, iris hyperpigmentation, melanoma and iris melanosis, as the name would suggest, brown spots occur in the iris (the coloured part of the eye) and are reasonably common. They are similar to moles or pigment spots and are seen most often in cats who are middle-aged to senior.
Read more about dark spots in a cat’s eye here.
10. Black spots on cat’s gums
Lentigo is the name of a common condition in which flat, brown or black spots appear on hairless areas including the gums, lips, nose and eye margins of orange, tortoiseshell, calico, yellow, flame (red) point coloured cats. It is the result of an increase in the number of melanocytes (pigment-producing cells).
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