We are Certified Cat-Friendly!

The AAFP Welcomes Olathe Animal Hospital to the Cat Friendly Practice Program Cats are purring their way into the hearts and homes of the American public.  The cat is king, with more than 86 million cats loved as pets, compared to 78 million dogs. With the number of people choosing cats… Read more

Getting your cat to the Veterinarian

The average domestic house cat leads a comfortable, routine life.  A typical daily agenda might involve sleeping in a prime sun spot, chasing a favorite toy, or playing with that vase of fresh cut flowers.  What is NOT on a cat’s preferred agenda?  —–a visit to the veterinarian.  A trip to… Read more

Anesthesia Safety Precautions

If you have ever had your pet under anesthesia at our hospital, you know that we do not take anesthesia lightly.  However, many people don’t realize what we do or why we do it.  This past week gave us a perfect example of why we require these safety measures for anesthetic procedures.  Before… Read more

Signs of Illness in Cats

Cats outnumber dogs in their overall numbers as pets, but studies have shown that they see the veterinarian less often than their canine counterparts.  One of the reasons is that their illnesses are typically much more subtle.  Ten very common signs of illnesses in cats are: 1.  Inappropriate… Read more

Veterinary Oral Health Council

The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is an organization designed to “recognize products that meet pre-set standards of plaque and calculus (tartar) retardation in dogs and cats.”  The VOHC recognizes these products by giving them their “seal of acceptance.”  In order to achieve the… Read more

Enticing cats to drink more water

For many medical conditions, increasing the amount of water that cats drink is an important part of treatment.  However, many cats don’t drink regularly and it can be very difficult to get them to change this behavior.  The following list is a compilation of ideas and tricks to get cats to… Read more

Chewing gum can be toxic!

Many types of sugar free products contain a product called xylitol.  These products may be chewing gums, candies, or even some medications.  Although xylitol is safe for people, it is toxic to dogs. How does xylitol cause toxicity? Xylitol causes the pancreas to release large amounts of… Read more

Unexpected weight loss in cats can be serious

If your cat loses weight suddenly, pay attention! Sudden weight loss in a cat can be a red flag for potentially serious medical conditions, especially if his/her appetite remains normal (or is increased).  Some of the more common causes of sudden weight loss in cats include: diabetes mellitus,… Read more

Top 10 Reasons Your Cat May Have Stopped Using the Litterbox

It is extremely frustrating to find that your cat is not using the litterbox. Some cats may use their litterbox for years and then stop using it for no apparent reason. Most likely there IS a reason they have stopped, and to fix the problem, you will need to figure out what the reason is. It is… Read more