Winter Newsletter 2023

Predatory Play in Cats

Predatory Play is a common and normal behavior in cats. This type of activity is when your cat directs their playful behavior toward you. Cats stalking, chasing, attacking, ambushing, pouncing, fighting, and biting you are all normal behaviors of predatory play. Cats are natural hunters and when we made them 100% indoor only cats, we took that away from them. Therefore, it is our job to create situations where they can mimic this behavior.

This can be done by providing enough self-play, interactive play with owners, and social play with other cats (if possible). Types of interactive play with owners can include wands, dangling toys, laser pointer, and toys or items that can be thrown and retrieved. Feathered wands are intended to imitate flying prey and should be used in the air as if they are flying. Non-feathered wands are made for play on the ground, the cat chasing behind the item. After they catch/kill the toy we should reward them with a treat immediately. This will simulate an actual “hunt”, “kill”, and “eat” behavior. Self-play or foraging can be created by using ping pong balls, motorized toys, and catnip kicker toys, which are also great for cats to attack, bunny kick, and snuggle with.

Toy rotation is a simple idea that will keep your cat more interested in playing and prevent boredom. Hiding toys that provide food around the house are also good ways to allow your cat to hunt. Some of those options are Doc & Phoebe mice hunters, treat balls, and puzzle bowls.

If you believe your cat is exhibiting these behaviors, please call our office to make a behavior consultation appointment with Erica, LVT.

-Erica Suarez, LVT

Office Hours

M,W,F                 9-6

T,Th                    9-8

Routine Bloodwork

Pet blood work has is recommended by veterinarians as a regular part of pets' preventative care routines. Routine blood work can help diagnose underlying conditions such as parasites, allergies, diabetes, liver disease, kidney failure, pancreatic issues, endocrine diseases, infections, and more. Catching issues early is the key to reverse, cure, or slow down different conditions. We often hear pet parents say, "they seem fine, we will pass on it this year." But, this is the best time to perform blood work. We can uncover conditions and begin treatment before your pet is ever ill or experiencing symptoms. Or we gain valuable information if the blood work is normal. If the only time your pet has blood work performed is when he or she is sick, we have no baseline for normal to compare to.

Blood work is quick, easy, non-invasive, not painful, and can be performed via a technician appointment. Routine pet blood work collects info such as:

Complete blood count (CBC) – Red blood cells (checks for anemia and dehydration), White blood cells (checks for infection and inflammation), Plasma (liver problems, too much fat in blood, destruction of blood cells), Platelets (clotting factors), Hemoglobin (oxygen carrying capacity of blood)

Chemistry – Liver values, kidney values, blood sugar, proteins, potassium, and some panels include muscle enzymes, full electrolyte analysis, pancreatic enzymes, cholesterol/fats in blood.

-Dr. Hailee Cotter

It’s that time of year again – Animal Dental Health Month starts February 1^st!

Appointments are already full – call to be put on our cancellation list!

Employee Spotlight:

Tia Hicks (she/her):

We are excited to introduce Tia, our newest veterinary assistant. She joined the team in December, however, she has been involved in the veterinary field for 20 years. She started out as a volunteer at a vet clinic at 12 years of age and received on the job training to become a veterinary assistant. She has a passion for helping sick patients and loves to see how they improve with treatment.

She and her husband, Mike, have been married since 2011. They live in Eaton Rapids with their 2 children, Jaxon (10y) and Alexia (6y). At home they have a cat named Grace, 2 dogs named Harley & ‘Cuda, a rabbit named Pickles, 5 hens, and a rooster named Hei Hei. In her free time, Tia loves to ride her motorcycle or cruise around in her top-down Jeep Wrangler. She loves traveling with her family, by bike or Jeep, all over the United States.