It was a chilly November afternoon when the clinic doors swung open. In walked Sarah, cradling her 2-year-old Sphynx kitten, Milo, wrapped in a sweater. “Doc, how long do Sphynx cats live? I read that new study saying they’re the shortest-lived breed only 6.8 years? Milo’s already got skin issues, and I’m terrified!” Milo, with

It was 3 a.m. when the shelter’s night drop-off buzzed. Inside the carrier: a trembling 1-year-old stray mom and three cold, mewling newborns one already limp. The note read: “Why Would a Mother Cat Abandon Her Kittens? She left two in the alley please save them!” The mom, now named Bella, had relocated the healthy

It was a quiet evening when the clinic’s emergency line buzzed. A panicked owner whispered: “Doc, can cats eat sour cream? My cat just dove into a bowl of sour cream and onion dip she’s licking her lips, but now her belly’s rumbling!” The cat had been eyeing the snack tray during movie night, and

Cat proof Christmas tree the ultimate challenge for every cat parent during the winter festivities. It was 11:47 p.m. on December 23 in Chicago when my emergency pager buzzed. Priya, a 32-year-old marketing executive from Lincoln Park, was in full panic: “Doc, how to keep cats out of Christmas tree? My 1-year-old tabby, Luna, just

It was a balmy August evening when the clinic line rang off the hook. On the other end was Rachel, a harried mom juggling a toddler and her 2-year-old Bengal cat, Sunny. “Doc, Can Cats eat Peaches? Sunny was batting one off the counter and took a big bite pit and all! She’s gagging now,

It was a humid July afternoon when the clinic’s adoption corner turned into a love-at-first-squish moment. In strolled Alex, a tech-savvy millennial, phone in hand: “Doc, I’m obsessed with the exotic shorthair cat—that teddy-bear face! But how much are exotic shorthair cats? Are they worth the hype, or just Instagram fluff?” Alex had been scrolling

It was a cozy Friday night when the emergency pager buzzed. On the line was Mike, a first-time cat dad, sounding guilty: “Doc, can cats have prosciutto? I was making charcuterie, and my kitten, Pepper, snatched a slice off the board she’s licking her lips, but now I’m freaking out about the salt and fat!”

It was a crisp October morning when the clinic door burst open. Sarah, a frantic cat mom, rushed in with her 3-year-old Siamese, Luna, cradled in a towel. “Doc, are ladybugs poisonous to cats? Luna was chasing a swarm of orange ladybugs in the living room they’re everywhere! She ate at least 10, and now