Tag Archives: cats

The soundtrack of my college years went silent with Jimmy Buffett’s passing over Labor Day weekend. The cause of death was widely reported as a rare form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma. Animals also suffer from this rare form of cancer, so today I’ll discuss Merkel cell tumors in animals, in honor of Jimmy Buffett.

The second Sunday in September is National Pet Memorial Day, a day to remember those pets who are no longer with us in person but remain in our hearts forever. For those who have recently lost their favorite fur person, I want to take this opportunity to recommend some books that might be helpful during the grieving process.

The decision to euthanize a beloved pet is one of the most heart wrenching decisions pet lovers have to make. I am quite certain every pet family with an ill or aging pet hopes their pet will die peacefully in their sleep. I am also certain pets rarely die peacefully in their sleep, forcing most pet families to decide to euthanize their favorite fur person. Not only do they have to decide when, but also where. I frequently talk with pet families about the pros and cons of home euthanasia.

Our pets endear themselves to us when they exhibit human-like qualities – affectionate licks and “kisses,” a cuddle when we are low and an exuberant greeting when we return home. Snoring is another human-like trait that sometimes occurs in pets. But snoring is often a sign of an underlying health problem, so should pet families consider snoring an endearing quality or a health concern?

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, and we’re highlighting our feline friends throughout month with a series of feline-focused posts. Last week, I wrote about the most common type of cancer diagnosed and treated in cats, lymphoma. This final June blogpost, I will summarize the latest feline research studies that directly impact cat families.