Animal Doctor

Cat Doesn't Present Her Best Side to Owner

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Sunday, May 10, 2009

Dear Dr. Fox:

My 8-year-old Himalayan cat, Sweetness, is a real delight. But every time she comes to lie down next to me, she puts her butt in my face. Can you tell me why she does this?

She was also throwing up a lot. The vet put her on prednisone, 5 milligrams daily, for two weeks. Could this harm her?

J.L.

Minneapolis

I have reached the point of despair reading letters about cats and dogs with various health problems all being given prednisone. This corticosteroid medication might be expedient and cost-containing, often making symptoms magically disappear, but it does not cure the problem. Repeated treatments can create new and difficult-to-treat health problems, including herpes flare-ups in cats and Cushing's disease in dogs. You need to find out why your cat is throwing up, not mask the symptoms.

Your cat's in-your-face antics should be accepted with gratitude and good humor. It's a friendly feline social display derived from the tail-up greeting and butt presentation of kittens to their mothers.

Dear Dr. Fox:

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