Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

Signs of grief in cats are very similar to the signs of grief in people. Grieving cats may search for their missing companion, particularly if their companion was taken to the vet for euthanasia. They may also become lethargic and eat less, become disoriented and disinterested in their surroundings, or become aloof and spend time alone. Conversely, grieving cats may become more clingy and affectionate.

Provide your grieving cat with more affection and attention. Try to distract her with fun activities and play, but be aware that it may be a few days before she begins to respond to these efforts.

Keep tabs on your cat’s eating, drinking, and litter box use. If your cat fails to eat for more than a day or so, contact your veterinarian.

Make sure you don’t adopt another animal until you and your cat have adjusted to the loss. Adding a new cat at this time can cause a stressful situation to become even more so.

And most of all, be patient and compassionate — with your cat and with yourself. Allow your cat to comfort you while you comfort her. Grief is a process, and time is the only thing that heals the wound.

Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people.

Most of the lactose in yogurt is pre-digested by the bacteria, so it shouldn’t cause the intestinal problems that milk, cheese, or other dairy products do.

Because antibiotics kill intestinal flora as well as the bacteria that cause infections, my vet often recommends yogurt to people whose animals suffer from diarrhea during antibiotic treatment. If your cat is currently on antibiotics, give her the yogurt at least half an hour before or after you give the antibiotics so the medicine won’t kill the live cultures in the yogurt.

Of course, use low-fat or fat-free yogurt and avoid artificial sweeteners like saccharine or aspartame, which can be harmful to cats.

Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people.

Annual well-cat exams help to establish “normal” for your cat. If your vet has an ongoing record of your cat’s weight, for example, she will notice early changes that could spell trouble for your kitty. By the time your cat is one year old, he’s 16 in human years. After that, he ages at a rate of about four human years for every cat year. Major issues can develop quickly in a cat that grows and ages at this rate, which makes the yearly check-up even more important. Some vets recommend that senior cats (those over 10 years of age) get twice-yearly exams.

The annual exam also gives you a chance to establish a relationship with your vet. If your cat gets sick or is seriously injured, you’ll be glad you know your vet well enough to trust her with your cat’s care in a crisis. Your vet will be glad to know you and your cat well, too, so she can communicate with you as clearly as possible during a difficult time.

Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people.

Catnip is a member of the mint family. The active ingredient, nepacetalone, is what has the magic effect on our cats. It pleasantly stimulates pheromone receptors in the cat’s nose. Too much catnip can make a cat aggressive, causing her to growl or hiss, so as with all recreational pleasures, moderation is key.

Susceptibility to catnip is genetically determined, and about one-third of cats have no response to it. Most Australian cats don’t react to it. There has been some disagreement about whether lions and tigers respond to catnip in the same way domestic cats do.

The quality of catnip varies. Locally grown catnip is fresher than the stuff in pre-packaged cat toys. Fresh-from-the-garden catnip is the most effective, but dried catnip can be revived by crunching it between your hands to release the oils.

Catnip is not addictive, but if you give it to your cats every day the effect will begin to wear off, so save the ‘nip for special occasions.

Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people.