Dawn dish detergent, the miracle product rescuers use to clean oil-coated birds, will also work for your cat, if you use this procedure: Put the detergent on your cat’s fur before you get him wet. Massage it in for several minutes. By using the detergent before you wet your cat, the oil will get bound up in the soap rather than just causing the soap and water to slick off without touching the oil. Rinse your cat’s fur with warm water until no more suds come out.

My reader reported that this technique worked like a charm, and her kitty’s fur was clean after the first try.

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.

Teething can be as uncomfortable for kittens as it is for babies. Although cats do not fuss and cry while their teeth are coming in, they may show behaviors that indicate discomfort such as chewing on inappropriate objects.

PetStages makes a chewing toy called the Catnip Crunchy Chew Stick, which can help relieve the discomfort. The chew stick can be frozen, so it provides a firm chewing surface and the cold that can help ease the pain and irritation of teething. My cats have a bunch of PetStages toys, and they enjoy them very much.

Be sure to check your kitten’s mouth every couple of days and make sure those teeth are coming in properly. If she stops eating or begins to act lethargic, get in touch with your vet right away.

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.

First, make sure you and your cat are positioned properly. Let your cat sit on a table, facing away from you. Hold him with your non-dominant hand. You can then use your dominant hand to trim his claws.

Use the right tool for the job. A special scissor designed for trimming cat nails is the best choice, but a sharp fingernail clipper will work too.

Make sure you are calm as well. If you come off as anxious and stressed, your cat will pick up on that and it will make him more upset.

If your cat squirms and struggles, or if he is new to claw trimming, do only one or two claws at a time and reward him with a treat afterwards.

If all else fails, have a professional groomer or your vet trim those nails. They can show you their technique, which might make it easier for you in the future.

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.

The questionnaire is fairly long but it’s also very thorough and informative. It considers current age, weight, physical activity, diet and feeding practices, health care, behavioral issues, social interaction, possible disease and health conditions, and safety. It also provides detailed information about your answers and some interesting cat data such as the fact that 35 to 45 percent of cats are obese.

I am proud to sat that my cat Ed is 13.1 years younger than the average cat age for his breed (mixed). Considering that the average cat lives 15 to 17 years, he should be around another nine years or so, especially if I start brushing his teeth.

Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

The areas to clip short are in the armpits, inside the back legs and chest area, or anywhere you have noticed matting on your cat in the past.

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.

DNA tests are now available for cats that check for various diseases such as Kidney Disease, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Retinal Atrophy. They can also determine if your cat has the Dilute Gene (causes the coat to lighten or darken) or the Albino Gene. Two companies offering these services are www.animalsdna.com and www.catgenes.org.

But don’t look for a test to determine your cat’s breed – they’re not out yet. You’ll have to use a breed selector and do your own leg work.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

According to a Tufts study, cats exposed to second hand smoke are much more likely to develop lymphoma cancer. It’s also thought these cats are more likely to develop feline oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), lung disease and eye irritation. So, it’s best to stop smoking, smoke outside or at least smoke in a room where your cat is not allowed.

And, if catch your cat taking a puff, remind him of the dangers to his health.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

Some human drugs – such as antidepressants and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and Baclofen (a muscle relaxant) – can sicken or even kill your feline so keep medications off counter tops and securely stored in a cabinet or drawer. If both you and your cat are on medication, avoid mix-ups by keeping the vials in separate places.

Maryann Mott is a pet journalist and author. Her books and articles can be found at Petwriter.com and you can follow her on Twitter here.

If you want the cats you are vacation-sitting to love you – and since you are a dog person you indeed DO want everybody to love and approve of you because that’s how you’re wired – DO clean the litter box every day. Cats have to prance around in the box to do what they do. How would you feel if your box were full of last night’s dinner? Cats love dog people (and dogs) who take care of them.

Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, click here to follow them on Twitter.

Go to the pet store and buy the most highly recommended cat toy you can find. Don’t even try to pick it out yourself. Dog people will pick up a useless rope tug toy or a big heavy kong. Let the salesperson guide you. (And do not be cheap. Heaven forbid Kitty chokes on your cheap chicken feather covered scrap.) Then, enter softly, rustle the bag, and whisper, “Who’s your daddy?” as you bring out that catnip toy on a fly fishing rod. Bet you’ll have that cat eating out of your hand in no time.

Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, click here to follow them on Twitter.