Animal Talk – July 2019

Are whiskers hair?

Y

ou’ll be forgiven for thinking that whiskers are hair and part of

a cat’s coat, but this is not true. Whiskers are not hair and are

embedded deeper in the cat’s body than her coat. There is a follicle loaded

with nerves at the root of the whisker, and this connects the whiskers to

the muscular and nervous system. These sensors send information about

the cat’s surroundings to her nervous system, which help her to navigate

her way around.

Small animal veterinarian

A cat’s whiskers are much harder

than the rest of her coat. Are

whiskers made of hair?

C

ats are unique in their reaction to catnip, and the response can be very dramatic in some

cats – rolling, licking, rubbing, drooling, jumping, running and growling. Other cats appear

to become very sedate after exposure. And then there are the few (up to 30% of the cat population)

who don’t respond at all to catnip. In any case, for all of the (sometimes entertaining) behaviours

seen, catnip is completely non-toxic to cats.

If a large quantity of fresh catnip is consumed, you may see some vomiting or diarrhoea, but this is rare

and self-limiting. If your cat experiences this, limit or withhold the catnip.

Small animal veterinarian

Catnip overdose

My cat goes completely crazy over catnip, which is really funny to

watch, but is it dangerous?

New name

I

t is possible to change a dog’s name and can be done,

especially if the name is long, sounds like a cue such as sit, or

similar to another family member’s name. Ideally, a name should

be two syllables, easy to pronounce and not embarrassing when

you call your dog in public.

To change your new dog’s name is quite easy. Start by carrying

treats with you. Wait until the dog is relatively close to you, then

call out the new name in a happy, excited tone of voice. As soon

as your dog looks at you, immediately give him a treat. Do this

often the first few days. He will quickly learn that the word means

something good and he will respond when you call his new name.

You can gradually reduce the frequency of treats, but always

praise him when he looks at or comes to you when you call him.

Small animal veterinarian

Can I change my adopted dog’s name to something easier

for us to remember? Will it confuse the dog if we do?

Time-consuming

M

uch time needs to be spent on a

parrot. Apart from cleaning his

cage and feeding him, a parrot needs

a lot of love, attention and training.

A parrot never ‘grows up’ to look

after himself and will never be

independent. He needs a lot of

attention and if

you are single

and spend much time

away from home, then a

parrot may not be

for you.

I’m thinking of getting a parrot, but are

they time-consuming pets?

Small animal veterinarian