I gave my cats turkey ... now they won’t eat

Ask the vet

I gave my cats a little bit of turkey at Christmas as a treat, but now they’re really fussy with their food. We’ve tried loads of different pouches and brands but they’re still hardly eating. What can I do? Speak to your vet first, as there could be a health problem. Unlike dogs, cats can get ill if they don’t eat, so it’s important to make sure there isn’t anything wrong. Continue to offer them a good quality complete cat food, but if they still don’t eat it, take it away and try again later; don’t leave the food out. Try offering something they really like at the same time, to get them used to eating their diet again, then slowly reduce the amount of the treat offered. Food bowls should be well away from water bowls and litter trays, and apart so they can eat alone if they want.

My kids got craft sets for Christmas and unfortunately one of them decided to test out their safety scissors on our cat – by giving him a whisker cut on one side! I’ve told them off, but will Rascal be ok?

Whiskers are special hairs that are a very important part of a cat’s senses. They are quite stiff compared to other hairs, and they are connected to a cat’s muscles and nerves, which directly send information to the sensory system helping cats to react to any changes in their surroundings, cleverly judging distance and space. Fortunately, cats’ whiskers are constantly growing, falling out and being replaced which means that your cat’s whiskers will re- grow. As this can take a while, Rascal may feel more vulnerable and not want to go outside until they regrow, so provide plenty of toys and litter trays indoors.

I have a five- year- old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Binks. I heard that spaniels can sometimes have a problem with their brains being squashed because they have been bred to have such small heads. How can I tell if Binks is affected by this?

The condition is called Chiari- like malformation resulting in syringomyelia, which is particularly common in Binks’s breed. This means the skull is too small for the brain, which becomes squashed, blocking the flow of fluid around the brain and spinal cord, causing fluidfilled cavities to develop, resulting in chronic pain. Signs are usually seen before six years of age. Symptoms include “phantom” scratching at the neck, where they don’t make contact, “ducking away” from touch near the head, neck or shoulder area, face- rubbing or not wanting to exercise as well as neurological signs. Speak to your vet for further advice if Binks is showing any of these signs.

I bought two rabbits earlier this year, they are kept in a hutch and run outside. I heard that they should be brought indoors for winter, but my friend says they are fine outdoors. Which is correct?

You’re both right! With proper housing, rabbits can stay outside through winter, but it’s important to protect them from the weather as they can really feel the cold. Consider bringing them indoors or moving their hutch to a draft- free shed or car- free garage, away from fumes. Add extra bedding so they can snuggle up at night and provide plenty of feeding hay, as eating helps to keep them warm and helps to aid digestion. If you can’t move the hutch, cover it with old carpet or a thick blanket ( ensure it’s well ventilated), to help insulate and keep the warmth in. Check water is clean and not frozen multiple times daily.