PET CORNER:

Help and advice for every animal-lover

My gerbils sometimes stop moving and then shake for a while. My friend said they could have epilepsy – can gerbils get this? Can I do anything to help them?

Some gerbils can suffer from seizures very similar to epilepsy seen in people. Although it can be alarming when it happens, fits usually pass quickly and without permanent harm. Stay calm and don’t try to pick them up, as a calm and peaceful environment can help a quick recovery. Try and remove any stressors (loud noises, other animals, sudden changes in temperature etc) from their environment. Allow them to recover in a quiet and low light area. Fits shouldn’t last more than a couple of minutes – your vet can advise you further.

My kitten, Juliet, has an obsession with tearing up paper, especially at night while I’m asleep, but I’m worried she might choke on the small pieces. Why does she do this, and how can I get her to stop?

Cats and kittens are naturally lively at night and want to play. So, it’s likely Juliet is just bored and looking for things to entertain herself with. Make sure she has plenty of suitable toys – keep a few out at a time and swap for different toys every other night, so she always has something new to play with. Toys she can chase or pounce on, or that move unpredictably, are ideal to tempt her away from potential choking hazards such as paper. You may need to consider restricting which rooms she has access to at night, if the problem persists.

I’ve recently started a veg patch in my garden, and I need to fight off the hoards of slugs! I’ve heard slug pellets can be dangerous to pets though, and I wondered if there are any pet-safe pellets?

All chemical-based slug pellets are toxic to pets in varying degrees. Pellets containing metaldehyde in particular can be fatal to pets, as well as to people and wildlife, even in small amounts, so it’s best not to use them if you have small children or pets around, or want to garden organically. There are plenty of pet-safe options though – hydrated lime can be sprinkled as a barrier around plants to deter slugs and increase your soil pH, but you’ll have to replace it regularly. Beer traps can be a good

solution, but you’ll also need to keep pets away from those, as well as face disposing of them in the morning! For more advice on keeping pets safe in the garden visit our website: pdsa.org.uk/ gardens

I recently adopted a stray cat, Frankie. When she goes to bed she grabs a mouthful of bedding and pads about on her cushion for ages. Why does she do this?

‘Kneading’ is usually a sign of a cat seeking or mimicking the comfort they experienced when they were kittens, when they would knead their mother when feeding. If Frankie is doing this when she is feeling relaxed and happy it’s a lovely sign that she has settled in your home and she feels she can demonstrate this behaviour. You should take this as a compliment!