Welcome to our “Ask Dr. Paola” series, where every Monday we bring expert advice straight from Dr. Paola Cuevas (MVZ) to help our readers better understand their cat’s health and well-being.

Whether you’re a new pet parent or a seasoned cat lover, Dr. Paola is here to provide answers to your most pressing questions. From nutrition tips and preventive care to troubleshooting common behavioral issues, Dr. Paola is ready to offer insights that will keep your kitty happy, healthy, and feline fine. Stay tuned for expert guidance on a range of topics that matter most to you and your cat, so you can make informed decisions and provide the best possible care for your furry companion. ‎

Have‎ a ‎question? Send it in here!

Help! I Was Quoted High from My Vet!

“What’s a reasonable price for a cat tooth removal? Bat Cat is a senior and
needs one of his top canine teeth removed, and we were quoted $1500 USD. Is that normal, or should we shop around?“- Harry

Hi Harry,

I can feel how much you care about Bat Cat, and as a fellow veterinarian, I want to help you put that $1500 estimate in context so you can make the best decision for his welfare. In general practice in the United States, a single tooth extraction for a cat, including pre-anesthetic blood work, general anesthesia, dental X-rays, pain medication, and hospitalization, most often lands somewhere between about $600 and $2000 total for one problematic tooth, depending on where you live, the complexity of the extraction, and whether there are additional services included. Costs reported by multiple veterinary cost guides show that typical total fees can range from the mid-hundreds into the low four-figures for a single extraction when all of these components are factored in. Your quote of $1500 for a senior feline with a top canine falls within that broad range and is not unusually high for a fully inclusive dental surgery estimate.

That said, dentistry pricing varies significantly between general practices, community clinics, and specialty dental services, much like how the price of a human dental procedure differs between a family dentist and a board-certified dental surgeon. It can be reasonable to shop around or ask for a detailed breakdown of what is included in that price so you are comparing apples to apples, focusing on safe anesthesia and appropriate post-operative pain management. If finances are a concern, some general practices or community clinics offer more affordable options without compromising Bat Cat’s comfort and safety.

Best,

– Dr. Paola

Help! When Does Grooming Become Over-Grooming?

“Skywalker, our cat, has been overgrooming for about 4 years. It’s become worse over time. She has completely licked all the hair off her stomach as far up her chest as she can. Then she licked all the hair off her back legs. Now she’s working on the front legs. We’ve taken her to the vet, who can’t find a reason for it, but just gave her antibiotics and skin wipes to heal the few sores that had developed. The sores are gone, but she just keeps licking.

Just to confirm, there have been no changes in her environment at all. We have tried other foods, but it doesn’t seem to matter. Thank you, Dr. Paola!“ – Kitty

Hi Kitty,

Thank you for trusting me with Skywalker’s story. I know how distressing chronic overgrooming can be to witness, especially when you feel you have searched the galaxy for answers and are still coming up empty-handed. Chronic overgrooming, as you describe, is rarely a habit in the casual sense; it is more like a fire alarm that keeps ringing because something deeper has not been addressed. In cats, this pattern most commonly reflects ongoing itch or discomfort even when the skin appears relatively calm. The most frequent underlying causes include allergic disease, especially flea allergy dermatitis and non-food hypersensitivity, neuropathic or orthopedic pain referred to the abdomen or limbs, and, less commonly, psychogenic overgrooming, which is truly a diagnosis of exclusion. Antibiotics and wipes can calm secondary skin infection, but they do not shut off the itch or discomfort signal driving the licking.

One key concept I often share with pet parents is that cats do not read the same rulebook as dogs when it comes to allergies. Many allergic cats never show obvious redness; instead, they barber their fur with their tongue, leaving the classic bald belly and legs you are seeing. Even indoor cats with no visible fleas can have flea allergy, since a single bite can trigger weeks of intense itch, and note every preventive treatment repels fleas before they bite. Pain is another commonly missed piece, particularly spinal or hip discomfort, where licking becomes the cat equivalent of rubbing a sore shoulder. Food trials also need to be very controlled and long enough, typically eight to twelve weeks using a truly novel or hydrolyzed diet, to give reliable answers.

At this stage, a more structured workup with a veterinarian comfortable managing feline dermatology and pain assessment would be ideal, as Skywalker’s quality of life is clearly being affected. With persistence and a methodical approach, many cats like Skywalker do improve, and helping her feel comfortable in her own skin again is a very achievable goal. I hope this helps.

– Dr. Paola

Help! My Cat is Yowling!

“Isabella is 2 years old and has been happy living with us for the past year, but sometimes she wanders around our house, sniffs the furniture, and yowls. I know cats mourn the loss of another cat companion, but is it possible she is mourning the loss of my Pumpkin, whom she never met? If so, how do I explain to her that Pumpkin has been gone for nearly 2 years now?“– Melanie

Hi Melanie,

This is such a thoughtful question, and it speaks volumes about how deeply you observe Isabella. While cats do grieve, the evidence we have from behavioral medicine tells us they mourn individuals they have formed a direct bond with, not those they have never met. Isabella is not grieving Pumpkin in the same way humans could, and there is no way to explain time or past loss to a cat. What you are seeing is more consistent with feline vocalization tied to unmet needs, environmental curiosity, anxiety, or even subtle frustration. Think of it like pacing while talking out loud on the phone; the behavior is expressive, not reflective of a specific memory.

Yowling paired with sniffing furniture is often associated with arousal or uncertainty rather than sadness. At two years old, Isabella is in a developmental stage where energy levels, mental stimulation, and social engagement matter greatly. Medical causes such as gastrointestinal discomfort, urinary tract irritation, or early musculoskeletal pain should also be kept on the radar, as cats frequently express physical discomfort through vocalization rather than overt limping or withdrawal. This is well described in feline behavior and pain literature, where vocal changes are considered a common sign of internal discomfort.
If Isabella is otherwise eating, using the litter box normally, and interacting affectionately, this behavior is unlikely to represent grief. A structured daily routine with predictable play, food puzzles, and interactive engagement often helps settle this kind of restlessness. You are clearly attuned to her emotional world, and that awareness alone already gives Isabella a sense of safety and stability.

Kind regards,

– Dr. Paola