Westside Hospital for Cats, a veterinary practice in West L.A., is devoted exclusively to felines.
“I wanted to provide a place less stressful for cats,” said Dr. Elyse Kent, who founded her first veterinary cat clinic in 1985. “Why would they want to come in a place with their mortal enemies (dogs)?”
Not surprisingly, she knows from years of experience that a cat’s visit to her hospital is less stressful and that they are less likely to react negatively.
Kent, who was initially interested in large animal husbandry, graduated from Michigan State in 1980, and moved to West Los Angeles the following year for an internship in a small animal practice. This led her to focus on cats, beginning with a practice in Santa Monica.
“I love all animals,” Kent said, “but cats are the ultimate mystery.”
She founded the Academy of Feline Medicine in 1991 and became board certified in feline practice; she was among the first group of vets to take the feline exam in 1995, and is one of only 78 feline specialists in the world.
Her Westside Hospital for Cats, which she opened in 2000 at 2317 Cotner (between Olympic and Pico, just east of the 405), is spacious and friendly; visitors may be greeted by one of the six cats that are permanent residents.
Immediately behind the reception area is a boarding area of “guest suites”— glass pens that extend to the ceiling and form a wall behind the receptionist. While in the waiting room, one can watch cats playing, stretching and snoozing.
The facility has a surgery suite, a radiology room and a space for outpatient procedures, plus an in-house laboratory and a place for bathing.
“A lot of what we do is client education,” said Kent, who noted that about 70 percent of the cats she sees are overweight.
She doesn’t recommend dry food, pointing out that cats are carnivores, and in nature eat mice, birds, reptiles and bugs. Also, most dry foods have carbohydrates, which cats are unable to digest.
“Cats should have a diet that is high in protein, high in fats and low in carbohydrates,” Kent said. “Canned food has a lower level of carbohydrates.” A cat eating too many carbohydrates can become obese, which may result in diabetes. Added weight may also stress a cat’s joints, making the cat less likely to jump or play.
“It is not uncommon to have an obese cat newly diagnosed with diabetes to be converted to a non-diabetic state just by altering the diet,” Kent said.
She gives clients a cup that shows the correct amount of food their cat should receive every day. She also provides a small plastic ball that dry food can be placed in, and put on the floor. The cat pushes it, bats it and eventually, a small piece of dry food drops out. “Cats get bored, so it keeps them busy.”
Kent also stressed the importance of brushing a cat’s teeth, noting, “a source of shortened life span is due to dental problems.” She also knows that trying to brush a cat’s teeth is not an easy or pleasant task. Her advice: cats like the side of their face by the mouth to be massaged, which makes it easier to brush their teeth. Additionally, chicken-flavored toothpaste makes felines more likely to allow the brushing motion.
If one’s cat needs medication, how do you get them to swallow the pill without spitting it out?
“It’s a matter of outwitting them,” said Kent, who noted that some medicines come in cream form and can be put in the inside of an ear. Liquid medicine is also easier to use than pill form.
Kent was asked if there’s a particular breed that people can adopt if they are allergic to cats.
“No. Most people think they are allergic to the hair, but in reality it’s the cat’s dried saliva and most cats are fastidious about keeping clean.”
Kent said that lymphoma, a common cancer in cats, is usually treatable. “Chemotherapy is well tolerated in cats. It usually goes into remission after the third week of treatment of a 14-week therapy.”
She recommends pet insurance, which is relatively inexpensive (about $30 a month), but pays for 95 percent of medical fees.
To stop cats from destroying furniture with their claws, “buy a scratching post, trim their nails or use soft paws [plastic tips that go on the cat’s claws],” Kent said. “Cats still feel like they are clawing, but they don’t damage furniture.”
For more advice about cats, visit felinedocs.com, a blog that Kent and 18 other cat doctors across America update.
Before recently moving to Marina Del Rey, Kent lived in the Highlands with her children, Nick (23) and Lexi (21), who graduated from Palisades High School.
Visit: Westsidehospitalforcats.com or call (310) 479-2428 for a list of services and hours.
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