Cats Articles

Arizona law allows an Arizona-licensed veterinarian to establish a VCPR through a real-time audio-video examination when statutory requirements are met. This guide explains electronic VCPR consent rules, controlled-substance limits, the current 14+14-day prescription framework, the signed SB 1286 changes taking effect September 12, 2026, the Arizona CSPMP veterinarian exemption, and what Vetster, Dutch and Chewy currently offer Arizona cat owners.

Canadian pet owners face emergency vet bills exceeding $5,000. This 2026 guide compares Trupanion (unlimited payout, 90%), Petsecure (four tiers, wellness add-on, $14k max), and Sonnet (Intact-backed, digital-first) on hereditary coverage, waiting periods, deductible structures, H5N1 coverage, provincial availability, and real monthly premiums for cats and dogs. Includes pre-existing condition trap avoidance and a comprehensive buy checklist.

Compare pet insurance for Maine Coon, Sphynx and Bengal cats in the U.S. with 2026 coverage terms, waiting periods and pre-existing-condition rules. Learn how hereditary risks such as Maine Coon HCM/SMA, Sphynx HCM/CMS and Bengal PRA-b/PK deficiency affect what to check before buying a policy.

California bans non-therapeutic cat declawing statewide under AB 867, effective January 1, 2026. This updated guide explains the medical exception in Business and Professions Code § 4826.8, Veterinary Medical Board enforcement, California tenant protections under Civil Code § 1942.7, and legal alternatives such as nail trimming, scratching posts and temporary claw caps.

California's statewide feline declawing restriction took effect January 1, 2026 under AB 867 — not AB 1230. This updated guide explains Business and Professions Code §4826.8, the therapeutic-purpose exception, Veterinary Medical Board discipline and penalty limits, the City of Los Angeles' older local ordinance, California landlord protections under Civil Code §1942.7, and evidence-based alternatives to declawing.

Gabapentin, fluoxetine and Bonqat are not interchangeable cat anxiety treatments. Gabapentin has controlled-trial evidence for situational/pre-visit stress but is extra-label in cats; fluoxetine is an extra-label SSRI with evidence for selected chronic behavior problems such as urine marking; and Bonqat (pregabalin) is FDA-approved for acute fear and anxiety associated with transportation and veterinary visits. This September 2026 guide also corrects outdated gabapentin state-law lists, explains Michigan's 2024 de-scheduling, Utah's veterinary exemption, North Carolina reporting rules, and the common xylitol misconception about human gabapentin liquid.

In Canada, when a cat bites a human, provincial public health authorities can mandate a 10-day quarantine observation period — even for cats that have never been outdoors. This 2026 guide explains the exact quarantine protocol province by province, what happens if your cat is not vaccinated, whether you must report a cat bite to public health, and what the real consequences are for refusing quarantine in Ontario, BC, Alberta, and Quebec.

Cat telemedicine changed substantially in 2026. Chewy now has free vet-tech chat plus $49.99 veterinarian video visits with prescribing in seven states; Vetster lists $102 single appointments; whiskerDocs now lists $39.99 call/chat or $129.99/year; Dutch costs $132/year for unlimited virtual care; and PangoVet advertises a $29.95 no-prescription consult. This updated guide compares current prices, prescription limits, VCPR rules, and the cat symptoms that should bypass telehealth for immediate in-person care.

Colorado was part of the 2025 Savage Cat Food H5N1 investigation, but CSU's non-negative PCR result and a later negative NVSL virus-isolation result should not be simplified into a confirmed food-to-cat match. This updated guide explains the Savage recall timeline, the stronger New York evidence, FDA's actual PCAF H5N1 requirement, why the widely cited indoor-cat fomite cases were in Michigan rather than Colorado, current raw-food risk reduction, and how Colorado owners should check recalls and protect cats.