Bad teeth can louse up everything, in cats or humans. They start a feedback loop of inflammation that can exacerbate stud tail, urinary irritation, allergies, or even arthritis. With the bad teeth gone, Merlin will be a MUCH happier camper soon!

The "stud tail" spot was one of the ones Smudge was over-washing before I got his medicine regimen sorted. He's a multi-allergy cat, and is doing much better now that he's eating grain-free food and getting chlorpheniramine and Omega Caps (skin/coat supplement) in a bit of canned food twice a day and transdermal prednisolone in his ear every other night. But even now I sometimes give him an extra dose of the latter when he starts scratching his face too much! I think the hot summer weather brings out mold that's bad for him.

Ah - he just left his snooze basket to head for the kitchen. Time for some Tuna Special, perhaps...

Love, Columbine