Fix My Cat

 There was a customer who came into the store today wanting to know if we had any solutions for their cat who was experiencing hairloss.

Which...there's multiple reasons why a cat could be experiencing hairloss.

And the best way to figure out why that's happening?

By going to a vet.

People working in a pet store? They only know so much.

And yet...people think that we know 'everything.' Fielding constant calls from customers who want to know 'what is wrong' with their pet....when they don't want to have to go to a vet and pay money to figure out what's wrong.

We told the cashier to tell the customer to go to the vet desk and ask.

But I had a free moment so I went to check in on the customer before they reached it.

As it might be a solution I could help with.

Hairloss can be caused by multiple things. 

Overgrooming. Ringworm. Mites. Got caught in a tight spot...there's many many many reasons why a cat could be loosing fur.

The customer showed me a brief picture of the cat's bald spot. Saying that there were red spots to it as well.

Red patches if they're scabs could mean ringworm. Or it could be bug bites. 

Though the hairloss itself looked more like the sort of hairloss from overgrooming. 

And the customer said that the red patches...seemed to be welling under the skin. 

So blood....possibly? Bruising?

*exhales* who knows.

Like.....there are non vet related solutions. Switching the diet of the cat, bathing them in a particular shampoo, adding more fish oil or something....

Yet...I still suggested to the customer that they should talk to the vet.

Especially when they mentioned that their cat was eating a ton of food...and yet losing weight. 

Loosing weight? But eating a lot?

Not a good sign.

That could be a parasite. A tumor. Some sort of cancer.

All of which should be checked out by a vet because they would know what kind of issue was causing all the problems the cat was having.

Yet the customer was more than reluctant to take that option.

Because their cat is a senior cat. Old. Though the customer isn't sure how old the kitty was. But old.

And the customer had this...fear...that if they took their kitty to the vet...the vet would recommend euthanizing it. And they didn't want to have to go through that.

Which...if the cat is eating a ton of food and being as active as a senior cat can be...

Usually euthanizing the pet is the last thing the vet wants to recommend. If the pet parent is willing to take other options. Medicines. Surgeries. Etc. Then the vet will recommend whatever solution they can to help the animal recover. 

But the customer wanted a different solution. One where they could just feed them a different food. Give them a bath. And it would all be better. 

They did say that they would go talk to the vet...but I don't know if the customer ever did....hopefully they figured out a solution. 

-Sarnic Dirchi