Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA

Certified Veterinary Technician

Deanne Pawlisch is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who does corporate training for veterinary practices and has taught at the NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program at the Harper College in Illinois. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University.

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Q&A Comments (53)

I have almost earned my kittens trust. How can I now train him to use the litter box? He is 3 months old and if I can't train him today or tomorrow, my mom said she will throw him out!

Kittens need a soft substrate and privacy. Make sure your litterbox is accessible to the kitten (the sides should not be so high that he struggles to get into it). Keeping the litter box clean by scooping it daily and washing it out weekly is also recommended. Cats prefer non-scented small grained litter. You should have 1 litterbox per cat in the household, plus one extra. If your kitten is not using it litterbox, have a veterinarian examine him and submit a fecal and urine sample for lab testing. This will rule out any physical problems your kitten may be experiencing.

I've taken in an orphan kitten that was born in the wild. She always hisses at me and seems scared. I've tried to give her space and talk to her in a friendly tone, but she's still scared.

Be patient! Semi-feral kittens may take longer to socialize. Make sure that your kitten has an area that it can call its own, away from the hustle and bustle of the household. Make feeding time enjoyable and an opportunity to interact. Start with sitting in the room where the cat eats. Work up to hand feeding your kitten. Avoid eye-contact if your kitten acts nervous. Go slow, be patient, and use treats to let her know that you are a source of food.

How often should you feed your neon tetra?

Neon Tetras should be fed 2-4 times daily. Keep track of how much food they eat at a given feeding, so you do not overfeed them.

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Co-authored Articles (73)

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Treat Diarrhea in Parakeets

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Tell How Old a Betta Fish Is

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Diagnose and Treat Dislocated Joints in Cats

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Know if a Canary Is Male or Female

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Tell if a Cat Has a Sore Throat

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Care for Scorpions

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Get Rid of Worms in Cats

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Help a Cat That Is Dragging Its Rear Legs

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Diagnose Your Tree Frog's Illness

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