HEALTH AND BREEDING
238
Finding and visiting a vet
Before bringing a cat home, look for a veterinary practice
that will be willing to treat your cat. Your cat breeder may be
able to recommend one. Alternatively, ask friends with cats
or consult a local cat club or rescue center. Going to the vet
is stressful for most cats, because they encounter strangers
and other animals. Even a well-socialized cat will feel uneasy
during the visit. Always take your cat in a carrier, with its
door kept facing you in the waiting room so that he can see
you. Speak to him soothingly and reward him with
treats afterward.
If you buy a pedigree kitten, he should already have had
his first vaccinations before you take him home at about 12
weeks old. Your breeder will give you the kitten’s vaccination
certificate, which you should show the vet on your initial
visit. One of your earliest visits may be to have your cat
neutered, generally from 4 months of age.
HEALTH
Your greatest responsibility as an owner is your cat’s health.
You must ensure that your pet has regular checkups and
vaccinations and be able to recognize any changes in his body
or behavior that may require a trip to the vet. Educate yourself
about common disorders and learn how to care for your cat
when he is ill, recovering from surgery, or in an emergency.
Keep your cat free
of itchy parasites
EAR EXAMINATION
Your vet will examine the ears for mites during a routine checkup. Ear
mites are highly contagious and commonly affect kittens and outdoor
cats. They leave gritty debris in the ear canal that causes skin irritation.
Annual checkups
After his first visits, your cat will need a checkup annually,
possibly twice a year in old age. The vet will assess his
condition by checking his ears, eyes, teeth, gums, heartbeat,
breathing, and weight, and feel him all over for abnormalities.
A booster vaccination may be given. Your vet may clip your
cat’s claws if necessary, especially if he is a house cat or
elderly. The vet will also inspect your cat for parasites and give
you advice on administering worming and flea treatments.
INITIAL VACCINATION
Cats should have their first vaccinations against infectious diseases,
such as cat flu and feline leukemia, at between 9 and 12 weeks of age,
followed by annual boosters for the rest of their lives.
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THOROUGH EXAMINATION
During an annual checkup, the vet
will examine your cat from head to
tail, feeling for any tenderness or
lumps. The vet will also listen to his
heart and breathing to ensure
there are no irregularities.
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HEALTH AND BREEDING
240
■
Dehydration test Gently
lift the skin up on the back of
your cat’s neck. If the skin
springs back into position,
your cat is healthy, but if it
returns slowly, it is a sign of
dehydration. Feel the gums
with a finger—dry, tacky gums
also indicate dehydration.
■
Checking gums A healthy
cat has pink gums. Pale or white
gums indicate shock, anemia, or
blood loss; yellow gums are a
sign of jaundice; red gums are
caused by carbon-monoxide
poisoning, fever, or bleeding in
the mouth; blue gums suggest
poor oxygenation of the blood.
TOP TIPS
CAT NOT EATING HIS FOOD
Refusing food is a cause for
concern. It may indicate that
your cat is in pain or has a
serious illness needing urgent
veterinary attention.
Common health problems
Every cat will experience health problems during
his lifetime. Some complaints, such as a one-time
incident of vomiting or diarrhea, are not a major
cause for concern and do not require treatment
by a vet. Other problems, such as intestinal
worms or fleas, can be treated easily enough at
home, following instructions from your vet. More
serious disorders requiring urgent veterinary
attention include: repeated vomiting or diarrhea—
often a sign of an underlying disorder; urinary
tract infections or obstructions, which can cause
painful urination; eye problems, such as
conjunctivitis or a visible third eyelid; abscesses
from fights with other cats; and painful dental
problems preventing your cat from eating.
Signs of poor health
Cats tend to suffer in silence and do not draw attention to
themselves when they are feeling vulnerable. One of your
responsibilities as an owner is to be vigilant, keeping an eye
out for any changes in your cat’s routines and behavior
that might suggest he needs veterinary attention.
Lethargy is difficult to spot—because cats generally rest
much of the time—but decreased levels of activity, a reluctance
to jump, and reduced alertness are often signs that your cat is
ill or in pain. Lethargy is also often linked to obesity, so it may
disappear when a cat loses his excess weight.
Changes in appetite are usually a sign of an underlying
condition. A loss of appetite may be caused by pain in the
mouth, such as toothache, or a more serious illness, such
as kidney failure. Weight loss despite an increased appetite,
together with increased urination and increased thirst, may
be the result of an overactive thyroid or diabetes mellitus.
Abnormal or labored breathing may occur after a chest
injury or as a result of an obstruction in the airway, an upper
respiratory tract infection, or shock. Wheezing may be due
to asthma or bronchitis. Breathing difficulties always require
an emergency trip to the vet.
Dehydration is life-threatening and has various causes,
including vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination, and
heatstroke. You can carry out a simple test to check if your cat
is dehydrated (see box, left). Emergency rehydration involves
a vet injecting fluids under the skin or directly into a vein.
The color of a cat’s gums (see box, left) can indicate
several serious disorders, including those that affect the
circulation of oxygen in the bloodstream. Lumps on skin,
changes in grooming habits and coat texture, fur loss, and
not using the litter box can also be signs of health problems.
First aid for cats
If your cat is injured, you may need to administer first aid
before he has a chance to be seen by a vet. To treat a wound,
apply pressure with a pad of clean cloth or gauze. Do not use
tissue because it will stick to the wound. Keep the material in
place, even if it becomes soaked with blood, until you see a vet.
Removing an object embedded in a wound could cause more
bleeding—leave it in place for your vet to treat.
A cat that has had an accident, such as being hit by a car,
should be seen by a vet even if he has no visible injuries, since
there could be internal bleeding, which can lead to shock.
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TREATING SHOCK
A cat in shock may suffer from
heat loss. Wrap him loosely in
a blanket or quilt until he is
assessed by a vet.
ELIZABETHAN COLLAR
After surgery, your cat may have to
wear an Elizabethan collar for several
days to prevent him from licking or
chewing a wound that may have been
stitched to help it repair.
BANDAGED LEG
A leg wound requires bandaging by
a vet. Keep your cat inside if he has
a bandaged limb. If the dressing
becomes dirty, wet, loose, smelly,
or uncomfortable, take your cat back
to the vet for it to be changed.
Shock is a life-threatening condition
in which there is reduced blood flow,
and tissues become starved of
nutrients. Symptoms of shock
include irregular breathing, anxiety,
pale or blue gums, and a lowered
body temperature. First aid for a cat
in shock involves keeping him warm
and elevating his hindquarters to
increase blood flow to the brain while
you take him to a vet.
If you find your cat unconscious, make sure
his airway is not obstructed; listen and look for
breathing; and feel for a pulse with a finger on
one of the femoral arteries, which can be found
on the inner side of his hindlegs, where they
meet the groin. If there is no breathing, attempt
artificial respiration by gently blowing air into
your cat’s lungs down the nostrils. If there is
no heartbeat, alternate two breaths of artificial
respiration with 30 chest compressions at two
compressions per second.
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HEALTH AND BREEDING
242242
When your cat is unwell
If your cat is ill or recovering from surgery or an accident,
you must resist the temptation to stroke and cuddle him. He
will most likely not enjoy being handled in the early stages of
convalescence. Stroke or pet your cat only if he clearly wants
attention. Provide him with a warm bed, where he can be left
in peace to recuperate. Check on your cat regularly and
change the bedding if it becomes soiled. If you have an
outdoor cat, make sure he is kept indoors during his recovery
and has easy access to bowls of water and a litter box.
Administering medicine
Only give your cat medicine prescribed by a vet, and follow
the instructions carefully. You can try hiding a pill in a ball
of meat or mold a sticky treat around it, but only if your
cat is allowed to take food with his medicine. If not, or if
he rejects or coughs up the pill, you will need to place it in
his mouth (see below). This is best done with a helper to
hold your cat while you insert the pill. If you are on your
own, immobilize your cat by wrapping him in a towel, leaving
his head exposed. Liquid medicines are also widely available
and should be placed into the mouth, between the back
teeth and cheek, using a plastic syringe without a needle
or a plastic medicine dropper. Drops for the eyes or ears
can be administered while gently immobilizing your cat’s
head. Always make sure that the dropper does not touch
his eyes or ears.
If your cat is wholly resistant to being given any kind
of medicine at home, take him to your vet each day or
have him kept at the practice until the course of
treatment is over.
1
Hold your cat’s head with forefinger and
thumb on either side of his mouth. Gently
tilt his head back and pry open his jaws.
Massaging your
cat’s throat for
several seconds
will make him
swallow the pill
2
Place the pill as far back as possible on
his tongue to trigger swallowing. Give
him gentle encouragement while doing so.
3
Close your cat’s
mouth and gently
massage his throat
to make sure the pill
has been swallowed
properly. Reward
with praise and
give him a treat.
HEALTH | GIVING A PILL
Caring for a convalescing cat:
■
Give frequent small portions of food heated to body
temperature. You may have to hand-feed him initially.
■
Check your cat’s wounds daily
for redness or infection.
■
Provide a cozy bed, in a quiet
location, with a microwavable
heating pad or a hot-water
bottle wrapped in a towel.
■
Keep other pets away
from your cat while
he is recuperating.
■
Give medicine according
to your vet’s instructions.
TOP TIPS
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