Cat Heath

Let me first say that I am no veterinarian. The information that you will find here is what I have found from various sources and things that I have learned over the years from taking care of and working with cats. NEVER solely depend on what you find here Always consult your vet before attempting any treatment. If you have any questions or if there is something that you would like to see talked about here, feel free to e mail me at renblackcat@att.net

Although many of us consider the cat to be a domesticated pet, this is not really so. No matter what restrictions we impose on our cats, they are still essentially cats and will always display a certain amount of wild cat behavior. We can neuter them, keep them safely confined indoors and well fed, but they will still have the roaming instinct, and will want to hunt and catch prey even if they have just finished a nice meal of Whiskas!. This is something that we cannot change. Ask any cat lover and they would say part of the charm of living with a cat is that it is probably the nearest most of us will ever get to sharing our home with a wild creature. If you want an obedient,well-behaved,dependable and loyal follower, choose a dog. If you want a lifelong friend who chooses you, will offer companionship and sense your every mood instinctively, while still retaining an independent streak, then a cat is for you.

Choosing a Veterinarian is Something you need to do right away. Don't wait until your cat is sick or has an accident. You never know when your cat will need Med attention so having a Vet before hand is a real good idea. Try to find a vet that has good knowledge of cats and is up to date on the various illnesses and ailments that can affect the feline. Find someone who is close by. Ask other cat owners what vet they use. Some cat clubs have local advisers who may be able to help you but, personal recommendations are best.

The best time to introduce a cat into your home is when you have plenty of time to spare, and there are few other people about.When you first bring your new cat or kitten home,it is best to keep him in a small area such as your bathroom or bedroom for the first few days.It will be less overwelming for him.Show him where his litter box is right away as he may want to use it.The stress of travel can play havoc on the bowels.If you have other pets,they will get to know your new kitty through the door.Before you introduce them take your new kitty to the vet and have him tested for FELV/FIV.It is very importent when you get a new pet to take it to the vet for a check up and shots right away.Also give your other pets lots of extra love and attention.This will help them to be more forgiveing of the new arival.When you first introduce your new kitty to your other pets,never leave them alone.It's a good idea to have a squrit bottle full of water handy just in case any scuffles break out.

To help insure your cats heath and well being, it is very important to feed him a well balanced diet. When becoming a cat owner you have taken on the responsibility for its welfare, and correct feeding is very important. I highly recommend feeding your cat Science Diet. This you can get from your Vet or local pet or feed store. It is equally important to have clean fresh water available at all times.

Be constant with what you feed your feline friend. Constantly changing foods can cause intestinal problems, diarrhea and finicky ness. Never give your cat milk or fish. Milk is hard on the digestive system and fish when given in large amounts and often, can cause health problems as well.

Specialty foods and even table scraps can be given as treats on occasion but, not until after the base diet is eaten.Cooked(never raw)meats,cottage cheese, cooked vegetables and yogurt are foods with strong taste appeal. Treats should not exceed 20 percent of a cat's total daily ration. Uncooked meat or fish should not be given because of the danger of transmitting disease. Cats like to have their food served at room temperature. Give your cat something to chew on once a week to promote good oral hygiene. A large knuckle bone is good especially if a little meat is on it. Avoid long bones like chicken or ribs that can splinter.

The growth of a cat's coat is controlled by many things. Some cats by selective breeding, carry a more abundant coat. Cat hair unlike human, does not grow continuously. It grows in cycles. Each follicle has a period of rapid growth followed by a slower one; and then a resting phase. Cat hair grows at a rate of about one-third of an inch a month. During the resting period, mature hair remains in the follicles but becomes detached at the base. As the cycle begins again, young hair pushes out the old causing it to shed.

Too much female hormone in the system can slow the growth of hair. Too little thyroid hormone often impairs the growth, texture and luster of the coat. Ill health, run down condition, hormone imbalance, vitamin deficiency or parasites can cause the coat to be too thin and brittle. If you think your cats coat isn't up to par, take him to your vet for a check up.

many believe that it is the seasonal temperature change that governs when a cat sheds his coat.However,shedding is influenced more by changes in surrounding light. The more exposure to light, the greater the shedding.

Even though your cat keeps himself relatively clean, you should still brush him at regular intervals. The more hair you remove, the less he can lick off and swallow helping to lesson hairballs and shedding about the house. Also frequent brushing helps keep the coat sleek and free of parasites. Brushes with natural bristles are best. They produce less static electricity and broken hair.

When brushing a short haired cat, begin at the head and work toward the tail, using a narrow toothed comb. Then brush in the same direction with a bristle or rubber brush. Lastly,use a chamois cloth to polish the coat and give a nice sheen.

With a long haired cat, use a wide toothed comb and work against the lay of the hair to fluff out the coat. Work upward over the legs and sides of the chest, the back, flanks and tail. Then use a brush in the same way. The fur around the head should be brushed up to form a frame for the face.

When brushing your cat is a good time to examine him. Check his eyes making sure they are clear and bright. Look in his mouth to check his teeth and see that his gums are a nice healthly pink. Pale gums are an indication of a health problem. Run your hands through his coat checking for any lumps or wounds. When you do this everyday it will really help you to know your cat. If you ever find anything unusual, take your cat in to be checked.

Home Emergency Kit Some good things to have on hand
Adhesive tape-1 inch roll Cotton tipped applicators-Qtips Eyedropper--plastic Furacin ointment Gauze pads-3 X 3 inch Gauze roll 3 inch Hairball remedy(commercial,Petroleum jelly-not carbolated) Hemostat curved or straight Plaster splint Rubbing alcohol Scalpel and Scissors PHisoHex "Tamed" iodine or other antiseptic Thermonmeter Tweezers

ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION

Two methods are used. The chest compression technique consists of applying force to the chest wall which pushes air out and allows the elastic recoil of the chest to draw air back in. It is the easiest to do. Mouth to nose forced respiration is used when the compression method is ineffective, or when the chest is punctured.

 

Steps in chest compression

 

1. Feel for pulse or heart beat.

 

2. Open mouth and clear away secretions. Check for a foreign body. If found, remove if possible. If impossible to reach, execute the Heimlich maneuver.

 

3. Lay the cat on a flat surface with his right side down.

 

4. Squeeze the chest sharply from side to side. Release quickly. Repeat every four seconds. If properly performed, you should be able to hear air moving in and out. If you can't ,proceed with mouth to nose resuscitation. 5. Continue until the cat breathes on his own, or as long as the heart beats.

 

Mouth to Nose

 

1. Perform steps 1 and 2 in Chest Compression.

 

2. Pull the tongue forward and close the mouth. Seal the lips with your hand.

 

3. Place your mouth over the cat's nose and blow in steadily for three seconds. The chest will expand. Release to let the air come back out.

 

4 .Continue until the cat breathes on his own, or as ling as the heart beats.

 

Heart Massage

 

1 Perform steps 1 and 2 in Chest Compression.

 

2. Lay the cat on his right side. Place your thumbs on one side of his sternum and your fingers on the other, just behind the elbows.

 

3. Compress the chest firmly six times. Wait five seconds to let the chest expand then repeat.

 

4. Continue until the heart beats on its own, or until no heart beat is felt for five minutes.

BURNS

Burns can be caused by a number of things such as heat,chemicals,electric shock and radiation (sunburn) to name a few. White cats are especially subsepable to sunburn and should be kept indoors. Treatment: Apply cold water soaks or ice packs to small burns for 20 minutes to relieve pain. Clip away hair and wash area gently with a surgical soap. Blot dry. Apply a topical antibiotic ointment. Protect the area from rubbing by wrapping loosely with gauze dressing. Treat chemical burns by flushing them with copious amounts of water. Acid on the skin is neutralized by rinsing with baking soda(4 tablespoons to a pint of water). Alkali is neutralized by rinsing with a vinegar solution (2 table spoons per pint of water). This must be done within five minutes to be effective.

COLD EXPOSURE

prolonged exposure to cold results in a drop in body temperature. It is most likely to happen when a cat is wet. Hypothermia also occurs in shock, after a long anesthetic, and in newborn kittens. Signs of hypothermia are violent shivering followed by listlessness and lethargy; a rectal temperature below 97 degrees and finally, collapse and coma.TreatmentWarm a chilled cat by applying warm water packs to the armpits, chest and abdomen. The temperature of the pack should be about that of a baby bottle. continue to change the packs until the rectal temperature reaches 100 degrees. Warming with a hair dryer works well too. As the cat begins to move about, give him some honey or sugar added to water(4 teaspoons per pint).

DEHYDRATION

Dehydration is excess loss of body fluids. Usually it involves loss of both water and electrolytes. During illness, dehydration may be due to inadequate fluid intake. Fever increases the loss of water. Other common causes are prolonged vomiting and diarrhea. Dehydration causes skin to lose elasticity. When the skin along the back is picked up into a fold, it should spring back into place. In dehydration, the skin stays up in a ridge. Treatment If your cat is dehydrated, he should receive prompt veterinary attention. Treatment is directed at replacing fluids and preventing further losses.

HEAT STROKE

Heat Stroke is definitely an emergency that requires immediate and prompt treatment. Cat do not tolerate high temperatures as well as humans. They depend upon rapid breathing to exchange warm air for cool air. Heat stressed cats will drool a lot and lick themselves to spread the saliva on their coats. The evaporation of the saliva helps to cool them. When the air temperature is close to body temperature cooling by evaporation is not an efficient process.

 

Common things that can cause heat stroke are leaving a cat in a hot car or being confined on concrete runs without shade in hot weather. Being a short-nosed breed, such as a Persian. Any cat suffering from airway disease; being overweight, or having a condition that impairs breathing.

 

Signs of heat stroke are rapid frantic noisy breathing. The tongue and mucous membranes are bright red; saliva is thick and tenacious; the cat often vomits and his rectal temperature rises sometimes over 106 degrees. Treatment: Emergency measures must begin at once. Mild cases respond to moving the cat to a cooler place like an air-conditioned building or car. If his temp is over 104,or if he is unsteady on his fee, he should be cooled by immersing him in a tub of cold water or wrap him in cold wet towels. Ice packs can be applied to his head. Prevention: NEVER leave a cat in a car even if it is parked in the shade and the windows are cracked open. Make sure your cat always has access to water and shade.

SHOCK

Shock is lack of adequate blood flow to meet the body's needs. Adequate blood flow requires effective heart pumping, open intact vessels, and sufficient blood volume to maintain flow and pressure. Any condition adversely affecting the heart,vessels,or blood volume, can induce shock.

 

Common causes of shock are: dehydration prolonged vomiting and diarrhea} heat strike, severe infections, poisoning, and hemorrhage. Falling from a height and being hit by a car are the most common causes of traumatic shock in the cat.

 

The signs of shock are: a drop in body temperature,shivering,listlessness and mental depression; weakness, cold feet and legs, pale skin and mucous membranes, and a weak faint pulse.

Treatment: First evaluate the cat. Is he breathing? Does he have a heartbeat? What are the extent of his injuries? Is he in shock? If so, proceed as follows:

 

1. If not breathing, proceed with artificial respiration.

 

2. If no heart beat or pulse, administer heart massage.

 

3. If unconscious, check to be sure his airway is open. Clear secretions from his mouth with your fingers. Pull out his tongue to keep his airway clear of secretions. Keep his head lower than his body.

 

4. control bleeding

 

5. To prevent further aggravation of shock:

 

A Calm him and speak soothingly.

 

B Let him assume the most comfortable position. He will naturally adopt the one of least pain. Don't force him to lie down-it may make his breathing more difficult.

 

C When possible, splint or support broken bones before moving the cat.

 

D Wrap the cat in a blanket to provide warmth and protect injured extremities. Do not attempt to muzzle a cat. This may impair is breathing.

Male Casteration

PURRING

EYES

Lumps and Bumps