MANAGING THE SICK CAT
Follow your veterinarian's advice and instructions very precisely. Take your
cat for reinspection if requested to do so. If your cat's condition worsens
unexpectedly then contact your veterinarian for advice.
A suitable place for your cat
Your cat should be somewhere that is warm and dry, peaceful and quiet. There
should be sufficient light for you to observe him. It may be necessary to provide
an additional heat source such as a heat pad, a heat lamp or a hot water bottle.
These should be used with care to avoid burns or overheating. Easily washable
cat friendly bedding is advisable. A litter tray should be provided within easy
walking distance of your cat's bed.
Feeding your cat
Your sick cat needs to have both food and water. When cats are ill they will
often stop eating and drinking and it is important to monitor your cats intake
so that you know when intervention is necessary.
To encourage your cat to drink fresh water should be available all the time.
Normal healthy cats often do not drink very much because the food that they
eat contains a high proportion of water. If your cat stops eating he will need
to have fluids. If it is not possible for your cat to be given fluids by mouth
your vet will hospitalize your cat to give him the care that he needs. If you
are trying to give fluids by mouth this most easily achieved using a syringe.
Giving little and often works best. Your veterinarian will advise you about
what fluids to give.
To encourage your cat to eat offer palatable, high energy, highly digestible
food little and often. Choosing a favorite food will often meet these requirements.
Sometimes cats can be tempted by strong smelling foods such as pilchards. Warming
food to body heat often makes it more attractive. Some cats can be encouraged
by hand feeding. Your veterinarian will advise you if there are any foods that
your cat should not be given. If your cat cannot be tempted to eat voluntarily
your veterinarian may suggest giving liquid food via a syringe but this is often
not well tolerated. An alternative is to hospitalize the cat and feed it via
a tube.
Grooming and cleaning your cat
Ill cats often stop grooming themselves in which case you will need to do
this. Any discharges from the eyes, nose or mouth should be gently wiped away
once or twice a day using balls of cotton wool and warm previously boiled water.
If the coat becomes soiled or matted this should be combed out or carefully
cut off if necessary. Daily brushing or combing of your cats coat will make
your cat feel better.
Giving medicines
Give your cat any prescribed medication at the dose and frequency stated by
your veterinarian and complete the full course of treatment. If you are having
difficulty in giving tablets to your cat contact your veterinarian to see if
he can prescribe a liquid formulation instead which you could then give with
a syringe. Alternatively he may suggest crushing tablets and mixing them with
a little water so that they can be given by syringe.
Never give your cat any drugs other than those prescribed for him by your
veterinarian. Never give your cat paracetamol because this is poisonous for
cats. Only ever give your cat aspirin if advised to do so by your veterinarian;
he will tell you the appropriate dose which is much smaller than for humans
and should be given much less often.
Disinfectants
Do not used any phenol based disinfectants in the room which your cat is in
as these are toxic to cats.
Monitoring your cat
Keep a close eye on your cat and note how much he is eating and drinking and
if he is urinating and defecating and if he develops any new abnormal signs
such as vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing or coughing. You will then be able to report
this to you veterinarian which will help him to assess how your cat is progressing.
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