Supercats Health

The health of your cat depends on one thing. You.

It's your responsibility to look after your cat, at least as well as you look after yourself.

The Healthy Cat

The Sick Cat

The Damaged Cat

Illness & Injury

Diseases

First Aid

Life Style

If you have any doubts at all about the health of your cat,you can always try http://www.vethelpdirect.com/

A guide to what constitutes a Healthy Cat.

General

Weight

Eyes

Toilet

Sleep

Coat

Action

A healthy cat generally will have a healthy attitude, usually it will purr when stroked for any length of time, also it should not show any signs of bizarre behaviour.

A healthy cat breathes slowly and rhythmically at rest, and increases its respiratory rate when becoming more active.

When a cat becomes ill it doesn't understand what's wrong, and it will not understand that you are trying to help it, please remember this when examining or treating your cat and it scratches you badly in it's attempts to get away from you. In an adult cat his weight will change very little over short periods of time. As it says on the outside of catfood tins, cats (healthy cats) will regulate their own food intake, and this in turn will regulate their weight. Your cat should have a healthy appetite. Sudden changes in weight and or appetite, should be at least noticed by the caring owner and the reasons for the change should be given very careful consideration. If your cat is currently a healthy feline, now would be a good time to weigh it for future reference.

Similarly a healthy cat has regular drinking habits. Some cats never seem to be drinking, others are regularly at the drinking bowl, but your cat will have a routine. It helps if you know roughly how much your cat drinks.

A healthy cat will have clear bright eyes, with no signs of any discharge. If a discharge appears, take your cat to the vet as soon as possible, don't simply wipe away any discharge and assume nothings really wrong.

A healthy cat will have clean and dry nostrils.

A healthy cat should have healthy, regular toilet habits. This is easy to check in cats that use litter trays, but not so easy for outdoor cats. If your cat becomes ill and you do take him to a vet, the vet will almost certainly ask about this aspect of his life. Please don't stand there looking stupid, unprepared for the question.

A healthy cat sleeps quite a bit as you know, but is your cat currently sleeping too much, and perhaps in an unfamiliar place. This could be sign of illness. But as cats get older they tend to sleep a bit longer.

Your cat's fur should be sleek and unbroken, with no patches of missing fur or thin areas, which should be grounds for concern.. A healthy cat will have a constant habit of regularly grooming himself.

When handled a healthy cat should show no signs of pain, or discomfort or any form of irritation. When the cat moves across the floor it will do so in a fluid motion.

The Sick Cat

There are few things as demoralizing, as watching your pet suffering while you can only look on helplessly. Even watching your pet die as a result of simple old age is very distressing.
So what can you do?

On the day that you take your cat home with you for the very first time, register with a good vet, and use his services properly, if only for a thorough checkup when you give your cat his yearly booster injections.

Find out which vet at your surgery is the cat lover, and try to always see this vet only. I have known vet's who just don't "click" so well when it comes to cats.

A good vet will be a godsend to you when your cat eventually does fall ill, sadly some vet's it seems to me only seem to go through the motions during diagnosis and care, and many of them don't listen properly to the "worried" owner.
As I said earlier. Find a good vet, and use him wisely.

The Damaged Cat

Cats, just like people, can be damaged.They may become blind or deaf, they may lose limbs. this is no cause for concern though.

Three legged cats.

3 legged cats adapt well and are usually as agile and active as 4 legged cats. Three-legged cats may need help grooming areas that would normally be groomed by the now-missing leg. Th cat will work out his new limitations and how to compensate for a missing leg. He must build up additional strength in his other limbs. He can't do this if you carry him everywhere.

After an initial adjustment period, which is sometimes painful to watch, he will probably be able to jump and climb much as before. If he has lost a hind leg, he may not be able to jump as high. If he has lost a foreleg, he may find landing more difficult, especially when jumping down from a high place.
The loss of a fore-leg is actually more serious for a cat than the loss of a hind-leg. This is because the forelegs are used when the cat lands after jumping while the hindlegs are used mostly for propulsion. If the cat cannot 'stop' quickly enough it's jaw can be damaged and of course it's remaining leg. He will also not be able to defend himself as well as before. It may be necessary to consider making him an indoor cat if he wasn't before.

It is important that a three-legged cat is not allowed to become obese because he has fewer limbs on which to distribute his weight. It is also important that he get exercise, gentle at first to help him adapt to his condition and more active later on to strengthen his remaining limbs. Most 3 legged cats adapt well enough to become as active and energetic as they were before losing the leg - but you can't expect this to happen overnight and it may be painful to watch him adjusting.

Some kittens lose a limb very early on because the umbilical cord gets tangled round it and stops it from developing, or because the mother cat is inexperienced and mishandles the kitten (sometimes biting off the kitten's paw due to a fault in her grooming behaviour) or through some other birth defect which caused the limb to be deformed. If the leg is amputated early in life, the kitten grows up on 3 legs and doesn't know any different. There are very many happy and healthy cats in the world whose nickname is "tripod".

Deaf Cats

Some cats, e.g. some blue-eyed whites, are born deaf. Many other cats are thought to be 'grumpy' by owners who don't realise that their cat can't hear. Deafness can be congenital or related to age, illness or physical injury. Many cats lose their hearing gradually as they age (as do many humans), sudden loss of hearing is normally the result of illness or injury and may be temporary or permanent.

Where hearing loss is gradual, it can be ages before you realise that Puss is deaf because the cat compensates for its lack of hearing. Where hearing loss is sudden, the cat may appear confused, irritable, over-attached to the owner, insecure or exhibit other 'unusual' behaviours in response to the sudden loss of this sense. Some deaf cats call out more often and more loudly (they cannot regulate their own volume) while others may become mute.

As with blindness, deafness varies in degree. In most older cats, hearing loss is gradual and not apparent until the later stages since cats do not always respond to being called. A cat with unilateral deafness may turn its head more often to increase the chance of picking up sounds with the hearing ear.

Poor hearing makes cats defensive - they strike out first and ask questions later. Click your finger nails close to each ear in turn (make sure that it can't see your hands though) - does it respond? Is it easily startled if you approach it from behind and touch it?

Some deaf cats learn to respond to hand signals similar to those used in distance control of dogs. At close range, sharp handclaps might provide enough vibration in the air to get the cat's attention. Flashing a torch (flashlight), shone in the direction of the cat, on and off can be used to call it in from the garden at dusk (this also works with hearing cats) especially if it the flashing light is followed by a tasty incentive.

Deaf cats cannot hear warning sounds such as car engines, lawnmowers or barking dogs. If it goes outdoors, make sure it is wearing a collar (in case it is startled by something and bolts) and write 'I AM DEAF' on the collar to help people who wonder why the cat fails to react to shouts, car horns etc.

A noisy bell on its collar will help you to locate its whereabouts when it is in motion. It is safest to confine a deaf cat to a safely fenced garden unless, like me, you are in a quiet area with no aggressive dogs and plenty of cat-lovers pre pared to take extra care.

In June 2003, a German acoustics expert announced his invention of a hearing aid for cats. Hans-Rainer Kurz, a hearing aid specialist, took two years to develop the hearing aid with help from experts at the Vetenarian University in Hanover. They developed a tiny device, which can be implanted in the cat's outer ear. Herr Kurz has already had success with a similar aid for dogs. He admitted that the device would not cure totally deaf cats, but could help those with severe hearing difficulties. The hearing aid ensures that the cat is able to take the usual acoustic signals and re-work them into sounds in the brain. Quiet sounds that hearing-impaired cats had never heard before would become distinguishable. The feline hearing aid currently costs around £300.

Illness and Injury

If you have any doubts whatsoever about your cats health, don't wait until its obvious that something is wrong , see the vet as soon as possible.

Things you should look out for (Symptoms)

Is your cat vomiting?
Does your cat have diarrhoea?
Is it sneezing, coughing or breathing abnormally?
Is it bleeding?
Is it drinking too much?
Is it losing weight?

Vomiting in a cat may be caused by something as trivial as a furball, which all cats tend to "bring up" once in a while, to poisoning which is obviously much more of a problem. If this is the first time you have seen it vomit, simply remember the following points. It may be a cat that grooms itself a lot, this could mean that it is simply bringing up furballs, you will probably have to get used to this, especially if your cat is a longhair variety. Although I myself, have two longhairs and only one has a regular furball event. Also some greedy cats simply eat too much and their small stomach objects. It may also have eaten something that is normally perhaps acceptable but just does not agree with your cat.

However if your cat is vomiting and it looks "dull and in poor condition", I would recommend you
visit your vet as soon as possible

Diarrhoea is no more normal in cats than in people. It's causes should always be investigated.

Again if you're lucky the cat may have eaten something that simply does not agree with him, even something as simple as a saucer of milk can cause diarrhoea. However your cat may have been poisoned, either accidentally or on purpose. If the faeces are bloody, consult your vet immediately. If the cat is also vomiting, consult your vet immediately. Also if the cat has diarrhoea and looks to be in general poor condition, you should also consult your vet as soon as possible

Diseases

FELINE DISTEMPER also called PANLEUKOPENIA, or INFECTIOUS ENTERITIS, viral disease of cats, kittens two to six months old being most susceptible. About 3 to 10 days after exposure to the disease, infected kittens cough and sneeze, have running eyes and nose, are feverish, lose their appetites, vomit, and have diarrhoea. The number of white cells in the blood drops severely. The disease rarely lasts more than a week, but the mortality rate is high. Vaccines offer effective immunity.

FELINE LEUKEMIA also called FELINE LYMPHOSARCOMA, viral disease of cats, one of the most serious diseases affecting small domestic animals. Symptoms include enlargement of the lymph nodes, depression, emaciation, and, frequently, diarrhoea; there is no known treatment, and the outcome is usually fatal. A fluorescent antibody test developed in the 1970's produced evidence that the virus is present in many apparently healthy cats. The disease can spread among animals; however, there is no proved connection with leukemia in humans.

FELINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE a complex of viral contagions of cats (including rhinotracheitis, pneumonitis, and influenza), marked by fever, sneezing, and running eyes and nose. Rhinotracheitis and pneumonitis are the most common and have identical symptoms. Mortality is low, but recovery from severe cases may be difficult and prolonged, with relapses. A vaccine is available against pneumonitis. Treatment is supportive. Antibiotics are used to prevent secondary bacterial infections.

Diseases of the Liver The liver is a very important organ, it breaks down food for absorption by the intestine and it produces Bile which is important for the digestion of fats. Liver disease tend to creep up on you. Look out for loss of weight and appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy. Liver disease can also cause jaundice. If Jaundice is severe the whites of the eyes, the gums and the roof of the mouth become yellow. The liver can also become enlarged. In a healthy cat where liver disease is spotted soon enough, the cat can often make a good recovery, but the chances become less so if liver disease goes unnoticed or unchecked and liver cirrhosis may set in. Cats that have liver disease should be fed a low fat diet that is easily digestible, they should be fed little but often.

First Aid

You should read this before you need the information it contains, afterwards is a bit late.

Any time your cat has an event that requires first aid, you should see the vet even if things appear to be ok again.

On no account should you use any medicines on cats that have not been specifically approved for them.

Animal first aid is very similar to first aid for humans.
First do no harm.
A cat that requires first aid should be handled very carefully and gently so as to avoid further injury.
Only move the animal the minimal mount necessary.
Avoid movement of the head neck or spine.
If you must carry the animal, try to use a flat board or even a box to carry it in.

The cat should be kept warm, unless the animal is suffering from heat stroke in which case it will need cooling.

Where possible a vet is best for first aid.

Bleeding

Broken Bones

Burns

Breathing

Poisoning

Drowning

Convulsions and Fits

Aftercare

Bleeding should almost always be attended to by a vet.
If your cat has a small wound, that is bleeding just a very small amount, it may be possible to dress it or even leave it alone completely if you are relatively sure that there is no danger from infection. But if possible do dress it.

Any worse than this and the cat should visit the vet. Cats are small animals they don't have much blood in the first place and can quickly suffer from shock.

It is seldom practical for the average owner to try to do more than the very basics for a cat with suspected broken bones, get the cat to the vet immediately. In doing so move the cat as little as possible, it's usually best to slide the cat onto a makeshift stretcher of some sort, even a coat will do. Allow the head to be just a little lower than the body of the cat. Keep it warm on the way to the vet's surgery.

Burns can be caused by hot liquid spillage, electricity, flame or chemicals. Treat with cold water or ice, apply an ointment such as petroleum jelly and contact your vet immediatly.

Breathing problems. Remove the cats collar if it is wearing one. Open the cats mouth an make sure that iit's airways are clear and that it's tongue is forward, wipe away saliva blood or vomit. If necessary give artificial respiration. Gently.

Poison, if you suspect poisoning contact a vet as soon as possible, and also try to identify the poison as this will help treatment, but do not delay. If the cat has been poisoned by licking a poison on its coat then clean the coat immediatley.

Drowning. A cat that appears to be in a bad way owing to drowning may be helped by grasping it by its back legs and swinging it around and around a couple of times. This should force any liquid out of the airways. Next consider artificial respiration.

Convulsions may be caused by many things, i.e poison, electric shock etc. The cat should be made comfortable and should see the vet as soon as possiible. If it has a collar remove it. Put the cat somewhere quiet until you can get to the vet or the vet can get to you.

Aftercare is similar again to that given to people.

Your cat will now need lots of tender loving care.
Your actions may be the difference between success and failure.
Follow closely the vet's instructions regarding medication and treatment.
Keep it warm and away from draughts and in a place where it is quiet, but also make sure the place is familiar to the animal.
At this time the vet may give you extra instructions regarding feeding, your cat will require additional food to enable a quicker recovery.
Good stuff for injured cats are foods that are rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals and should be easily digestible.
Try the following :
Beeftea
Dilute Honey (2tsp to a cup of water)
Dilute Glucose (2tsp to a cup of water)
Fresh fish and shellfish
Good quality minced meat
Cooked poultry
Cooked liver
Specialist foods are available for cats that are reluctant to eat due to the actual injury or lack of interest due to illness. These foods are highly palatable to any cat.

Pills are given to cats either in whole form or crushed and added to food. cats have agood sense of smell and can suss this out and so the food should be something really smelly that your cat loves to eat, like for instance Tuna.

Life Style

Your Cat's Life

Neutering

House Cat?

Declawing

From birth to one year old your cat is technically a kitten. A kitten should have a kitten type diet to encourage development.

From 1 year to about 8 or 9 it is a youthful cat and after this it becomes a senior cat. Just as a kitten has a special diet,so too should a senior cat have a modified diet as it gets older.

Thanks to good neutrition and tender loving care pet cats can live a long time these days. well over 15 years and 20 years is not uncommon.
By comparison a Feral cat that has to look out for itself will probably not live much longer than 5 or 6 years.

Unless you plan to breed from your cat(s), you should seriously consider having your pet neutered.

An unneutered queen that is allowed to go outside will quickly present you with a litter of unwanted kittens. Shortly after these have been weaned she will present you with another litter and another, etc.. It's not fair on your queen and she will be far happier as a neutered cat. An uneutered queen in heat makes a lot of very scary noise, jumps around a lot and rolls around a lot. This can continue for a week.

The unneutered male has problems of a different kind. They are very territorial and will fight to preserve this territory. This leads to all kinds of injuries and are a nice little earner for the vet. The unneutered male will also mark this territory, he may do this in your house, but even worse he may do it in someone else's house. This gives you the owner a real headache. The unneutered male is of course responsible for all the litters that the unneutered queen is going to produce and is responsible for the subsequent looking after and re-housing of the kittens.

Neutered pets may put on a little extra weight, but this is easily remedied by controlled diet, and they will live much happier lives.