Colds and sniffles

Bite wounds and abscesses

Urinary problems

Eye problems

Digestive problems

Vomiting

bland diet for vomiting cats

Diarrhea

bland diet for cats with diarrhea

Common Health Problems

Colds and sniffles

Cats are susceptible to many respiratory viruses. Although some of these infections can become serious, most are not. If your kitten gets the sniffles, but continues to play vigorously and to eat and drink normally, treatment is unnecessary. If he acts sick or stops eating, or if you see a cloudy discharge from the eyes or nose, seek veterinary attention. Do not give cats aspirin, Tylenol or similar human medications.

Bite wounds and abscesses

Cats have sharp teeth, equally effective for catching prey or inflicting deep bite wounds that quickly become infected. Under the hair, these bite wounds are almost invisible, so the first sign of trouble will probably be when you notice signs of infection such as lameness, or a swollen area on the face, neck or tail base area.  

The next stage, development of an abscess, happens quickly.  White blood cells, the body's natural defense against bacteria, move into the infected area and start killing bacteria.  Pretty soon we have a puss-filled pocket called an abscess.

If close to the surface, the abscess will eventually drain on its own.  The central area of skin, deprived of its blood supply, slowly dies and falls off, allowing pus to escape.  The cat feels better right away and the wound heals.   Unfortunately, the abscess usually comes back, because the wound heals with some of the infection still inside.

Abscess treatment:

To prevent the long period of illness before an abscess drains on its own, and to keep the abscess from coming back afterwards, we drain it surgically.  We usually open the abscess at the bottom and top, flush it with an antibacterial solution, and place a light rubber drain tube.  This drain tube keeps the hole open, pus continues to drain for a day or two, and the abscess begins to heal.  We remove the tube after four or five days, allowing the surgical openings to heal.  

Abscess prevention:

Bite wound abscesses can usually be prevented if antibiotics are given within the first twenty four hours.  If your cat is a regular patient with a history of bite wound infections and was in a fight last night, call us right away.  In such cases we are often willing to dispense antibiotics without an  examination.

Urinary problems

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, (FLUTD), also called FUS or Feline Urological Syndrome, is a common and potentially fatal disease that causes gritty little sand-like stones to form in the urinary tract. The stones cause great discomfort, and in male cats can cause complete urinary obstruction, kidney shut-down and death.

The most important causative factors seem to be the amount of magnesium and other minerals in the diet, the acidity of the urine, and the amount of time urine is held in the bladder before voiding.

• Feed a food  which is formulated to minimize the amount of magnesium in the urine and maintain a pH which discourages stone formation.  These days, any brand name food for the normal adult cat should be fine.  Avoid generics and the cheapest brands.
• Canned foods are much less likely to cause a problem than dry foods. 
• Provide continual access to a clean, roomy litter box or dry area outdoors suitable for digging. Many cats hold their urine in wet weather and should be provided with a litter box during the rainy season.

Eye problems

Eye problems, especially those affecting only one eye, require immediate attention.

Cats frequently scratch each other's eyes when fighting. If left untreated, these small corneal lacerations quickly become big eye ulcers.

If you live in California and your cat is suddenly squinting one eye in the summertime, there is probably a foxtail in it. If you cannot easily remove the foxtail yourself, come see us right away.

Digestive Problems

In kittens, vomiting or diarrhea can quickly become life threatening. Whenever any cat vomits more than 24 hours or vomits and acts depressed, veterinary attention is needed.

Cats are discriminating about what they eat, so they don't have much digestive trouble. A few cats occasionally gobble their food so fast they regurgitate undigested (and usually unchewed) food immediately afterwards. If this happens, withdraw food for half an hour and then give smaller amounts.

If your cat vomits but continues to act alert and interested in food you may want to try home treatment for 24 hours before seeking veterinary attention.

Vomiting  -  treatment of gastritis

1. Rest the digestive tract
   Allow no food or water until your cat has gone at least six hours without vomiting. The digestive tract needs complete rest.
2. Offer small amounts of water
   Begin with very small amounts of water at frequent intervals.  Offer water every fifteen minutes or so, giving one teaspoonful at a time. Over a period of a few hours, gradually increase the amounts offered, until your cat's thirst is satisfied. If you wish, offer clear liquids such as chicken broth. After at least six hours, when your cat's thirst has been satisfied, you may begin giving small amounts of food.
3. Offer small amounts of food
   Begin offering small amounts of bland, easy to digest food:
   Give about one half teaspoonful at a time. Over a period of twenty four hours, gradually increase the amounts being fed until your cat's hunger is satisfied. Do not rush things.
4. Slowly return to normal
   The following day, begin mixing the bland diet half and half with your cat's regular food. Instead of one or two big feedings, divide the normal amount into four or five small feedings.

Bland diet for vomiting cats

Mix one half cup of cooked white rice with one fourth cup of cooked chicken (no grease, no skin). Boiled or baked potato may be substituted for the rice. Or use Feline ID, a prescription diet available from veterinarians.

Diarrhea  -  treatment of enteritis

Episodes of diarrhea lasting no more than a day or two are not unusual. If your cat is eating and alert, there is no cause for alarm. Feed a normal amount of food (see recipe below) divided into four or five small servings fed at intervals throughout the day. Persistent or severe diarrhea requires veterinary attention.

Bland diet for cats with diarrhea

Mix one and a half cups of cooked white rice or potato with one half cup of cottage cheese. Remove liquid from the cottage cheese by squeezing it between several layers of paper towels. Or use Feline ID.