The treatment of cats when they are ill can be quite a problem for many owners.  Anyone who has tried to get medicine into a reluctant kitten can testify as to how difficult it can be.  A cat will struggle hard and long to prevent you getting anything down his throat that he doesn’t fancy.  Come to think of it I remember one of my children being a bit like that as well!

So how can it be done.  One approach is to take a cat pill, powder it fine, and mix it in with some of her favourite wet cat food.  Usually this will work, and you pet will think she’s been given a special treat without realising that she’s been tricked into taking medicine. A similar approach can be taken with the contents of capsules.

If this doesn’t work, possibly because you cat recognises a change in flavour, you may need to try stronger tactics.  Your vet may be able to supply you with a pill shooter which gently but firmly shoots the pill into the back of the throat, from where hopefully it is swallowed.  Or you may have to hold her head firmly, open her mouth and manual flick the pill into the back of her throat.  Once the pill is in there, by either of those methods, you should hold the cat’s mouth closed for a few moments and almost certainly the medicine will be swallowed.

It’s not always easy, and in extreme cases you may need to take further advice from your vet.  But whatever you do, remember that the treatment of cat diseases is important and can be urgent.  Always make sure that your pet takes the medication prescribed.

Tags: cat medication, cat medicine, cat pill, cat treatment, treatment of cats

A responsible cat owner will always want to protect the health of the family pet.  Especially where there are children people often treat their cat as a member of the family.  Keeping it healthy and treating it well when ill are seen as solemn responsibilities.

In this article we will look at a few starting points for your cats health. As with humans an important  influence on health is diet, and not only the nature and quality of food but also its quantity

Feline obesity is a major problem in the ‘developed’ countries of the world, where both people and the their animals have become far too prone to eating far too much of the wrong kinds of food.  In the UK, for example, it has been estimated that almost 35% of cats are overweight

Obesity can lead to heart disease, especially as your pet ages.  It is important to manage the quality, quantity and frequency of feeding a cat in this situation.  Get advice from your vet as to all three of these points.  The necessary mix of nutrient material can be crucial to health,and even to survival, and it could be very different from what you might yourself expect.

Whilst shorthaired cats can groom themselves, those with longer hair often need some help.  Keeping your cat’s hair clean and in good condition is important to its health.  Try to give it a good brush on at least a weekly basis.  Incidentally, this can be an excellent way to create an affectionate bond between you and your cat.

Cat dentistry can become necessary.  Mouth infections are not rare.  Even more common, in female cats, are unwanted pregnancies. Unless you especially want a litter of kittens, it is good practice to have your kitten neutered.  Repeated litters of unwanted kittens are not good either for you, the cat, or the kittens themselves.  Remember also that following a sterilisation your cat may need an adjustment to her diet, and you should check this with the vet who does the operation.

Many people prefer to remove the claws of pet cats so as avoid risk of scratches both to humans and to their furniture.  In many countries, however, this is now an illegal practice and hopefully will become so more widely.  Claws are an inherent part of being a cat, and declawing is an attack on its ‘cattiness’.  It is done solely for the convenience of a human owner, with no benefit to the animal itself.

Providing somewhere for your cat to deposit its urine and faeces other than on a corner of your carpet is vital both for your health and hers.  A litter box or tray is a must. However, this does need to be ket clean.  Contaminated areas of litter should be removed daily and all of it replaced weekly.  Be sure to use litter material which is highly absorbent and also, especially if your cat is prone to attacks of feline asthma, make sure that it is not too dusty.

As with small children you should be careful what you leave lying around in the house. Poisonous liquids especially should be away from access even by an adventurous kitten.  You may also be well advised to check on the safety of your houseplants and their fruits.

Cats tend to bond strongly to their location.  Removal to another town or city, or example, can be quite traumatic. Use a cat carrier to transport your pet, and your vet should be able to recommend a mild sedative if he considers it appropriate.

Don’t forget to have your kitten immunised against the more common cat diseases, especially if it is not being kept totally indoors.  Infections pass quickly from cat to cat.  Take advice from your vet and remember that although there is a cost to this, the price of ignoring these precautions can be very much higher, quite apart from the unnecessary suffering that can be caused to your cat

Tags: cat care, cat cealth, cat diet, cat neutering, cat sterilisation, cat sterilization, looking after cats, looking after kittens