Cat Illnesses And Treatments
What vaccinations and booster shots does my cat need?
The type of vaccines that your cat will need really depends on lifestyle. With that indoor kitty whose paws never go outside is going to need less than that cat that's roaming around the neighborhood. There are core vaccines like panleukopenia that your kitty will need, rabies vaccines. But if your cat's an outside cat and has a chance to run into other kitties--get diseases such as leukemia, feline immunodeficiency viru- there are vaccines for those. Which ones are best for your pet? Ask your veterinarian.
How do I get my cat to swallow a pill?
Having a cat swallow a pill is definitely easier said than done. Dogs eat first, think later; kitties can really be stinkers. You can crush it up, put it in the food. Sometimes they'll know it's there. You can try plunking it down their throat; often times they're really good at spitting it back out at you. Liquid can be difficult too, so when you need to give medication, ask your veterinarian to show you how to do it. It will make life much easier for you.
How do I take my cat's temperature?
Most kitties would probably prefer not to have their temperatures taken. But it's pretty straight forward. Treat it like the human baby. Digital thermometer is easiest. Put a little bit of KY jelly or petroleum jelly on it. Have somebody help gently hold that cat, pop it in it's little rectum. The temperature for a cat normally is 101 to 102.5.
How can I tell if my cat has fleas?
Sometimes trying to determine whether your cat has fleas can be difficult. He may not have a lot and they run real fast through that fur, so you can use a fine-tooth comb to go through the body, you may pick up a flying flea or you may even see what looks like black pepper. That black pepper, if you add a little bit of water to it and put it on a white Kleenex, it'll have a rusty color. Why? Because it's your cat's blood that's been processed through a flea. It's flea dirt; a nice way of saying flea poop.
How do I get rid of my cat's fleas?
How do you get rid of fleas on your cat? Sometimes it can be a little bit difficult. Fleas will stay on a cat's body about 90% of the time, and even indoor cats can get fleas because they can jump through screen doors, they can come in the house on your clothing. To get rid of those fleas you want to make sure you use a product that is specifically labelled for use in cats. Some products used on dogs can be deadly for cats.
How do I protect my cat against ticks?
To protect your cat against ticks, probably the easiest thing to do is keep it indoors. If that's not going to work, every time the cat comes back inside from roaming the neighborhood, going on its hunt, rub your hands over it's body, even using something like a flea comb, to look and find fleas and or ticks
How do I remove a tick from my cat?
If you happen to find a tick on your cat, the best thing to do to remove it is to either use a pair of tweezers or needle nosed pliers, get as close to the skin as possible and pull the tick straight out. There is no need to need to burn it or twist it left or right - pull it straight out. You might take a little fur from the cat with the tick, or might leave a little bump, but if all the head part of the tick is removed, you're fine. When in doubt, see your veterinarian.
How can I tell if my cat has worms?
Sometimes, trying to tell if your cat has worms can be very difficult. One of the most common types of worm that a cat can have, he contracts from fleas; they're called tapeworms. Tapeworms look like little rice granules. Sometimes, as your cat's walking away with his tail up in the air, you may see this little white thing literally crawling out of your cat's bum: this is a definite sign of worms. Or, if you see what looks like little sesame seeds dried to your cat's derriere, this is another sign of tapeworms. Take a stool sample in and your cat in to the vet. Have your cat de-wormed at least once a year.
How do I protect my cat against worms?
Protecting your cat against worms can be as simple as keeping our cat indoors, having your cat on a monthly deworming heartworm medication. There are several out there that you can get from your veterinarian. Keeping your cat indoors so it is not exposed to other cats and other cats' faeces. All of these are great ways.
How do I get rid of my cat's worms?
It's not a good idea for you to try to get over the counter medications to treat your cat's worms. Often, the worms medications are made for dogs, not for cats, so may be inappropriate to give, and sometimes can actually have dire side effects. If you think your cat does have some worms, the best thing to do is to take some poop and take your cat to the veterinarian. Your veterinarian will give you the appropriate medication.
