Post by Admin on Jun 24, 2012 4:03:54 GMT -5
Here I will tell you how to keep your cat healthy and to know if it is sick or not.
Is your cat overweight, a bit tubby or just right?
Cats love food. But if they eat too much, it can cause them to be overweight which is not a good thing. To prevent this, make sure you only give them food twice a day, no less, no more. At dinner time and in the morning. Give your cat a scoop of their cat food and put it into their bowl. Get a container and put the food in there. Get a scoop thing, and scoop up some food until it's full. Then put it in the bowl. That's enough.
Give her a home check-up
Most obviously, you can weigh her. Just step up on your scales with her in your arms and subtract your weight from that of the two of you combined.
You can also keep an eye out for changes in her body weight by standing above her and checking for a slight "waist" behind her ribs. If you're still not sure, place both your hands on her sides. Can you feel her ribs? Then she's at her ideal weight (but if they're sticking out she's too thin!).
Look out for pouches of fat between her hind legs and under her belly too.
Dealing with an overweight cat
If she's starting to look a little on the podgy side, your vet can probably suggest a diet plan. It's time to put a stop to all those treats and snacks, and, since it's better for her to eat little and often (rather than gorging on a feast), see how she feels about having four small meals a day instead of two bigger ones. Make sure she gets some exercise too. It's best to ease her in with short bursts of activity, gradually adding five minutes here and there until eventually she's able to do a full workout.
And if she's underweight?
Make sure you follow your vet's advice when it comes to how much, and how often, to feed your cat. If she's still underweight and you're not sure why, she could be poorly. Take her back to the vet for a check-up and you'll get all the advice you need.
How is your cat's eyes and ears?
Your cat's eyes and ears have a lot to contend with. Bits of dust from inside the house, as well as all sorts of flakes and flecks of debris from outside can cause her a lot of discomfort.
Healthy eyes
If you think your cat has picked up an eye irritation, there's a lot you can do at home by yourself without having to go to the vet.
1. Gently pull down her lower eyelid. The area here should be pink.
2. Check if her pupils are normal size.
3. Stand with her next to a window during the day and check how her pupils react when you open and close the curtains. Any unusual reaction could pinpoint a problem.
4. If her eyes are producing a coloured discharge, or watering more than usual, she might have picked up an infection.
Healthy ears
As with her eyes, you can carry out some really quick and easy checks on your cat to make sure her ears are healthy.
1. Are her ears a brighter pink than usual? If so, this could be a problem.
2. Make sure you keep her ears clean and free of dirt. Any strong odours could indicate an infection.
3. Check for wax, especially dark wax, which may be a sign of ear mites or infection.
Visit your vet if you find any problems with your pet's eyes or ears.
If any of your eye or ear checks reveal anything unusual, take her to the vet for a full check-up.
Skin and Ear Care
If your cat's spending a lot of time shaking her head or scratching at her ear, or if there's some goo coming out, she might have an infection. Tiny mites which live in the ear canal can sometimes be the cause, so ask your vet for eardrops or a special 'spot on' that's applied to her shoulder blades. If there are any other cats in the house, it's safest to treat them too. Before attempting anything too serious, please ask your vet for advice.
Sometimes cats can develop a cauliflower-like thickening of the outer ear. It'll need to be cleaned regularly (ask your vet for a treatment) to stop the wax building up, and could be with her for life.
Your vet may also check for 'polyps', fleshy lumps which can prevent air flowing into her ear and cause some pretty serious illnesses. Ask your vet about having them removed by surgery.
Another problem is a sudden swelling of the ear flap, which can be a blood blister. This happens when a vein bursts and blood drips into the ear, usually caused by scratching. The ear flap may scar and crumple, which could damage your cat's hearing and end up looking quite unsightly. Again, your vet can advise you about an operation to reduce the problem.
Eczema can also cause problems for cats. It's often caused by an allergic reaction to flea bites. Scabs will develop giving her coat a gritty feel. If she's in discomfort, she may start to lick herself more than usual. Unfortunately this only causes more damage and irritation. Speak to your vet about suitable treatment.
Sometimes itchy skin can be caused by a food allergy, so seek advice from your vet about putting your cat on a different diet.
Vet's are always the answer if these cats are sick! Take them there immeditly.
Is your cat overweight, a bit tubby or just right?
Cats love food. But if they eat too much, it can cause them to be overweight which is not a good thing. To prevent this, make sure you only give them food twice a day, no less, no more. At dinner time and in the morning. Give your cat a scoop of their cat food and put it into their bowl. Get a container and put the food in there. Get a scoop thing, and scoop up some food until it's full. Then put it in the bowl. That's enough.
Give her a home check-up
Most obviously, you can weigh her. Just step up on your scales with her in your arms and subtract your weight from that of the two of you combined.
You can also keep an eye out for changes in her body weight by standing above her and checking for a slight "waist" behind her ribs. If you're still not sure, place both your hands on her sides. Can you feel her ribs? Then she's at her ideal weight (but if they're sticking out she's too thin!).
Look out for pouches of fat between her hind legs and under her belly too.
Dealing with an overweight cat
If she's starting to look a little on the podgy side, your vet can probably suggest a diet plan. It's time to put a stop to all those treats and snacks, and, since it's better for her to eat little and often (rather than gorging on a feast), see how she feels about having four small meals a day instead of two bigger ones. Make sure she gets some exercise too. It's best to ease her in with short bursts of activity, gradually adding five minutes here and there until eventually she's able to do a full workout.
And if she's underweight?
Make sure you follow your vet's advice when it comes to how much, and how often, to feed your cat. If she's still underweight and you're not sure why, she could be poorly. Take her back to the vet for a check-up and you'll get all the advice you need.
How is your cat's eyes and ears?
Your cat's eyes and ears have a lot to contend with. Bits of dust from inside the house, as well as all sorts of flakes and flecks of debris from outside can cause her a lot of discomfort.
Healthy eyes
If you think your cat has picked up an eye irritation, there's a lot you can do at home by yourself without having to go to the vet.
1. Gently pull down her lower eyelid. The area here should be pink.
2. Check if her pupils are normal size.
3. Stand with her next to a window during the day and check how her pupils react when you open and close the curtains. Any unusual reaction could pinpoint a problem.
4. If her eyes are producing a coloured discharge, or watering more than usual, she might have picked up an infection.
Healthy ears
As with her eyes, you can carry out some really quick and easy checks on your cat to make sure her ears are healthy.
1. Are her ears a brighter pink than usual? If so, this could be a problem.
2. Make sure you keep her ears clean and free of dirt. Any strong odours could indicate an infection.
3. Check for wax, especially dark wax, which may be a sign of ear mites or infection.
Visit your vet if you find any problems with your pet's eyes or ears.
If any of your eye or ear checks reveal anything unusual, take her to the vet for a full check-up.
Skin and Ear Care
If your cat's spending a lot of time shaking her head or scratching at her ear, or if there's some goo coming out, she might have an infection. Tiny mites which live in the ear canal can sometimes be the cause, so ask your vet for eardrops or a special 'spot on' that's applied to her shoulder blades. If there are any other cats in the house, it's safest to treat them too. Before attempting anything too serious, please ask your vet for advice.
Sometimes cats can develop a cauliflower-like thickening of the outer ear. It'll need to be cleaned regularly (ask your vet for a treatment) to stop the wax building up, and could be with her for life.
Your vet may also check for 'polyps', fleshy lumps which can prevent air flowing into her ear and cause some pretty serious illnesses. Ask your vet about having them removed by surgery.
Another problem is a sudden swelling of the ear flap, which can be a blood blister. This happens when a vein bursts and blood drips into the ear, usually caused by scratching. The ear flap may scar and crumple, which could damage your cat's hearing and end up looking quite unsightly. Again, your vet can advise you about an operation to reduce the problem.
Eczema can also cause problems for cats. It's often caused by an allergic reaction to flea bites. Scabs will develop giving her coat a gritty feel. If she's in discomfort, she may start to lick herself more than usual. Unfortunately this only causes more damage and irritation. Speak to your vet about suitable treatment.
Sometimes itchy skin can be caused by a food allergy, so seek advice from your vet about putting your cat on a different diet.
Vet's are always the answer if these cats are sick! Take them there immeditly.