Page 45 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

their moisture from food, cats will
not drink as often as they eat, but
they may drink more if fed solely
on dry food. Routine checks
If your cat uses a litter tray, clean
it several times a day. This way
you will learn how often your cat
normally defecates and urinates.
Watch for unusual behavior such
as excessive licking of a body part,
pawing the face, or shaking the
head. These activities suggest a
wound, parasite infestation, or
something stuck in the skin or coat.

Home checks
Carry out regular head-to-tail
checks. With a new cat, do this Eyes Teeth and gums 43
every day; once you know your Check that the eyes are moist and clean. Gently lift the lips to check the teeth and
gums, and look inside the mouth. The teeth
Gently pull the eyelids away from the eye; the
cat, every two or three days should conjunctiva (inner lining) should be pale pink. should be intact and the gums pale pink.
be enough. If necessary, split the
task into several mini-checks
of a few minutes each.

“Your cat should look Signs of good health

alert and happy,
whether he is
naturally outgoing
or more reserved.”

First, run your hands over your Ears Claws
cat’s head, body, and legs. Gently Look in the ears. The interior should be Press each paw gently to expose the claws;
look for any damaged or missing claws, and
clean and pink, with no wounds, soreness,
squeeze the abdomen to feel for discharge, parasites, or dark wax. There then check the skin between the toes for
lumps or sore spots. Move his legs should be no bad smell. any wounds.
and tail to ensure that they move
freely. Feel the ribs and look at the ears. Check that the nose is or parasites. Gently lift the
the waist to check that he is cool, damp, and free of excess scruff of the neck and then
not too fat or thin. mucus. Look inside the mouth. let go; the skin should quickly
Examine the eyes. Watch the Check the gums for inflamed areas return to normal.
blink rate: cats normally blink or bleeding. The breath should not Check the claws. They should be
more slowly than we do. Check smell bad. Press the outer gum almost totally hidden when they are
that the pupils respond correctly briefly: it should go pale, but retracted, and should not catch on
to light and dark, and that the third quickly turn pink when you stop. carpets and other surfaces.
eyelid is barely visible. Check that The coat should feel smooth Look under the tail. The area
the cat is not holding his ears or and not greasy. Look and feel should be clean, with no redness
head at a strange angle. Look inside for lumps, wounds, bald spots, or swelling and no sign of worms.

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