Page 70 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

Nursing a sick cat

If your cat is ill, consult your vet and follow any instructions on care and
home treatment. There are also some simple things that you can do to
make your cat comfortable during recuperation.

Creating a sick room confident way—any anxiety on your foods. If your cat is struggling
You will need to keep a sick or part could make him stressed and to eat properly, you may need to
injured cat indoors so that you can uncooperative. Your cat may feel feed him by hand.
easily monitor him. Keep your cat comforted if you spend time just If your cat is vomiting or has
confined in a warm, quiet room or talking quietly to him and petting diarrhea, offer a teaspoon every
even in a wire crate. Provide food him (if he will accept this), so that hour of bland food such as poached
and water, and a litter tray in an he does not associate you solely skinned chicken or an appropriate
area away from the food. Make up with treatment. prescription diet. Once the gastric
a warm bed on the floor for easy upset ceases, gradually increase
access; you could use a cardboard Home care when ill portion size and keep your cat on
68 box, which can easily be replaced A cat may lose interest in food this diet for three or four days,
if soiled. Cut one side away, line when ill or if his sense of smell is before weaning back to normal
the base with newspaper, and add impaired (see cat flu, p.58). Call meals. Provide cooled, boiled
cosy blankets and perhaps a
a vet if your cat has gone for
drinking water at all times. Call
Your cat's health Handling your cat especially if he is overweight—lack grooming. In particular, clean away
more than a day without eating,
a vet if a gastric disorder persists.
hot-water bottle.
Your cat may need help with
of food can harm the liver. Let food
come to room temperature, or
A sick or injured cat may want to
discharge from the eyes, keep the
hide himself away and try to avoid
nose and mouth clean to help the
warm it slightly in the oven, to
the extra stress of having medicine
appetizing. In addition, offer small
or other treatment. Handle your cat
clean under the tail if the cat has
pieces of strong-smelling, tasty
gently and in a calm, unhurried, increase its smell and make it more cat breathe and smell food, and
diarrhea. Use cotton moistened in

△ Safe space
A wire crate should be large enough to let the
cat walk around. Line it with newspaper, and
add food, a water bowl, a bed, and a litter tray.

▷ Staying indoors
You will need to keep your cat indoors, in a
confined area, for his own safety and so you
can easily monitor him and give care.

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