Illnesses

A cat does not complain. It hides and endures, which is why an owner finds out later than they would like. This section is here to help you notice sooner and to follow what the vet is telling you: a table of symptoms, which vaccinations guard against what, nursing a sick cat, bandaging, neutering and spaying, and toxoplasmosis — the one feline illness people usually ask about for their own sake rather than the cat’s. None of these articles replaces a visit to the vet.

• Cat illnesses A cat is remarkably tough and hides illness to the last. The signs that tell you it is unwell after all, and when to call the vet.
• Table of cat illnesses A cross-table of symptoms against diseases: thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in the stool, laboured breathing, and what each of them points to.
• Vaccinations for cats Which vaccinations a kitten and an adult cat need: the set depends on age, earlier shots and the conditions the cat lives in.
• How to treat a sick cat Before treating a cat at home, gather a rectal thermometer, alcohol, a watch and a large towel. How to take its temperature without getting hurt.
• Bandaging A cat is harder to bandage than a dog, and harder still to keep bandaged. Types of dressing, and why head wounds are better left open.
• Neutering and spaying Millions of healthy cats are put down every year because no home was found for them. Why you should neuter your pet as early as you can.
• Be careful! Toxoplasmosis Do you have a cat? is the question every pregnant woman dreads. What toxoplasmosis actually is, and where the myth about it begins.