Lethal cat infections: what you need to know about your pet

Treating cats at home is a process that should only take place under the supervision of a veterinarian. If the doctor cannot come himself, the case is not urgent, take his phone number for consultation. We will tell you what symptoms indicate that your cat is sick and when to go to the clinic. You will learn what to do if you have diarrhea, vomiting, and other signs of illness.

What diseases do cats have?

Both street and domestic pets get sick, but the former are much more common. They often scavenge, come into contact with wild animals and can pick up any infection.

The most common diseases are:

• Worms appear regardless of whether the cat is walking outside or sitting at home. But in the first case, there is a risk of catching dangerous parasites that can be transmitted to humans and cause serious problems.
• Ticks can attach themselves to a cat both in the park and in the yard of the house.
• Allergies are a problem usually associated with poor diet.
• Colds are infectious pathologies of the upper respiratory tract. Colds are treatable, but can become chronic if ignored.
• Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, often found in animals that have formed stones in the urinary tract.
• Ringworm - there are many types of this disease. The most dangerous form is ringworm, which can infect humans.
• Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) - the disease is spread not so much through sexual contact as through bites during fights. The virus can remain latent for a long time and become active under favorable circumstances. Vaccination can prevent infection.

A dangerous pathology is viral leukemia. The disease is caused by a virus from the genus Retroviridae. With this disease, the process of hematopoiesis is disrupted, immunodeficiency syndrome, and the appearance of a malignant tumor is possible. The virus is transmitted in different ways, incl. airborne. The pathology cannot be completely cured, but vaccination can prevent the disease.

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)

Feline leukemia is a viral, incurable disease that is transmitted from animal to animal through urine, nasal secretions and saliva. Cats can become infected with FeLV through bites, feeding from the same bowl, or being housed together. In addition, the mother can transmit the pathogen to her kittens, who are therefore at increased risk.

The symptoms of viral leukemia in cats are quite varied. Some animals show rapid development of the disease immediately, while others do not show symptoms for several weeks.

Feline leukemia often leads to a number of associated diseases, including:

• System-wide infection.
• Uncontrollable diarrhea.
• Skin infections.
• Stomatitis and gingivitis.
• Eye diseases.
• Respiratory tract infections.
• Bladder infections.
• Infertility.
• Anemia.
• Cancerous tumors.

Because of such a wide range of diseases that complicate leukemia, FeLV is sometimes called feline HIV, although this species has a disease that is more similar to the human immunodeficiency virus - FIV.

To date, there is no specific treatment for feline viral leukemia, so the best way to prevent the disease in domestic cats is to prevent contact with stray animals. Feline viral leukemia is not transmitted to humans.

Symptoms of disease in cats at home

The following symptoms indicate that a cat is sick:

• Lethargy, apathy, attempts to hide in a dark place.
• Heat.
• Diarrhea, vomiting, constipation.
• Poor appetite, weight loss.
• Dull, disheveled fur.
• Discharge from the eyes, blue discoloration of the whites, inflammation of the conjunctiva.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
• Bad breath, inflammation of the gums, oral mucosa.
• Sneezing, constant cough.
• Frequent urination, including outside the tray.
• Inflammation, peeling of the skin, suspicious spots on it.
• Tumors on the body can be not only a dangerous cancer, but also a harmless wen. However, it is better to consult a doctor.

Causes

The most common cause of surgical diseases is trauma. A cat can get hurt on the street, get into a fight, and even fall from a height.

Often, as a result of untreated wounds, purulent inflammations can occur; bitten wounds especially often fester due to the high bacteriological contamination of the oral cavity.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary system and tumor formation may also require surgical intervention.

How to treat ringworm in cats at home

Ringworm is a group of diseases in which round-shaped spots with clear lines appear on the skin. They can itch, peel, and hair always falls out on the affected areas.

Causes of deprivation:

• fungal infections - ringworm, pityriasis.
• allergy – pink (shingles)
• hormonal imbalances, diseases of the nervous system, heredity, poor ecology - shingles (eczema).

Before you begin treating lichen in a cat at home, you need to determine its type. Regardless of the type of disease, Zoomikol is prescribed. These are external use products intended to treat lichen in cats at home. They destroy pathogenic organisms, incl. fungus, disinfect the surface, promote tissue regeneration.

To treat ringworm, the veterinarian additionally prescribes Vakderm-F, a vaccine that kills the fungus that causes the pathology. This disease is contagious, so the cat must be isolated, not petted, not bathed. The apartment must be constantly cleaned with disinfectants.

If the cause is an allergy, pay attention to the animal’s nutrition and change the diet. If you don’t know how to feed your cat correctly, ask your veterinarian and buy quality food.

Worms in cats: treatment at home

To prevent the cat from becoming infected with worms, it should be given an anthelmintic (for example, Dirofen) once a quarter. It is necessary to treat not only a pet that walks on the street, but also an animal that does not leave the apartment.

If treatment is ignored, the following symptoms are possible:

• diarrhea;
• itching in the anus area;
• worms in feces;
• blood in stool;
• bloating;
• weight loss;
• vomit;
• constipation;
• weight loss;
• cough, shortness of breath.

Treatment for helminthic infestation is mandatory, since the disease is contagious. A veterinarian should prescribe a drug for deworming in a cat, since much depends on the type of parasite. Heartworm is especially dangerous, as it can cause the death of an animal.

Important: Do not give your cat an anthelmintic that is intended only for dogs. In this case, it will not help, but will worsen the situation.

Diseases transmitted from cats to humans

Diabetes mellitus in cats: symptoms and treatment

The proximity of a person and a kitty is fraught with the fact that pets may well “reward” their owners with their diseases. This is rabies, lichen, worms.

Signs of human infection:

• cough;
• elevated temperature;
• skin itching;
• intestinal disorder;
• stomach pain.

Young children are at risk.

Ringworm, which domestic cats pick up from stray animals, is transmitted by simply petting the cat's fur.

Scratches are dangerous. An infection enters the human blood. Rabies is the most terrible incurable disease. Cats are vaccinated to prevent their owners from becoming infected.

An animal with rabies cannot be treated. The body is immediately euthanized and cremated.

Ticks in cats: treatment at home

Pets who walk outside are more likely to encounter ticks. However, the parasite can also end up on a domestic cat if it attaches itself to a person’s clothing or the fur of a dog that also lives in the apartment.

Ticks are dangerous because they are carriers of Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and other pathologies. They can cause high fever, depression, seizures, and miscarriage.

To prevent this from happening, your pet must be regularly treated against ticks with special products, for example, Bravecto for cats. Do not give tick medications that are only intended for dogs, especially tablets.

Important: even a treated animal must be inspected regularly, since ticks can still attach. You should always have a parasite removal tool in your veterinarian's first aid kit. You can’t just pull it out, because if the tick is infected, it can release infected saliva into the animal’s blood.

Pull out the tick like this:

• Grab the parasite with tweezers as close to the skin as possible.
• Rotate the arthropod around its axis, keeping it perpendicular to the bite, without tilting it.
• Slowly remove the parasite. Sudden movements are not allowed.
• Kill the tick by throwing it into boiling water and burning it.
• If the head of the arthropod remains in the skin, remove it with tweezers and treat the bite site with a disinfectant.

Instead of tweezers, you can use a thread, making a loop around the place where the tick has dug into the skin, tying a strong knot. If there are no devices, you need to use your fingers. Pre-wrap them with gauze (bandage) or put on gloves.

Symptoms and treatment of colds in cats

Although cats are in good health, they can catch a cold if their immunity is weakened for some reason. Infection occurs through contact and household contact - through objects, cages, carriers, as well as through the air through close contact with a sick animal.

Symptoms of infection:

• high temperature (the norm for an adult animal is from 37.5 to 39.2 C);
• lack of appetite;
• runny nose and sneezing;
• cough;
• breathing problems;
• discharge from the eyes and nose, possibly purulent.

Be sure to consult a doctor who will prescribe the necessary medications and follow the treatment regimen. Since the main cause of colds is a virus, when cats have a runny nose, treatment at home is aimed at strengthening the immune system. Antibiotics are prescribed if there is a bacterial infection.

Feed your cat high-quality food and vitamin and mineral supplements. If he doesn’t want to eat or drink, force him to drink from a syringe. Do not disturb the animal, let it rest. The pet should not lie in a draft.

Infections and viruses in cats

Cats easily become infected with infections caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria. Fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, open ulcers can be the result of infection with viruses: coronaviruses, infectious panleukopenia (deadly cat distemper), calcivirosis, rabies.

Antiviral serums and medications are effective in treating infections, which are selected based on the type of pathogen and stage of the disease.

Cats easily become infected with infections caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria.

The most common causes of bacteria in cats are infectious anemia (anemia) and salmonellosis (an acute infection in the intestines). When hemoglobin decreases (a symptom of anemia), the cat develops a fever, the animal is lethargic and refuses to eat. A key sign of anemia is paleness of the mucous membranes of the mouth. With salmonellosis, a runny nose and vomiting are added to the listed signs of infection. A speedy recovery is facilitated by taking antibiotics and serums that increase immunity, as well as changing food and homeopathy.

Fungi can affect both the external surfaces of the animal and the internal organs. The most common diseases of fungal etiology among cats: cryptococcosis, candidiasis, histoplasmosis. Fungal spores enter the animal’s body through cuts and open wounds, by airborne droplets or with food.

Competent diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in your pet should be entrusted to an experienced infectious disease veterinarian.

A cat has cystitis: what to do and how to treat it

Cystitis is an inflammation of the urinary tract that leads to urinary incontinence. Among the reasons are urolithiasis, stress, trauma, diabetes mellitus and other pathologies.

The animal begins not only to defecate frequently, but also to do it outside the tray, which causes problems in its relationship with the owner. People mistakenly think that the cat is specifically marking its territory.

Symptoms of cystitis:

• urination more than 3 times per hour;
• a long process of emptying, during which the pet experiences discomfort;
• frequent licking of the groin;
• blood in the urine or in the litter tray;
• changes in urine odor;
• temperature;
• lethargy.

Be sure to show the animal to the veterinarian and get tested. You may need an ultrasound and other types of examination. The doctor will not be able to prescribe the correct treatment until he receives the results. If your cat has kidney stones, surgery is needed.

Don't let the disease take its course. If cystitis becomes chronic, it is impossible to get rid of it. Some pathologies that cause it can cause the death of the animal (urolithiasis, diabetes mellitus).

When treating cystitis in cats at home, do not limit your pet to water. The liquid will help avoid stagnation of urine and facilitate the emptying process. Give cat food designed for animals with kidney problems.

Urolithiasis disease

Due to the structural features of their bodies, cats and kittens often suffer from urolithiasis (urolithiasis). It manifests itself with very unpleasant symptoms:

• the appearance of blood in the urine;
• painful urination;
• frequent urge to urinate.

Urolithiasis can develop suddenly. At the same time, outwardly the animal looks absolutely healthy, but at the same time loudly complains to the owner by meowing. If urolithiasis is not detected on time (this is done based on test results) and treatment is not started, then it can even be fatal for the animal.

The reasons for the development of urolithiasis include:

• poor quality food;
• adding raw fish or raw meat to your cat’s diet;
• insufficient consumption of clean drinking water by animals;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• hereditary predisposition;
• obesity.

Treatment of urolithiasis in cats consists of:

• use of medicines;
• changing your diet;
• carrying out shock wave therapy.

Almost every 10th cat will develop this disease at some point in its life. Castrated animals are more susceptible to it, since after this procedure they usually become inactive. Therefore, to avoid it, castrated animals need to be given special food with a reduced protein content. In general, for cats and kittens, it is best to select food with the help of a veterinarian - this will help prevent the development of not only urolithiasis in pets, but also gastrointestinal diseases, liver and heart problems.

Cat poisoning: how to treat it at home

What to do when a cat has swallowed poison or a low-quality product largely depends on the symptoms. In case of poisoning in cats, treatment at home is possible if the cat has simple diarrhea and there are no other signs. In this case, it is enough to give a sorbent (activated carbon). After some time, everything will return to normal.

When your pet has been poisoned, you should urgently take it to a doctor. The reaction often appears when the poison has passed through the stomach and entered the intestines. For this reason, gastric lavage is ineffective; an enema will help more.

If a cat has been poisoned by rat poison (blood in the vomit, feces, nosebleeds), an injection of vitamin K is needed. When it has become a victim of isoniazid (blood vomiting, with foam), it is necessary to inject B6. Keep these ampoules always at hand so that in a state of passion you don’t think: “The cat has been poisoned, how can I treat it at home?”

Feline viral immunodeficiency

It is also known as FIV or feline AIDS, and in Western countries veterinarians view the disease as identical to human HIV infection. But the disease is not a zooanthroponosis, is not transmitted to people and is completely “adapted” to its host.

FIV (FIV) - the virus enters the external environment through natural secretions and biological fluids. The more an animal comes into contact with other individuals, the higher the infection in the cat’s habitat. This is why FIV spreads widely among groups of stray cats or in nurseries where quarantine conditions and sanitary standards are not observed.

Useful observations:

• FIV is less common in cats under 3 years of age;
• cats are more often susceptible to infection (they are latent carriers during mating);
• a higher percentage of patients in stray animals;
• sterilized individuals are not at risk.

The FIV virus, penetrating the cat’s body, does not show itself for a long time. Occasionally, there may be short-term hyperthermia (temperature jump) or enlarged lymph nodes. But everything passes and the owner either does not notice it or believes that the alarm turned out to be false.

Subsequently, the cat feels stable for a long time (months, years). And only at the last stage does AIDS (FIV) manifest itself with a full set of clinical signs. Moreover, the symptoms are so varied that it is difficult to make a diagnosis right away; FIV has no specific symptoms.

Upon examination, the following is revealed:

• pathologies of the oral cavity (ulcers, tumors);
• respiratory tract diseases;
• damage to the kidneys, liver, skin;
• neoplasms of various origins and localization, etc.

That is, immunodeficiency affects any cells and tissues, “giving out” mixed symptoms. At the same time, the extensiveness of the lesions does not allow the animal to be cured; it is only possible to maintain the cat with the help of symptomatic medications in a relatively stable condition.

Treatment of vomiting and diarrhea in cats at home

If diarrhea appears as a separate symptom, without vomiting, and the animal does not suffer, this may indicate:

• poor quality feed;
• overeating;
• transition from natural food to industrial food or back;
• allergies;
• reactions to medications.

To treat diarrhea in a cat at home, identify the causative agent and eliminate it. It is better not to feed the animal for 12-24 hours, after which the stool usually returns to normal. There must always be access to water. Pay special attention to nutrition. Feed your cat only high-quality foods that do not cause allergies.

Treating vomiting in a cat at home

If a cat, on the contrary, vomits but does not diarrhea, much depends on the nature of the illness. When she burps once or twice, then feels normal, it’s not scary. Perhaps she ate something wrong, drank something, was driving in a car and got seasick.

If more often, analyze the situation to understand the reason. Pay attention to the vomit:

• White foam - the cat may have gastritis. Consult your doctor for advice. You need a gentle diet.
• Bile or green color is a sign of a disturbance in the functioning of the liver and bile ducts. The cause may be poisoning, fatty foods, worms. If a cat is constipated from worms, treatment at home should be aimed at eliminating the worms.
• Blood – may indicate bleeding in the digestive system. See a doctor immediately, otherwise your pet will die.

When to see a doctor for vomiting and diarrhea

Be sure to see a veterinarian if, in addition to diarrhea, your pet has the following symptoms:

• high temperature, he is clearly shaking;
• doesn't get up;
• convulsions and vomiting appeared;
• doesn't drink;
• there is blood and mucus in the stool;
• diarrhea every 2-3 hours or more often;
• feces are white, orange, black, with blood.

If your cat is vomiting and has bloody diarrhea, be sure to go to the doctor. This combination can be a signal of poisoning, a dangerous viral, bacterial or fungal infection, oncology, or liver problems. The doctor will examine the pet and prescribe treatment.

Surgical diseases: list and characteristics

The following diseases occur in cats and are treated in the surgical department of a veterinary clinic:

• Wounds (abrasions, scratches).

They are distinguished: punctured, torn, bruised, bitten, gunshot, etc. damage depending on the nature of the wounding object. Mixed – tissue damage with simultaneous ingress of toxic substances. Wounds in cats are almost always infected. The most difficult to treat are open fractures with bacterial infection.

During treatment, measures must be taken to prevent microbial contamination. The method and duration of the course of therapy depends on the nature of the wound surface, the area of ​​tissue damage and associated complications.

Important! After treating the wound with drugs, you should not allow the cat to lick the wounds. Before drug therapy is possible. The animal's saliva is rich in lysozyme, which has antibacterial properties.

• Bruises.

Diagnosed in 4 degrees, lymphatic and blood vessels can be damaged. First: the subcutaneous tissue and inner layers of the dermis are affected. Second: dissection, rupture of muscle structures, hematomas, edema, hyperthermia, deterioration of general condition. Third: the integrity of not only the dermis, but also deep-lying tissues is compromised, up to cracks, dislocations and bone fractures. They are accompanied by necrosis, a state of shock, and with bruises of the head and spine, neurological pathologies develop. Fourth: the most severe degree, crushing of tissues and crushing of bones occurs. The functions of the damaged part of the body are lost with no possibility of recovery.

The addition of an infection provokes the development of purulent processes. For 4 tbsp. severe, the prognosis is unfavorable, the death of the cat often occurs.

Dislocations in cats

With complete dislocation, the point of contact between the bone structures is lost. If incomplete or partial, they speak of subluxation. The bones don't come apart completely. Dislocation is considered complicated when the integrity of the dermis, vessels, tendons is violated, or with intra-articular fractures.

Visually, a dislocation in a cat looks like an unnatural position of the limbs. The animal takes a forced pose, the paw becomes slightly elongated or shortened. Often the signs are hidden by the resulting hematoma. Treatment must be carried out immediately; old dislocations are practically impossible to correct.

Luxatio mandibulae is a dangerous condition for a cat, characterized by the transition of the articular head of the jaw in front of the articular tubercle of the temporal bone. The cat’s mouth does not close, the jaw is pushed forward, fixed, and there is abundant salivation. When the lower jaw is dislocated (unilateral or bilateral), the articular capsule does not lose its integrity. With a one-sided distortion, the oral cavity is half-closed, the bevel is observed in the healthy direction.

Fractures and cracks

Violation of bone integrity is the most complex surgical disease in cats. Almost always, when flat, tubular bones are fractured, periarticular tissues are affected: fascia, nerves, vessels, muscles. With open fractures, all layers of the dermis are damaged.

Symptoms depend on the type of fracture and the involvement of surrounding tissue. Polytraumas are more difficult to treat when bones in several parts of the skeleton are affected. Functions always disappear and pain appears. There is a marked change in the position of a part of the skeleton, abnormal mobility of the bone outside the joint. Injuries are more common in animals kept in urban environments.

• Fractura mandibulae

or a fracture of the lower jaw in a cat. Surgical pathology that can be treated by immediately contacting a veterinary clinic. Depending on the location, they can be one- or two-sided, open or closed. Symphyseal fractures are more commonly diagnosed in cats. There is pain at the site of the injury, the cat cannot eat, although the appetite is preserved. Bleeding occurs with open fractures, and contracture often develops.

How to treat a cat's eyes at home

Before you begin treating your cat’s eyes at home, you need to show your cat to a veterinarian, or even better, to an ophthalmologist, who, after an examination, will prescribe treatment. Without a doctor’s recommendation, do not put any medications into your eyes, especially folk remedies. This will make things worse for your pet, and the cat may go blind.

Important: discharge from the eyes is not always associated with the organ of vision. The problem is often poor nutrition and allergies. As soon as you adjust your diet, they will disappear.

Allergies in cats treatment at home

An allergy occurs when the immune system reacts abnormally to harmless substances with which the body has been in contact. Usually the reaction develops to food, but it can also appear to household chemicals, a dog collar, bedding on which the animal sleeps, etc.

The immune system develops a violent reaction aimed at eliminating the irritant, which manifests itself:

• itching, due to which the cat scratches itself furiously and shakes its ears;
• red spots;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• bloating;
• sneezing, coughing, wheezing;
• anaphylactic shock, death (in severe cases).

If allergies occur in cats, treatment at home involves feeding them anti-allergenic food. To relieve the pathological reaction, the doctor prescribes antihistamines (tablets and injections) and decongestants.

Important: if the owner cannot detect the allergen, the animal will continue to come into contact with it; these measures will help for a short time. Therefore, the owner’s task is to observe the pet, calculate and eliminate the irritant. A blood test for allergens will help determine the source of the disease.

Kidney failure

Cats suffer from kidney disorders much more often than other pets: every 5th pet over 8 years old has chronic renal failure (CRF). Among cats that have crossed the 10-year threshold, this is already every 3rd.

The essence of the disease is that the kidneys cease to perform their function - to filter toxic metabolic products and regulate the level of salts in the body. In older animals, this process is associated with atrophy of the structure of the kidneys themselves and is therefore irreversible. For a long time, chronic renal failure occurs hidden, so owners turn to the doctor already at the terminal stage of the disease.

Symptoms:

• loss of appetite, refusal to feed;
• muscle atrophy, exhaustion;
• unpleasant odor from the mouth, mouth ulcers;
• periodic vomiting;
• apathy, lethargy, weakness.

Treatment is aimed at reducing substances such as creatinine, urea, phosphorus (products of protein metabolism) in the blood. IVs are prescribed, and sometimes even dialysis. Kidney function is stimulated with medication, while the load on them is reduced using a special diet (Royal Canin Renal, Hill's k/d). Therapy is lifelong. It is impossible to cure chronic renal failure, but the owner can make the cat’s life more comfortable and prolong it.

CRF is a problem for older cats, and young cats often die from acute renal failure (ARF). Causes:

• poisoning (household chemicals, rat poison, medications, snake bite);
• dehydration (diarrhea, heat stroke, bleeding);
• kidney infections (pyelonephritis);
• blockage of the urinary tract (with urolithiasis).

The diagnosis of kidney failure is made based on a blood test and ultrasound.

How to treat cat ears at home

Pay attention if brown dirt (wax) appears in the ears, and the cat begins to scratch its ears and shake its head too often. There is a high probability that these are ear mites or otitis media (inflammation of the hearing organ). The doctor will make an accurate diagnosis.

Treating a cat's ears at home involves regularly cleaning the outer ear of dirt. This can be done with cotton swabs. Do not get them deep inside, so as not to injure the ear canal or eardrum. It is better to use an ear cleaning solution.

If otitis media occurs in a cat, treatment at home involves the use of Oridermil. This is an ointment from a French manufacturer that treats otitis media, fungal infections, and kills ear mites. Ordermil can be replaced with Bars, Tsipam, Dekta-Forte.

Prevention for cats

• Vaccinate your animal on time, even if it does not leave the apartment. Your pet can become infected if you bring the infection on your clothing.
• Give us quality food. If you don’t know how to choose the right diet, consult your doctor.
• Treat your cat regularly with flea and tick treatment, even if your pet does not leave the house.
• Don’t forget to inspect the animal’s ears and skin.
• Do not keep the animal in the cold. The sleeping place should not be in a draft.
• Treat wounds immediately.
• Pay attention to the condition of the coat. A dull appearance means your pet is in trouble.
• Pack a veterinary first aid kit. It should contain syringes, bandages, cotton wool, wound treatment products, vitamins B6, K (ampoules).

What pathologies are older cats susceptible to?

Cats age suddenly. This happens at 8-10 or 12-15 years. During this period, owners treat their pets with care.

Behavior of an old animal:

• sleeps a lot, doesn't play;
• He hears and sees poorly, does not smell;
• the fur is peeling off and does not shine;
• Nervousness and fearfulness appear.

The owners take care of the fur and trim the claws. They feed them a balanced diet and give them vitamins. The tray and house are placed in an accessible place. They visit the veterinarian often and give the kitty all the love they can.

Cats have accompanied humans throughout the history of civilization. This is an old friend who deserves attention and respect. Cats get sick too. And people treat and care for them. The list of cat ailments is long. All diseases have been studied, there are ways to treat them. You just need to pay close attention to the animal’s behavior, vaccinate it on time, and show it to the veterinarian.

When to contact a veterinarian

Cats can boast of very good health, so any symptoms of illness are a reason to consult a doctor. Urgently see a veterinarian if your animal:

• diarrhea with blood, accompanied by vomiting;
• convulsions;
• heat;
• the skin became blistered;
• strange discharge from the genitals;
• a tumor appeared.

Urgently see a veterinarian if the cat is passive, does not react to anything, and has a dull look - this indicates a serious problem. Only timely therapy will save your pet’s life.

Do not self-medicate or give your cat “proven” human medications without consulting a veterinarian. Useful to humans, they are capable of killing animals.

How to understand that a cat is sick

When a pet stops being interested in its owner and does not run to him as soon as he opens the door, people become wary. If you notice that the animal is apathetic, sleeps a lot, and is looking for a warm place, contact a veterinarian.

Sick cat

Diseases in cats are indicated by the following behavior, which is not typical for them:

• do not wash themselves, do not sharpen their claws;
• do not go outside;
• eat poorly (anorexia), drink little;
• labored breathing;
• vomiting, diarrhea;
• hiding from people;
• shed;
• meow pitifully, worry;
• the nose is dry, the eyes are watery.

When cats experience discomfort during illness, they become lethargic. When there is pain, they scratch and bite the sore spot, become aggressive, and scratch their owners.

Cats endure pain stoically. Such behavior often indicates that time has already been lost, when it is too late to treat the pet.

Important! It is difficult for the owner to recognize the onset of the disease - cats “hide” their illnesses. Therefore, they are shown to the doctor twice a year for prevention.

The veterinarian knows what body temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate should be in the animal at each period of its life. He can determine indicators and judge the health of the pet.