CAT AILMENTS

Cats can have access to rodent bait either by eating the bait or eating a rodent that has already digested the poison or slug bait which the cats find enjoyable to eat but commonly causes poisoning.

Skin contaminants

Cats can walk over toxic substances, such as antifreeze, in the garden or garage and can swallow poisons when washing their paws.

Plants

Some indoor and outdoor plants are harmful to cats; these include ivy, poinsettia, mistletoe, laurel, foxglove, laburnum and Yew. A list can be obtained from your local gardening club or vet.

The substance ingested will determine the symptoms. Rodent poisons contain anticoagulants, which prevent the blood from clotting, causing internal bleeding. Some poisons cause vomiting or diarrhoea due to the irritant effect on the bowel affecting the central nervous system producing behaviour problems, convulsions or at the worst, Coma, If you suspect poisoning, ring your vet, follow his advice and take the cat and the poison or packaging, if you have it, to the vet without delay.

Cats and Surgery

Many people worry about their cats after surgery in case they pull their stitches out. Cats have a tendency to worry if anything is attached to their body that shouldn’t be there, including surgical stitches so often a ‘collar’ is fitted. The thin plastic cone, which goes over the head and attaches to the cat’s collar, prevents the cat from getting to the wound.

Heart attacks

Cardiomyopathy is the most common form of heart disease in cats and this is caused by a gradual failure of the heart muscle. Cardiac arrhthmia is caused when the electrical impulses to the heart are disturbed causing the heart to beat abnormally This can mean sudden death and can be described as a ‘heart attack’.

Miliary Dermatitis

This is a skin condition comprising of a multiple of small itchy, scabby lesions over the body. The most common cause is an allergic reaction to fleabites. This doesn’t mean the cat is alive with fleas because it can just need one bite and the saliva it injects causes a reaction that can last for weeks. Flea control and a veterinary supplement of evening primrose oil should control the problem.

Cat Anaemia

If your cat has a paleness of the mucous membranes in the mouth and around the eyes combined with shortage of breath, it could be that your cat has anaemia. This is because there is a shortage of red blood cells circulating the body. Your vet will be able to pin point the cause by a clinical examination and blood test, as there are many reasons why this could happen. It could be bone marrow disease, parasites called Hemobartonella felis, internal bleeding caused by injury or blood-clotting problems or just fleas.

Inflammation of the gums

Inflammation of the gums or chronic gingivitis is difficult to treat in cats. It can be caused by excessive amounts of tartar and calculus, which affects the gums. Dental de-scaling does not always cure the problem and together with checking for feline leukaemia and feline immunodeficiency, your vet may consider long- term anti-inflammatory or antibiotic treatment.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, a common condition in cats, is the inflammation of the conjunctiva membrane, the membrane that covers the surface of the eye and the inner lining of the eyelids. Pollen and dust in the eye can lead to a secondary infection involving normal bacteria numbers to multiply and the immune system is weakened. Deformities of the cat’s eyelid or ingrown eyelashes can cause conjunctivitis and the hairs of the nose can rub the eye in longhaired cats with flattened faces. Infections can easily pass from cat to cat in the same way as cat flu.