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RISKS TO CATS AND CAT INSURANCE TO
COVER CONTINGENCIES
It should be emphasised that a well-groomed correctly fed
cat is usually a healthy animal, as are, in point of fact,
the majority. A sick cat gives up very easily, and careful
and patient nursing is often required to bring it back to
100 per cent fitness.
Certain cat diseases are amenable to treatment and remedies
are available so that the animal can be nursed back to health.
There are other diseases where this does not hold, and feline
infectious enteritis is one of these.
If a cat or kitten loses its appetite, has a high temperature
and is sick, it should receive medical attention at once,
although, if it is feline infectious enteritis, even then
it may be too late. So rapid is the course of this illness,
and the mortality rate is so high, that treatment is very
often of no avail. This is emphasised when one considers that
in some litters, particularly Siamese, up to 100 per cent
mortality may be experienced in spite of all treatment. It
is evident that with a disease of this nature, preventive
vaccination is the best course to adopt, as if the disease
strikes, as it may do sooner or later, the results are often
devastating.
There is now being manufactured a vaccine made from a harmless
emulsion containing the causal virus killed by chemical means
and retaining the power to stimulate antibodies against the
disease when injected into kittens. Two injections, with an
interval between, result in better immunity than one injection.
Whilst kittens can be effectively vaccinated any time after
weaning, it is best to inoculate them soon after they leave
their mothers. By early vaccination the risk of infection
will be decreased. The immunity from a course of vaccination
may be expected to cover the most susceptible period in the
kitten’s life, that is, the first fifteen months or
so. After this age feline enteritis, if it does develop, is
rarely fatal.
If a kitten is lost through feline infectious enteritis, the
animal’s bedding must be burnt and the house thoroughly
disinfected. It is not advisable to have another kitten for
at least six months.
The other illness referred to is cat ‘flu or feline
distemper, as it is sometimes called. This is also an epidemic
disease of cats and kittens. The general picture shows an
infection of the respiratory tracts with coughs and sneezes
and nasal and eye discharges. The cat soon loses weight, and
becoming ‘light’ is a well-recognised symptom.
The disease lasts for some weeks and the mortality rate may
not be high, although convalescence is often prolonged. Fatal
cases are usually the result of pneumonia and purulent pleurisy.
It is probably caused by virus, but the causal agent has not
been clearly demonstrated and therefore no preventive vaccine
is available as yet. In treatment expert veterinary attention
is essential, together with good nursing, followed by building
up again with a nourishing diet. Isolation of the first case
should be immediate to prevent the spread of the disease.
It will, however, be appreciated that in a litter of kittens
it is nearly impossible to prevent them all getting infected.
Cat owners with a sick animal should never touch other cats
or visit friends with young cats or kittens, or even write
letters to them as infection can be carried by paper.
MINOR AILMENTS
Abscesses.
An abscess may be caused by an injury, a blow, or a scratch
or bite received in a fight with another cat, causing a wound
which has started o heal too quickly with dirt or foreign
matter inside. A swelling may develop which has a shiny appearance,
is obviously painful when touched, and will eventually prove
to be full of pus.
Expert veterinary advice is the best course in dealing with
abscesses, as once an abscess has been diagnosed it may be
possible to give an injection to disperse the swelling. If
it is not practical to obtain medical advice, hot water fomentations
or kaolin poultices may assist in bringing the abscess to
a head, when it should be pricked with a sterilised needle.
The wound should be kept open to ensure that al the pus is
out. The fur will vanish from an area all around the wound
but will very quickly grow again.
An abscess on the ear is a different matter, as when the pus
has drained from the flap, it may crinkle up and spoil the
appearance of he cat. Gentle massage daily with olive oil
may help to prevent this.
Bad Teeth
Dribbling in cats is often caused by a deposit of yellow tartar
on the teeth, which also causes inflammation of the gums.
Very few people seem to appreciate the fact that cats do suffer
with bad teeth, and a veterinary surgeon will remove these
and also any yellow tartar.
Bites And Stings
A bite or scratch received from another cat in a fight unfortunately
very often turns into an abscess or a septic sore. Any such
bites or scratches or a septic sore should be bathed as soon
as noticed with a mild disinfectant and watched carefully
in case an abscess does develop.
Cats may be stung – particularly around the mouth, as
the fur protects other parts of the body – through pawing
at bees or wasps. If by a bee the sting will be left in; this
should be removed with a pair of tweezers and the place dabbed
with a solution of bicarbonate of soda or a blue bag. If in
the mouth it is advisable to contact a vet.
Bladder Troubles
Males, neuters, and infrequently females with little opportunity
for plenty of exercise, may be seen to strain and seem to
be unable to pass water. Prompt medical advice is essential,
particularly in the event of any blood being passed, as urgent
treatment may be required, in order to save the cat’s
life.
Canker
There are various kinds of canker, chiefly caused by ear mites,
but the symptoms are practically the same. The cat will start
scratching the ear and shaking his head, and on examining
the inside of the ear, a brownish matter will be seen. This
ma be gently removed with slightly dampened cotton wool wrapped
around an orange stick, and one of the proprietary brands
of canker powder or lotion applied. Treatment must be repeated
daily until the ear is thoroughly clean. If the cat’s
ears receive a weekly inspection and a gentle wipe out with
cotton wool, with a light dusting of boracic powder, there
should be no occasion for the canker to occur again.
Colds
A cat is very susceptible to draughts, and if allowed to get
below par in health readily catches cold, showing ordinary
cold symptoms of running eyes and sneezing. The cat should
immediately be isolated, as it may be just a common cold or
the start of a more serious illness. With warmth and careful
nursing, the cold should be of short duration, but if it persists,
medical attention is advised.
Conjunctivitis
If there is inflammation of the eyelids, with a discharge
which persists, a veterinary surgeon should be consulted,
as harm may be done to the eyes if this condition is allowed
to continue. The newly-opened eyes of a young kitten may be
sticky and inflamed. They should be gently bathed with boracic
powder dissolved in warm water, and a little vaseline applied
to the lids. No ointment containing mercury must be used,
if the mother cat licks the ointment from the kitten’s
eyes, she is liable to develop an ulcerated mouth.
Constipation
A kitten may suffer from this after going to a new home, probably
owing to the change of diet or to the fact that the kitten
may be a little nervous and off food for a day or so. It is
always best to get a diet sheet or exact details of the feeding
from the breeder and to stick to this for a while until the
kitten has settled down. New items may be introduced gradually,
just a little at a time. A teaspoonful of liquid paraffin
or olive oil, which will probably be licked from the spoon
without any trouble, should be give daily if the constipation
is very bad. This with a varied diet should cure the condition,
and there should be no further trouble. Older cats suffering
from this should be given a little moist rather than dry.
Insufficient food may also cause this, and if this is suspected
the amount of food should be increased gradually. A sardine
or a little raw liver will often help.
Diarrhoea
Frequently when being weaned a kitten will have loose motions
due to too much milk being given. A little kaolin powder given
according to the chemist’s instructions, together with
cutting down of the amount of liquid given, should help to
correct this condition. Adult cats may also suffer in this
way if they are unable to take milk/ in these cases water
only should be given to drink. If the condition persists,
professional advice should be sought.
Eczema
There are various forms of this complaint – all non-contagious;
nevertheless, some may be very irritating to the cat. This
condition can be inherited, appearing only in the spring and
autumn, when doses of milk of magnesia will help by cooling
the blood. The amount of greasy or fatty foods should be cut
down, and there should always be plenty of clean water to
drink. The veterinary surgeon will prescribe the correct lotion
or ointment to help cure the places. Eczema may also be caused
by some item of food in the diet, some cats being unable to
drink milk or to take fish without spots appearing.
Fleas
Any cat may pick up an occasional flea, particularly one living
in he country where rabbits and hedgehogs run. Daily grooming
will show flea dirts in the coat and a metal tooth comb should
soon catch the flea. If there are a number of fleas, a flea
powder advertised as ‘suitable for cats’ only
should be used, as any others may upset the animal. The powder
should be shaken and brushed well into the coat, left on only
for a short period and then brushed right out, as any kind
or powder if licked down may upset some cats. Stand the animal
on a large sheet of newspaper after applying the powder, brush
and comb out, burning the paper quickly to destroy any fleas
which drop on to it, or have ready a jar with a solution of
disinfectant to put them in. There is no reason for a cat
to have fleas, and apart from making him miserable through
constant scratching, they can be the source of worms and also
infections. If they do persist, the cat must be picking them
up from their breeding ground, as fleas do not breed on animals.
The sleeping box, blankets or wherever the cat sleeps should
be examined and thoroughly disinfected.
Fractures
It is very rare for a cat to break a leg, but if it does happen
as the result of an accident, an unlucky fall or a kick, the
animal will appear to be in pain and there will be swelling,
with the limb being held at an unusual angle. The animal should
be restrained as much as possible from moving and a veterinary
surgeon called in to put a splint on the broken limb.
Hairball
If a long-haired cat does not receive constant grooming to
remove the old fur from the coat, it may swallow a lot of
the hair and a hairball may form in the stomach or bowels.
Chewing grass, which is a natural emetic, may help the cat
to bring up quite a lot of hair. A weekly dose of liquid paraffin
will also help to pass the hair through the cat. If the stomach
looks distended and it is suspected that the animal has a
hairball, a veterinary surgeon should be consulted, as if
the condition does not respond to enemas, an operation may
be necessary.
Poisons
Cats should be kept away from insecticide sprays being used
in the garden, and if weed killers are put down should not
be allowed to walk on the places until they are washed well
into the ground. The animals will lick their paws and coat
and any insecticide, if not definitely poisonous, may cause
stomach upsets.
Disinfectants containing creosote, which is very poisonous
to cats, should not be used around the house. The use of rat
poisons is not recommended if the cat may catch and eat the
rats. Many rat poisons are accumulative, and the eating of
several rats will cause trouble.
Recently a number of cats have died after being given meat
from the carcass of animals which have died through insecticides.
If possible, give only meat fit for human consumption or meat
from a reliable animal food vendor.
Ringworm
There are several forms of ringworm, which is caused by a
vegetable fungus growth. It is a highly contagious ailment,
and can be transmitted from a cat to a human and also from
a human to a cat. The animal can be completely cured and show
no further signs, but occasionally a queen, supposedly cured
of ringworm, produces kittens which develop signs of infection
at a very early age. The fungus grows from the centre outwards,
a ring-like patch making its appearance due to the hair roots
being affected and the hair breaking off. Complete disinfection
of the premises and patient treatment under medical orders
is required, care being taken to prevent any of the spores
being allowed to spread further infection.
At shows any possible suspect with this complaint is placed
under an ultra-violet ray lamp, which shows up the growth
under the light.
Worms
Worms are found in most cats and if allowed to become persistent
may result in deterioration in the cat’s health. There
are two kinds of worms, tape worms, which may come away in
segments and resemble grains of rice, and the round worms
which look like pieces of thin string. It is not necessary
to starve the cat before worming nowadays. There are many
remedies on the market, but it is really nest for the vet
to prescribe, as the amount to be given depends on the age
and weight of the cat or kitten, and much harm may be done
through indiscriminate treatment. A cat should never be wormed
out when under the weather. It is better to wait a while,
feeding the cat up as much as possible, and perhaps giving
a dose of liquid paraffin to help pass the worms through.
VARIOUS CONTINGENCIES
Lameness
If a cat is seen to be limping badly, the pads should be closely
examined to see if a thorn or prickle is causing the trouble.
This should be gently removed with tweezers. A small wound
or cut will require bathing with a mild antiseptic.
Long Claws
A cat that has to live indoors a great deal should be provided
with a rough log and trained to sharpen its claws on that
to prevent them from growing too long. The claws of a cat
living a normal life should need little attention, but if
they do grow too long, the veterinary surgeon should be allowed
to cut them.
Paint On Coats
Not infrequently, and often through inquisitiveness, cats
will get paint of their coats. This should not be treated
with paraffin or turpentine, as they are poisonous to cats
and will harm the animal’s coat, causing the hair to
fall out and the skin to become inflamed. It is better to
cut off as much of the affected fur as possible, and allow
the paint marks to grow out.
Tar On Feet
When road repairs are in progress, the cat’s feet may
become covered with tar. The cat must not be allowed to lick
it off, as it is a poison. The best emergency treatment is
to wipe off as much as possible, and cover the pads with butter,
gently rubbing until little tar remains.
Travel Sickness
A few cats are badly affected when travelling in a car or
train, dribbling all the time, and may even be actually sick.
it is advisable not to feed them before a journey, and if
it is known that the cat is liable to be upset the vet will
probably prescribe some anti-sickness tablets.
The Cats’ Eyes
Cats have a third eyelid, called the nictitating membrane,
commonly referred to as the haw.
If the haws are plainly visible, it may signify that the animal
is out of condition or is sickening for illness. They usually
go down again when the cat has regained its health, although
occasionally after a severe illness they may remain slightly
up permanently with no ill-effects to the cat.
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