Chapter 2: Part 3:
sickness & health

Given decent food and shelter, most cats stay healthy most of the time. Like any creature, however, they will have their share of minor ailments, and occasionally they are hit by a major disorder. The former you may be able to do something about. The latter is definitely best left to a veterinarian.

Most devastating -- but easiest to prevent -- is infectious enteritis, or feline distemper, a virus disease which has for years been the great killer of cats. There is now a serum which gives immunity, and there is no reason for not inoculating your kitten as soon as possible after it is six weeks old. Enteritis strikes so fast and so mercilessly that there may be no time to act after the cat is sick.

Also have your cat inoculated against rabies. This is not a common cat illness, but it is one that can be passed on to humans.

Perhaps the most usual health problem is worms. The cat with worms becomes a seedy critter. Its coat is poor, its appetite either ravenous or almost totally lacking. There are many varieties -- roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms -- and cats can get all of them. Some of these parasites are caught from lice or fleas, which even the nicest cat can pick up almost any time she is let out of the house. Others are carried in the organs of the rodents the cat eats. Usually, the cat ingests the eggs of the parasite, which then mature and fasten themselves to the intestinal walls. There they fatten themselves at the expense of the cat.

As noted in the preceding section on feeding, a small amount of garlic, taken regularly, is the simple way to guard against worms. Garlic will also work after a cat gets worms, although it's slow and a visit to the vet for de-worming would probably be better.

Fleas and lice, as well as parasites, may be carriers of diseases. To get rid of the wretched things, it's wise to dust your cat's coat, as well as brush it, every so often. Again, ask the vet for a safe powder to use.

Another common problem is the hairball. This is formed in the stomach from hairs which the cat has swallowed while cleaning herself. Usually the hairs are eliminated through the bowels or by vomiting. But if they accumulate, they can seriously clog the stomach or intestinal tract. A small quantity of mineral oil or milk of magnesia is the best aid in preventing hairballs. A real blockage can be a serious matter, and a veterinarian should be called. There are a number of chemicals in everyday use which are safe for humans or for dogs, but absolutely deadly to cats. Hence, a few don'ts: Don't use creosote, DDT, chlordane, carbolic acid, tar, naphthalene or their derivatives around cats. Or, perhaps more practical, keep your cat away for a few days from areas in which you've had to use these items. Don't use dog medicines on cats. Don't use human medicines, particularly strong laxatives, on cats. the medicine cabinet Remember, whatever medication you use externally will be promptly licked off by the cat. It's got to be safe, therefore, as well as effective. Perversely, of course, the cat will resist taking medicines for internal use. There are ways and means of getting around her, though -- aside from merely smearing it on her. If the vet has prescribed a pill, try rolling it up in a patty of ground meat and serving it for dinner. If that doesn't work, or if the medicine must be given immediately, hold the cat firmly -- to avoid being scratched, it's a good idea to wrap her in a towel -- and press a thumb and finger on either side of her jaw to open the mouth. Drop the pellet in, hold the mouth closed and stroke the throat to encourage swallowing. With liquid medicines it sometimes happens that a cat will simply lap it up from her dish. If not, finger pressure on the face will form 3 pouch in one cheek. Pour the medicine in. Don't try to open the jaws -- the cat will do that as soon as there is something in the cheek to swallow. As above, close the mouth and encourage swallowing. Give the medicine a little at a time, and hold the: cat horizontal, which is her normal swallowing position. Any thing-poured straight down her gullet may get into the windpipe and choke her. The main point is to be patient and gentle. Independent soul that she is, the cat will not necessarily behave well and take her medicine like a little soldier simply because you are nice to her. But roughness or impatience will frighten her into showing you just how hard a small cat can struggle. signs of trouble It's too much to expect that you will learn enough veterinary medicine to spot accurately all the troubles your cat may encounter. There are far more of them, far more complex, than the few situations described here. Almost anything that hits a cat adversely, however, is reflected in a few basic symptoms that any cat owner can recognize. If you pay reasonably close attention to your cat, you should be able to tell fairly quickly whether she's up to snuff or below par. Here are clues to look for: A coarse, dull coat, or one that sheds heavily and begins to look patchy. Sluggish behavior and loss of appetite for several meals in a row. Diarrhea. Any swelling or lumps which can be felt in or on the body, particularly if there is any indication of growth. Repeated coughing or vomiting. the vet In so far as possible, pick your veterinarian the way you would a doctor for yourself. Look for a man of acknowledged medical skill, who inspires confidence and whose fees seem reasonable. You may not have a wide selection, since veterinarians are distributed rather more thinly than M.D.'s. Nevertheless, there should be one or two within a reasonable radius. Just any doctor may not be good enough. Although times are changing, there are still a number of veterinarians who may be great with dogs or horses, yet not so sharp with cats. This may be due to a lack of interest in cats or to active dislike of them. Not all pet doctors are equally keen about treating all the patients that come their way. It's also possible that if people don't place much value on cats the veterinarian does not treat enough of them to become expert in their care and treatment. It must also be understood that cats are difficult to treat. As any cat owner knows, they put up a terrific fight against restraint, against medication, against undignified handling of any sort. They don't like strange places and are suspicious of strange people. Often they don't like traveling. Put all these together and you have a fine description of a trip to the vet's to see what ails kitty. She will be alarmed by the dogs in the doctor's waiting room. She will dig her claws deep to climb out of any arms that try to hold her. She will lick off her medicines, spit out her pills, rip and tear at bandages and stitches. And she will dislike staying in a little cage at the pet hospital. If she is in for surgery, she can be knocked out -- struggling to the end -- with an anesthetic, yet even then she presents problems. Being much smaller than most dogs, she gives the doctor very little room to work in and requires that he be especially dextrous and nimble in operating. All of this is reflected in the attitude some veterinarians take toward cats. If you are determined to have top-notch care available for your cat, try to find out ahead of time where your local doctor stands. Call his pet hospital and see if you can arrange a casual visit. Most veterinarians are proud of their establishments and will be pleased to have you come by -- at an off-hour, when they're not up to their ears in patients. A clean and tidy hospital speaks well for the veterinarian. So does a D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) diploma from a good school and a certificate from the American Veterinary Medical Association. So does the manner of his helper or nurse. So does the presence in his office of current professional journals, which suggests that he's keeping up in his field. The personality of the man, of course, will tell you most of all. Not about his skill: he could be an old grump toward people and yet have a healing touch with your pet. Usually, however, people who like animals can spot one another, and in a veterinarian the qualities of kindness and interest go a long way toward giving you confidence in him. If you decide to do nothing beforehand, you will still learn a great deal the first time it becomes necessary to take your pet in for treatment. How he handles the cat and talks to her, how normal and easy he makes his procedures seem, will all be indications of his competence. Veterinarians are not magicians, and a wall-climbing cat will give anyone trouble. But it is also true that an astonishing number of vets are able to calm your wild-eyed cat more quickly than you can. Little things also can mean much. At least one doctor won over at least one human, whose cat had a painfully broken leg, by asking first the cat's name and then what she liked best to eat. These small touches guaranteed that among strangers she would have an identity, and that nothing was too good if it would help ease her suffering. Fees will vary from area to area and from doctor to doctor, and are difficult to judge. High fees do not necessarily mean the vet is money-mad. He may well be good enough to rate every penny. And, by the same token, inexpensive care does not always mean bad care. Remember, too, that many of the life-saving wonder drugs are now in use for pets, and they're about as expensive for cats as for you. What adds up to a reasonable fee is something you will have to decide for yourself. Finally, if you're settled on a veterinarian follow his instructions faithfully and don't try to second-guess him. You can change to another doctor if you have reason to be dissatisfied, but while you're using his services don't try to pretend you know more than he does. Human beings, being human, have been known to give up on a regimen of cat care -- because it's too difficult to give the cat medicine, or to get a stool specimen, or to keep her confined -- and then blame the veterinarian when there's no improvement in the cat's condition. The four basic points in any relationship with a veterinarian are: 1. Satisfy yourself that you've got a good person. 2. Keep your cat healthy, but be alert for signs of trouble. 3. Don't try to diagnose illness; for yourself. Get professional help. 4. Always follow the veterinarian's instructions to the letter. Go to: Chapter 2 Part 4: Children & Cats

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