Managing the Sick Cat

Follow your vet's advice and instructions very precisely.  Take your cat for reinspection if requested to do so.  If your cat's condition worsens unexpectedly then contact your vet for advice.

A suitable place for your cat

Your cat should be somewhere that is warm and dry, peaceful and quiet.  There should be sufficient light for you to watch it.  It may be necessary to provide an additional heat source such as a heat pad, a heat lamp or a hot water bottle.  These should be used with care to avoid burns or overheating.  Easily washable cat friendly bedding is advisable such as Vetbed.  A litter tray should be provided within easy walking distance of your cat's bed.

Feeding your cat

Your sick cat needs to have both food and water.  When cats are ill they will often stop eating and drinking and it is important to monitor your cat’s intake so that you know when intervention is necessary.

To encourage your cat to drink fresh water should be available all the time.  Normal healthy cats often do not drink very much because the food that they eat contains a high proportion of water.  If your cat stops eating it will need to have fluids.  If it is not possible for your cat to be given fluids by mouth your veterinarian may give your cat fluids under the skin on a daily basis till it is well again or hospitalize your cat to administer fluids intravenously.  If you are trying to give fluids by mouth this is most easily achieved using a syringe.  Giving little and often works best.  Your veterinarian will advise you about what fluids to give.

To encourage your cat to eat offer palatable, high energy, highly digestible food little and often.  Choosing a favourite food will often meet these requirements.  Sometimes cats can be tempted by strong smelling foods such as tinned fish (sardines, tuna, salmon) or barbequed chicken.  Warming food to body heat often makes it more attractive.  Some cats can be encouraged by hand feeding.  Your vet will advise you if there are any foods that your cat should not be given.  If your cat cannot be tempted to eat voluntarily your veterinarian may suggest giving liquid food via a syringe but this may not be well tolerated and involves a lot of time and persistence.  An alternative is to hospitalize the cat and feed it via a tube.

Grooming and cleaning your cat

Ill cats often stop grooming themselves in which case you will need to do this.  Any discharges from the eyes, nose or mouth should be gently wiped away once or twice a day using balls of cotton wool and warm previously boiled water.  If the coat becomes soiled or matted this should be combed out or carefully cut off if necessary.  Daily brushing or combing of your cats coat will make your cat feel better.

"Ill cats often stop grooming themselves in which case you will need to do this."

Giving medicines

Give your cat any prescribed medication at the dose and frequency stated by your veterinarian and complete the full course of treatment.  A separate advice leaflet is available about medicating cats.  If you are having difficulty in giving tablets to your cat contact your veterinarian to see if they can prescribe a liquid formulation instead which you could then give with a syringe.  Alternatively they may suggest crushing tablets and mixing them with a little water so that they can be given by syringe.

Never give your cat any drugs other than those prescribed for him by your vet.  Never give your cat paracetamol as this is extremely toxic to cats.  Only give your cat aspirin if advised to by your vet.  They will give you the appropriate dose which is much less than for humans.

Disinfectants

Do not use any phenol based disinfectants in the room which your cat is in as these are toxic to cats.  A separate advice leaflet is available about disinfectants.

Monitoring your cat

Keep a close eye on your cat and note how much it is eating and drinking, urinating and defaecating and if there are any new abnormal signs such as vomiting, diarrhoea, sneezing or coughing.  You will then be able to report this to your vets, helping them assess how your cat is progressing.