FAQ: Health for cats

Put steps or a ramp by favourite spots, choose a litter box with low sides and a soft warm bed, and keep the cat at a healthy weight. Discuss pain treatment and supplements with a vet.

Yes, extra weight increases the load on the joints and speeds up wear, and it also raises the risk of diabetes. Plan weight loss with a vet, as sudden fasting is dangerous for cats.

Omega-3, usually from fish oil, is used to support skin, coat and joint health. Do not give a cat fish oil made for people without a vet’s advice, as the amounts and additives may not be suitable.

Seasonal shedding is normal, but heavy hair loss, dandruff or a dull coat can point to dietary gaps, parasites, allergy, stress or illness. Before buying supplements, work out the cause with a vet.

These supplements can help if a cat is lacking them, but a complete food usually already provides enough. If the coat is poor on a good diet, look for the cause with a vet first.

It is a paste, usually with oils or malt, that helps swallowed hair pass through the gut so it does not build up in the stomach. It is given on the paw or straight into the mouth in the amount and frequency stated on the label.

The key is to brush the cat regularly, especially during shedding, so it swallows less hair. Food or treats with more fibre, cat grass and a hairball paste also help.

An occasional hairball is usually harmless. See a vet if the cat often retches without bringing anything up, stops eating, does not pass stool or has a painful belly – this may mean a bowel blockage.

Yes, long-haired cats such as Persians or Maine Coons swallow more hair while grooming, so they get hairballs more often. Daily brushing is especially important for them, and a paste or special food can help on top.

Cat grass is sprouted cereal such as wheat or oats that cats like to chew. It can help hairballs pass and is a safe alternative to houseplants, some of which are toxic to cats.

Some pastes may be given often, others only a few times a week – the label says which. Too much oily paste can cause diarrhoea, so do not increase the amount on your own.

Try putting a little paste on its paw – the cat will lick it off while grooming. You can also try a different flavour or treats and food with fibre that do a similar job.

Frequent vomiting is not normal and can be a sign of allergy, digestive disease, or kidney or thyroid problems. Supplements will not fix the cause, so a cat that vomits more than occasionally should see a vet.

Keep them tightly closed in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Use an opened pack within the time stated on the label; some liquid supplements must be refrigerated after opening.

No, even if the cat begs for them. Supplement treats contain active ingredients that can be harmful in excess, and they also contain calories. Stick to the daily amount on the label.

L-lysine is an amino acid sometimes given as a supplement to cats with recurring respiratory or eye problems. Its benefit is not clearly proven, so talk to a vet before using it.

The cat goes to the litter box often but passes little urine, squats for a long time, urinates outside the box, has blood in its urine or licks its genitals. In such cases take the cat to a vet as soon as possible.

A male cat’s urethra is narrow and can be blocked by crystals or a mucus plug. If a tom squats but produces no urine, a life-threatening condition can develop within hours – take him to a vet immediately.

Urinary supplements, for example with cranberry, glucosamine or calming ingredients, are meant to support the bladder wall and a healthy urinary tract. They do not treat infection or stones, so symptoms need a vet.

Urinary food has adjusted mineral levels and helps maintain the right urine acidity so fewer crystals form. Veterinary diets are made for a specific problem, so choose them after talking to a vet.