FAQ: Health for cats

Press the claw with clean gauze or apply styptic powder for pets and hold for a few minutes. Bleeding usually stops quickly; if it does not, or the claw is broken deep, see a vet.

Wipe the paws with a damp cloth or pet wipes, especially in winter when roads have salt and chemicals. Cats groom and can swallow them, and cracked pads can be treated with a pet paw balm.

No, a cat licks and swallows the cream, and some human creams contain substances dangerous to cats, such as zinc oxide or painkillers. Use only products a vet recommends.

White cats or cats with pale ears that like to lie in the sun can burn their ear tips and nose, which over time raises the risk of skin cancer. Limit midday sun, and apply only a cat-safe sunscreen a vet recommends.

An overheated cat breathes with its mouth open, pants, is restless or lethargic, drools heavily and has red gums. Move it somewhere cool, dampen its fur with cool, not icy, water and call a vet immediately.

Usually a spay wound needs no extra care beyond stopping the cat licking it and checking it daily. If the wound becomes red, swells, leaks fluid or opens, see a vet.

If the cat is coughing but breathing, let it cough the object up itself and watch it. If it cannot breathe and you can see the object in the mouth, carefully try to remove it without pushing fingers deep; get the cat to a vet immediately.

Yes, thread, string, tinsel or ribbon can cause dangerous bowel damage in cats. If you see thread sticking out, do not pull it, and see a vet urgently.

A diffuser releases a synthetic copy of cat facial pheromones into the air, which cats perceive as a sign of a safe environment. It can help reduce stress during a move, when a new pet arrives or when a cat marks territory.

Plug the diffuser into a low socket in the room where the cat spends the most time, not behind furniture or curtains. One diffuser usually covers a limited area, and the refill is replaced about monthly, as the pack says.

Yes, pheromone spray can be sprayed into the carrier or onto its blanket a while before putting the cat in, as the pack directs. It can help the cat travel or go to the vet more calmly.

Calming supplements often contain amino acids such as L-theanine or tryptophan, milk proteins or plant extracts. They are meant to ease mild stress and are not sedatives, so severe anxiety needs a vet.

Valerian often excites cats rather than calming them, much like catnip. Do not give a cat valerian tablets for people or drops containing alcohol; choose calming products after talking to a vet.

Get the cat used to the carrier in advance by leaving it open at home with bedding and treats. Before the trip use a pheromone spray and cover the carrier with a towel, and if the cat panics badly, ask a vet about further options.

The cause can be a urinary disease, pain, a dirty or unsuitable box, new litter or stress. First take the cat to a vet to rule out illness, then deal with environmental and stress factors.

Kittens usually start vaccinations at around 8–9 weeks of age, with boosters a few weeks later according to the vet’s schedule. The kitten must be healthy and dewormed beforehand, and the vet sets the schedule.

A kitten needs a worming and flea product suited to its age and weight, a soft brush, nail clippers and eye wipes. It should soon see a vet for a check-up, a vaccination schedule and parasite prevention.

A healthy kitten eating a complete kitten food usually needs no supplements. Too much calcium or vitamins can disrupt growth, so give a kitten supplements only on a vet’s recommendation.

Warning signs are a kitten that stops eating, is lethargic, has diarrhoea, vomits, sneezes, has eye or nose discharge, a bloated belly or stops gaining weight. Kittens can deteriorate quickly, so do not delay seeing a vet.

Yes, a kitten without its mother needs a kitten milk replacer from a special bottle, not cow’s milk. Very young kittens also need warmth and help with toileting, so talk to a vet.