Search Results
347 results for “feline vomiting”
Health Check and Prep Before Bringing a New Cat Home
Before a new cat comes home, a health check is the smart first step, plus a few daily supplies once it arrives. A pre-purchase exam, blood and stool tests, and X-rays map out the kitten's condition. Then watch for the big early risks: panleukopenia, cat flu, ear mites, and gastroenteritis. Avoid baths or shaving unless a skin issue demands it, since the stress can trigger behavior problems and illness. Knowing the warning signs helps you act fast.
Common Everyday Cat Illnesses (Part 2)
Five more common cat conditions: (1) Panleukopenia (feline distemper) — a fierce, contagious viral disease hitting gut and airways; fever, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, dehydration; high death rate in under-8-week kittens, so vaccinate and rush to a vet at the first sign (lice, mites, fleas can spread it). (2) Cancer — rarer than in dogs but cats hide pain; watch for lumps, non-healing skin infections, weight loss, vomiting, odd urination. (3) Kidney disease — common in seniors; low appetite, weight drop, vomiting, lethargy; needs dialysis or transplant when severe. (4) Fractures — from falls; sudden limping or hiding. (5) Poisoning — from human food or toxic plants; repeated vomiting/diarrhea, blood in stool/urine; vets give fluids and anti-emetics. Don't rely on self-healing—use a trusted clinic.
Health Checks Every Cat Owner Should Know
Must-do checks: a baseline exam plus a four-way infectious test (panleukopenia, herpes, calicivirus, coronavirus) for every new cat—do it early, before symptoms turn deadly. Antibody tests suit cattery-bought kittens. Pre-surgery bloodwork matters for seniors; post-illness rechecks and fecal/SAA/urine tests catch parasites, inflammation, and urinary disease. Skip unnecessary ones: toxoplasma testing is mainly for pregnant households, and X-rays are for swallowed objects or fractures.
How Long Between a Cat’s Vaccination and Deworming?
Kittens are due for both vaccines and deworming around two months of age, and doing them together raises the risk of allergy or vaccine failure. The safe rule is to separate the two by at least a week. Vaccines briefly lower the cat's resistance while they build antibodies, and dewormers carry a small toxicity that the body tolerates only when healthy. This guide explains the interval and the practical cautions for both procedures so your cat stays protected without setbacks.
6 Common Cat Diseases and How to Prevent Them
Cats hide pain well and can't tell you what's wrong, so owners need a basic grasp of common feline illnesses. Beyond regular checkups and vaccines, know the warning signs of the six frequent problems: urinary tract disease, respiratory infection, periodontal disease, parasites, ringworm, and ear mites. This guide summarizes each condition's symptoms and the everyday prevention that matters most—more water, less stress, dental care, deworming, and a clean, dry environment.
5 Things to Prepare Before Bringing a Cat Home
Bringing a cat home is a long-term commitment, so before you do, make sure you are truly ready to welcome a new life into your care. Preparation makes all the difference to your cat's smooth transition. First, learn the basics of feline care and, above all, prepare yourself mentally. Understand your cat's usual diet from the previous owner and avoid sudden food changes that can cause diarrhea or vomiting. Set up a quiet, cozy sleeping area, a generously sized litter box with the litter your cat prefers, and plenty of scratching posts and toys to prevent furniture damage. Choose a sturdy, well-ventilated carrier for trips. When your cat first arrives, give it time to adjust to unfamiliar smells—never force it out of hiding, and if it refuses food for more than three days, see a vet.
Why Does My Cat Foam at the Mouth After Taking Medicine?
It can be alarming to see your cat drool foamy saliva right after a dose of medication. In most cases this is a normal defensive reaction rather than a medical emergency. Cat medicines are usually bitter and lack the sugar coating found on many human pills, so the unpleasant taste alone can trigger gagging and vomiting. Some drugs are also physically irritating to the stomach lining, especially when given on an empty stomach. Understanding the two main causes—bitterness and gastric irritation—helps you give medicine more comfortably and know when foaming is simply a passing reaction versus a sign you should slow down and check with your veterinarian.
How to Prevent Heartworm in Cats
Heartworm actually takes hold in a cat's lungs, not the heart, and although cats are not the worm's natural host, they can still be infected by a mosquito carrying larvae. Cats are often overlooked: infection rates are only 5–15% of a dog's under the same conditions, symptoms are subtle (about 28% show none), and tests are less accurate than in dogs. Prevention matters — avoid mosquitoes and use a vet-prescribed monthly topical preventive. Test for infection before giving any preventive, since treating an already-infected cat can cause shock.
Should You Vaccinate a Cat That Has a Cold?
Don't vaccinate a cat that has a cold—wait until it recovers. Vaccinating a sick cat can cause vaccine failure and lower its already weak resistance, worsening the cold or inviting other infections. The best time to vaccinate is when the cat is healthy, the right age, and its immune system is working normally. Kittens usually get their first shot at about 8 weeks, commonly three shots spaced three to four weeks apart; adults typically get two feline-combination shots, the second three to four weeks after the first. After that, a titer check every three years shows whether boosters are needed. Also skip vaccination if the cat is vomiting, diarrheal, newly recovered, low in spirit, pregnant, has an allergy history, swelling, or is already infected.
Difference Between a Cat Hairball and Asthma
A hairball problem shows as frequent gagging and dry heaves, occasionally bringing up hair with the vomit; if it cannot be expelled it causes days without a stool, a hard dry belly, and a dull, rough coat. Feline asthma shows as a stretched neck, wide eyes, and a loud wheezing sound lasting seconds to minutes, with little response to calls or touch; it can progress to rapid, labored, open-mouth breathing that needs immediate medication.