Newborn Kitten Care: First Litter Of Cats
Newborn kitten care, especially for your cat's first litter of kittens, can involve some surprises. Learn how you can help provide care with this information When your cat has its first litter, these are things that you need to know about, in case this happens to you, as it did to my cats, first litter. One of my cats name is, Snowflake. She is one year old. This was her first time having kittens, but she only had one. She didn't have a hard time having it, and she started taking very good care of it, by nursing the kitten right away.
Snowflake wanted to stay close to me while she nursed her kitten, so they both stayed in my bedroom, on top of my bed. Snowflake didn't want to be anywhere else, not even in any box. So, i let them stay on my bed while she nursed. I kept a very good eye on them both, and for three days everything was going fine, the kitten was a boy, and getting bigger. Everything looked fine, until the fourth day, the kitten started crying. I couldn't figure out what could be wrong. Then the second day of the kitten crying, while Snowflake was trying to nurse it, i noticed that it looked like the kitten wasn't getting any milk from her. I also noticed that on Snowflake that all her milk was dried up, except on that one nipple, where her kitten had been nursing on. This is when i thought about, well maybe that one nipple the kitten isn't getting any milk, or enough milk out from it. So the third day, this is when i decided to take the kitten along with Snowflake to the Veternarian. Once i got them both there, the Veternarian checked over the kitten, and said; yes the kitten is really dehydrated; that you need to purchase a milk replacer for your kitten called:KMR. It is a 8 FL.OZ Can, cost was: $3.99 per can. Depending on what pet store you go too.
The Veternarian said, purchase this milk, along with some syringe needles he had given me, but stated to take the needles out first of course, then fill up the syringe with this type of milk right away once you get this kitten home, and give as much milk to the kitten as it will consume at one time, and give it as often as the kitten will take it, until this kitten gets better. The Veternarian also gave the kitten a shot under its skin on the back part of its neck, to help give it some fluids in its body, he stated that this will help give the kitten some fluids, and make the kitten more relaxed, stop it from crying so much. The veternarian said he couldn't put an IV in the kitten, for the kitten is too small, and he would not be able to put a needle into its small veins. This kitten was almost gone by the time i taken it to the Vet, i had waited too long. Don't wait until your cats kitten cries for three days.
If you notice any of your cats first litter of kittens, or one kitten crying for one whole day, take the kittens to the Veternarian, for it needs
your help, and the shot will help. But if you don't wait as long as i did, then you can go to the Petstore and purchase that brand of milk, or any kind of kitten milk replacer, and empty syringes, or even an eye dropper to start feeding the kitten as quickley as possible. Snowflakes kitten didn't make it, so I'm telling this story so you will know if this happens to your cats first kitten, or kittens; so you will not make the same mistake as i did, and you can save your cats kittens life.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
How To Give A Cat A Pill
How To Give A Cat A Pill
Giving a pill to a cat isn't easy. Learn the best way to give your cat a pill and make the ordeal quick and easy. Hopefully you will never have to give your cat a pill since it is often an unpleasant and difficult task. However, if your cat develops any sort of medical condition and needs to be medicated, you might find yourself facing the choice of pills or liquid. It might seem that liquids are easier but pills are much easier to handle than liquids. Often liquid antibiotics will need refrigeration, are not tasty to cats (or anyone, for that matter) and are hard to give accurately since often the cat will spit up a fair amount of the liquid intended for him. Whether you only have to give the cat a pill once or whether you are going to have to do it for the rest of their lives due to a medical condition, it's a good idea to know the right way to go about it. Note: Please do NOT give cats aspirin since aspirin is toxic to felines.
Dogs are fairly easy to give pills to because you can hide the pill in a small piece of cheese and they will gobble it up without any problem. Cats are not so trusting. They seem to know when we are trying to sneak something on them. They will be especially suspicious if you give them something to eat that you've never shared with them before. If you've ever tried hiding a pill in their canned food, you've probably discovered that they have eaten all around it and, at best, have only managed to give the pill a few good licks. Unfortunately, you have to be direct with cats when it comes to pilling them.
Steps:
1. Have the pill ready. Don't think that you can get the cat and then with your free hand manage to open the bottle and grab the pill. By this time, Kitty has already jumped off the counter and is hiding under the bed. If the pill has to be cut in half, make sure you do this ahead of time. Try to give the pill at around the same time each day. Some pills must be given with food and others in between meals.
2. This tip is especially true if you are going to be giving Kitty pills for an extended period of time. Don't ever call Kitty to come and get his pill. He will begin to associate your calling him with him getting a pill and it won't be long before he doesn't come at all when called for fear you are going to shove something down his throat. Only call your Kitty if you are going to do something nice for him like give him a treat or tickle his belly. You want the sound of your voice saying his name to have a pleasant association. If you are going to give Kitty a pill or do anything else unpleasant, wait until he is somewhere where you can grab him easily without scaring him.
3. Pick a place where Kitty doesn't usually sleep or sit to be his infirmary. A counter top or a particular chair is good. This could have a double effect of making him avoid that particular place in the future, so if he's been getting in trouble for climbing on Dad's favorite chair, use it and he might be a little more reluctant.
4. Be gentle! Grab Kitty gently and take him to the designated spot. Stroke him and praise him. All cats are different when it comes to this sort of thing. Your cat might be very gentle and might allow you to give him his pill quite quickly and without much of a fuss, or he may become frightened or aggressive. If you think he might become aggressive, try wrapping him up with a towel so that he can't get his arms and legs free, this will help you to keep your cool and not worry about Kitty scratching you. This may not be necessary, however, if your Kitty is fairly calm.
5. Now comes the fun part. You will definitely need two hands for this. The best way is to hug Kitty from behind with one arm, using the hand to gently cup his chin and hold his mouth open. With the other hand, pop the pill as far back into his throat as you can. Quickly hold his mouth closed and talk soothingly to him. Keep his mouth closed until you feel him swallow. A good way to make him swallow is to rub his nose until it gets dry. Kitties hate dry noses and will instinctively reach out their tongues to wet them, in order to do that, they will have to swallow. If you don't have a hand free to rub his nose, try blowing on his nose with your mouth until he does dart out that tongue. Once that tongue comes out, you can be pretty sure that the pill is swallowed. You will know if you see him spitting it out, since they will do this as soon as they get their mouth open. If you get the pill between his teeth and cheeks, it will be hard for him to swallow it. If this happens let him spit it out and try again, this time aiming for the back of his throat.
6. The first time you do this, it will take you a few minutes. Remember Kitty can sense that you are stressed, be calm. After the third or fourth time, you will find that it takes you only a few seconds to do the whole process. You may not even need the towel.
7. Be sure to praise Kitty after his ordeal and give him a small treat. He will then learn to associate his pill time with treat time.
Once you get the hang of it, it isn't difficult at all.
Giving a pill to a cat isn't easy. Learn the best way to give your cat a pill and make the ordeal quick and easy. Hopefully you will never have to give your cat a pill since it is often an unpleasant and difficult task. However, if your cat develops any sort of medical condition and needs to be medicated, you might find yourself facing the choice of pills or liquid. It might seem that liquids are easier but pills are much easier to handle than liquids. Often liquid antibiotics will need refrigeration, are not tasty to cats (or anyone, for that matter) and are hard to give accurately since often the cat will spit up a fair amount of the liquid intended for him. Whether you only have to give the cat a pill once or whether you are going to have to do it for the rest of their lives due to a medical condition, it's a good idea to know the right way to go about it. Note: Please do NOT give cats aspirin since aspirin is toxic to felines.
Dogs are fairly easy to give pills to because you can hide the pill in a small piece of cheese and they will gobble it up without any problem. Cats are not so trusting. They seem to know when we are trying to sneak something on them. They will be especially suspicious if you give them something to eat that you've never shared with them before. If you've ever tried hiding a pill in their canned food, you've probably discovered that they have eaten all around it and, at best, have only managed to give the pill a few good licks. Unfortunately, you have to be direct with cats when it comes to pilling them.
Steps:
1. Have the pill ready. Don't think that you can get the cat and then with your free hand manage to open the bottle and grab the pill. By this time, Kitty has already jumped off the counter and is hiding under the bed. If the pill has to be cut in half, make sure you do this ahead of time. Try to give the pill at around the same time each day. Some pills must be given with food and others in between meals.
2. This tip is especially true if you are going to be giving Kitty pills for an extended period of time. Don't ever call Kitty to come and get his pill. He will begin to associate your calling him with him getting a pill and it won't be long before he doesn't come at all when called for fear you are going to shove something down his throat. Only call your Kitty if you are going to do something nice for him like give him a treat or tickle his belly. You want the sound of your voice saying his name to have a pleasant association. If you are going to give Kitty a pill or do anything else unpleasant, wait until he is somewhere where you can grab him easily without scaring him.
3. Pick a place where Kitty doesn't usually sleep or sit to be his infirmary. A counter top or a particular chair is good. This could have a double effect of making him avoid that particular place in the future, so if he's been getting in trouble for climbing on Dad's favorite chair, use it and he might be a little more reluctant.
4. Be gentle! Grab Kitty gently and take him to the designated spot. Stroke him and praise him. All cats are different when it comes to this sort of thing. Your cat might be very gentle and might allow you to give him his pill quite quickly and without much of a fuss, or he may become frightened or aggressive. If you think he might become aggressive, try wrapping him up with a towel so that he can't get his arms and legs free, this will help you to keep your cool and not worry about Kitty scratching you. This may not be necessary, however, if your Kitty is fairly calm.
5. Now comes the fun part. You will definitely need two hands for this. The best way is to hug Kitty from behind with one arm, using the hand to gently cup his chin and hold his mouth open. With the other hand, pop the pill as far back into his throat as you can. Quickly hold his mouth closed and talk soothingly to him. Keep his mouth closed until you feel him swallow. A good way to make him swallow is to rub his nose until it gets dry. Kitties hate dry noses and will instinctively reach out their tongues to wet them, in order to do that, they will have to swallow. If you don't have a hand free to rub his nose, try blowing on his nose with your mouth until he does dart out that tongue. Once that tongue comes out, you can be pretty sure that the pill is swallowed. You will know if you see him spitting it out, since they will do this as soon as they get their mouth open. If you get the pill between his teeth and cheeks, it will be hard for him to swallow it. If this happens let him spit it out and try again, this time aiming for the back of his throat.
6. The first time you do this, it will take you a few minutes. Remember Kitty can sense that you are stressed, be calm. After the third or fourth time, you will find that it takes you only a few seconds to do the whole process. You may not even need the towel.
7. Be sure to praise Kitty after his ordeal and give him a small treat. He will then learn to associate his pill time with treat time.
Once you get the hang of it, it isn't difficult at all.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
How To Care For A Sick Cat
How To Care For A Sick Cat
Learn how to care for a sick cat including what to feed it, how to administer medication, and taking its temperature.
If a veterinarian says a sick cat can be cared for at home, choose a quiet corner of the house, away from traffic, where the cat won't be disturbed but can still be with you and your family. This spot should be free of dampness and drafts and have a temperature of about 72 degrees to help avoid chills. A box with a washable blanket or rug can serve as the cat's bed. If the cat must be confined to restrict activity, place a window screen on top of the box with a weight on top of it so the cat can't knock it off.
If a cat needs liquid medication, it should be poured or inserted with a syringe (without the needle) into the side of the cat's mouth. Do not put in so much that he has to swallow too fast. For small kittens, a drop at a time is sufficient. Rapid swallowing can force liquids into a cat's lungs and cause pneumonia. Hold your cat's head, if you can, to prevent him from shaking or spraying his medicine everywhere.
Pills and capsules should be given with the cat in front of you on a level surface, such as a table, facing toward your right side. Grasp his whole head in your left hand with your thumb and fingers pressing from opposite sides of the upper jaw. Pull his head gently backward until his nose is pointing straight up and hold it in this position. With your right hand, pull down his lower teeth to prevent his closing his mouth. Then drop the pill or capsule on the back of his tongue, giving the pill or capsule a slight push with your finger so that it goes down his throat. It helps to coat the pill with butter or margarine.
If a cat prefers pills to liquid or vice versa, ask the veterinarian if he has the medication in the preferred format. This is not always possible.
Never give cats an aspirin. It is very harmful to the cat's stomach. And use only prescribed medications and dosages.
Often, a sick cat cannot clean itself. Help the cat by using a damp wash cloth and assisting with his needs. If a cat is unable to move, turn him over several times a day to help prevent sores.
You can use an ordinary rectal thermometer to take the cat's temperature, however, the newer, faster, electronic thermometers will make it easier. For a cat, 100 to 102 are normal. To make insertion easier, use a bit of Vaseline.
In order to get well, a cat must eat. Since most sick cats have no appetite, try tempting him with a variety of cat foods, and if he has a favorite, see if he will eat it.
If the cat won't eat by itself, you must try to feed it. You can try using broth, milk or water in the same way you administer liquid medication using a syringe. With solid foods, insert a spoon into the side of the cat's mouth behind the teeth and scrape the food onto the roof of his mouth. Large amounts may force vomiting, so use smaller amounts more frequently.
Make sure you follow your veterinarian's advice.
Learn how to care for a sick cat including what to feed it, how to administer medication, and taking its temperature.
If a veterinarian says a sick cat can be cared for at home, choose a quiet corner of the house, away from traffic, where the cat won't be disturbed but can still be with you and your family. This spot should be free of dampness and drafts and have a temperature of about 72 degrees to help avoid chills. A box with a washable blanket or rug can serve as the cat's bed. If the cat must be confined to restrict activity, place a window screen on top of the box with a weight on top of it so the cat can't knock it off.
If a cat needs liquid medication, it should be poured or inserted with a syringe (without the needle) into the side of the cat's mouth. Do not put in so much that he has to swallow too fast. For small kittens, a drop at a time is sufficient. Rapid swallowing can force liquids into a cat's lungs and cause pneumonia. Hold your cat's head, if you can, to prevent him from shaking or spraying his medicine everywhere.
Pills and capsules should be given with the cat in front of you on a level surface, such as a table, facing toward your right side. Grasp his whole head in your left hand with your thumb and fingers pressing from opposite sides of the upper jaw. Pull his head gently backward until his nose is pointing straight up and hold it in this position. With your right hand, pull down his lower teeth to prevent his closing his mouth. Then drop the pill or capsule on the back of his tongue, giving the pill or capsule a slight push with your finger so that it goes down his throat. It helps to coat the pill with butter or margarine.
If a cat prefers pills to liquid or vice versa, ask the veterinarian if he has the medication in the preferred format. This is not always possible.
Never give cats an aspirin. It is very harmful to the cat's stomach. And use only prescribed medications and dosages.
Often, a sick cat cannot clean itself. Help the cat by using a damp wash cloth and assisting with his needs. If a cat is unable to move, turn him over several times a day to help prevent sores.
You can use an ordinary rectal thermometer to take the cat's temperature, however, the newer, faster, electronic thermometers will make it easier. For a cat, 100 to 102 are normal. To make insertion easier, use a bit of Vaseline.
In order to get well, a cat must eat. Since most sick cats have no appetite, try tempting him with a variety of cat foods, and if he has a favorite, see if he will eat it.
If the cat won't eat by itself, you must try to feed it. You can try using broth, milk or water in the same way you administer liquid medication using a syringe. With solid foods, insert a spoon into the side of the cat's mouth behind the teeth and scrape the food onto the roof of his mouth. Large amounts may force vomiting, so use smaller amounts more frequently.
Make sure you follow your veterinarian's advice.
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