All You Need to Know about Caring for a Sick Cat

• Author: Mary Singleton
• Posted: 2024-07-29

Just as humans feel when sick, cats experience the same when unwell. You know how best to care for yourself whenever ailing, but how do you care for your sick cat? Whenever your furry friend is ill, you need patience and enough time to provide it with what it requires during that time. You need to know what to do to make the cat comfortable during the period as you make the right decisions on the most appropriate care. The following are the essential tips for comforting and caring for your sick cat:

Find Out How the Cat Feels

Whenever your cat is unwell, it is essential to find out how he feels to know the best care to offer him. Look out for symptoms that show he is experiencing a problem. When your furry friend is unwell, you may tell because of diarrhea, reduction of strength, loss of appetite, sneezing, hair loss, and watery eyes and nose. Don't hesitate to take your cat to the vet for diagnosis and treatment if you notice any signs.

Remain Calm

Your cat will likely know when you are anxious. It is essential to keep calm throughout the process to avoid scaring them more.

Ensure the Cat remains Comfortable

It would be best if you offered more attention to your furry friend when unwell. Too much noise and high traffic may irritate them. Therefore, let him stay in a quiet place without too many movements. The cat's sleeping area should also be warm enough, serve them tasty food and place the litter box in an easily accessible place. Leave the cat to rest as much as they want and avoid provoking them.

Groom Your Cat

When your cat is sick, you will need to offer them more attention and care, and you can do so through grooming. You may cuddle, scratch, comb your cat, and clean the cat's ears, nose, and eyes. Since your cat enjoys your warmth, you should keep them close to you for extended durations.

Give Your Cat Food and Water

While your sick cat may experience a loss of appetite, you'll need to provide it with healthy food to help him recover. Check that your cat feeds well throughout the day. You may give the food in small portions more times during the day.

In addition, give the cat some clean water. You may even serve the sick cat a special diet instead of regular food during that period. One thing you may not know is that canned food is the best for sick cats that don't want to feed. Consider getting that for your cat because it is easy to swallow and will help keep your furry friend hydrated.

Consult the Vet

If the cat doesn't exhibit any improvement after some time, it would be wise to take them to the vet for a thorough check-up. That is because he may be experiencing a severe issue. The vet will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe proper treatment.

Provide Your Cat with the Right Medication and Dosage

After the check-up and screening, the vet may prescribe some medicines for your cat. Ensure you purchase them immediately and administer them per the vet's instructions. Your furry friend may resist taking the medication; hence, be gentle and find useful tricks and tactics to help them relax before administering the drugs. You may give the cat some treats after taking medicine to encourage them the next time they do so.

It is not advisable to use force because the cat may end up not taking the medication and make the situation worse. At times, you may need to persuade your cat more than usual before he agrees to take the medication. You may open their mouth gently and place the medicine under their tongue. If they don't want to swallow the medicine, consider hiding it in their favorite treats. If that fails to work also, you may have to open their mouth, put the pill in their throat and gently massage the throat until they swallow.

When cats are sick, they experience discomfort just as humans do. If your cat is unwell, you need to know how best to care for them and enable them to remain comfortable until they get well. You will need to offer your furry friend more attention and concern, feed them healthy meals, keep them hydrated, and take them to the vet for treatment, among other things. In addition, ensure the cat takes all the medications to recover and return to everyday life.