How to Show Affection to an Ailing Cat
- Author: Faye Cormier
- Posted: 2024-05-29
When cats are sick, they experience feelings similar to those of sick humans.
While it may be easy to care for yourself when ill, you may not know what to do when your cat is ailing.
You’ll need sufficient time and patience to provide the feline with what it will require.
Additionally, it would be best to understand how to keep the cat comfortable as you find the best ways to provide it with the best care.
Here’s how to care for and comfort your cat during sickness:
1. Understand How Your Pet Feels
When you notice your cat is sick, you must find out what it might be going through to know how best to care for them.
Check the symptoms to know the problems the cat may be having.
For example, symptoms such as sneezing, diarrhea, hair loss, loss of appetite, watery eyes, and a weak body can indicate sickness in your kitty. Therefore, take the cat to the vet for examination and treatment if they exhibit these signs.
2. Avoid Overreacting
It is easy for your cat to notice when you are worried. You’ll need to remain calm while caring for them, so they don’t get more scared.
3. Keep Your Cat Comfortable
Provide your cat with more care and attention during the period of sickness.
For example, you might notice that the feline gets bothered by noise and commotion. It would be best to allow the cat to rest in a quiet environment with fewer movements.
Also, ensure the furry friend sleeps in a warm place, eats tasty meals, and easily accesses the litter box during this period.
Let the cat get enough rest and avoid distracting them while napping.
4. Groom Your Kitty
One of the ways to provide your cat with more care and attention is through grooming.
Comb your furry buddy’s fur, scratch, and clean its nose, ears, and eyes.
It would be best to cuddle your furry friend for more extended periods than you usually do to provide them with the warmth and affection they need during this period.
5. Provide Your Pet with Clean Water and Food
Often, sick cats experience a loss of appetite. You should provide your cat with healthy and tasty meals when unwell.
Check the quantities your kitty consumes every day. Serve them in many small portions several times each day. Get a special diet for the cat during sickness.
Experts recommend canned food for sick cats, since they're easy to ingest and keep cats hydrated.
Additionally, provide the cat with some clean drinking water. In moments of sickness, your cat may risk getting dehydrated, especially if it refuses to eat. Ensure to provide your kitty with fresh drinking water during the period.
6. Take the Cat to the Veterinary
If your cat’s health condition doesn’t improve after caring for it for some time, take them to a reputable vet for diagnosis and treatment.
The vet will conduct relevant tests and prescribe the proper treatment.
7. Give Your Cat the Prescribed Medication in Proper Dosages
After conducting some tests, the vet may prescribe medication/s for your furry friend. Get them as soon as possible and follow the vet’s guidelines for giving them to your cat.
Since the kitty may resist ingesting the medicine, devise tricks to ease them up before gently administering it. Also, give your feline some treats as an encouragement after taking the medication.
You should avoid forcing the cat to take medicine because it may eventually refuse, worsening the situation.
Sometimes, you may require pushing the cat more than usual to convince it to take medicine. For example, you may need to open their mouth and push the medication below their tongue.
Another option is hiding the medicine inside the cat’s favorite treats.
If all these strategies fail, open the cat’s mouth, place the medication in its throat, and moderately massage the neck to push them to swallow it.
Cats feel uncomfortable when sick, just like human beings. Knowing how well to treat and care for your furry friend when unwell is essential so they can remain strong until they heal.
