The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: UMBILICAL HERNIA AND TUMORS (CANCER) UMBILICAL HERNIA An umbilical hernia is a defect involving the body wall that is usually first noticed in young kittens as a lump under the abdominal skin. Its diagnosis and treatment are covered. TUMORS (CANCER) … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: MASTITIS Mastitis is an inflammation of one or more of the mammary glands (breasts) in female cats. While it may be due to abnormal drainage of milk from the gland or to trauma, it is usually caused by bacterial infection. … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: FELINE SOLAR DERMATITIS (SUN DAMAGE) Feline solar dermatitis can occur in any skin area that has received excessive sun exposure. The ear edges are the most commonly affected sites, but any area with thin hair can be damaged, such as … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: FOOT PAD INJURIES The most common problems affecting cats’ foot pads are small cuts (lacerations) and punctures acquired during fights with other cats. As with other wounds the potential for infection always exists, so even if the foot pad injury … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: BROKEN CLAWS (TOENAILS) In general, cats have few problems with their claws because they keep them retracted when not in use and maintain them by self-grooming and claw-conditioning behaviors. Occasionally cats’ claws become frayed and/or broken during a fight or … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: EOSINOPHILIC GRANULOMA COMPLEX (EGC) The eosinophilic granuloma complex (EGC) consists of three different-looking skin abnormalities that have been traditionally grouped together by veterinarians as if they represented different manifestations of a single disease. In fact, these skin lesions, feline indolent … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: FELINE ACNE Feline acne is a skin condition that occurs on the chin and edges of the lips in affected cats. In its mildest form you will see blackheads that may form in the skin because the cat does not … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: RINGWORM (DERMATOPHYTOSIS, DERMATOMYCOSIS) Ringworm is an infection of the hair, toenails, or skin caused by special types of fungi that may be transmitted to cats from other animals, people, or the soil. Cats under one year of age are more … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: PODODERMATITIS Pododermatitis is an inflammation of the skin of the foot. When it involves the foot pads, it can be a sign of a systemic immune problem, but it is frequently due to local causes (e.g., a wound between the … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: CONTACT IRRITANT DERMATITIS Contact irritant dermatitis can occur in any cat whose skin comes into contact with an irritating substance such as certain soaps, detergents, plants, paints, insect sprays, or other chemicals. The reaction can look similar to that described … Read more