The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: ALLERGIC DERMATITIS Some cats, like some people, are born with a predisposition to develop reactions when exposed to certain substances in their environment. Cats with allergic dermatitis usually develop skin disease characterized by signs of itching, such as biting and … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care What to Do When Your Cat Is Sick: SKIN (INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM) SKIN (INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM) In addition to the information in this section, other causes of skin disease will be found in the sections on external parasites and nutrition. WOUNDS, WOUND INFECTION, AND ABSCESSES Wounds and their frequent sequelae, … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care: TIMES WHEN A VETERINARIAN’S HELP IS NEEDED Any emergency Whenever you fail to diagnose the problem Whenever home treatment fails For any problem that requires X-ray pictures, ultrasound, or other specialized medical equipment, laboratory analysis, or anesthesia For any problem requiring prescription drugs, including antibiotics For yearly physical … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care: THE VALUE OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE Begin to practice preventive medicine as soon as you take a new cat into your home. In a short time the proper way to care for a healthy cat will become second nature to you. The effects of poor preventive medicine early in … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care: TROMBICULID MITES (CHIGGERS) Trombiculid mites (chiggers, harvest mites) are red, orange, or yellowish mites that have larvae that feed on the tissue fluids of cats and other mammals. (The nymphs and adults feed on plants or invertebrates.) The larvae are often found on the head and neck, particularly … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care: HEAD MITES SIGNS OF HEAD MANGE Head mites, Notoedres cati, are microscopic mites that infest cats and that can transiently infest human beings and dogs. These mites burrow beneath the horny layers of the skin causing intense signs of itching followed by hair loss. Because these mites seem … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care: MITES (MANGE) Mange is a general term for infestation with mites. It is not any single disease in itself. The mites discussed here are ear mites, Cheyletiella mites, head mites, and trombiculid mites. Other mite infestations of cats (e.g., Demodex and Sarcoptes) are rare. EAR MITES HOW TO … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care: TICKS and LICE TICKS Ticks are not commonly found on cats, probably because cats habitually groom themselves thoroughly. If you live in a woodsy or rural area and your cat goes outside, you may occasionally find a tick. Adult female ticks look different before and after they have … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care: FLEAS Fleas are probably the most prevalent external parasite of cats. Fleas are wingless, small dark brown insects capable of jumping great distances relative to their body size. They obtain nourishment by sucking blood. Fleas are not very host-specific. In spite of the fact that there are several … Read more
The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care: PINWORMS and TRICHINOSIS PINWORMS In answer to a common question: cats, like dogs, do not get or spread pinworms. The human pinworm, Enterobius vermicularis, occurs only in humans and higher primates such as chimpanzees. TRICHINOSIS Trichinosis is a roundworm infection that occurs when larval forms of Trichinella spiralis … Read more