Is This a Healthy Animal A Few Tips

KittyKind will say it's just a cold, but if you are looking at a cat or kitten and it's **sneezing,** it's time to check the nose. Is there mucous on the nose? This cat/kitten has an upper respiratory infection. A vet will recommend an antibiotic depending on what type of bacteria is causing the infection. KittyKind will insist on giving antibiotics without a vet exam for practically everything - that is not the way to "treat" a cat.

Look at the **gums** too. If they are pale it means the cat is not getting enough oxygen or is anemic. If the gums are blue - this cat needs a vet ASAP because it is really low on oxygen and may have heart or other complications.

Look at the **ears**. Are they dirty? Does the cat shake its head alot? See if the swabbed ear comes up with gritty, black stuff that looks like coffee grinds. That is ear mites. It is treated for 2 weeks with one product and for 30 days with mineral oil.

Does the cat have **diahhrea**? It is not always due to change in diet. Diahhrea can be caused by parasites and must be diagnosed by a veterinarian. Diahhrea that smells extremely awful can be attributed to Coccidia a parasite that can kill a kitten within days. Another extremely awful smelling diahhrea is caused by Giardia. The cat loses weight and has projectile diahhrea everytime it eats. Cats with Diahhrea usually are also somewhat **dehydrated** because of the fluids they keep losing with the diahhrea. The vet may want to give the cat subcutaneous fluids. KittyKind recommends raw meat diets or tells you to give the cat rice. While you're doing this the cat is just getting worse.

Look at the **eyes** and see if they are clear without mucous. Look at the **teeth** to see what condition they're in. A cat with dirty teeth that are not cleaned by a vet can develope mouth infections that cannot be cured but need regular care for the rest of its life.

Be sure the cat has been checked for **fleas**. VERY important, and finally be sure to receive paperwork showing dates of deworming and vaccination. Be sure to get all medical files on your newly adopted pet. Be aware that some of the above conditions can be easily treated by a vet. However, if you adopt a cat and think it is healthy the vet visit never happens and the cat only suffers in silence until it's health becomes seriously compromised.

KittyKind also doesn't seem to know what Ringworm is when adopting out cats. If you are adopting a cat and it has lots of round, rough looking bald spots around the ears, eyes, neck and paws. Stop a minute. This could be due to a liver/kidney problem or it could be Ringworm. Ringworm can be treated. It is actually a fungus that attacks the cats hair and can spread over a good portion of the cats body. It is contagious to other cats and people can get it too. While at KittyKind I saw many cats adopted out with this condition and many people who came in after catching it from the cats. It can be treated with Athlete's Food Cream or a lotion called Fungisan. I recently used an ointment of goldenseal and myrrh and the results were FAST. A vet can give the cat a pill and a skin ointment to help get rid of the problem. Ringworm is itchy and looks like hives on a person. Always wash your hands after handling a kitten or cat with RingWorm.

***Always*** Get Medical Records to take home with you of newly adopted animals. Some adopters expect you to take the animal to the vet after adopting what you expect to be a healthy animal