Kitten Guide

• • Kitten - 10 key facts
  • A brief breed guide
  • Cattery guide
  • Dealing with an emergency
  • Essential equipment
  • Feline ailments
  • House or outdoor cat?
  • Housetraining your kitten
  • How vets can help
  • Keeping your kitten healthy
  • Looking out for signs of illness
  • Nursing a sick kitten
  • Playing with your kitten
  • Preventing parasites
  • Responsible ownership
  • Starting a healthy diet
  • Successful grooming
  • Travel advice

Recognise the symptoms and conditions that can affect your cat with this comprehensive guide. Treatment can be expensive so make sure you take out a good pet insurance policy.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W

A

Asthma
Laboured breathing that can sometimes be intermittent and accompanied by a cough.

B

Bronchitis
A lung disease that can be caused by allergies, or bacterial infection, leading to breathing difficulties.

C

Chlamydia
Bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract, eyes become inflamed and produce discharge. Can be accompanied by nasal discharge and loss of smell.

Conjunctivitis
Eye inflammation that may be accompanied by a mucus discharge.

D

Diabetes
Symptoms include increased thirst and urination, as well as weight loss.

F

Feline infectious enteritis (FIE)
High fever, depressed behaviour, lack of appetite, vomiting and inability to drink. Rapid dehydration can set in followed by coma and death in as little as 24 hours.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
Virus transmitted through wounds. Causes immune deficiency and bone marrow suppression, although chronic gum disease and ulceration are more common symptoms.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)
A virus that within 24 hours can cause loss of appetite, vomiting, respiratory difficulties and diarrhoea.

Flu
Affects the upper respiratory tract, causing coughing and sneezing, as well as discharge from the nose and eyes.

G

Gastroenteritis
Commonly caused by infection or swallowing a foreign object. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea, possibly with blood.

H

Hernia (diaphragmatic)
A rip in the diaphragm leading the abdominal organs to move into the chest. Usually caused by trauma.

I

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Chronic, episodic vomiting and possible diarrhoea. Normally affects older cats.

J

Jaundice
Associated with liver disease, symptoms include dark urine, weight loss, lethargy and anorexia.

K

Kidney problems
Symptoms include weight loss, lack of appetite, increased urine and drinking, gingivitis, pale gums, bad breath, depression and lethargy.

L

Leukaemia
Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) leads to a suppressed immune system and can be transmitted to other cats through blood or saliva.

Lungworm
A parasite that may lead to a persistent cough.

M

Myositis
Inflamed muscle that can cause temporary lameness.

O

Otitis externa
Common ear condition which can be caused by ear mites or foreign bodies. If not treated may lead to a ruptured ear drum and disease in deeper parts of the ear.

P

Pleurisy
A bacterial infection causing an accumulation of watery pus inside the chest. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, depression, weight loss and fever.

R

Ringworm
A fungal infection that causes the hair to break off.

S

Seizures
Fits or convulsions that could be a sign of epilepsy, brain tumour or poisoning.

T

Tooth decay
Check your cat regularly for signs of tooth decay. Symptoms include bad breath, poor appetite and red or bleeding gums.

V

Viruses
Viral diseases can be highly infectious but many are preventable through routine vaccination.