Infectious Diseases: (FIV)

Cats are prone to catching a number of slow virus infections. Of particular interest is the number that they are susceptible to.

The FIV is one of these..

How do cats get it? How is it spread?

The FIV is in the same Retroviridae family as Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), although its subfamily, the lentivirus, is different. Lentiviruses are responsible for disease in many types of animals, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in human beings, caused by HIV. FIV is often referred to as “Feline Aids.” The viruses are apparently specific for each species, and there is no evidence that FIV is infecting people, or HIV infecting cats. FIV-infected cats are found throughout the world. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center “In the United States, approximately 1-3% of healthy cats are infected with FIV.”

The primary mode of transmission of FIV is through bite wounds. Therefore outdoor cats, especially territorial tomcats, are at greatest risk of infections. Casual contact among cats sharing food and water dishes is not a significant mode of transmission as it is with FeLV. Unlike humans, sexual contact is probably not a significant way for the disease to be transmitted. This virus may be transmitted from a mother cat to her kitten, though this is rare. Kittens may also be aborted or stillborn if the mother is infected.

What happens if cats get it?

After infection, the virus enters the bloodstream (viremia) and from there it can become latent (or inactive) in the body for a while, or progress to an active disease, which eventually progresses to a terminal illness. In young kittens in the early phase of infection, fever and swollen glands (lymph nodes) may be the first signs noted. The primary target of the virus is the cells of the immune system such as CD4+ / CD8+ T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and macrophages.

Malfunction of the body's protection system leads to many opportunistic infections. FIV infection has been associated with a wide variety of disorders including, but not limited to: enlarged lymph nodes, ulcers of the tongue and inflamed gums, progressive weight loss and wasting, poor haircoat and skin disease, diarrhea, anemia, eye and nervous disease, cancer, and many other diseases. They all take advantage of the immune system dysfunction.

Infected cats may appear normal for months to years until signs of their suppressed immune system begin to show. In the late stages, changes in behavior such as increased aggression or anxiety may occur in some cats.

How can infection be prevented?

Preventing infection is the key. Cats bitten by infected cats are at highest risk. Keeping your cat indoors alone or with tested negative cats will prevent the type of contact necessary for infection. If you introduce a new cat to the home, an FIV test should be carried out in order to make sure that the new cat is FIV negative BEFORE it is introduced to the resident cats.

A vaccine for FIV is available, but does not prevent infection in all vaccinated cats (60-80% effective after 3 doses). After vaccination the results of certain diagnostic tests may be affected, so discuss whether FIV vaccination is appropriate for your cat. Your veterinarian will help determine the risk for infection.

How is it diagnosed?

In FIV testing, confirming a positive antibody test result is crucial especially in asymptomatic cats since a portion of uninfected cats may have false positive results. A second test using a different technique will be done in the laboratory to try to confirm the positive first test. In most cases, a negative second result is reliable and means the cat is not infected. If there is discrepancy between tests, then the cat will be retested in about 12 weeks.

If the cat has been bitten by either an FIV-infected cat or a cat that has not been tested negative, starting at 60 days post-injury, testing will be done in order to pick up possible new infection.

Young kittens may have positive test results for 3 to 4 months after birth without actually being infected with the virus because of antibodies that were transferred from the vaccinated mother; others might have been born to an infected mother who passed protective antibodies to the offspring. If kittens aged 6 months or less test positive for FIV, retesting will be recommended to determine whether the kitten is positive for antibodies because they are truly infected, or whether the kitten had maternal antibodies for a while and has become negative.

False negative tests occur, though rarely. This can happen when a late stage cat is tested and the immune system is so exhausted, antibodies are no longer being produced at detectable levels.

Is it treatable?

There is no cure for FIV infection. Although the disease is considered fatal, many cats infected with these viruses but without clinical signs of disease can live for many years in relatively good health. Once infections move in, medications can be given to control those secondary diseases. Because of the immune system suppression, longer and more aggressive treatment may be needed to help FIV positive cats overcome routine infections. Some of the same drugs used in people have been tried off-label in cats and show some promise.

Identification of infected cats via testing allows the veterinarian to develop a long term management plan for cats that are positive. Once a veterinarian suspects that a cat may be infected, a quick blood sample will be taken. The test can be performed in most veterinary offices and results are usually available within ten minutes. A combination test for both FeLV and FIV is available in most facilities.

There are no medications or therapies proven to help prevent the transition from asymptomatic to symptomatic cat. Raw uncooked foods should be avoided in infected cats due to an increased susceptibility to food-born bacteria. The environment should be kept clean. If you cat dies and a new cat is coming home, complete a careful cleaning process before bringing home the new cat.

Infected cats need to see the veterinarian more frequently than a well cat. Thorough physical examination, complete blood count, blood chemistry, urinalysis, and fecal examination should be performed as recommended by your veterinarian. Symptomatic cats should receive veterinary attention promptly at the onset of any clinical signs. Accurate identification of any secondary illness is extremely important for successful treatment. Vaccination programs to prevent infection by other diseases should be maintained in asymptomatic cats. Sexually intact males and females should be altered (neutered) to reduce the stress associated with estrus and mating behaviors.

If owners are unable to quarantine infected cats from healthy cats in the home due to living circumstances, confine the infected cat indoors, or bear the costs of the veterinary care that ill cats require, the veterinarian should be consulted.

Urinary System--Chronic Kidney Disease

The kidneys are an amazing pair of organs! When we think of the kidneys, we think of urine production, but they do much more than make urine. They produce hormones that help control red blood cell production and calcium levels, and they are the gates for recycling nutrients using a sophisticated filtering system. They also play a very important role in conserving water, and assist with the control of blood volume and concentration!

Now you are wowed, let us talk about what happens when they don’t work properly anymore. Once again, you would be amazed to hear that the kidneys are able to do their job up for your kitty up to the point where 75-80% of their tissue is damaged. The body can compensate for significant loss of functional filtration units (nephrons) by engaging the remaining functioning ones left in the kidneys to do extra work. These nephrons working overtime do eventually get exhausted though, and when this occurs, the kidney dysfunction moves from a compensated disease to true kidney failure!

At this point, obvious signs that the system is failing occur. Toxins build up in the blood stream, and lead to generalized malaise. Urine volume will become greater, cats may become very thirsty, and the urine is more dilute (color changes from dark yellow, to pale yellow to clear). Kitty may even have accidents in the house! The appetite drops, ulcers may occur in the mouth and cats may drool, the body condition becomes thin and wasted, and kitty gets progressively weaker. Sometimes the head even droops and cannot be raised if a specific blood electrolyte (potassium) is low. Vomiting is a frequent sign, and some cats (when they develop more advanced problems) may become so weak they cannot get around. Dehydration will set in, anemia will occur, and kitty will become critically ill. Organ failure is much more common in senior and advanced geriatric aged cats, with an average age of onset at nine years old.

There is no cure for chronic kidney failure. Catching kidney problems while in the early phases allows us to start therapy to help slow the progression of the disease and to improve the quality of life. Sometimes X-rays and ultrasound will show shrunken rough kidneys, and sometimes the kidneys will swell up. Blood pressure may be elevated.

In the early phases, while the kidneys are still able to compensate, special diets may help to take the load off of the failing kidney, and supplements and medication may be started at this point also. Once the cat is in full failure, the veterinarian will admit Kitty to the hospital for a period to provide intensive care. Intravenous fluids are the mainstay of therapy. The goal is to “flush” the toxins out of the bloodstream. Drugs to encourage the appetite and reduce vomiting may be administered, and the specific correction of imbalances (potassium replacement, phosphate binders) will be carried out.

If the cat can be stabilized during the crisis, she may get along for months, or sometimes, even a few years with continued supportive therapy. Regular monitoring is essential. Performing annual wellness monitoring of senior cats provides an excellent opportunity to identify cats in the early phase of organ dysfunction, so you and the veterinary health care team get working on preventive therapy before the crisis hits!

See Client Procedures: Administering Subcutaneous Fluids if you wish to learn more about how chronic kidney failure cats benefit from home fluid administration.

Skin and Bite Wound Infections

Go into any urban neighborhood at night, and you can hear them shrieking and hissing and spitting! That’s cats for you.

They love a good fight! Roaming tomcats really love to dig into their opponent so they can claim the turf and lady cats for themselves. Unfortunately, all this cat fighting leads to cat bite wounds.

It is actually quite interesting to think about the way cats have evolved. All that loose skin has developed for a reason! Having distensible skin has allowed cats to adapt so that when they are grabbed in a fight, there is a lot of give. This has probably saved the skin of a more than a few young scrappers! Loose overlying skin also allows the area to accommodate abscess development. The flaps of skin stretch out as pus fills the pocket formed around the tooth entry wounds, and this allows the cat to get along better than animals like us or dogs where tight skin means significant pain and lost mobility if a pus pocket develops. It is not unusual for a cat to continue to go out and roam about with a big pus pouch, and unless the client notices a swelling (may be tough, especially in longhairs) or the cat’s fever reduces appetite and activity enough to be noticed, sometimes an abscess can go unnoticed for quite a while!

If a bite wound does become infected, there can be serious consequences so if you see a painful swelling, lameness, pus in the hairs, or the cat is lethargic or has reduced appetite, prompt veterinary attention is important. First, swelling begins under the skin at the wound site, then pressure eventually forces the pocket to burst, releasing pus out into the haircoat.

All bite wounds should be examined by your veterinarian due to the high probability of infection. Cat’s mouths are filled with bacteria and a bite serves to “seed” the bacteria into the tissues where they can easily multiply. Even a very small wound can lead to a life threatening infection. Deep puncture wounds are the worst offenders—and the most difficult to see in the fur! The sooner a bite is seen, the more likely it will heal without complications.

Normally, an abscess or cellulitis (where infection spreads throughout tissue planes without forming a pus pocket) needs to be treated with an antibiotic. An abscess is lanced under anesthesia, and the pocket thoroughly flushed. Sometimes, the veterinary surgeon may elect to place a drainage tube into the area for a period of a few days after surgery to allow continued drainage of the toxic pus. If the pocket is deep, or extends along tissue planes, it may take quite a long time to obtain full healing. If the pocket has placed considerable pressure on the overlying skin, an area of skin may die off and need to be removed during surgery.

Deep punctures can extend into important structures like chest and damage important blood vessels, nerves, or extend into the abdomen. This can be a real problem, as in cases when a large dog attacks a cat or kitten. These wounds can be life threatening.

The type of bacteria that move into a wound will vary. Usually, one type gets the upper hand and starts to multiply in the injured area. A culture of the area taken before clean up will help the veterinarian prescribe the most effective antibiotic. Treatment for serious wound infections may need to continue for quite a while in order to fully clear the infection. In mild infections that have been caught early, just a good flush and clean may do the job!

Note that cat bite wounds can also spread very deadly chronic virus infections that affect the whole body of the cat, such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), so you should have your cat tested for these infections if a bite wound has occurred. Though vaccines are available to protect against these viruses, the only way to completely eliminate the risk of picking up these nasty infections is to keep Kitty indoors!

You can tell if your kitty is the aggressor or the scaredy cat by the location of the wounds—top cats will usually grab scaredy at the back end as he tries to run away!

Feline Heartworm Disease

Cats can become infested with a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis. This nasty little worm likes to hang around in the heart and the adjacent blood vessels of the lung, leading to heartworm disease. Though most people think of heartworm as being a doggie problem, cats can get this disease as well.

Both dogs and cats get infected when they are bitten by a mosquito carrying tiny immature worms. These enter the body through the bite then go via the circulation to the chest.

Once disease starts in the host, the similarity between dog and cat heartworm ends. Dogs are the natural preferred host, and cats are not! This means that there is a big difference in the way the parasite goes on to develop in the body. It is considered a more serious threat in cats because treatment is generally unrewarding.

In cats, frequently only a few adults (average 2-4) and few if any microfilariae (the baby immature worms) survive, and adult worms have a shorter lifespan (2-3 years) in cats than in dogs. These few adults can wreak plenty of havoc though! This low worm burden makes it harder for vets to pick up an infected cat on the routine heartworm tests.

Successful testing for heartworm in cats often requires an ultrasound examination —sometimes the worms can be seen. X-rays rarely lead to identification of heartworm disease in cats, but sometimes surveys are done to check in on the health of organs and vessels in the chest. It is not unusual to make the diagnosis in cats after death (post mortem).

Frequently, there are no signs the cat has heartworms. The cat may remain normal until serious symptoms occur suddenly, and without warning. Sometimes sudden death occurs. These types of signs are often the result of worm material getting into the lung vessels (embolism) and leading to a severe allergic-type reaction. A common sign of heartworm disease in cats is vomiting. The cat might also be a little less active and develop a picky appetite. Coughing and difficulty breathing also may occur.

Drugs that kill adult worms (adulticides) when used in dogs are fairly safe, though not risk free. In cats, the cure is about as bad as the disease, with no statistical difference in outcome whether or not adulticide treatments are given, so treatment in cats is focused on supportive care.

The chances your cat will get heartworm disease depend a lot on what part of the country you live in. Around the Gulf States , heartworm disease is very common, while in the Northern States, it is less commonly seen. Note that indoor cats get heartworm too! In one study in North Carolina , fully one third of cats testing positive were indoor cats. All it takes is a few skitters coming in through a hole in a screen or open door!

Because cats are not routinely screened for heartworm disease, there are no hard and fast statistics on how many cats have it, but generally, for every 10 heartworm positive dogs in your neighborhood, about 1 cat will be affected. In the geographic hot spots, or in areas where there is an active outbreak, ask your veterinarian about screening your cat, and about protection with heartworm preventive medication. There are three licensed prevention products available; one topical, and the other two are oral medications.

External Parasites of Cats--Fleas

We welcome you to an article on the world's best jumper (for their size).

The most common flea affecting both dogs and cats in North America is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis.

Flea infestation is most common in the summer months (or when the temperature is between 60-80°F, and humid). Eggs are usually found in dark, humid areas such as deep in carpet pile. Flea eggs and pupae are more resistant to pesticides than are adult fleas. Fleas are about 1 mm long, thin, brown and shiny, and can jump long distances. Sometimes, a flea may not be seen (they scurry under the fur pretty quickly!), but the telltale flea dirt which appears as small dark clumps or coils may be seen in the fur when it is parted. A flea comb can be very helpful to screen for flea infestation as it will pick up both dirt and fleas!

Fleas like to live on their warm host, and the flea dirt you see is the digested blood that the flea passes out. Eggs fall out and develop in the rugs and furniture. Within a week if environmental conditions are right, first stage larvae are crawling around and feeding. These larvae molt twice then form a little pupa in a cocoon. Three to four weeks later, an adult emerges. In some environments, immature forms can survive up to one year before developing into an adult flea.

Fleas can cause a variety of diseases, from allergy to zoonoses. Flea infestation can cause blood loss anemia in young or debilitated animals. When animals ingest fleas, parasites such as Dipylidium tapeworms may be transmitted. In these instances, not only do fleas need to be treated, but the tapeworms as well. Some cats have hypersensitivity reactions to flea saliva resulting in flea allergy dermatitis. Flea allergy dermatitis can cause intense pruritis (itchiness) and alopecia (hair loss), especially around the head and neck, over the topline near the tail, and in the inner thighs. Sometimes eosinophilic skin lesions develop. See our article Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex to learn more. Just a single flea or only a very small number of fleas can result in allergic reactions.

Your veterinarian can treat fleas with a variety of products. Topical monthly pesticides such as selamectin (Revolution ®), fipronil (Frontline ® Spray), and imidacloprid (Advantage ®) are available. Lufenuron (Program ®), an insect growth regulator is available as an injection or oral medication. In addition to appropriate treatment of all animals in the household, the environment needs to be treated with proper chemicals. All bedding should be washed, carpets thoroughly vacuumed, and every crack and crevice of the home needs to be treated. The environment needs to be treated twice, two weeks apart, so as to kill the newly hatched eggs that may have been missed the first time. It is easiest to hire a professional exterminator to get rid of fleas. If the cat goes out in the yard, family car, cat carrier or in the garage, these areas should also be treated. If there are dogs in the house, or other cats in contact with the infested cat, they should all be treated. Flea collars are no longer considered a control method of choice. They tend to just keep the fleas away from the neck area. Many insecticide products found at your local pet store are dangerous, especially in cats. Cats should not be given permethrin, organophosphate, or piperonyl butoxide containing products. They should never be given dog flea products. Many sprays and powders that were in use 20 years ago are no longer first choice options for cats so consult your veterinarian for the modern treatment that is best for your cat.

If your pet has flea allergy dermatitis, your veterinarian will likely prescribe anti-inflammatory medication such as corticosteroids for symptomatic relief while flea control gets underway. Flea problems can be frustrating to clear, so work with your veterinary health care team to get a comprehensive control program in place!

Anemia in Cats (Pale Cats)

Cats with low red blood cell count or poorly functioning red cells become pale, a condition we call anemia. The blood really is the" lifeblood" for the cat! Without enough red cells to grab oxygen molecules during their trip through the lungs, Kitty is in trouble!

At home, a caregiver may notice the cat is pale when the cat yawns. Instead of a nice healthy pink tongue and gums, a pale whitish appearance is noted. Note that cats normally have pale pink gums, so the tongue is actually a better barometer for checking color!

If you suspect your cat is paler than usual, you can gently move the eyelid away from the normal position to expose the conjunctivae, or the mucous membranes surrounding the eye under the lid margins. These are also normally a light pink, but may appear ghostly white in an anemic cat. The third eyelid will pop up from the inside corner of the eye if you put pressure around the eyelids, and this is normally quite pale so this is not the best place to monitor membrane color.

If there is any likelihood the cat is paler than normal, a visit to the veterinary hospital for a professional assessment is in order. Cats with anemia may be weak and lethargic, sleep more than usual, and if they exert themselves, they may need to open-mouth breathe to catch their breath. They may also breathe faster than normal. Certain types of anemia may cause fever and discolored urine.

Diagnosis

The veterinarian will take a complete blood count (CBC) sample to check the red blood cell count, red blood cell appearance, and other key blood parameters. Other tests may also be recommended such as a Feline Leukemia Virus/Feline Immunodeficiency Virus combo screen, urine analysis, and a blood chemistry panel.

Note that in most cases, it is an abnormal CBC test that will be the first indicator of an emerging anemia condition. The cat may appear quite normal still at home, but the cell count tells another story! A professional assessment of the cat may also provide the first clue, as your veterinarian is very experienced in assessing the mucous membrane color of cats and will often pick up subtle changes in color during the routine physical examination. This may then trigger a recommendation for further testing.

The severity of anemia may range from mild to moderate, to extreme (life threatening), and may wax and wane in certain conditions. Routine wellness testing is an important means for your veterinarian to help check your cat for early signs of anemia. In a best case scenario, early intervention will prevent progression to the advanced stages.

Causes

The most common reasons for anemia are reduced or abnormal red blood cell production by the bone marrow, or loss or destruction of functioning red cells. Whether the anemia shows signs of regenerative response or not is also an important consideration. Regeneration means that the bone marrow is healthy.

Some specific anemia conditions include:

• Kidney failure. Anemia of chronic failure is primarily associated with reduced stimulation of bone marrow to produce red cells due to low production of the hormone erythropoietin
• Hemoglobin oxidation. Hemoglobin carries the oxygen inside the cell so reduced function of the hemoglobin leads to Heinz body anemia or methemoglobinemia. Oxidation interferes with red cell function.
• Blood parasites (such as Mycoplasma haemofelis and Mycoplasma haemominutum, formerly called Haemobartonella felis)
• Blood type incompatibility hemolytic anemia; where red cells burst (neonatal isoerythrolysis, transfusion reactions)
• Virus-associated or drug-related bone marrow disorders (aplastic anemia, or larger than normal red blood cells produced in FeLV-infected cats)
• Parasites. Hookworms or fleas (heavy infestations, especially in kittens)
• Trauma blood loss (hit-by-car, deep penetrating wounds)
• Abnormal red cell production due to inherited conditions (osmotic fragility syndrome, Pyruvate Kinase deficiency, congenital porphyria)
• Uncommonly, see iron deficiency anemia of kittens (5-10 weeks old; is transient)

Oxidation is seen with:

• certain drugs [acetaminophen]
• dietary components [onion, propylene glycol]
• toxins [zinc toxicity, moth ball toxicity]
• diseases [complicated diabetes-ketoacidosis, lymphoma cancer]
• 
  

Treatment

Sometimes anemia is so severe that blood transfusions are required. Note that blood is typed in cats before transfusions are done to help reduce the chance of incompatible blood being selected.

In other less severe cases, supportive care is offered while the cat responds to the toxicity, blood loss, or other situation leading to the low red cell counts. Erythropoietin replacement is sometimes used for cats with chronic kidney failure. For some types of anemia, there are no effective treatments. This may be the case with certain cancers or terminal infections that damage cell production in the bone marrow.

Your veterinarian will help you understand the cause of your cat’s anemia, the expected prognosis, and will monitor your cat closely to help determine whether therapy is effective.

Principles of First Aid

When “cat-astrophy” strikes, will you be ready?

This is the sort of information to read before disaster hits. If your cat is suffering any kind of emergency, do not stop to read this item—contact your veterinarian immediately.

Otherwise, if your cat is gently swinging from the drapes, or perching precariously on the edge of that tree branch outside your window, this just might make good reading!

Not all emergencies can be handled by first aid, but knowing the basic principles of safe handling, bandaging, and wound care can help you play an important role as a first line health care provider. Also, accurate assessment of your cat so that the vet on the other end of the phone line gets a more accurate picture of what is happening at your home can only help your cat!

One step you can take to help prepare for the unexpected is to put a Kitty Kit together, a home first aid kit at-the-ready—see our article Kitty Kit: First Aid Kits for Cats! Another way to prepare is to learn how to assess your cat and know what is normal for her. See Home Monitoring for Health for more information on this subject.

Here are some tips for first aid home care:

• Obtain professional advice before administering most first aid measures because improper application of home care may do more harm than good!

• If you are handling any area that might be sore, take precautions to avoid bite or scratch injury. Gently wrapping the cat in a soft towel, leaving only the affected area exposed can help you to restrain the cat safely, with minimal stress to the cat.

• Tourniquets should not be applied without professional oversight, and especially, not left on for long periods of time. This can result in loss of the toes, foot or tail. Apply according to veterinary advice only in a severe bleeding emergency.

• Bandages likewise should not be applied as tight (pressure) bandages and left on for long periods because the circulation to the area will be disrupted leading to tissue injury, sometimes irreversible.

• If a limb is broken, and the bone is showing, a loose soft cover of sterile bandage material and splint can be applied gently to stabilize the area for transport if the cat allows it. Do not attempt to set the bone back in place. If there is a break or dislocation, minimize movement to help prevent further soft tissue injury.

• Dirty wounds and burns can be gently flushed with body-temperature sterile saline and gently covered with a non-stick wound dressing for transport. An awake cat will not allow complete cleaning of wounds so a trip to the clinic is in order.

• If handling bite wounds, wear gloves. This will help protect you from potential rabies exposure.

• Sharp objects piercing deep in the body should NOT be removed since sometimes this will lead to extensive hemorrhage if a deep blood vessel has been torn.

• Cats generally tolerate topical creams and ointments poorly. If they can reach it, they will groom it off. Cats often also tolerate bandages poorly, so these should be reserved for situations where professional advice has deemed them necessary.

• If contact chemical burns or contact poisoning is suspected, wearing protective gloves, eye covers, and clothes, warm water rinse the cat to immediately remove the toxin from the fur. Save any containers of chemical or poison that you find in association with the exposure event so you can relay the nature of the poisoning accurately to the veterinarian.

• When taking the rectal temperature of the cat, make sure the cat is properly restrained so that a glass thermometer is not broken or lost. It may be necessary to have a friend or family member assist with the procedure—and some cats will not tolerate this.
• Never insert thermometers into the mouth. The digital thermometers are often flexible at the tip and are thus safer. They are also faster. Leave the digital thermometer in just long enough to get the beep activation that indicates a reading. Human ear thermometers are not very accurate for cats unless the ear canal is carefully and gently straightened.
• Though veterinary ear thermometers are available, they are quite expensive. The liquid glass type thermometer should be left in for 1-2 minutes—it does not need to be inserted the full length—an inch to an inch and a half is plenty. Make sure adequate lubrication is applied to the thermometer before insertion using gel or petrolatum, and it is passed along the wall of the rectum, not into the middle of a “poop” ball. Don't forget to shake down glass thermometers between each use.

• A grumpy cat may be muzzled, but only in certain circumstances. A cat with nose discharge or any kind of nose blockage should not be muzzled as breathing cannot occur. Any cat with signs of breathing difficulty should also not be muzzled. Cats with very short faces may be impossible to muzzle anyway, and shorter faced cats should not be muzzled at home because these cats have conformation changes in the back of the nose and throat that may interfere with breathing.
• Obese, weak, stressed, debilitated, very old or young cats are also not appropriate candidates for home muzzling. Any cat that may have been stung, or perhaps is having an allergic reaction is also not a suitable muzzling candidate.
• A muzzle is only used for a very short period of time during handling to protect from injury. Remove it for transport and observation.

• If cleansing a wound, do not put any soaps, alcohol, peroxide, powders or ointments etc down inside the wound. This can be very painful and lead to tissue damage and poor healing. Sterile diluted salt-based (saline) solutions such as human nose or eye wash (without preservatives) warmed to body temperature are suitable for first aid cleansing. Wound treatments can be applied at the wound margins, or to superficial scrapes.

• A fresh, large clean wound will generally be sewn closed by the veterinarian immediately so don’t delay care. In some circumstances where there has been contamination, or there is tension at the wound margins, or there has been some delay between the injury and the visit to the hospital, other strategies including grafting or leaving the wound open to drain may be selected by the veterinarian. But all gaping wounds should be assessed early.

• Cats with breathing difficulties or serious health problems should be handled and transported with “kid gloves”. Even minor stresses can lead to worsening of the condition and even death, especially with cats in respiratory distress. Avoid holding her closely or wrapping her tightly or else you might interfere with breathing efforts.

• If a cat has become overheated (heat stroke), cold water bathing is suitable for first aid cooling. Avoid placing her in ice water as this will drop body temperature too fast and too far, and is dangerous.

• Vomiting may be induced to help clear certain swallowed poisons. Contact your veterinarian for advice and dosage for induction of home vomiting. Oily substances or caustic substances such as acid and base chemicals should not be brought up. Never use a finger at the back of the throat to induce vomiting.

• Tweezers can be used to gently remove bee stingers, small slivers, or ticks but care should be taken to remove the entire item by grasping at the base next to the skin.

• If applying an emergency support bandage, the area to be bandaged should be larger than the area of concern. Band-aid type treatments will not stay in place. For example, a cat with a wound of the front leg half way down should have the bandage placed to cover the leg joint next to the wound both near to the body and far from the body. In this case, a bandage covering the whole limb up to and including the elbow would be suitable. Avoid applying a tight wrap to a leg / tail and leaving the foot / tail tip unwrapped as tissue fluids will build up, causing swelling, and eventually, lead to loss of circulation and damage if left on too long.

• Light hemorrhage can be controlled by applying gentle, firm pressure to the area (as in a toenail trimmed too short). Count to 60 slowly, and in most cases, the bleeding will stop.

• Do not try to give food or water to an unconscious cat. They cannot swallow, and it may end up in the lungs. To transport an unconscious cat, place the head a little lower than the chest and abdomen to help keep blood flowing to the brain. As well, this helps to keep any fluid coming up from the stomach draining from the mouth since swallowing will be compromised.

• In cats, a seizure will not lead to swallowing of the tongue. Never place fingers inside the mouth of a seizuring cat or a bite may result. Placing the cat on a soft pillow or comforter at ground level will help to prevent falls, or bruising. Contact the veterinarian and try to keep track of the length of the seizure by noting the time on your watch or clock in minutes. This information is helpful to the health care team. If a seizure does not seem to be resolving, immediate transport for veterinary care is required.

• CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be used if the cat is not breathing and the heart is not beating. To check for the heart beat, place your ear right on the chest at the point where the elbow hits the ribs on the left side. The rate is normally about 3 times as fast as ours (~180 beats/minute). Contact your veterinarian for resuscitation instructions.

• Transport an ill or injured cat in a carrier containing soft bedding. When you arrive at the hospital, ask hospital staff for assistance for transfer from vehicle to hospital.