cat psa:
from someone who had two cats with FORL (tooth resorption)
aka information from a cat owner of 3 years with guilt of not catching the symptoms earlier.
before I start: here is a chart how to detect if your cat is in pain:
study and website (app to download)
other resourceful information:
toxic food and plants
signs your cat is having an emergency
first aid for cats
cat poisoning symptoms
cat bite wounds
vet recommendation for small wounds:
sangre de drago drops: careful it stains (some cats may lick it try to distract them) "it's natures natural band-aid" - the vet
(please ask your vet if you can use it on your cat since I am not sure if this might have any downside to certain cats for some reason)
! get a first aid course and first aid kit! !
more under the cut:
any change in behaviour even miniscule requires health check up, that could be:
- less grooming
- kibble dropping
- tilted head while eating
- avoiding food (sometimes room temperature is still too cold for them to eat)
unrelated to FORL but still important
- less playful
- hiding
- drinking more
- no zoomies (a cat who has zoomies is a happy cat: age is important here)
- stretches less or avoidance of it completely
- stool or pee change, odor: shape (check for 2-3 days and then immediate vet visit with sample. if there is blood: emergency)
- no peeing or pooping for more than a day (or related to your cats age what was normal and what changed)
important: cats hide pain really well, both my cats are my first cats and they did not show any visible pain in their faces, they did however show me in very subtle ways, cats tend to adapt to pain well too.... depending on what kinda breed you have they will also stay alert no matter what.
if you have a younger cat, they seem to show it less (from my experience)
just wanted to share cause I had to make immense with the fact that I did not notice the most subtle signs..
another important note:
cats who pee or poop outside their litter: it's not normal.
most simple issue: litter box too small, doesn't like the litter cover anymore or they don't like the litter in it or.... it's not clean enough.
health issues is another major player, it can be physical or mental, please bring your cat to the vet!
ps: english is not my first language, or my second, so sorry if there is any grammatical errors. hope the resources help aynway.
URGENT PSA FOR ALL CAT OWNERS!!! (Trigger warning: this video talks about cats dying terribly)
This video showcases the DANGER of this litter box! It is being sold by many different companies under many different names, but they all are death traps for your cat. I AM NOT USING HYPERBOLE, THESE MACHINES KILL CATS! Please, if you are thinking of getting this machine, DO NOT GET IT! If you currently have it, THROW IT AWAY IMMEDIATELY and get one of the other litter machines mentioned in the above video. I know these machines may be on the cheaper end, BUT THEY ARE NOT WORTH YOUR CAT'S LIFE!
Again, I would like to put a massive trigger warning: this video is about a faulty product that results in the DEATHS of cats. It talks about cats being killed. So, if that is too much for you, please don't watch it. But just be aware of the dangers of this product.
Garlic and onions: can cause anaemia. Small amounts are usually not dangerous, but even things like garlic or onion powder can be dangerous. For this reason, gravies, sauces, broths etc made for human consumption should not be given to cats.
Green tomatoes, tomato stems or leaves: don't let your cat chew on these as they contain solanine. If you have a garden or tomato plant, be sure it's fenced off from your cat.
Chocolate: for the same reason it's toxic to dogs - it contains methylxanthines, which is also in caffeine drinks. Thankfully, cats lack sweet receptors so they are less likely to eat chocolate.
Raw meat, raw eggs or bones: lots of dangerous pathogens can live on these foods and should never be given to cats raw. Bones can also break off and damage the cats intestine. Pure raw meat also does not contain the required nutrients for a balanced diet. If you do prefer a raw diet for your cat, specially prepared cat meat is required to ensure safety and nutrition.
Alcohol: not even a small amount is okay. Seek vet help immediately if you think your cat has ingested alcohol.
Raw dough: can ferment in the stomach and create alcohol. A vet visit is a must.
Milk or dairy products: a small amount isn't going to harm your cat in the short term, so it's perfectly okay if your cat licks up excess cream off your fingers or a bowl. But high amounts or frequent ingestion can cause lots of stomach issues. Cats are lactose intolerant once they wean from their mother.
Grapes or raisins: these can be highly toxic to cats! Even a small amount can cause kidney damage.
Avocado, especially the skin: the flesh of the avocado is perfectly safe in small amounts, but the high fat content can cause pancreatitis in some cats. Avoid letting your cat chew in the skin of the avocado as it can be toxic in higher amounts.
Nuts: due to high fat content, can cause pancreatitis
Xylitol: can lead to liver failure in high enough amounts
Lastly, there are lots of household plants that are very toxic to cats:
Some of the prettiest household decorations can be the most lethal to pets. Find out which household plants could make your animals ill.
If anyone wants advice on how to actually feed their cats (including why to avoid dry food and why plain raw human-grade meat is bad for them), here are 3 videos outlining each.
As your cat gets older check on their nails even if they never needed trimming before. Our old cat stopped doing whatever he had been doing to keep them short himself and we didnt notice until one grew into his paw pad. It was a truly not fun experience for all of us when we had to trim it to get it out. It took us two people and nearly 30 minutes to successfully cut it.
