First and foremost, if your pet is sick or injured, your best option is always to get them to the veterinarian as soon as possible. This article is not meant to replace your veterinarian’s valuable expertise, treatment, or advise. It is however, just a reality that sometimes families can’t afford to rush their cat to the vet for something as simple as treating roundworms. This article will tell you ways that I have successfully treated some of the most common cat ailments at home when I needed to.
Reasons to see your vet immediately:
- Your cat has a broken bone
- Your cat is bleeding
- Your cat is lethargic, weak, or has a loss of appetite
- Your cat is sick, and you do not know what is wrong with him
Conjunctivitis – Take a clean, soft washcloth, wet one corner, lather with a bit of baby shampoo, and wipe the eye from the nose corner outward. Wipe only once, then wipe with a wet, non-soapy corner. Change corners of the cloth and do the other eye.
Coughing - If your cat is coughing, and you don't know why and can't get them to the vet, you can treat them for hairballs or roundworms. If the coughing doesn't clear up within a couple of days, they must see a vet, as coughing can be a sign of something much worse.
Diarrhea – To avoid diarrhea that isn’t caused by an illness, never change your cat’s food too quickly. Dietary changes are one of the most common causes of diarrhea in cats. Also, never give your cat Pepto Bismol, as it contains aspirin. Most cats will get over diarrhea within a couple of days, but if they don’t, this is one of the occasions when you should really see a vet. During bouts of diarrhea, make sure your cat drinks plenty to avoid dehydration.
Ear Mites – Over-the-counter ear mite treatments aren’t nearly as effective as the eardrops you will get from the vet, but they can help. Most call for about 5 drops in each ear, only to be used on kittens over 12 weeks old. Dosage is normally given daily until the cat stops scratching their ears and shaking their head. This could take a week to 10 days. Flea prevention treatments like Frontline Plus and Revolution help prevent ear mites, too.
Fleas – Prevention is the best way to go with cat fleas. Unfortunately, you need a good name brand treatment, which can seem costly, but since they are truly effective, you’ll actually be saving money if you buy them first. Frontline Plus, Revolution, and the new Advantage Multi are the best products.
Hairballs - Many cat foods now contain hairball preventive, which is priceless if you have longhaired cats. If your cat is already having trouble with hairballs, any hairball paste or gel will help her out.
Ringworm – There are home remedies for treatment of ringworm in cats, but it is important to know that ringworm can spread to humans. The best recommendation is to go straight to the vet if you can.
Roundworm – Over-the-counter roundworm liquids are effective if you buy a higher end name brand. If you have to treat worms at home until you can get to a vet, DO get to the vet when you can to get a fecal exam and make sure they are gone.
Spay or Neuter - If you can not afford to have your cat spayed or neutered, call your vet, your local animal shelters, and your local cat rescues and find out what services are available to help get your cat spayed or neutered. There are free spay and neutered clinics available throughout the year almost everywhere.
Tapeworm – If you have had fleas, you should treat for tapeworm. The most commonly used tapeworm medication is the tapeworm tablet by Trade Winds. Again, if you treat this way, get a fecal exam at the vet as soon as possible.
To keep your cat generally healthy, feed the best cat food that you can afford. Make sure that your cat is getting plenty of water and stays well hydrated. Keep litter boxes clean and sanitary, and keep your cat’s bedding washed and sleeping places clean. All cats benefit from monthly baths, weekly nail clipping, daily brushing, and an occasional teeth cleaning. And always keep your cat indoors!
If you have to use any of these home treatments on your cat, please try to get them to the vet as soon as possible to make sure that the original problem has cleared up. If you plan ahead, you can also get your cat an annual check-up as well, and doing this can help prevent future problems.
