Caring for a Sick Kitten

Keeping Up with Your Kitty Care

Once your cat is properly diagnosed and a treatment plan is developed, it is important to follow through with all recommendations. If your kitty is prescribed medication and seems better after a few doses, keep giving her the medicine until the course is complete, and keep your follow-up appointment with the vet.

If your cat had fleas, be sure to deep-clean your house and vacuum the carpets well. Flea eggs can live in dark corners of your home for months. Since cats clean themselves and can ingest flea eggs it's important to discuss with your vet the best methods for flea control and prevention in your individual household. Homes with several pets or a lot of carpet may require different flea control methods.

If your cat is having frequent digestive issues, she may be allergic or sensitive to something in your home or her cat food. While you're in sick kitten care mode, try to keep her on one kind of vet-approved food, and also make sure other people in your home aren't sneaking your cat tasty treats.

The biggest thing for caring for a sick cat is to help her get well. One of the easiest ways to do this is to quarantine her from the rest of the house so that she can get her rest and avoid unnecessary interactions with other pets. Let her sleep, as sleep is a great way to let her little body heal itself. Monitor her food and water intake, as both are vital to her overall health, especially while she is sick. Keep comfortable blankets or towels in her area for her to snuggle in to keep her warm; make sure they are washable and something you're okay with her possibly having stomach upset on. The last thing to mention is to avoid handling your kitten as much as you can when she is sick. Being handled can exacerbate certain conditions. If you do have to handle her, make sure you wash your hands before and after to avoid transferring any unwanted bacteria or viruses to your kitten or other household animals.

Preventative Pointers

Although it is helpful to know how to care for your kitten when she is sick, it is equally important to know how to prevent your cat from being ill in the future. Here are some quick pointers that may help prevent your kitten from getting sick and let her grow into a happy, healthy adult cat.

• Have wellness visits with the vet early and often. As soon as you adopt a kitten, you should have her seen by a vet. It is important to stay on track with wellness visits and vaccines, and to bring a stool sample to every checkup.
• Spend time with your cat every day and learn her routine. If you don't truly know your cat's "normal" it will be harder to know when something is wrong. Monitor how much your cat sleeps, where she likes to hang out, what time of the day she eats, and who she likes to spend time with. If your cat starts to act differently, something may be wrong, and you can get her back on track more quickly if you are a careful observer.
• Be aware of your surroundings. The things in your home are safe for you, but they may not be safe for your feline friend. Before bringing a kitten home, look for small areas that she could get stuck inside, strings that she could get tangled in (think window shades), and especially plants, foods, and chemicals that should be locked up or put out of reach. As your cat grows, be cautious about what other family members or friends bring into your home.
• Good nutrition goes a long way. Many diseases and illnesses can be prevented if your pet has a strong immune system and gets a steady supply of the right vitamins and minerals. Talk with your vet to determine the best food for your four-legged companion. Always follow your vet's recommendations for how much and how often to feed your cat (even if she squawks for a snack at three in the morning).
• Keep your cat active. Cats do like their sleep, but keeping your kitty active a little each day goes a long way in preventing obesity. This is especially important for kittens as you want to start her off on the right foot ... or paw.

A sick kitten is never fun, and you want to do all you can to help make her well again. Follow these helpful tips to care for your sick kitten to give her the best chance of getting well and being her playful self again.