How can you tell how healthy a stray cat is?
How much can a layperson determine about the health of a stray cat from a visual examination and from handling the cat?
If a stray cat comes around your home, you can use these tell-tale signs to assess its overall health. read more
You can know the basics. If you can see or feel the ribs and hip bones easily, it's malnourished. If you gently pull up the scruff (skin at the back of the neck near the shoulders), when you let go the skin should spring back into place quickly. If it's slow to go back, the cat is dehydrated. A healthy cat will have a well-groomed coat - missing patches of hair can mean anything from digging at fleas to mange. If it will let you open it's mouth, you can check it's teeth. Also, white gums can be a sign of gum disease or anemia. The obvious thing to check for is fleas and ticks. Even if you don't see them, you may see the nits (will look like little black dirt balls) if you stroke the fur backwards.
I always tell people if they want to take in a stray, you shouldn't just take it into your house, especially if you have other pets. There are a lot of internal parasites you can't see and diseases which they can spread to your other pets. Even if it looks healthy, you should take it to a vet and have him do a complete physical.
by sbacklund 14 years ago
There is a stray cat in my yard with one eye hanging out. Will it dry up and fall off? Will the...cat die?
by alipuckett 12 years ago
How do you get rid of a stray cat humanely?There is a stray cat that roams my neighborhood. I like cats, but I also like the birds and bunnies in my yard, so I want the cat gone. The other neighbors feed and encourage it so I don't feel comfortable calling the humane society. I'm...
by CHICHIBIRD 13 years ago
Can i call to have a stray cat picked upI HAVE BEEN CARING FOR THE STRAY CAT BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER BUT I CANT TAKE THE KITTY IN AS A PET. I FEEL SHE WILL DIE IF NOT TAKEN IN PLEASE GIVE INFORMATION FOR PICK UP FOR THE CAT
by Tammy 13 years ago
A stray cat I feed has dirt and crust in his eyes. Should I clean them and what do I use?
by Eiddwen 13 years ago
Hi my last forum discussions have been on Dogs;however I then stopped to think and realised that I don't really know an awful lot on cats at all!!I suppose that Pedigrees have to be kept in doors ;or maybe not.Any information greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you.Eddy.
by Kathryn L Hill 3 years ago
When the coffers are officially declared empty and money has no value, what will save us?The barter system? Goods, services, and art will be the most valuable things. or what else?
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