Feline Healthcare

General:

A Lifetime Guide to Practical Pet Care: Better Health and Happier Homes for Dogs and Cats  by Jeff Nichol 

This guidebook for the pet guardian is in question-and-answer format, and all the cat questions are in one section. They're in categories ranging from "Biting and Fighting" and "Odd Noises and Interesting Habits" to "Cancers, Lumps, and Masses" and "Joints and Bones." There's also a helpful section on emergency care. Throughout, it's written in a casual, fun style.

The Pill Book: Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat by Kate A. W. Roby and Lenny Southam

This great little paperback is a handy reference for the prescription medicines your cat takes. Entries give common generic and brand names for a given drug, what type of drug it is (antibiotic, antithyroid, etc.), what it's prescribed for, dosages, general information, warnings about side effects or interactions with other drugs, and so on. Think of it as the Physician's Desk Reference for your cat.

The Cornell Book of Cats: A Comprehensive and Authoritative Medical Reference for Every Cat and Kitten by Mordecai Siegal (Editor)

A comprehensive encyclopedia of medical information, put together by faculty of the Feline Health Center at Cornell University.

The Humane Society of the United States Complete Guide to Cat Care by Wendy Christensen and the staff of the Humane Society

This 2002 book is a wealth of information for new cat owners, but old-timers will also find useful information on healthcare, behavior, "senior changes," and other topics. For example, they answer a question I've had for years:

When arranging himself for a nap, especially during cold weather, your cat often curls into a circle, nose to tail, chin resting on paws. In this position, his tail may lie across his nose, reducing oxygen intake to invite a quicker entry into the deeper, health-giving REM sleep.

Who knew??

Caring for Your Sick Cat  by Carol Himsel Daly

Your cat will certainly get sick at some point in his life, and you as guardian will need to know basic skills such as medicating by pill or liquid or maybe even more advanced skills such as giving subcutaneous fluids. Have you been told to collect a urine sample at home? There's an easy technique given that doesn't involve holding out a little cup. This book has detailed instructions on such care that can take some of the fear out of helping your pet.

Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook  by Delbert G. Carlson and James M. Giffin

The Veterinarians' Guide to Your Cat's Symptoms by Michael Garvey and Anne E. Hohenhaus (Editors)

These two books will help you understand what your cat's behavior might indicate about his health and what your vet is talking about when your cat is diagnosed with a particular illness. You should always remember to use any pet healthcare book in conjunction with professional veterinary care, but it's still very useful to know some background so that you can be a better partner in your pet's medical care.

What's Up with My Cat?  by Bruce Fogle

Another health guide for cats, this book has clear flow charts to help you decipher your cat's symptoms and tell when you should seek veterinary care immediately or within a day or so. For example, a common symptom is a change in eating habits. Using this book, you can ask yourself if your cat has an increased appetite and has lost weight. If the answer is yes and the cat is over nine years old, the book indicates that the cause might be an overactive thyroid and suggests seeing your vet within 48 hours. If the cat is eating more but is also vomiting and/or has diarrhea, the chart indicates the possibility of inflammatory bowel disease, parasites, overactive thyroid, or enzyme deficiency and encourages you to see your vet within 24 hours.

Senior Cats:

Your Older Cat by Susan Easterly and Gerard K. Beekman  

A recent study from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) showed that 16.8 percent of the 70 million pet cats in the United States are 11 or older, up from 13.3 percent five years ago, so chances are you'll have a senior cat at some point. This book has a lot of information on the health needs of older cats. There's a thorough description of the general aging process, followed by chapters on diet, exercise, and other preventive care; natural health care alternatives; age-related disease; and dealing with the final chapter of your friend's life. Throughout, there are interesting sidebars ("How to give your older cat a massage") and colorful photos.

Caring for Your Older Cat by Christopher C. Pinney

Also an excellent source of information on health and disease in older cats. There are lots of sidebars on subjects such as common tumors affecting older cats and underlying causes of acute and chronic kidney failure. If you've ever wondered why your vet ordered a particular diagnostic test, there's also a chart showing the test and what conditions it's used for.

Copyright © 2002-2007 Stay At Home Cats
Last modified: 9/22/2007