VET’s VIEW: Make sure your cats are easy to identify

IT MUST be the phone call that every cat owner dreads: “Hello, it’s the veterinary surgery here – do you own a black and white cat..?”
By Peter Brown, of Northdale Veterinary Practice
Published 1st Aug 2015, 10:00 BST
A microchip is better than a collarA microchip is better than a collar
A microchip is better than a collar

One of the attractions of cats is their independent nature, but the downside is that, all too often, they wander off.

Sometimes, thankfully, they are just mistaken for a stray and a call goes to a charity, such as the Worthing Cat Welfare Trust, or the local vet.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At other times, tragically, they come to our attention when they are brought in injured after an accident.

What should you do if your cat returns, perhaps having been missing for a while, and you suspect it has been involved in an accident?

It’s easy if there are obvious signs, such as bleeding, an open wound or limping, when you know to seek veterinary attention.

Sometimes, though, cats just want to hide away.

A fur coat can readily hide signs of injury, especially if it’s black, so try gently running your hands over the cat, looking for any signs of tenderness or blood on the coat.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A good tip is to check the claws, as these are often scuffed after an accident.

You can also check the breathing to see if it is unusually rapid or laboured.

Call your vet for advice if you find anything amiss.

Please don’t be tempted to administer any human painkillers, as most are toxic to cats.

We cannot prevent accidents unless the cat is confined to the house, and even keeping them in at night is not easy, as many cats like to hunt.

So, make sure you have some form of identification.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A microchip is better than a collar, since it cannot be lost, and it’s good to know that your vet or rescue centre will always check for one in any stray or injured cat that is brought in.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics:TwitterFacebook