Tips & tricks for cats

Last feeding before anesthesia

Before anesthesia, our team will provide you with specific instructions regarding food and water for your cat. Please follow these guidelines and ask if your cat is on any medication or has pre-existing conditions. Outdoor cats should be kept safely indoors in preparation for the procedure.

Medication on the day of surgery

Please do not administer any anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medication on the day of the surgery. If your cat requires daily medication such as antibiotics, heart medication, thyroid medication, or insulin, please discuss with a veterinarian at the Berlin Veterinary Center when scheduling the anesthesia whether you or a member of our team should administer the medication on the day of the procedure.

Post-anesthesia recovery

After anesthesia, your cat will initially remain in the special recovery room at the Veterinary Medical Center Berlin under veterinary supervision until anesthesia-related complications can be ruled out. In rare cases, "after-effects" such as slight swaying, increased sensitivity to noise, or restlessness may be observed, which are no cause for concern. It is recommended to keep the cat in its transport carrier for another one to two hours. Prevent the cat from climbing cupboards or scratching posts on the day of surgery. If there are multiple cats in the household, ensure that the operated cat is not attacked; if necessary, keep the animals separated until the following morning.

Feeding after anesthesia

In general, you may offer your cat water immediately after picking it up; we usually recommend waiting until the morning after anesthesia for the first feeding. In special cases, such as after gastrointestinal surgery, there may be exceptions.

Post-operative care for your cat

After minor procedures such as endoscopy, dental cleaning, or neutering, the cat should be kept indoors for one to two days; after major procedures, it should be kept indoors until the stitches are removed. For orthopedic surgeries, several weeks of cage rest may be necessary.

Wound healing

Your cat must not lick or nibble at the surgical wound. Otherwise, it must wear a plastic collar until the stitches are removed (or until the 10th day after surgery for intracutaneous sutures). Minor, firm swelling and/or redness of the wound edges is harmless; however, in case of severe swelling or redness, please bring the animal to the Veterinary Medical Center Berlin as a precaution. Skin sutures are removed from the 10th day onwards.

Bandage

If your cat has been bandaged, please ensure the bandage remains dry and is not chewed on. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call us—it is better to call once too often than not at all.

If your cat has ingested a toxic plant or substance, please follow these instructions:

• Do not administer any medications approved for humans to your animal without consulting a veterinarian, even in an emergency!
• If you suspect poisoning, please bring your animal to the Veterinary Medical Center immediately. If possible, bring the suspected source of the poison (ideally with packaging), as well as any chewed or vomited material!
• All plant, insect, and rodent poisons must be treated as highly toxic. The same applies to fertilizers and cleaning agents of all kinds!

Plants and substances toxic to cats: alcoholic foods, eggplants/tomatoes and other nightshade plants, azalea, gasoline, bitter beans, Brunfelsia, primrose, snake plant, boxwood, crown of thorns, Dieffenbachia, dragon tree, yew, larkspur, peanuts, automotive antifreeze, ferns (all species), monstera, ficus, laburnum, rubber tree, hydrangea, hyacinth, cocoa, cacti (all species), carbolineum, lily of the valley, prayer plant, meninge, mistletoe, Monstera, fruit pits, oleander, passion flower, kerosene, philodendron, rhododendron, castor beans, sago palm, chocolate (the darker, the more dangerous), tobacco, turpentine, deadly nightshade, tulip, walnuts, toilet cleaner, poinsettia, spurge species, xylitol (sugar substitute), yucca palm, onions (raw).

We recommend deworming outdoor cats every 4 weeks with a product effective against the fox tapeworm (e.g., Broadline). Cats that are kept exclusively indoors, are flea-free, and have no contact with outdoor cats or dogs generally only require deworming once a year. Raw beef should be frozen at below -18 °C for at least 48 hours before feeding.

The fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) lives in the small intestine of its final host (fox, dog, cat) and sheds tapeworm eggs in its feces. For the intermediate host, humans, a fox tapeworm infection is life-threatening, and a cure is rarely possible. Hygiene and regular prophylactic deworming are the best protection against infection. Since the fox tapeworm requires 4–5 weeks of development time in the cat's intestine, deworming at 4-week intervals is recommended for cats at risk.

Checking for genetic predispositions via genetic testing allows responsible breeders to plan matings in such a way that many diseases caused by known gene mutations can be ruled out in the kittens. The tests are performed using a cheek swab or blood sample.

Available genetic tests: GSD IV (Glycogen Storage Disease Type IV, Norwegian Forest Cats); HCM 1 and 2 (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, mutations A31P and A74T); HCM 3 (mutation R820W in Ragdolls); PKD 1 (Polycystic Kidney Disease); rdAc-PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Abyssinians, Somalis, etc.); SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Maine Coons).

Vaccines are available for cats against: feline panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, Chlamydophila felis, rabies, feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). A vaccine against FIV ("feline AIDS") is not yet available.

All cats should be vaccinated regularly against feline panleukopenia and cat flu (herpes, calici, chlamydia). Outdoor cats, breeding cats, and cats with contact with other cats/wild mammals should also be vaccinated against rabies and leukemia (FeLV). The FIP vaccination is a subject of controversy.

Vaccination schedule for feline panleukopenia/cat flu (kittens): 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age; for adult cats, 2 vaccinations 4 weeks apart, followed by annual boosters. Rabies: 1st vaccination at 12 weeks, 2nd at 16 weeks, 3rd within 365 days, then every 3 years. Leukemia (FeLV): 1st vaccination from 8 weeks of age, 2nd after 3–4 weeks, annual boosters. FIP: 1st vaccination from 16 weeks of age, 2nd after 3 weeks, annual boosters; blood test for feline coronavirus required beforehand.

Diabetes is a common hormonal disease in cats caused by a relative or absolute insulin deficiency. The disease usually occurs in middle or older age; neutered male cats are affected more frequently. Symptoms: increased water intake, increased urination, weight loss, weakness in the hind limbs, increased appetite, plantigrade stance. Diagnosis via blood panel and fructosamine level. Treatment usually involves twice-daily subcutaneous insulin injections and regular lifelong check-ups; a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet and weight loss are beneficial.

Hyperthyroidism is primarily a disease of older cats; 95% of affected animals are over 10 years old. It involves an overproduction of the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). In 98% of cases, the enlargement of the gland is benign. Signs: weight loss, increased appetite without weight gain, diarrhea, vomiting, increased thirst, frequent urination, restlessness/irritability, unkempt coat, anxious facial expression, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, rapid breathing. Diagnosis via blood test (T4 and other values). Treatment involves daily, usually lifelong administration of carbimazole, methimazole, or thiamazole; initially, check-ups every 3–4 weeks, later every three to six months. The disease CANNOT be cured; lifelong medication is necessary.

(Text courtesy of Hill's)

In addition to the right diet with c/d Multicare, you can reduce the risk of recurring lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) by increasing your cat's water intake. The more water your cat drinks, the more urine is produced and the more frequently they will urinate; the urine becomes diluted, making it harder for bladder crystals or stones to form.

Suggestions for encouraging water intake: add water to food (increase slowly); place water in several locations; change water regularly; test different bowl shapes and materials; offer filtered or bottled water; try a pet fountain; place a shallow bowl under a slowly dripping faucet; make flavorful ice cubes from Hill's Prescription Diet food and add them to the drinking water.

A conversion chart from cat age to equivalent human age: