How to Help a Cat Recover From an Illness

There may be times when your cat falls under an illness or disease. Your veterinarian can help with a diagnosis and treatment, but it is up to you to administer any medications and make your cat as comfortable as possible during this time of recovery. Improving your cat's health will require collaborative planning between you and your cat's veterinarian.

Things You'll Need

  • Scale
  • Vitamin B1 supplement
  • Niacin supplement
  • Biotin supplement
  • Fortified cat food
  • Towels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take your cat to the veterinarian, who will help gauge the cat's health, prescribing medication if needed. Inform the doctor of any changes in your cat's behavior, body discharges, and other physical or behavioral discrepancies that may note a possible illness.

    • 2

      PetEducation.com recommends that you administer water-soluble vitamins to the cat's water dish. Using a scale designed for small mammals, weigh your cat. For every pound, administer a daily dosage of 0.01 milligrams of Vitamin B1. Vitamin B1 will help increase the cat's appetite and energy levels. If the cat is experiencing diarrhea or inflamed gums, administer 0.12 milligrams of niacin for every pound. A daily dosage of 0.001 milligrams of biotin can help alleviate overly dry skin and hair.

    • 3

      Select a nutritious, vitamin-fortified cat food that has meat as its primary ingredient. Natural carnivores, cats will greatly benefit from food that is fortified with quality meat. Tuna or chicken can help provide the cat with the necessary proteins to help it recover from its illness. Meat-meal is dehydrated meat by-product that is void of valuable fat. Check the ingredients listed on the package -- avoid cat food that has meat-meal as the first ingredient. Opt for cat food that lists tuna or chicken as the first ingredient.

    • 4

      Lower the cat's stress level. Make sure the litter box is consistently clean and away from drafty areas. Make the cat's sleeping area comfortable by supplying clean, soft towels. Do not bathe the cat during the recovering process -- baths can be particularly stressful to a cat.