Caring For A Cat With Hepatitis: Nutrition And Treatments
Animals can contract various diseases, similar to those of humans. One common pathology between humans and animals affects the liver. In this article we explain how to care for a cat with hepatitis in order to deal with this situation in the best possible way.
Does the cat have hepatitis?
First of all, it is useful to explain how hepatitis develops in cats. Without going into too much detail, you should know that this disease is an inflammation of the liver that has several causes, including:
- Hepatic lipidosis (accumulation of fatty tissue in the liver).
- Feline cholangiohepatitis (inflammation of the bile ducts by bacteria)
- Autoimmune or idiopathic hepatitis
- Liver tumors.
It is very important to take your cat to the vet as soon as possible if you notice one or more of the following symptoms:
- Apathy
- Little desire to move
- General weakness
- Doesn’t eat for more than 24 hours
- Strange conduct
- Meowing for no reason
- Belly inflamed
- He does not drink water for more than a day.
The professional will perform a general checkup and take the cat’s blood to determine the diagnosis. The treatment indicated by the veterinarian must be accompanied by the care that the owner will offer the animal.
How to care for a cat with hepatitis
If the situation is severe, the vet will recommend hospitalizing the cat for at least a few hours, during which time it will be fed and hydrated. When the animal begins to feel better, this does not mean that it is cured, it will be possible to return home.
This is where owners have to work hard and pay close attention to all the pet’s needs. It is not necessary to stay next to the cat all day, but to offer him everything he might need in our absence.
Feeding a cat with hepatitis is the main problem, this is due to the fact that the disease leads him to suffer from total lack of appetite, he will not even want to drink water. It is essential to be patient, but at the same time insistent for the animal to ingest something.
You can try with some wet and soft food, so to speak those sold in cans or bags, or even with homemade food approved by the veterinarian; for example, tuna, pate, cheese, yogurt, etc. Try a piece of grilled chicken, it will certainly open his appetite.
The owner’s goal must be to get the cat to eat, even if that means staying in front of him for half an hour with the spoon in hand. Keep in mind that because his liver is sick, we can’t give him foods that are high in fat.
Possible natural remedies
Only after receiving the veterinarian’s authorization, we can also give our cat some medicinal plants, which will be in charge of stimulating his appetite. Which ones are they? Boldo, artichoke, dandelion, alpha alpha and turmeric.
Some masters opt for alternative treatments such as Bach flowers. These remedies are based on natural plants and can include sweet chestnut, willow, honeysuckle, or wild apple. Another alternative is homeopathy. Before proceeding, however, we encourage you to consult an animal specialist.
On the other hand, rest is a lifesaver for a cat with hepatitis (or any other serious illness). For this reason, we must offer him the best conditions in the house: a comfortable bed, a blanket, a quiet place to sleep, etc.
As far as possible, we must leave him alone for most of the time so that he can recover. If we constantly disturb him, albeit with the intent to make him feel better, we could have the opposite effect.
We must not forget that cats are very sensitive and delicate from this point of view: they do not like to be interrupted, to be picked up or to be forced to do certain things. Respect your animals without neglecting their main care; this will make it easier to treat the disease and ensure a happy life in the future as well.
