Cat Vet Talk 2017 held by NTU Cat Management Network (NTUCMN) took place on 26 September. Dr Vanessa Lin from My Family Vet Clinic and Surgery, located in Bukit Batok East Avenue, was invited to give the talk. The talk covered basic first aid and a demonstration with one of NTU’s campus cats. A few of our committee members attended the event and learnt a great deal!
Distinguished speaker Dr Vanessa Lin giving the talk with the help of the vet’s nurse (Photo cred: NTUCMN)
When feeding a cat, conduct these four simple checks:
Eating habits deviate from usual. If a cat is eating a lot or quickly, it could be their survival instincts. However, it would be a matter of concern if the cat drops its food from its mouth while eating, extreme salivation occurs or if it whimpers while eating.
Eyes are swollen or if there is discharge or constant scratching around the eyes and ears. This may be indicative of flea or ear mites infestation, or an eye infection.
How the cat walks. The cat may be limping or is unsteady, indicating a possible injury.
The entire body for pain when touched or lumps around the body, indicative of possible internal injury.
If you see any of our campus cats and observe any of these symptoms, please reach out to NUS CatCafe immediately. Other than these checks, you can also observe a cat’s health if a cat deviates from its normal behaviour, has poor fur condition and starts losing weight. It is advisable to consult a vet if these symptoms occur.
Dr Lin also talked about common ailments and diseases:
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Like humans, our feline friends may also contract an immunodeficiency Virus. It is commonly passed through cat bite wounds. Hence, it is important for us to separate cats into their own territories as fights often take place over territorial disputes. Preventing fights from taking place can prevent the spread of the virus.
Dehydration
Check to see if a cat is dehydrated simply by pulling its skin from the back of its neck. The skin should bounce back immediately.
Lastly, we had a routine check demonstration done on Peanut, NTU’s campus cat!
Peanut was placed under a visualiser and a routine check-up was conducted
(Photo cred: NTUCMN)
Peanut was such a good sport, under the watchful eyes of a crowd. Dr Lin and the vet nurse demonstrated how to hold a cat properly. It is safe to say that Lion King did not teach us the right way to hold a cat.
The wrong way to carry a cat
(Photo cred: http://disney-sheet-music.com/circle-life-lyrics/)
It is advisable to support the cat’s bum while holding it, like the picture shown below. However, please be careful when picking up a cat as not all cats, especially strays, respond well to being picked up.
The right way to carry a cat
(Photo cred: https://www.wikihow.pet/Hold-a-Cat)
Now that you've learnt these tips, keep them in mind and conduct these checks the next time you see our campus cats!
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