My cat has a swollen face. Please help.
My cat has been fighting with another cat and now has a big swelling on his face. It looks like it will burst. What medicine should I use to treat this? Is it normal for cats to fight so much? Will my cat get better without any medicine?
— Abdul Kareem, Al Ain
Dr Martin: It sounds like your cat has an abscess, Abdul Kareem.
It is normal for cats to fight to defend their territory. The worst offenders are tomcats that have not been neutered — they go out looking for new territories and cats to fight or mate with — but neutered males and females will also fight over a smaller range and especially if an intruder enters their garden.
Because of this, abscesses resulting from bites are very common and the treatment is simple: they should be drained surgically and then antibiotics should be administered to speed up the healing process and prevent worsening infection deep under the skin.
If you know your cat has been fighting, you can pre-empt abscess formation and other complications by administering antibiotics immediately — your vet will advise you on the type of medicine to give, and for what duration. Some cats are very hard to medicate and for them we have long-acting injections. These cost a bit more, but save you and your pet the stress of getting pills down every day.
Some cats will recover without treatment — it all depends on where the infection is and how strong your pet's immunity is. Some untreated infections become very serious and even life-threatening. It's generally considered sensible to treat infected bite wounds.
Fights are also the commonest way for the FI-virus to spread between cats. Your vet can run a simple blood test to check for this disease.
Feline friends: Cats for adoption
Feline Friends is a voluntary organisation that offers help for abandoned cats and kittens. All cats are vaccinated and are neutered, as breeding is not advocated.
A donation to cover veterinary costs would be appreciated.
Contact: in Dubai, 050-4510058; in Abu Dhabi, 050-8231569; in Al Ain, alainfelinefriends@yahoo.ca
Feline Friends does not have an animal shelter, or receive any official funding, and therefore relies on donations and volunteers who provide temporary care for cats and kittens. Visit Feline Friends online at felinefriendsuae.com or send e-mail to: felinefriendsdubai@yahoo.co.uk
ADOPT A CAT DAY Our first Adopt a Cat Day of 2009 will be held on Friday, January 9 from 3pm to 6pm at the Nad Al Shiba Veterinary Hospital. For directions, please go to nadalshibaveterinaryhospital.com.
DESIGN A T-SHIRT Competition Feline Friends is looking for exciting new designs for a new range of T-shirts and other merchandise. The winner will have his or her design printed on a range of Feline Friends merchandise and will be featured in an upcoming issue of Cat Calls. Please scan your design and e-mail it to samanthabrydon@live.com. Competition closes on January 31.
FELINE FRIENDS 2009 CALENDAR Now on sale from supporting veterinary clinics, supermarkets and Feline Friends events. If you think you could sell a number of copies at work or to friends, please contact us.
Abandoned pets
AP cares for stray, injured or abandoned animals that come its way. All of its animals have been vaccinated, castrated, and are of various shapes, sizes and colours. Can you offer a temporary home or a loving permanent home? AP is run by one woman who could really use your help. Call 050-6258375 to see some of the animals.
No calls from breeders or pet shops. Send e-mail to: abandoned-pets@hotmail.com
LOST Silver-grey neutered male tabby cat. Went missing from Meadows 9 on January 1. He has a white nose and tummy. Very friendly. Reward offered. Call 050-5014476.
AVAILABLE Several medium-sized mixed breed dogs are available to good homes. All playful and house trained.
PERSIAN Young female gold-beige Persian cat. Has been spayed. Very sociable, especially with other cats.
PUPPIES PLUS German Shepherd puppies available. Also, female grey Saluki. Call
050-4588635.
PUPPIES AND KITTENS Different sizes and breeds available. Call 050-6258375 or
050-4588635.
SALUKI Male and female, both two years old. Champion blood. May be homed separately. Only available to a family living in a villa.
TOTO Adorable five-month-old male black-and-white kitten. Extremely healthy, playful and litter-trained, and accustomed to other cats.
ANGEL Young, beautiful, long-hair female Turkish angora looking for a new home.
MAX AND LEON Two small, very cute, happy and playful young dogs available: shih tzu and terrier. They are very close friends and must be homed together. Twice the joy!
MIKE Fluffy little collie mix. Housetrained, knee-height and has a great personality. Loves kids. Needs to know who is boss.
RAMASESE Poor little dog been through the wars. A few scars on his coat and very thin. Desperate for more loving. Medium-sized, one year old.
SCHLAPPI Very shy white male needs a good home.
Medium-sized, happy to be left to his own devices — does love other dogs though.
SOX Pretty little golden pup who looks like butter would not melt in her mouth. Sadly, this is not the case — she needs some training, but is worth the effort.
TSAKI Desperate to be everybody's mate. Tsaki is a white, medium-sized dog with an outgoing personality. Loves company.
TY Lovely black saluki. Kind, quiet nature. TY has been with K9 Friends a while and really deserves a home. In a foster home now, knows how to behave.
WILLIAM Lovely, large male who is so desperate for a home but has been with us since he was a puppy. Not good with young children.
ZIGGI Golden, short-haired puppy will be medium-sized when grown. Eighteen weeks old. Female with short hair.
ALINA Pretty cream-coloured saluki teenager. Long legs, petite body. Eight months old and has been at the shelter for five of those.
ANGEL Bit of a madam, needs some training — could be rewarding in the right home. Wary of men, requires patience. medium-sized.
CHARLIE An outgoing, friendly little chap, Charlie is a feathery-coated saluki mix. He is one year old.
CITRUS Large female saluki cross. House-trained and lively, will make a lovely pet with older kids.
FOUND Young black and white saluki mix with only one eye. This sweet male loves children and cats and is house-trained.
JOHNNY Medium-sized brown male cross found in Internet City — obviously a previous pet. Medium- sized.
BROTHERS Tom, Harry and Bill are black, tan and white collie cross puppies with medium-length hair. Six months old, will be medium-sized when grown.
BEAR One-eyed black collie teen with half a tail. Fluffy and cute, but needs some training. Medium-sized.
