Ragdoll cat

　　For sick cats, activity should first be limited, choosing a quiet and comfortable place to allow them to rest fully. Even if they do not want to eat, clean drinking water or isotonic glucose saline should be provided. This sometimes yields good results. Groom the sick cat’s fur once daily, but do not spend too long each time. When there are dry scabs or secretions attached to the nostrils or eyelids, use cotton balls soaked in saline to gently wipe them clean; after wiping, apply some skin protection ointment for a short time to reduce irritation caused by secretions and to keep the skin moisturized.

　　For severe illness or cats unable to stand, frequently assist in changing their lying positions to prevent bedsores. Wash and dry the forelimbs and hind legs immediately if contaminated by feces or urine. Frequently change the bedding materials.

　　For general external injuries in cats, applying some antibiotic or sulfonamide preparations is sufficient; bandaging is not always necessary. If a fracture occurs, it is best to have a veterinarian perform bandaging or plaster casting.

　　The simplest method of administering medication is mixing the medicine with water or milk and allowing the cat to drink it on its own. This method suits odorless, tasteless, colorless, and low-dose medications.

　　If the cat is seriously ill and cannot drink by itself or refuses to drink after medication is added, dissolve the medicine in a small amount of water and administer it with a metal or glass syringe. The technique is to place the cat standing on a table, hold the cat’s neck with one hand to tilt the head back, hold the syringe in the other hand, insert the syringe tip connected to the needle inside the corner of the mouth, then slowly push the liquid into the oral cavity. If the cat does not swallow, gently pinch the nose a few times to help promote swallowing, but be careful during operation. For very restless cats, ask someone to help restrain them. Do not be reckless to avoid choking. This medication method is suitable for small doses of potent drugs.

　　The most common method to give small tablets or pills is as follows. When giving medicine, have an assistant hold the cat’s neck with one hand and firmly grasp the cat’s two front legs with the other hand. The left hand holds the cat’s upper jaw, while the right thumb, index, and middle fingers grasp the lower jaw. Both hands work together to open the cat’s mouth, then quickly place the tablet or pill on the back part of the tongue, force the mouth shut, and the tablet or pill can be swallowed. This method has a high success rate. Larger tablets or pills should be broken into several pieces in advance. (Source：PetsZone)