Advice for a cat in case of consumption of Christmas food, Christmas decorations or other Christmas hazards:

Two different counseling scenarios:

1) The Acute:

(Where the cat is generally affected; repeated vomiting/attempts to vomit, abdominal pain/"praying position" (obs pancreatitis) or in the case of a strong suspicion of ingestion of foreign bodies (which may not  be able to pass the GI system) and/or ingestion of poisonous plants):

As we have just discussed,  XX appears to have significant symptoms involving the gastrointestinal system; vomiting and pain possibly as a result of ingestion of YY (Foreign body, fatty Christmas food = note pancreatitis, poisonous plant etc.) and I would therefore recommend that you contact your local vet on duty immediately for further investigation, appropriate treatment and stabilisation as necessary.

You are always welcome to contact us again for a follow-up call should any doubts or additional questions arise.

To ensure that future Christmas days are enjoyable and safe - also for the four-legged family members - you can seek advice on preventive measures against the potential dangers of Christmas at the link below:

#Link to relevant articles on local Agria website#

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2) The non acute:

(Where the cat is generally OK but has mild GI symptoms):

As we have just discussed, I suspect that XX has a disturbance in the gastrointestinal system, possibly caused by a change of diet possibly involving Christmas food.

I recommend that you ensure that XX will not get further access to Christmas treats and instead start on a low-fat diet that is more gentle on the stomach.

It is important that XX drinks water.

If XX vomits and/or has diarrhoea, the need for fluids increases. Fluid/electrolyte supplements can be purchased from your vet, e.g. Royal Canin Rehydration support or Oralade GI Support.

Initially, outside normal opening hours, if returning your cat to its normal food is not effective, you can create a low-fat diet for your pet consisting of cooked rice and a lean protein source (e.g. boiled chicken, lean white fish, etc.)

Mix about half of each into the serving. Give this gentle GI dietary source in small portions, one to two tablespoons at a time in the beginning and give about 4 times a day the first day (about every 3-4 hours).

If this goes well, you can gradually increase the portion size and thus reduce the number of feedings to 2-3  times a day.

When possible, or if a longer time on a bland diet is necessary, you should switch XX gradually to a professional gastrointestinal diet - thereby ensuring that your cat gets the right amount of energy, vitamins and minerals.

These stomach/intestinal disease diets are available from your vet in both wet and dry versions and different brands (Hills I/D, Royal Canin Gastroenterinal or Virbac Gastro etc.).

In addition to a healthy diet, you might want to supplement with food  with live intestinal bacteria (probiotics), which will be available through your vet if they think it will help. Give the supplement for about a week.

Examples of gastrointestinal function stabilising supplements:

- Zoolac Paste or Pro-Kolin paste (Probiotics) given by weight, twice daily for a maximum of 7 days.

Contact your vet for an examination if your cat if it continues to have diarrhoea or vomiting or if it begins to show signs of discomfort or appears generally unwell (depressed/not eating/restlessness/persistent vomiting/abdominal pain etc.), produces bloody diarrhoea or develops a fever.

Normal temperature for a cat is around 38-39 degrees. (but may increase briefly if the cat becomes very excited)

Remember if your cat does not eat for more than 48 hours you should contact your vet.

Ask your vet for advice on which type and daily amount of food is right for your cat.

Continue to give your cat this stomach/intestinal diet until its gastrointestinal function is completely normal again. When the stools have been normal for 3 or 4 days, you can start to gradually mix the usual food into the portions. Make this transition gradually over 5 days.

You are always welcome to contact us again for a follow-up call should any doubts or additional questions arise.

To ensure that future Christmas days are enjoyable and safe - also for the four-legged family members - you can seek advice on preventive measures against the potential dangers of Christmas at the link below: