The appearance of a kitten can be influenced by its belonging to a certain breed, the appearance of its parents, the conditions in which the first days and weeks of the baby's life passed. However, regardless of the breed, all kittens have the same signs of health - a kitten that is not ill with anything should look strong, active and well-groomed.
Instructions
Step 1
The coat of a healthy kitten is clean, shiny, there should be no tangles or bald spots on it. If you notice rounded areas on which the coat looks clipped and you can see reddish, slightly inflamed or grayish skin covered with small scales, the kitten has ringworm.
Step 2
If you move your hand against the fur, you can see the skin of the kitten. There should be no sores, no scratching, no blackheads - signs of skin diseases and parasites.
Step 3
The gums and mucous membrane of the mouth in a healthy kitten are clean, pale pink, without sores and inflamed areas, the teeth are white and sharp. By 6-8 weeks, kittens have erupted all milk teeth. The period of changing milk teeth to permanent ones lasts on average from 3 to 7 months, therefore, in a four-month-old kitten, the set of teeth may be incomplete. Some cats have dark spots on the palate and gums - this is not a sign of a disease, but a normal occurrence.
Step 4
The eyes should be clean and clear, without films or secretions. A small amount of brownish discharge in the corners of the eyes is typical for flat-faced cats (Persian, exotic). Red, watery eyes with obvious traces of purulent or mucous discharge, a prolapsed third eyelid (thin membrane) - signs of ill health.
Step 5
Excessive thinness and protruding ribs, as well as a swollen belly, speak of improper nutrition of the kitten - he is either malnourished, or he is fed inappropriate food, from which an upset stomach and intestines begins. Even a kitten that has just eaten has a soft stomach, if it resembles a drum and touching it is clearly unpleasant for the animal - the baby is either infected with helminths or suffers from intestinal distention.
Step 6
The ears of healthy kittens are clean, without any discharge. Brown discharge inside the auricle indicates an ear mite infection.
Step 7
The anal opening should be clean, with no signs of inflammation, blood, or traces of diarrhea. If the kitten tries to scratch the anus by fidgeting on the floor, this could be a sign of a worm infection or some kind of bowel disease.
Step 8
Healthy kittens are active and playful, react vividly to sounds, move freely, without limping or falling on their side. Of course, there are phlegmatic and slothful among kittens, however, obvious apathy, lack of interest in games should alert. A kitten can be somewhat lethargic if he has just eaten or has not yet had time to wake up, but usually healthy animals are curious, move a lot. If a kitten is sick, he can scream shrilly, worry, literally not find a place for himself - go to bed and immediately get up, circle in place.
Step 9
Disproportionate build, creases on the tail, an incorrect bite speak not so much of the kitten's ill health as a violation of the purity of the breed.
