Genet

Periodontal disease / tooth fracture

SignsBad breath, chewing on one side only, drooling, avoiding hard food, swollen cheek

PreventionDo not feed only soft canned food; mix in small bone-in prey or harder food. Oral exam once a year

Obesity / fatty liver

SignsSagging belly, sluggish movement, dull coat; a sudden drop in appetite is dangerous

PreventionLimit fruit and fatty foods; provide climbing exercise at night. Weigh monthly

Urinary stones / cystitis

SignsFrequent trips to the litter box, small amounts of urine, bloody urine, crying while urinating, licking the genitals

PreventionFresh water in several places. Wet food-based diet for hydration; check urine color and frequency daily

Digestive disease

SignsOngoing diarrhea or vomiting, blood or mucus in stool, resents belly being touched, reduced appetite

PreventionNo sudden diet changes. Raw meat fresh and in small portions; remove leftovers after 1 hour

Stress-related hair loss / self-mutilation

SignsThin fur on tail or belly, constant licking of one spot, tail biting, repetitive pacing back and forth

PreventionProvide several hideouts and leave it alone by day. Block noise and the gaze of other pets

External / internal parasites

SignsScratching, black specks on skin, white worms in stool, weight loss, dull coat

PreventionFecal exam at acquisition and once a year. Use frozen-treated live prey and raw meat

Fracture from a fall

PreventionNo slippery objects where it lands after jumping. Clear small items off shelves and put mats on landing surfaces

First aidIf it drags or holds up a leg, do not touch it. Put it in a small carrier to limit movement and see a vet the same day

Injury while escaped

PreventionBlock windows, exhaust fans and drains. Always close the door during free-roam time; do not rely on screens

First aidAfter recapture, calm it in a dark carrier and check for bleeding, gait and breathing. If anything is abnormal, see a vet immediately

Claw damage / torn-out claw

PreventionAvoid looped carpet fabric and loosely woven cloth. Check claws monthly

First aidPress bleeding with clean gauze for 5 minutes. If the claw is torn out at the base or there is swelling, see a vet the same day

Burns / electric shock

PreventionArrange the room so it cannot climb onto stoves, heaters or heated carpets. Protect cords with cable covers

First aidSwitch off the power before touching. Cool burns under running water for 5–10 minutes; if the inside of the mouth is burned, see a vet immediately

Salmonellosis

RouteFeces, hands that handled raw meat, cage items

PreventionWash hands with soap after handling raw meat or feces. Keep bowls separate from human dishes and do not wash them on the kitchen counter

Bacterial infection from bites

RouteBite and scratch wounds

PreventionWash wounds under running water immediately and disinfect. If swelling or fever develops, see a doctor and say you were bitten by an animal

Dermatophytosis (ringworm)

RouteContact with skin or fur, cage items

PreventionHandle animals with hair loss or dandruff with gloves. Wash bedding; if ring-shaped rashes appear on human skin, see a doctor

Roundworms, fleas, mites

RouteFeces, bedding, parasites on the fur

PreventionFecal exam and deworming at acquisition. Wash bedding weekly; children wash hands after touching

Food

• High-quality cat food as the base, with animal protein as the main component
• Add small prey such as frozen mice, chicks or quail 2–3 times a week
• Feed 1–2 times a day from evening to night. Daily amount about 5–8% of body weight, adjusted by weight

Water

• Provide both a heavy ceramic bowl and a water bottle; change daily
• Also put water near climbing spots and keep track of how much is drunk

Toys & play

• Shelves or a cat tree reaching near the ceiling to encourage vertical exercise
• Puzzle feeders and paper bags to hide food in satisfy the urge to forage
• Use wand toys long enough to keep the toy away from your hand so it does not pounce on hands

Nest, bed & hideout

• Place several fabric or wooden nest boxes up high, with the inside hidden from view
• Daytime sleeping spots must be dark and quiet, away from foot traffic

Bedding & litter

• Easy-to-clean pet sheets or fleece on the floor; wash cloth that holds scent-gland odor weekly
• Use a large cat litter tray with non-clumping litter or paper litter
• 1–2 litter boxes in corners or fixed spots. High sides to prevent scattered litter

Cage / housing material

Large metal cat cage or a dedicated room. Bar spacing 2.5 cm or less

Size & space

At least 180 cm high and 90 cm wide and deep. A whole room is ideal

Layout

• Nest box and resting shelf on top, play shelves in the middle, food, water and litter at the bottom
• Space shelves within jumping distance, at heights where a fall still allows a safe landing
• Keep food and litter apart; put the litter box in a corner against the wall

Placement notes

• Double-lock the door with a snap hook and padlock. It is good at nosing doors open
• Avoid direct sunlight, air-conditioner drafts and the front of the TV; keep daytime quiet

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• 1–3 hours of climbing play in the evening to night in a room with the door closed
• No walks. It slips out of harnesses, so never take it outdoors
• Before letting it out, check windows, exhaust fans, small items and houseplants

Temperature & humidity

Temperature20–28°C. Below 15°C and above 32°C is dangerous

Humidity40–60%. Avoid condensation and excessive dryness

Summer & winter

• In summer, run the air conditioner constantly and put frozen water bottles on shelves
• In winter, put a blanket in the nest box, place heaters where they cannot be chewed, and watch for dry air

Nail trimming

Check monthly. Wrap in a towel and trim only the tip, one claw at a time. If not possible, ask the vet

Brushing, skin & coat care

Light brushing with a soft brush during shedding season. Wipe dirt around the scent glands with a damp cloth

Other care

Check breath and teeth weekly. Dirty ears or black earwax may mean ear mites; see a vet

Protection from predators

• Never let it out in the same room as dogs or cats. A real fight injures both seriously
• Small birds, hamsters and other small animals are prey. Keep them isolated in a separate room
• For mosquitoes and fleas, ventilate with wire mesh or locked windows, not screens

Foreign-body ingestion

Tears off and swallows rubber, string and feathers from cat toys. Vomiting, loss of appetite or no stool: see a vet the same day. Do not induce vomiting

Being stepped on

Comes to your feet in dark rooms and is easily stepped on. Keep the floor clear at night and speak before walking. If stepped on, check gait and breathing and see a vet

Getting pinched

Sits on top of doors and in sliding-door gaps, so it is easily pinched. Close doors slowly; check where its body is before closing the cage door

Falls

Falling from height onto a wet floor or furniture edge causes fractures. Put mats on landing surfaces; after a fall, watch legs and breathing and see a vet

Escape

Escapes through window gaps, exhaust fans and drains. If it gets out, set out the nest box and favorite food after dark, and notify animal hospitals and the police

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving and gently push the bitten hand toward the animal
2. With the other hand, drape a thick towel over its head to block its vision
3. Do not put fingers behind the corner of the mouth; blow lightly on its nose to make it loosen
4. Once it lets go, return it to the cage towel and all, darken it and leave it alone for 30 minutes

After the release

Wash the wound under running water for 5 minutes and disinfect. For deep bites, swelling or fever, see a doctor

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Species and weight, diet, time of last meal, photos of stool and urine, vomit; phone ahead to confirm they can see the animal

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Call its name and touch the body through a towel to check for a response
• Count chest rises for 10 seconds and multiply by 6. Normal is 20–40 per minute
• Press fingers at the inner thigh to check the pulse. Normal 120–200 per minute

Stopping bleeding

• Press the wound firmly with clean gauze for 5 minutes; do not lift it to check
• Raise limbs above the heart, stack gauze and secure with a bandage
• Even the tail tip can bleed heavily. Keep pressing while going to the vet

Transport

• Carry it in a hard-bottomed carrier lined with a towel, kept dark
• If cold, place a towel-wrapped hot-water bottle beside it; keep the car quiet