The Cat 



years without causing any appreciable trouble. One 

 hair ball was removed from the stomach of a cat 

 after death, which was as large as the ordinary 

 baseball. 



Sjrmptoms, — There is no regular trend of symp- 

 toms exhibited by hair balls. There may be evi- 

 dence first of irritation of the stomach as indicated 

 by repeated attacks of vomiting — ^the vomit consist- 

 ing only of white froth. In other cases there will 

 be evidence of constipation, which in a few days 

 will be followed by vomiting. The appetite will, of 

 course, be impaired, and the cat will show depres- 

 sion. Many cats habitually throw up a hair ball 

 at regular intervals. 



Treatment. — ^A teaspoonful of castor oil will 

 often cause vomiting of the hair ball from the 

 stomach. If on the other hand, it is located in the 

 intestines it may cause its passage. However, for 

 this effect, mineral oil in repeated doses is much 

 to be preferred. These cases should not be neglected 

 as serious results may follow. 



Worms. — ^Young cats are occasionally infested 

 with round worms, while tapeworm is rare. As a 

 rule the first evidence of trouble will be noticed 

 when the animal suddenly throws up a worm. 

 Since cats are very susceptible to any of the poisons 

 active enough to disturb the worms, their adminis- 

 tration should be carried out only by a, veterinarian. 



Diseases of the Urinary Organs. — While inflam- 

 mation of the kidneys may occasionally develop in 



n5 



