The Cat Vet Nurse - Cape Town

02/03/2026

🐾🐱 Playtime Makes Your Cat Happier & Healthier! 🐱 🐾

Keeping your cat active and engaged isn’t just fun, it’s great for their physical and mental well‑being! According to Dr. Mikel Delgado, incorporating regular play into your cat’s day can strengthen your bond and reduce stress. 🧠🩷

Here are some simple ways to play with your cat:

✨ Use interactive toys:
Toys like feather wands, laser pointers, or crinkly balls encourage natural hunting instincts.

✨ Let them chase and pounce:
Short, exciting bursts of play mimic real prey behavior.

✨ Keep sessions short & fun:
About 5–10 minutes at a time works best, cats love frequent, playful breaks!

✨ Rotate toys regularly:
Switching toys keeps things fresh and interesting.

✨ Always end on a positive note:
Finish with praise or a tiny treat so playtime feels rewarding.

🐾 Let’s make every day a purr‑fect play day! 🐈‍⬛

📌 Tips inspired by Dr. Mikel Delgado

26/02/2026

Have you played with your cat today? 🐱🐾

Poster credit: Dr Mikel Delgado

20/02/2026

🩷 Senior Cats & Hyperthyroidism 🩷

Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders seen in older cats, typically affecting those over 8 years of age.

The condition occurs when the thyroid glands produce excessive thyroid hormones (T4 and T3), leading to an increased metabolic rate.

🔎 Common Signs in Senior Cats:
• Weight loss despite a good or increased appetite
• Increased thirst and urination.
• Hyperactivity or restlessness.
• Vomiting or diarrhoea.
• Unkempt or poor coat quality.
• Increased heart rate.

Because many of these signs can overlap with other geriatric conditions, proper diagnostic testing is essential.

🩺 Diagnosis
Diagnosis is usually confirmed with:
• Elevated total T4 on bloodwork.
• Clinical examination findings.
• Sometimes additional thyroid testing if levels are borderline.

💊 Treatment Options
Management depends on the individual patient and may include:
• Daily antithyroid medication.
• Prescription thyroid diets.
• Surgical thyroidectomy.
• Radioactive iodine therapy.

Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to serious complications including heart disease and hypertension, which may also affect kidney function.

Early detection and regular senior health screening play a vital role in maintaining quality of life for our ageing feline companions.

If your senior cat is losing weight but eating well, it’s worth having their thyroid levels checked.

13/02/2026

29/01/2026

🚨 Important Warning for Cat Lovers 🚨

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is extremely toxic to cats.
Even a very small amount can cause serious illness or be fatal.

❌ Never give paracetamol to a cat
❌ Keep all human medications out of reach

If you suspect your cat has ingested paracetamol, seek veterinary care immediately, every minute counts.

🐾 When in doubt, always check with your vet before giving any medication.

19/12/2023

Festive plant to keep away from your cats.🌱🪴🌿

🎄Did you know some festive plants can be harmful to cats?🙀Keep these ones out of reach during the holidays 👇

🌺Poinsettia
🍒Christmas cherry
🌲Pine trees
🌺Amaryllis
🌿Mistletoe
🌿Holly
🌿Ivy
🌸Lilies

☎️ If you think your cat has eaten a plant they shouldn’t have, contact your veterinary clinic immediately for advice
Artificial plants could be a good alternative that can be reused every year ♻️

More tips to keep cats safe at Christmas ➡️ https://icatcare.org/advice/christmas-safety/

😻Share this with your friends to keep Christmas cat friendly😻

19/12/2023

⚠️👇Festive foods to keep away from cats👇⚠️

🍫 Chocolate
🍖 Turkey and chicken bones
🍷 Alcohol
🍇 Grapes, currant, raisins and dried vine fruits
🧅 Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives
🧀 Excessive treats (human food and cat treats)

🚨If you think your cat has eaten potentially toxic food, contact your vet immediately 🚨

More Christmas safety tips 👉 https://icatcare.org/advice/christmas-safety/

Share this to make sure your food-loving friends keep their cats safe! 😻

30/08/2023

Rossi just loves playing with his catnip toy.
Thank you Rapson family for trusting me to look after your fur kids!😻

07/08/2023

Remember to play with your cat every day. 😻

07/08/2023

💟The 8th of August is International Cat Day🐈🐱🐈‍⬛!!! I hope you have the purrfect day with your feline friends.

😻 Tomorrow is and in celebration of all our wonderful feline friends, we’ve been sharing lots of information about the importance of playing with your cat every day, as well as the benefits you and your cat will enjoy if you do.

Now it’s time to get ready…to play! Check out this fantastic guide created by Dr Mikel Delgado (International Cat Care Feline Wellbeing Panel member) and illustrated by Lili Chin (creator of our ambassador cats Domino and McTatters), which shares her tops tips for cat play 👇

🐾 Move toys like prey - play is an interactive experience that replicates your cat’s natural hunting behaviour.

🐾 Know your cat – find out what kind of ‘prey’ they like to hunt best and choose toys to match e.g. a long wriggling piece of fabric that moves like a snake, or a toy at the end of a wand that moves along the floor like a mouse.

🐾 Rotate toys to keep things interesting!

🐾 Make play a daily habit e.g. before dinner or bedtime.

For more top tips, download the FREE poster now 👉 https://icatcare.org/international-cat-day/ (available in NINE languages!) and join us tomorrow as we celebrate Purrfect Play Every Day! 🤩


Lili Chin - Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin
Mikel Delgado - https://whatyourcatwants.com/

10/07/2023

Who does this? ⬇️ We know you all do it 😹😹 What’s your leaving the house routine when leaving your cats? 🐈‍⬛ 🏡