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H

Haematemesis
Blood in the vomit (also spelt hematemesis)
Haematuria
Blood in the urine (also spelt hematuria)
Haemoglobin
Protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen in the blood (also spelt hemoglobin)
Haemoglobinuria
The presence of free haemoglobin (hemoglobin) in the urine (also spelt hemoglobinuria)
Haemolysis
Rupture of red blood cells with release of haemoglobin (also spelt hemolysis)
Haemolytic Anaemia
Anaemia (anemia) causing increased destruction of red blood cells, cat may have yellow mucous membranes (also spelt hemolytic anemia)
Haemorrhage
Loss of blood (also spelt hemorrhage)
Haemorrhagic Diarrhoea
Watery faeces (feces) containing blood (also spelt hemorrhagic diarrhea)
Haemorrhagic Enteritis
Inflammation of the intestinal lining, causing watery faeces (feces) containing blood (also spelt hemorrhagic enteritis)
Hairballs
Thick matted tubes of fur that build-up in a cat's gastrointestinal tract (from fur that is swallowed when the cat is grooming), they are periodically regurgitated and coughed up. Also called furballs.
Hallucinations
False perception of objects, e.g. seeing a fly that doesn't exist
Hand Grooming
Light patting of the coat with your hand to remove dead hair
Handler
Judges assistant at a cat show who assists the judge with taking cats to and from the judging table and cages
Harlequin
A mostly white cat with several large patches of colour
Harness
A webbing collar with two straps (one around the neck and one behind the front legs), attached to a lead to take a cat for a walk
Haw
Protrusion of the third eyelid (thin membrane that moves across the eye when the upper and lower eyelids are closed), may be visible when a cat is sick
Heat
The time during the reproductive cycle when the queen (female) displays interest in mating. Queens may rub against objects, crawl with their belly close to the floor, roll and vocalize. Also called oestrus (estrus)
Heinz Body Anaemia
Anaemia (anemia) resulting from oxidation of globin and formation of Heinz bodies (seen in blood smears), (also spelt Heinz Body Anemia)
Heinz Body Anemia
Anaemia (anemia) resulting from oxidation of globin and formation of Heinz bodies (seen in blood smears), (also spelt Heinz Body Anaemia)
Hematemesis
Blood in the vomit (also spelt haematemesis)
Hematuria
Blood in the urine (also spelt haematuria)
Hemoglobin
Protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen in the blood (also spelt haemoglobin)
Hemoglobinuria
The presence of free hemoglobin in the urine (also spelt haemoglobinuria)
Hemolysis
Rupture of red blood cells with release of hemoglobin (also spelt haemolysis)
Hemolytic Anemia
Anemia causing increased destruction of red blood cells, cat may have yellow mucous membranes (also spelt haemolytic anaemia)
Hemorrhage
Loss of blood (also spelt haemorrhage)
Hemorrhagic Diarrhea
Watery feces containing blood (also spelt haemorrhagic diarrhoea)
Hemorrhagic Enteritis
Inflammation of the intestinal lining, causing watery feces containing blood (also spelt haemorrhagic enteritis)
Hepatic Amyloidosis
Deposition of amyloid protein in the liver
Hepatic Damage
Liver damage
Hepatic Failure
Liver failure
Hepatic Lipidosis
Accumulation of fat in the liver, causing jaundice, weight loss, neurogical signs and leading to liver failure
Hepatic Necrosis
Death of liver cells
Hepatotoxicity
Liver damage due to toxic effects of poisons or drugs
Himalayan
Longhaired cat breed resembling a Persian but with a light coat and darker coloured points (face, paws, tail) [breed profile]
Himmy
Nickname for the Himalayan cat breed (longhaired cat with a light coat and darker coloured points)
Hindlimbs
The back legs
Hip Dysplasia
Lax hip joint, may cause lameness
History
Collection of facts about the clinical signs of a patient
Hot
A cream cat with too much red colouring in its coat
Household Pet
A household cat not conforming to any recognized pedigree breed, nor having any parent as a recognized breed, also called a "moggie"
House Soiling
Urinating or defaecating (defecating) outside of the litter box or spraying to mark territory inside
Hybrid
Kitten with parents from different breeds
Hyperexcitability
Increased activity, restless
Hypersalivation
Excessive secretion of saliva
Hyperthermia
Greatly increased body temperature
Hyperthyroidism
Excessive activity of the thyroid gland. Affected animals show increased thirst, weight loss despite an increased appetite and behavioural changes (aggression or hyperactivity). A common condition in older cats.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Heart disease caused by thickening of the heart muscle
Hypokalaemic Episodic Weakness
Weakness due to low potassium concentration in the blood (also spelt Hypokalemic Episodic Weakness)
Hypokalemic Episodic Weakness
Weakness due to low potassium concentration in the blood (also spelt Hypokalaemic Episodic Weakness)
Hypotension
Lowered blood pressure
Hypoventilation
Reduction in the amount of air entering the lungs


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I

Icterus
Yellowness of the skin, mucous membranes and excretions
Imidacloprid
The active ingredient in Advantage flea treatment
Inappropriate Elimination
Urinating or defaecating (defecating) outside of the litter box
Inbreeding
The mating of two closely related cats (mother and son or brother and sister)
Incontinence
Inability to control excretory functions (faeces, urine)
Incoordination
Weakness or wobbly when trying to walk
Infectious Enteritis (FIE)
Highly contagious viral disease which causes high death loss, especially among young kittens, also called Feline Panleukopenia
Infrared Lamp
A heat lamp to keep newborn kittens and sick cats warm
Injectable
Medication or treatment that can be given by injection
Intact
An unneutered (entire) cat, male or female
Intermediate Host
An animal or insect in which a parasite undergoes a stage in its life cycle
Intramuscular
An injection given into the muscle
Intravenous
An injection given into a vein
IV Fluids
Supportive fluids given intravenously (into a vein)


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J

Japanese Bobtail
Cat breed with a short fluffy tail [breed profile]
Jellicle Cats
Black and white cats in the poem by T.S. Eliot
Jowls
Fully developed cheeks of entire male cats


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K

Kink
A twist, curl, bend or bump in the tail
Kitten
A cat less than nine months old
Kitty Litter
Granular substance used to fill the litter box. Can be paper pellets, sand, sawdust, clay
Kitty Pudding
A pudding which is rich in calcium and can be fed as a supplement for weaning kittens, lactating queens, or sick cats. Also called Glop
Korat
Cat breed with a short silver blue coat and large green eyes [breed profile]


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L

Laces
The white colouring extending up the back legs of the Birman cat
Lacrimation
Secretion of tears
Lactose
A milk sugar that some cats lose the ability to digest. Drinking cow's milk can cause diarrhoea if the cat does not normally drink milk.
Lame
Unable to walk normally
Lameness
Unable to walk normally
Laxative
Medicine that loosens the bowel contents
Lead
Thin webbing lead to take a cat for a walk
Lethal Gene
Mating two tailless Manx cats often results in malformed kittens that die before birth or soon after
Lethargy
Drowsiness
Levamisole
The active ingredient of some de-worming medications for cats and kittens
LH
Longhair
Lilac
Light pinkish-blue coat colour
Linear Granuloma
Eroded areas on the hindlimbs, oral cavity or lips, also called an eosinophilic granuloma
Litter
1) - granular substance used to fill the litter box. Can be paper pellets, sand, sawdust, clay
2) - group of kittens born at one birth
Litter Box
Plastic tray that the cat uses as a toilet
Locket
Solid white marking on the neck or chest
Longhair
A cat with soft flowing fur, at least three centimeters long over the body. The cat has a ruff of longer hair around the neck and a fluffy tail.
Lufenuron
The active ingredient in Program flea treatment
Lynx Point
Cat with tabby points


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M

Maelena
Dark tarry faeces (feces), due to blood pigments (also spelt melena)
Maine Coon
Longhaired cat breed with large muscular body and long shaggy coat, the largest breed of domestic cat [breed profile]
Malocclusion
Incorrect position of the teeth resulting in teeth or jaws that do not meet properly
Manx
Shorthaired cat breed with long hindlimbs and missing all or at least part of the tail [breed profile]
Marking
Scent marking by a cat, including spraying - a natural instinct of urinating on surfaces to mark territory
Mask
The darker shading on the face of a colourpoint (colorpoint) cat
Mats
Knots and tangles in a cats coat
Matting
Knotting of the coat, particularly of longhaired cats, can be prevented by regular grooming to remove dead hair
Medication
Drug or remedy
Megaesophagus
Chronic dilation of the oesophagus (esophagus), (also spelt megaoesophagus)
Megaoesophagus
Chronic dilation of the oesophagus (esophagus), (also spelt megaesophagus)
Melena
Dark tarry faeces (feces), due to blood pigments (also spelt maelena)
Methaemoglobinaemia
Methaemoglobin (methemoglobin) in the blood, cat may have difficulty breathing (also spelt methemoglobinemia)
Methemoglobinemia
Methaemoglobin (methemoglobin) in the blood, cat may have difficulty breathing (also spelt methaemoglobinaemia)
Microchip
Small plastic chip containing a unique code inserted under the cats skin, if the cat becomes lost and is taken to an animal shelter or veterinary clinic, the cat can be identified and returned to its owner.
Microchipping
Inserting a small plastic chip under the cats skin, the microchip acts as a form of identification if the cat becomes lost
Miosis
Constriction of the pupil of the eye (small pupil)
Mitted
1) - any coloured cat with white paws
2) - Ragdoll cat with dark coloured points (face, paws, tail) and white front paws
Mittens
White paws on a coloured cat
Mixed Breed Cat
A household cat not conforming to any recognized pedigree breed, nor having any parent as a recognized breed
Mog
A household cat not conforming to any recognized pedigree breed, nor having any parent as a recognized breed
Moggie
A household cat not conforming to any recognized pedigree breed, nor having any parent as a recognized breed
Moggy
A household cat not conforming to any recognized pedigree breed, nor having any parent as a recognized breed
Moist Food
Kind of cat food that contains mainly water - canned food and cat rolls
Molt
Shedding of dead fur (also spelt moult)
Molting
Shedding of dead fur (also spelt moulting)
Monorchid
A male cat with only one descended testicle
Moult
Shedding of dead fur (also spelt molt)
Moulting
Shedding of dead fur (also spelt molting)
Mucous Membranes
Lips, gums, conjunctiva
Multi-cat Household
A house with at least three cats
Muscle Flaccidity
Loss of muscle tone, weakness, limps appear "floppy"
Muscle Tremors
Repetitive twitching of muscles
Muzzle
The jaws and mouth
Mydriasis
Dilation of the pupil of the eye (large pupil)


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References

Blood DC & Studdert VP, Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, Great Britain: W.B. Saunders & Co, 1999

Carlson DG & Giffin JM, Cat Owners Home Veterinary Handbook, New York: Howell Book House, 1995

Plunkett SJ, Emergency Procedures For The Small Animal Veterinarian, Spain: W.B. Saunders & Co, 2002


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