More cats succumb from improper feeding when they are ill than from actual disease; or rather an incorrect diet aggravates disease.

In the first stages it is best to give a mild laxative, and no food for 12 or 24 hours, according to whether the patient is strong and robust, or young and delicate. In cases when the digestion is impaired, no solid food should be given; only the mildest kind of nourishment, such as Robinson's Patent Barley made with little or no milk, with a tablespoonful of lime-water added to each half-pint. In cases of high fever give the barley made without milk, instead of water to drink. It should be given quite cold, even iced, and made fresh twice a day.

When the patient is getting a little better some sweetened condensed milk may be used in the barley, and later a fresh raw egg added to each half-pint containing the lime-water. If the food cannot be retained on the stomach or causes dysentery give beef juice squeezed from fresh raw beef. To make this, take a cupful of lean raw beef which has been finely minced through a meat-chopper place it in a small basin and add about half a cup of water and two tablespoon-fuls of lime-water; stir well and allow to stand for twelve to twenty-four hours; then squeeze the meat in a piece of white muslin, expressing the juice. If the cat is very ill. use the juice weak at first and stronger later, adding less water. Feed with a rubber ear syringe at the side of the mouth if necessary.

Great care should be taken after a cat has suffered from severe internal trouble, when feeding anything solid. If you think your cat sufficiently recovered to need more nourishment, try a very little scraped raw beef: moisten with lime-water; if this agrees, more may be given in two hours: afterwards the meat may be finely minced several times through a meat-chopper and fed sparingly at first, three or four times a day. After all long illnesses a good raw meat diet and tonic should be given to build up the constitution, otherwise further complications, such as abscesses, etc., will follow from low condition.

Under no circumstances should cooked beef tea, stewed meat, cereals or cow's milk be given in any illness. One meal of such diet is more than likely to kill the patient.