9 Best Natural Antibiotics for Cats

When your cat becomes ill due to a bacterial infection, a wound or an abscess, you’ll probably take her to the vet for checkup and treatment.

Other times, you choose to give her antibiotics for her condition. Unknown to many people, the type of antibiotic you choose really determines the quality of health of your cat going forward.

On one side are synthetic antibiotics, and on the other are the natural ones. Here’s why you should opt to help your feline friend with natural antibiotics.

Best natural antibiotics for cats

Due to these main benefits above, you are better off treating your pets’ bacterial infections with nature’s gifts. Here are 9 best natural antibiotics for cats.

1. Thyme

With antimicrobial, expectorant and antispasmodic properties, thyme works greatly in dealing with cough-related issues such as bronchitis (chronic and acute versions), and asthma. It is also a remedy for slow digestion and stomach ache.

Externally, thyme is a strong antiseptic used widely in treating wounds.

2. Chamomile

This is a herb with various health properties such as being carminative, antispasmodic and sedative. By carminative, it means that it relieves the pain and gas in the stomach.

3. Licorice

Licorice finds use as an anti-inflammatory remedy given its properties. It is also antimicrobial in nature as it inhibits the growth of bacteria and viruses in the body.

Vet officers often recommend licorice as an adaptogen as it aids the body systems to return to their normal states.

4. Yarrow

Yarrow can be used both internally and externally. Internally, the drug helps the body deal with poor digestion, an upset stomach, and the functions of the liver. It also helps in treating viral infections such as those that cause fevers and colds.

Externally, it treats wounds of all kinds by disinfecting the affected area and speeding up the healing process.

5. Mints

Mints have a calming effect on the cat’s gastrointestinal tract without any side effects. The list of mints is a long one although they all have one purpose which is stated above. The two most common mints are spearmint (Mentha spicata) and peppermint (Mentha piperita).

6. Bee Propolis

Bee propolis has many different nutrients and useful substances such as polyphenols, amino acids and natural steroids which give it many antibiotic properties.

It finds use in treating tumors, parasitic infections, candidiasis, dermatitis, herpes simplex, skin blemishes, treatment of burns, healing of wounds, respiratory infections, colds and other ailments.

7. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

This is another antibiotic with a wide array of uses given its properties.

Calendula boasts of having antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral properties which make it effective for use in cases involving multiple infections. Besides that, it quickens the healing process of wounds.

Calendula also finds use as a liver stimulant and general tonic in the pet’s body.

8. Manuka honey

Manuka honey comes from the pollen and nectar of the Manuka tree which is native to New Zealand. Like all types of honey, Manuka honey has antibiotic, disinfectant and antiseptic properties that can be easily harnessed.

What makes this type of honey special is the so-called Unique Manuka Factor (UMF).

This is simply the relatively higher antibacterial quality found in this honey compared to the rest. As such, the honey is preferred over others for treating skin conditions, ulcers and abscesses, wound healing and feline diabetes.

9. Goldenseal

Goldenseal has berberine as an ingredient hence the substance has both antibiotic and immunostimulatory qualities. It works against a large number of fungi and bacteria.

It is great for use in cases of inflammation in which the mucous membrane is affected. Besides that, it works great in dealing with liver and gastrointestinal issues.

While buying this product, ensure you go for the organic goldenseal to reap all the right benefits of this drug. It is a product hard to find but closely substituted with the Oregon grape root (Mahonia aquifolium).

Before putting to use any of these substances as natural antibiotics for your cat, you need to have the vet’s approval first. While they have mild or no side effects, they may affect different cats in different ways.

Benefits of going natural for your pet

Before detailing the best natural antibiotics your cat needs, it ought to be known that natural home remedies (antibiotics in this case) have some advantages over their synthetic counterparts due to various reasons. Your choice of natural antibiotics will be based on the following facts:

• First of all, synthetic antibiotics are meant to kill the disease-causing organisms indiscriminately. That means, when used, they will kill off some of the healthy microorganisms in the body. As such, using these antibiotics weakens the body of the cat over time given that their use will also lead to the killing of germ-fighting cells.
• Secondly, drug-resistant disease strains are ever on the rise since the inception of synthetic antibiotics. Most notable is the fact that most of the diseases mutate faster than the science field can produce drugs that kill them off. The result is that, with the continued use of synthetic antibiotics, there is a major possibility that some of the diseases your cat suffers from will not have drugs that are strong enough to treat them in future.
• Thirdly, the continued use of synthetic antibiotics harms the environment in various ways one of which is that once used in treating diseases, the medicines find their way into food and water supplies thus creating more and more drug-resistant pathogens.
• Lastly, natural feline antibiotics can be put to various uses. A single antibiotic, as shall be seen in the following sections, treats an array of diseases hence advantageous when compared to synthetic antibiotics which are mostly single-purpose medicines.

What problems can natural antibiotics be used for?

Most natural antibiotics have been formulated to treat the rolling issues in cats:

Hyperthyroidism

The high concentration of B complex vitamins in royal jelly allows it to stimulate metabolism leading to the correction of hyperthyroidism in your cat.

Wounds

Wounds can be treated with most natural antibiotics which have antiseptic properties such as honey. Besides that, the medicines help the wound to heal faster than if it was left to heal naturally.

Among the most used products are aloe vera jelly and arnica.

Stunted growth

If your young cat is growing rather slower than its age mates, it may be time to try out chlorella which is a form of algae growing in fresh water. It works by stimulating the immune system and growth hormones.

Abscesses

Abscesses are swollen areas in the body often containing pus. With the right antibiotic, they can easily be treated.

Fleas and mites

Vinegar works as a great pesticide for cats with mites and fleas being eliminated with a sprinkle of this product.

UTI

While not common, urinary tract infections in cats, just like in human beings, need treatment using the appropriate antibiotics.

Identifying the symptoms of the specific UTI is paramount in choosing the right antibiotic for the issue at hand.

Fatigue and old age

When your cat gets old or is frequently fatigued, one of the best natural solutions to turn to is none other than bee pollen.

Loaded with more essential nutrients than any other natural product, your cat will be up and jolly in no time with a dose of it.

Eye infections

Various eye infections in cats can be easily treated with the right natural antibiotics especially when identified early enough.

Among the most favored natural antibiotics for treating the eyes are borage and calendula.

Digestive problems

Most common digestion disorders can be done away with using the right natural antibiotics. For instance, slippery elm powder eases indigestion and constipation while eliminating food impurities.

Aloe vera extracts also work well in improving the general digestion of the cat. Pumpkin can also be used for the same purpose as it helps to restore normalcy in bowel movements.

Tooth infections and bad breath

One of the products used for the treatment of tooth infections, bad breath and general mouth diseases in cats is aloe vera. Toothpaste made of aloe vera is used for both cats and dogs (and other pets) with excellent results in all cases.

The use of aloe vera may, however, affect some pets due to the latex in the ingredients. As such, only go for the toothpaste without latex as an ingredient.

Bee propolis is also widely used in the treatment of mouth diseases caused by bacteria. As an antibiotic with antibacterial properties, this remedy is also great for treating bad breath in your pet.

Chlorella has significant amounts of magnesium which makes it very effective in combating bad odor and bad breath in pets.

Another antibiotic by the name of sage, which belongs to the labiate (mint) family, is used in the treatment of bad breath, the health of teeth, liver conditions, neuralgia, and rheumatism.

Kidney and liver problems

Lycium is used widely in treating liver and kidney problems in cats owing to a large amount of amino acids it contains. Besides that, it has healing qualities for vision and hearing problems. It has also been used in improving the circulation of pets.

Allergies

When mixed in food, Ginko Biloba works as a very effective anti-inflammatory remedy while also inhibiting hypersensitivity and bronchial constriction. Other allergic reactions are also suppressed with the use of this antibiotic in cats.

Intestinal parasites

Intestinal parasites such as worms can be eliminated in cats and other pets using garlic added to food. Given its taste, few cats can eat garlic in its natural form.

Respiratory infection

Respiratory infections can be remedied with the use of a mixture of Apple cider vinegar and distilled water. It works to give relief to the cat with continued use.

Besides these problems, natural antibiotics have been used in treating burns, obesity, birth problems, shock, skin issues, stud tail, travel sickness, and many others with high levels of effectiveness.

Is it safe to give cats homemade antibiotics?

The fact that most homemade antibiotics, being natural, have little to no side effects does not mean that they can be given whenever you feel like it. They too, like their synthetic medications, have side effects due to an overdose.

While it is safe to give cats these products, a proper diagnosis needs to be carried out to know exactly what the cat is suffering from and the best solution to the issue. Otherwise, you may be treating a nonexistent problem in your cat.