Warriors Wiki

Welcome to the Warriors Wiki! Want to edit and see less ads? Consider creating an account! Registered users will be able to edit pages, will only see ads on the main page, and more.

READ MORE

Warriors Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Warriors Wiki
"There's more to being a medicine cat than passing on messages from StarClan. StarClan won't tell you how to heal a wound or cure a chest infection. You have to learn that yourself. It takes hard work. And it's the most important thing you can do for your Clan. It may help you save a life one day."
Jayfeather to Alderpaw about healing in Thunder and Shadow, page 59
Injuries

Medicine cats use their knowledge and skill of herbs to treat their Clanmates from numerous ailments

Cats living in the wild often fall as victims to a number of diseases and injuries. It is the job of the Clan's medicine cat to treat these conditions.[1]

Diseases and conditions[]

Chest infections[]

Injuries

Chest infections may result in a prolonged cough

Whitecough and greencough are the most common chest infections known to the Clan cats. Whitecough is the milder form, but if untreated, it can develop into the much more severe greencough. Cats usually catch it during leaf-fall and leaf-bare, and sometimes it develops into large-scale epidemics. It can be fatal for elders and kits, and it has claimed the lives of many cats. It spreads quickly and is highly contagious.[2][3][4] Cats with greencough have white patches in their throat.[5]
Catmint is the most effective treatment for greencough. If fevers accompany the cough, tansy or borage is used as well.[4]

Poisoning[]

Disease

Morningflower and Darkfoot suffered intense belly pains after ingesting tainted water

Poisoning is the ingestion of a substance that causes harm to the body, such as:
  • Eating or drinking poisonous substances or plants such as deathberries. Kits are the ones who usually fall victim to this, being curious and unaware of the danger.[13]
  • Eating poisoned or rotten prey or drinking tainted water.[14]
  • Inhaling too much smoke from a fire.[15]
  • Being bitten by a venomous animal such as a snake.[16]
If only a small quantity of poison is ingested, the cat usually just receives a bellyache, but larger amounts can cause death. Medicine cats can induce vomiting with yarrow leaves to force their patients to expel ingested poison,[17] while mild bellyaches can be treated with watermint, chervil root, or juniper.[18][19] If a cat has been severely poisoned, they may become unconscious for a length of time.[17]

Rat borne infections[]

Littlepaw and Volepaw fighting off rats

Injuries from rats are prone to infection

The cats sometimes fall victim to infections carried by ill rats, such as the unnamed Carrionplace sickness from the Carrionplace. As ShadowClan cats sometimes ate the rats from the Carrionplace, they were prone to catch these diseases. This happens in Rising Storm, when two ShadowClan cats, Littlecloud and Whitethroat, come to ThunderClan for help because their Clan is in chaos from the deadly and contagious disease. Yellowfang sends them away because she doesn't want ThunderClan to become infected,[20] but Cinderpelt takes pity and helps them, eventually finding a cure through a combination of herbs.[21] Several cats die from the infection, including Nightstar and Cinderfur.[22][23] Burdock root is used to stop infection from rat bites.[24]

Loss of sensory perception[]

A cat may lose their eyesight or hearing due to old age as One-eye of ThunderClan did before her death,[25] or from accidents and infections,[26] or birth defects.[27] These conditions usually end their career as a warrior, as they cannot hunt or fight efficiently, and must retire as elders, such as Longtail.[28] Kits born with defects usually die young,[27] unless they have special skills compensating for it, like in Jayfeather's case.[29] Kits that are white with blue eyes have a higher chance of being born deaf, like Snowkit and Featherkit.[30]

Joint aches[]

A condition usually associated with elders, the joints gradually degenerating with age, causing pain and difficulty to move. Damp environments can cause the appearance of this condition, so apprentices must make sure that the moss they gather for bedding is completely dry. It is usually treated using daisy leaves or juniper berries.[31][32]

Toothache[]

A toothache is caused by a cracked tooth, cavities, or an infection in the mouth. Alder bark is used to soothe the pain.[33]

Fever[]

Fever is an abnormally high temperature of the body. It is not a disease in itself, but it usually signs the presence of an infection, such as greencough or an infected wound. If needed, it can be treated with feverfew[34] and borage.[35]

Chills[]

Chills are mostly associated with cold weather or being submerged in cold water for a long period of time. Although this condition is mild and is not a disease, it has claimed the life of Mosskit.[36] Kits and elders are more at risk of dying when they get a chill. Licking a cat's fur the wrong way gets the blood flowing again. Feverfew is a good remedy.[37]

Other diseases[]

Several other diseases were mentioned in the books; however, the cats do not have names for them. Examples include the conditions of Pebblefur,[38] Shellheart,[39] Tawnyspots,[40], Leopardstar,[41] Petalfall,[42][43] and Ravenpaw.[44]

Injuries[]

Wounds[]

Injuries

Foxes and badgers attacked a SkyClan night patrol, leaving several injured

Wounds are injuries when the skin and the muscles beneath are torn, cut, or punctured. They may put a cat's life in danger due to blood loss, infections, or the damage of the organs. Wounds are the most common injuries, due to the nature of the cats often fighting rival Clans, or enemy animals such as badgers, foxes, or dogs.[1]
Minor wounds heal on their own in no time, but severe wounds must be treated by a medicine cat. This treatment includes cleaning it thoroughly with the tongue, stopping the bleeding by pressing cobwebs or moss on it, and applying poultices to prevent infection and help it to heal. Herbs used in the poultices often include goldenrod,[45] marigold,[46] or in the case of rat bites, burdock root or wild garlic.[47][48] If the wound becomes infected, chervil or horsetail is used as well.[49][50] The pain can be eased with poppy seeds.[46]

Sprains[]

Injuries

Echosong treats Birdpaw's eye injury with a poultice and leaf

Sprains are injuries to ligaments of a joint, caused by being stretched beyond their normal capacity and possibly torn. It causes severe pain and decreased ability to move the joint. The cat must rest for several days.[51][52]

Joint dislocation[]

Joint dislocation is the displacement of a bone from its normal joint. Medicine cats treat this condition by first feeding the patient poppy seeds to make them sleepy so they don't feel it as much,[53] though they may not to keep the patient awake if they suffered head injuries.[54] Medicine cats then forcing the limb back into the joint and while it is very painful in the moment, it is temporary. The injured cat will be able to use their limb right after,[53] though the muscles may need time to heal properly if they were torn.[55] Medicine cats learn the placement of bone structures by studying prey skeletons.[54]

Cracked pads[]

The paw pads may crack while walking long distances on hard surfaces, or due to cold weather. Elders are especially prone to this condition. It is treated with a poultice of coltsfoot or yarrow.[46][56] Dock leaf poultices are also used to cool cracked pads.[57]

Broken bones[]

A broken bone is usually the result of an accident, such as falling down from a high place,[58]. Cats most often break their legs, and while medicine cats try to bind the bone with cobwebs or a stick and leaves making a makeshift cast, the injury usually results in the cat remaining disabled for the rest of their life. Only a few of these disabled cats survive, the best known being Cinderpelt.[59]
A more severe injury is when a cat breaks their backbone. This results in the cat being unable to feel or move parts of their body.[60] If the break is bad enough the cat will be killed on or shortly after impact.[60] Briarlight broke her backbone, and as a result, her back legs no longer functioned and she had no control over her bowel movements.[61] Wildfur also broke his backbone, and since he only sat in his nest all day, he got fluid in his lungs and eventually died from not exercising.[60]

Book mentions[]

Chest infections[]

Chest infections mentioned in the Warriors books come in three stages; whitecough, greencough and blackcough.

Poisoning[]

Rat borne infections[]

Loss of sensory perception[]

  • In Bluestar's Prophecy, Whitepaw is blinded in one eye after a fight with a badger.[105]
  • In Into the Wild, One-eye is described as being virtually blind and deaf due to old age.[106]
  • In Fire and Ice, Brokenstar is blinded by Yellowfang as punishment for his evil deeds.[107]
  • In A Dangerous Path, Snowkit is revealed to be deaf.[30] Although his mother tries to train him to be a warrior, he is taken away by a hawk.[27] Dappletail tells about her own first litter; one of her kits was born deaf, and later it disappeared, thought to be taken by a fox.[108]
  • In Firestar's Quest, Longtail is blinded after a rabbit scratches his eyes.[26]
  • In Leafpool's Wish, Jaykit is revealed to be blind.[109]
  • In Dark River, Rock is mentioned to be blind because of old age.[110]
  • In Hawkwing's Journey, Fallowfern is revealed to have lost her hearing.[111]
  • In Thunder and Shadow, Rain loses one of his eyes after challenging Darktail.[112]
  • In Squirrelflight's Hope, Millie is revealed to be nearly deaf because of old age.[113] Later, one of Strikestone's ears is shredded, making him deaf in one ear.[114]

Joint aches[]

  • In Forest of Secrets, Smallear's joints are stiff, and Yellowfang says they are the worst case she has seen in moons.[115]
  • In Midnight, Speckletail complains of aching joints due to damp weather.[116]
  • In Sunrise, Mousefur complains of aching joints due to a cold draft.[117]
  • In The Forgotten Warrior, Sorreltail has stiffness in her hip joints.[118]

Cracked pads[]

  • In Forest of Secrets, One-eye has cracked pads from the cold.[119]
  • In The Darkest Hour, Mistyfoot has sore, cracked pads.[120]
  • In Firestar's Quest, Firestar and Sandstorm get sore pads after walking on rocks.[121]
  • In Sunset, Goldenflower complains of cracked pads.[122]
  • In Sunrise, Purdy gets cracked pads from cold weather.[123]

Wounds[]

Joint dislocation[]

Broken bones[]

  • In The Sun Trail, Jagged Peak breaks a leg after falling out of a tree.[133]
  • In Moth Flight's Vision, Wind Runner breaks her leg in battle.[134]
  • In Crookedstar's Promise, Crookedkit breaks his jaw after falling off a rock.[135]
  • In Fire and Ice, Cinderpaw breaks a leg after being hit by a monster.[136]
  • In Dark River, Cinderpaw breaks the same leg Cinderpelt did from falling out of the Sky Oak,[137] but later recovers and earns her name in honor of her strength.[138]
  • In Fading Echoes, Briarlight's backbone is broken after being crushed by a falling tree,[139] but she survives and earns her warrior name.[140] Littlecloud mentions a ShadowClan cat, Wildfur, who also broke his backbone. However, he did not survive, as he got a chest infection.[60]
  • In Darkest Night, Snowbush breaks his leg after a rockslide occurs in the ThunderClan camp. However, he gets an infection from it, and dies afterwards.[141]
  • In Battles of the Clans and Cloudstar's Journey, Mousefang breaks her leg while fighting Amberclaw by jumping out of a tree.[142]

Trivia[]

Interesting facts[]

  • Whitecough and greencough are like a cough and pneumonia, respectively.[143]

Author statements[]

  • Greencough's original name was blackcough. The name was changed before publishing "Into the Wild", as it was thought that the new name reflected the disease better. Vicky stated that the mention of blackcough by Mothwing was an oversight on their part.[144]

Continuity[]

The following information is from sources considered non-canon or retconned.

See also[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, chapter 4
  2. Revealed in Fire and Ice, chapter 14
  3. Revealed in Fire and Ice, chapter 18
  4. 4.0 4.1 Revealed in Long Shadows, chapter 4
  5. Revealed in The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition, page 236
  6. 6.0 6.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 144
  7. Revealed in Moonrise, page 163
  8. Revealed in Moth Flight's Vision, chapter 17
  9. Revealed in Thunderstar's Echo, chapter 1
  10. Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, chapter 13
  11. Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, chapter 14
  12. Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, chapter 19
  13. Revealed in Twilight, page 172
  14. Revealed in Moonrise, page 250
  15. Revealed in Rising Storm, page 250
  16. Revealed in Sunrise, page 214
  17. 17.0 17.1 Revealed in The Darkest Hour, chapter 8
  18. 18.0 18.1 Revealed in Starlight, chapter 10
  19. Revealed in Starlight, chapter 11
  20. Revealed in Rising Storm, chapter 8
  21. Revealed in Rising Storm, chapter 11
  22. Revealed in Tigerclaw's Fury, chapter 4
  23. Revealed in Tigerclaw's Fury, chapter 7
  24. Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 260
  25. Revealed in Into the Wild, page 97
  26. 26.0 26.1 Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 30
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 95
  28. Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 105
  29. Revealed in Leafpool's Wish, chapter 10
  30. 30.0 30.1 Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 81
  31. Revealed in Midnight, chapter 18
  32. Revealed in Sunrise, chapter 9
  33. Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 84
  34. Revealed in Dark River, chapter 10
  35. Revealed in Twilight, page 201
  36. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 483
  37. Revealed in Spotfur's Rebellion, chapter 4
  38. Revealed in Code of the Clans, pages 68-69
  39. Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 404
  40. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 515
  41. Revealed on Vicky's Facebook (screenshot)
  42. Revealed in Cloudstar's Journey, chapter 4
  43. Revealed in Cloudstar's Journey, chapter 7
  44. Revealed in Ravenpaw's Farewell, chapter 10
  45. Revealed in Twilight, page chaper 8
  46. 46.0 46.1 46.2 Revealed in Forest of Secrets, chapter 4
  47. Revealed in Into the Wild, chapter 18
  48. Revealed in Midnight, chapter 21
  49. Revealed in Rising Storm, chapter 17
  50. Revealed in Midnight, chapter 8
  51. Revealed in Eclipse, chapter 12
  52. Revealed in Tallstar's Revenge, chapter 41
  53. 53.0 53.1 Revealed in Moonrise, page chaptr 24
  54. 54.0 54.1 Revealed in Leafpool's Wish, chapter 5
  55. Revealed in Sunset, chapter 3
  56. Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, chapter 4
  57. Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 128
  58. Revealed in Dark River, page 131
  59. Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 232
  60. 60.0 60.1 60.2 60.3 Revealed in Fading Echoes, page 168
  61. Revealed in Fading Echoes, pages 173-174
  62. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 507
  63. Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, pages 445-447
  64. Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 227
  65. Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 187
  66. Revealed in Rising Storm, page 110
  67. Revealed in Sunset, page 150
  68. Revealed in The Sight, page 7
  69. Revealed in The Sight, page 11
  70. Revealed in The Sight, page 323
  71. Revealed in Long Shadows, page 166
  72. Revealed in Long Shadows, page 239
  73. Revealed in Bramblestar's Storm, page 11
  74. Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, chapter 1
  75. Revealed in Sky, page 160
  76. Revealed in Sky, chapter 13
  77. Revealed in Code of the Clans, page 86
  78. Revealed in Code of the Clans, page 87
  79. Revealed in Code of the Clans, page 42
  80. Revealed in The First Battle, chapter 9
  81. Revealed in Path of Stars, chapter 24
  82. Revealed in Pinestar's Choice, chapter 2
  83. Revealed in Mapleshade's Vengeance, chapter 7
  84. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 262
  85. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 292
  86. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, chapter 2
  87. Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 85
  88. Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 294
  89. Revealed in Rising Storm, page 280 and 283
  90. 90.0 90.1 Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 113
  91. Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 95
  92. Revealed in Moonrise, page 166
  93. Revealed in Onestar's Confession, page 109
  94. Revealed in Moonrise, page 211
  95. Revealed in Twilight, chapter 10
  96. Revealed in Twilight, chapter 15
  97. Revealed in Sunrise, chapter 16
  98. Revealed in Sunrise, chapter 17
  99. Revealed in The Forgotten Warrior, chapter 19
  100. Revealed in The Raging Storm, chapter 12
  101. Revealed in Cats of the Clans, page 46
  102. Revealed in Starlight, page 313
  103. Revealed in Midnight, pages 249-268
  104. Revealed in Onestar's Confession, page 121
  105. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 55
  106. Revealed in Into the Wild, allegiances
  107. Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 268
  108. Revealed in A Dangerous Path, page 82
  109. Revealed in The Sight, pages 35-36
  110. Revealed in Dark River, page 3
  111. Revealed in Hawkwing's Journey, allegiances
  112. Revealed in Thunder and Shadow, page 317
  113. Revealed in Squirrelflight's Hope, chapter 2
  114. Revealed in Squirrelflight's Hope, page 151
  115. Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 160
  116. Revealed in Midnight, page 209
  117. Revealed in Sunrise, page 102
  118. Revealed in The Forgotten Warrior, page 59
  119. Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 45
  120. Revealed in The Darkest Hour, chapter 16
  121. Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 241
  122. Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 247
  123. Revealed in Sunrise, page 234
  124. Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 234
  125. Revealed in Dovewing's Silence, chapter 6
  126. Revealed in Dovewing's Silence, chapter 1
  127. Revealed in The Sun Trail, chapter 11
  128. Revealed in Moonrise, page 277
  129. Revealed in Twilight, page 288
  130. Revealed in Sunset, page 22
  131. Revealed in SkyClan's Destiny, pages 70-77
  132. Revealed in The Apprentice's Quest, page 103
  133. Revealed in The Sun Trail
  134. Revealed in Moth Flight's Vision, chapter 31
  135. Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 36
  136. Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 183
  137. Revealed in Dark River, page 103
  138. Revealed in Eclipse, pages 317-318
  139. Revealed in Fading Echoes, page 174
  140. Revealed in Fading Echoes, page 176
  141. Revealed in Darkest Night, page 261
  142. Revealed in Cloudstar's Journey, chapter 8
  143. Revealed in Erin Hunter Chat 3
  144. Revealed on Vicky's Facebook .
  145. Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 24
  146. Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, pages 65-66
  147. Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 71
Advertisement