Common Cat Health Problems
Posted by GuestW on Dec 29, 2008 in Cats • No comments
If you are new to owning a cat, you may be surprised to find that health problems are a common thing.
No matter what breed of cat you own, cat health is one of the major topics you will have to know about. There are certain problems with every breed, some of which may be hereditary, but there are also certainly others than can be prevented easily. No matter what breed of cat it may be, worms are a very common and recurring problem.
Some of the most typical worms to infect cats are tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms. Cats who have problems gaining weight, problems with fleas, or if you find white specks in his stool, you should have your vet test him for worms. Worms have been proven to be fatal if not treated correctly, so always remember to use the medicine prescribed.
Hairballs are the most common health problem for cats. Cats often swallow loose hair from their coats during their daily self grooming rituals. Loose hair, on occasion, will gather into a ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cats stool. When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a hairball – as a popular cat owner manual confirmed recently. Although it is kind of gross, cats can usually get rid of the hairballs without difficulty. Hairballs may occasionally move through a cats intestine and block food from getting past.
Blockages are very serious problems, and can be life threatening if they arent treated. If your cat becomes constipated, isnt eating properly, or has a very dull coat, he could have a blockage. Seek veterinary assistance immediately if any of the symptoms listed appear.
If you want to prevent your cat from getting hairballs and blokages, you should get rid of shedding hair by brushing your cat 2 to 3 times every week. You can also feed him food that is designed to control hairballs as well. Urinary tract infection is also a common health problem with cats.
Female and male cats can suffer from urinary tract infections, however, this is more likely to occur in male cats that have not been neutered. When a cat suddenly stops going to his litter box, this problem is normally the cause. If a cat’s urine smells unusually strong, the cat may have a urinary tract infection and should be taken to the vet. Your vet will supply you with the proper medicine, and give recommendations on how to avoid this issue in the future.
Feline leukemia was the biggest cause of death in cats in the past, however, these days, vaccines are available that can treat the disease. To treat the disease, your cat will need to be given the shot before he or she is exposed. Even though death doesnt happen immediately, cats that are exposed to feline leukemia normally don’t have a long life span. If you know your cat has feline leukemia, you should never allow other cats around him, as the virus is highly contagious.
To protect your cat, you should always make sure that you take him to the vet for his regular check ups. If you keep him up to date on his vaccinations, he should lead a healthy and productive life. Although some health problems can’t be avoided, most of them can. If you take cat care seriously, take him to the vet and keep him healthy he will be your companion for years to come.
