THE FOUR MOST COMMON CAT HEALTH PROBLEMS.
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, health problems are to be expected. Some may be hereditary, while others can
easily be prevented.
Worms
No
matter what breed of cat it may be, worms are a very common and recurring
problem. Tapeworms, roundworms, and
hookworms are among the most common that infect cats. For cats who have problems gaining weight,
problems with fleas, or if you find white specks in their stool, you should have
your vet test them for worms. Although
they can be treated with medicine, worms can prove to be fatal if they are left
untreated.
Hairball
Hairballs
are the most common health problem for cats.
All cats groom themselves on a daily basis, normally swallowing the
loose hair that comes from their coats.
On occasion, this loose hair will gather into a ball and become lodged
in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cat’s stool. When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is
normally coughing up a hairball.
Although it can be rather disgusting in the end, most cats can dislodge
hairballs without any problems.
In
rare cases, a hairball can pass through to a cat’s intestine, creating a
blockage. Blockages are very serious
problems and can be life-threatening if they aren’t treated. If your cat becomes constipated, isn’t eating
properly, or has a very dull coat, he could have a blockage. If you notice any of these symptoms, you
should take him to the vet immediately.
You can prevent hairballs and blockages by brushing your cat 2 – 3 times
a week to remove loose hair. You can
also feed him food that is designed to control hairballs as well.
Urinary
tract infection
Urinary
tract infection is also a common health problem with cats. Urinary tract infection is more common with
male cats that haven’t been neutered, although females can suffer from this
problem as well. When a cat suddenly
stops going to his litter box, this problem is normally the cause. Another symptom is when the cat’s urine
starts to smell really strong. If you
suspect that your cat has a urinary tract infection, you should take him to the
vet. Your vet can treat the problem with
medicine, and make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future.
Feline
leukemia
In
the past, feline leukemia was the biggest cause of death in cats. These days, however, there are vaccines available that can treat the disease. To treat the disease, your cat will need to
be given a shot before he or she is exposed.
Even though death doesn’t 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 checkups. 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. You can also
keep your cat indoors as well, which will protect him from a majority of health
problems. If your cat is an outdoor cat,
regular visits to the vet will keep him healthy. As long as you take your cat to the vet and
keep him healthy – he will be your companion for years to come.
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