Common Health Problems Of Cats

If you are new to owning a cat, you might not be able to tell when your cat is sick. Cats tend to hide their symptoms, which is probably due to survival instinct. You can avoid not knowing by providing your cat with routine medical attention and keeping an eye out for the common health problems of pet cats.

Worms

Worms are a very common and recurring problem in cats. Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are the most common ones that infect cats. If your cat has a problem gaining weight, trouble with fleas, or if you find white specks in his stool, you should have your vet test him for worms. Being parasites that feed on your cat’s nutrients, worms can prove to be fatal if they are left untreated.

Hairball

All cats groom themselves on a daily basis, normally swallowing the loose hair that comes from their coats. On occasion, this loose hair gathers into a ball and gets 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. It can be off-putting to watch, but don’t worry, most cats can dislodge hairballs without any problems.

In rare cases, a hairball can move 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.

Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection is more common in 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, it is a symptom of this. Extreme odors of your cat’s urine is another symptom. If you suspect that your cat has a urinary tract infection, take him to the vet as soon as possible. It is also important to monitor your cat during the treatment to ensure that the problem doesn’t recur.

Feline leukemia

Feline leukemia is a tragic and fatal disease that is responsible for many cat deaths worldwide every year, and it it highly contagious. It might be advisable to consider a vaccination if your cat is going to be allowed to roam freely outside and interact with other cats. While there is no cure if you cat is diagnosed with it, you can prolong a his chances, by keeping him indoors, monitoring his diet and scheduling regular check ups.

Keeping your cat indoors is one way of making sure he isn’t exposed to infections and disease. If your cat likes the outdoors, however, it would do him good if you take him to the vet for routine medical check-ups and keep him up-to-date on his vaccinations. Some health problems cannot be prevented, but most of them can. If you raise a healthy pet, you are sure to have a lovely companion for many years to come.