Cats are truly beautiful but do come with responsibility.
If you are a novice or new cat owner, there are some common cat health problems that you should be aware of. Don’t be alarmed or worried, none of them are serious on their own, just things to keep an eye out for so they don’t develop into a problem. This beautiful cat appears to be in optimum health with bright wide eyes, alert expression and upright ears.
Probably the most common house cat health problem is hairballs, especially in long haired cats. Because cats are such clean and fastidious creatures, they wash or groom themselves regularly, often more than once a day. Cats shed a lot of hair and often it is swallowed during grooming. Sometimes the hair will clump into a ball and lodge in the digestive tract instead of passing through the normal way and being excreted. The only way he (or she) can get it out is by coughing it up, not a pleasant sound and frequently they’ll bring up some food or bile as well. Usually cats can remove hairballs without any intervention from us however if your cat continues coughing for more than a couple of hours and doesn’t appear happy or hungry, it might be wise to check with the vet to see if a hairball has caused an obstruction. Regular brushing by you will help remove most loose hair and will also provide a bonding time for you both. There is something really soothing in brushing a relaxed purring cat.
Hebe scratching. Fleas can be a problem.
One problem that I can almost guarantee every domestic cat owner will face one day is fleas. This is not to say that you aren’t looking after your cat properly, fleas can come from just about anywhere. They are great at jumping from one animal to another then irritating the new host. If you notice your cat scratching more often than usual, especially if it is in the same area, check for fleas. They are small black oval creatures and they bite. They also move around the animal’s body a great deal so the movement will also cause scratching. Check with your vet regarding treatment and try to get something non-chemical. You don’t really want to put chemicals on your cat’s tender skin or introduce them into your home. There are quite a few herbal remedies out there so also check your local pet shop or health food store. Cats can cause damage to their skin by continuous scratching at fleas. Be aware that when you do treat your cat, it will become agitated for a time and scratch more as the fleas try to escape the treatment.
Worms in house cats are another problem that seems to occur often. The main culprits are roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms. If your cat seems to eat a lot but doesn’t put on weight and always seems hungry, check the faeces for either white flecks or the actual worms. This one does require a trip to the vet to see which type of worm your cat has and the best method of treating it. Left untreated, it could be fatal. Again, try to find a natural remedy if possible.
If your cat hasn’t been spayed or neutered, they could be vulnerable to urinary tract infections. This is another good reason to have your cat spayed or neutered – apart from preventing unwanted kittens, it can help reduce the vet bills. Symptoms of UTI’s include not quite making it to the litter box or outside before urinating or stopping using the litter box completely, and very strong smelling urine. This is another one for the vet to sort out so organize the operation at the same time.
It is a good idea to have your cat checked out by the vet at least once a year. You have your yearly medical check-up and so should your pets. Vaccinations should always be kept up to date to prevent outbreaks of cat flu or feline leukemia. Keeping a close eye on your pet should help prevent any cat health problems before they become troublesome for you and your pet. Why not invest in Veterinary Secrets Revealed, which has been written by a vet who has practiced Veterinary Medicine for over a decade. I’m sure it will soon become a valuable resource that could save you a good deal of money.
Tags: cat, cat neutering, cat spaying, cat vaccinations, cat worms, domestic cats, feline leukemia, fleas, hair balls, health problems, house cats, urinary tract infections
My cat Beauty is a female calico short haired cat. She isn’t eating as much as she normally does and her tongue is always sticking out now and she makes a clicking noise in her throat like she is trying to swallow all the time. Is there something wrong with her?
Hi Aimee
Is Beauty still drinking enough water? Perhaps she has a fur ball or some hair lodged in her throat? Try giving her some gentle feline laxatives and if this doesn’t work take her to the vet just to be on the safe side.
Kathy
[...] from injuries through fighting, your cat can also pick up diseases and other unwanted items such as fleas from associating with other [...]
My little 3 month old cat passing her faeces at various places in the house sometimes, although a small round plastic tray is provided. Please tell me how to train her only to use this tray.
Regards.
Salauddin Kazi
Hi Salauddin,
You need to train her to use the tray. As soon as she wakes up and straight after each meal take her to the tray and stay with her till she defecates. Then praise her and stroke her. It will take some time but she will learn to use the tray. It is a matter of patience.
Kathy
My cat Shamu was fixed about 2 weeks ago and is up to date on all her shots, but a few days ago she seemed to be getting sick and now she wont stop sneezing and wheezing.She doesnt have as much energy and her nose seems to be irritating her. What is this?
Hi Amy
I wonder if this is a delayed reaction to the operation. It has been known to happen. If she is unwell she won’t have much energy. Could the sneezing be hay fever? If her nose appears to be irritating her, check to see if there is something stuck there. She may have picked up a small prickle or a dustball or hairball from under some furniture. If it doesn’t clear up in a day or two, ring your vet just in case. Congratulations on having Shamu spayed and inoculated. I wish all cat owners did this. Let me know how you go.
Shamu is fine! I took her to the vet and it turned out she had a fever and a cold from the weather so I got her medicine andnow shes great!Thenks!
That’s great Amy.
my cat has been showing signs of nesting and her stomache is warmer than usual, she is looking for a few more places to nest too she is eating alot more, i think she is pregnant but she isnt gaining any waight is this phantom??????? xxx
Hi Amy,
Some cats are naturally slim, like us. I’ve never heard of phantom pregnancies in cats so it looks like you may be hearing the patter of tiny feet. Let me know how she goes.
Kathy
I HAVE TWO 7 MONTH OLD KITTIES I HAVE HAD SINCE THEY WERE 4 MONTHS. THEY ARE GOING TO BE INDOOR KITTIES AND I WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD OUTDOOR KITTTIES,3 LIVING TO19 TO 20 YEARS OLD. I WOULD APPRECIATE INFO REGARDING WHAT I CAN DO
TO KEEP THEM HAPPY.DO LEASES WORK FOR KITTIES? I HAVE CLIMBING HOUSE, AND SEVERAL OTHER TOYS FOR THEM. THEY PLAY IN A SCREEENED IN GARAGE WITH CARPETING AND IN THE HOUSE. THEY ALSO SIT IN WINDOWS. I FEEL SORRY FOR THEM, NOT LETTING THEM OUTDOORS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE FENCED IN YARD. ONE OF THEM CLIMBED THE FENCE AND UP A TREE AND I HAD TO PAY SOMEONE TO FETCH HEER. I AM AFRAID THEY WOULD GET LOST IN THE WOODS.
Hi Lauraine,
It sounds as if you are providing enough entertainment for your kittens. Is it possible to open a window to let fresh air in but not allowing the cat to get out? This will allow them to smell the outside and get fresh air. You can leash train a kitten, there is an article about this on the website. Make sure they have plenty of toys to play with and play with them yourself whenever you can. My cat Asha is an indoor cat while my previous two were allowed outdoors. She does come out with me but stays close. She is also clicker trained so if she gets out and I can’t find her, I use the clicker an she comes running. There are videos on clicker training on the From the Web page.
Hope this helps you, please ask if you have more questions.
Kathy
I have a male cat about 4 years old that I got from SAFE a rescue group in VA. We were advised from the start that he has a delicate digestion and they recommended Avoderm to eat and Proplan which he only gets about 1/2 or less a can daily. This cat still barfs a lot. Sometimes it is actually food looking but more often it looks more like spittle.
Recently, he received an antibiotic from the vet to take for 10 days for an unrelated minor injury. Interestingly, once it got into his system, he didn’t throw up for an entire week. After he was of the antibiotic, he began throwing up again. Does this tell us anything helpful?? I’m getting so tired of cleaning up the carpets. I would love to find a way to stop this problem.
Hi Marji,
I would talk to your vet about the active ingredients in that antibiotic. Also tell him/her about what happened when your cat was on that antibiotic. It might be worth finding out if your cat can take it long term, perhaps alternate days, or perhaps something less expensive. I feel for you cleaning the carpet.
Please let me know how this goes.
Kathy