Keeping your cat healthy is of utmost importance. Make sure vaccinations are up to date.
Infectious diseases in cats are caused by viruses, fungi, parasites or bacteria that your cat has picked up somewhere. The infection can be spread by bites from fleas and ticks or by a protozoan such as giardia or toxoplasmosis. They can be spread through direct or indirect contact or through airborne pathogens.
Cats rarely cough so if you do notice your cat coughing, it could be an inflammation of the respiratory tracts or bronchitis. Bronchitis may be caused by an infection caused by a virus or allergy or even an allergic reaction. Cats with bronchitis could have a mucus discharge from the nose. A simple cough may be alleviated with a teaspoon of honey but if this doesn’t work, or if your cat is running a temperature, a visit to the vet is advised. Keep your cat warm and away from drafts, the same as you would for a child. Pneumonia is when the lungs become inflamed, and is usually caused by an infection. This can lead to pronounced difficulty in breathing and must be treated as serious.
Another serious respiratory disease is feline asthma. This is caused by allergies to common substances such as pollen, mould, dust, smoke, chemical cleaning products used in the home or even things such as cat litter or moist air. In feline asthma, bronchial spasms make the bronchi tighten. This in turn causes swelling of the tissue surrounding the area which then turns into an asthmatic attack. And just like in humans, cats can have an exercise induced asthma attack. If you notice your cat wheezing after exercise or having trouble catching its breath, a visit to the vet is a good idea to either confirm or rule out feline asthma.
Another problem to be aware of is feline infectious anaemia. This is more common in male cats between one and three years old. The disease is caused by a micro-organism called hemobartonella felis which attaches to the surface of red blood cells and destroys them. As the red blood cells are destroyed, the cat then becomes anaemic. It is thought that this is transmitted during contact, usually a fight. Around one third of untreated cats will die. Symptoms can include a high temperature and pale gums, and the under-lid of the eye can be pale as well. Your vet can do a blood test to diagnose this.
Feline infectious peritonitis is the biggest cause of death in cats after panleukopenia. It can be very hard to diagnose as the signs can be non-specific. White blood cells are infected with the virus and the infected blood moves the virus throughout the cat’s body. The disease is almost always fatal.
Feline leukaemia virus is transmitted by transfer of saliva or nasal secretions from an infected cat to other cats. This can happen if cats share a water or feed bowl. If the newly infected animal is normally healthy, his immune system can kill the virus. However, it can be fatal. The feline leukaemia virus is not a cancer despite the ‘leukaemia’ name.
Cat flu is really a misnomer as cats don’t catch colds or flu the way we humans do. Cat flu is a general term used to describe problems with the upper respiratory tract. The most common cause is the feline herpes virus (FHV) or feline calicivirus (FCV). Generally, feline herpes virus is more severe than FCV. Cat flu is usually passed through an eye, nasal or mouth discharge. It can also be transmitted through contaminated feeding dishes or even contaminated bedding. FCV can live in the environment for a long time and is resistant to many popular disinfectants. As there are no drugs for viral infections, home care is the only way to treat them. Make sure your cat eats and drinks regularly to prevent dehydration. Cleaning the discharge with a soft cloth soaked in water is also necessary. Your vet may prescribe antibiotics to prevent any secondary infection occurring.
Some infectious cat diseases are preventable. Talk to your vet about vaccinating your cat or kitten. These vaccinations not only guard your cat against diseases, they also help stop the spread of these diseases to other cats. If your cat is kept indoors, it has less chance of becoming infected.
If you are at all concerned about your cat or kitten and want further information about diseases or vaccinations, Dr Jones’ *Veterinary Secrets Version 2 has some detailed information including some herbal and homeopathic remedies for many diseases.
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.
