6 Common Cat Health Problems

Photo credit: Bigstockphoto
Photo credit: Bigstockphoto

Unlike dogs that will try to exhibit obvious signs of distress, cats tend to remain silent despite being in pain. Cats are usually independent; they are able to care for themselves with little help. However, all cat owners should determine what type of sickness their pets are vulnerable to. Today, we are listing down six of the most common cat health problems that pet owners should know:

Lower Urinary Tract Infection

Is your cat straining to urinate? Does he lick his genital area excessively? Is there is blood in his urine? All these symptoms could point to urinary tract infection. Lower urinary tract infection in cats is quite common and may affect the animal’s bladder and urethra. If you see symptoms that may point to this condition, take your pet to a veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis.

Heartworm

Heartworm usually affects dogs but there are cases wherein cats became the host for heartworm. Symptoms for heartworm disease include respiratory problems and excessive vomiting. Other times, there are no symptoms at all that is why regular visits to the vet are important. Fortunately, the ever-resilient cats are able to fight heartworm on their own. But in severe cases, we recommend asking your vet for medication to prevent inflammation.

Kidney Problems

Cats have extremely sensitive kidneys. Many things—including infection, toxin buildup, kidney stones, or even cancer—could cause kidney problems in cats. Apart from having an endless supply of fresh, clean drinking water, it’s important to keep track of the kind of food you feed your pet to prevent kidney problems. Symptoms of kidney disease in cats include radical weight loss, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and lethargy.

Fleas

Fleas are pests that feed off your pet’s blood. Symptoms include incessant scratching, bald patches, and hair loss. In severe cases, flea infestation in cats could result in infections.

Fortunately, flea infestation is easy to treat but you have to be careful with the kind of flea-control products you use for cats. Cats are sensitive to pesticides and chemicals. So choose treatments that are mild and especially formulated for cats.

Tapeworm

Tapeworm is a parasitic worm that lives in your cat’s small intestines. Tapeworm not only robs your cat of nutrients from the food he eats, the worm could also grow a couple of feet long. Symptoms that might point to tapeworm infection could include weight loss and vomiting. Check your cat’s feces and anus for white worms. Usual treatment for tapeworm infection includes oral medicine, topical medication, or injection.

Diarrhea and Vomiting

If your cat experiences vomiting and diarrhea, it could mean he ate something that doesn’t agree with them or he ate his food way too quickly. This is a common occurrence in cats. If that’s the case, keep your cat hydrated and feed him bland foods to prevent stomach irritation.

However, excessive vomiting and diarrhea with bloody or black stools could indicate internal bleeding or an underlying disease. If such is the case, rush your cat to the vet immediately.