Typical Cat Health Problems and Cures
There are many surprises to new cat owners, including that of the numerous health problems that are very common among most cats.
No matter what breed of cat you own, cat health is one of the major topics you will have to know about. With any breed certain problems are to be expected. Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented. Worms are a common and recurring problem for every breed of cat.
Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are among the most common that infect cats. Cats who have problems gaining weight, problems with fleas, or if you find white specks in his stool, you should have your vet test him for worms. Although they can be treated with medicine, worms can prove to be fatal if they are left untreated.
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. Sometims the stray hair will become a large ball and get caught in the cat’s digestive tract instead of passing through the stool. When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a hairball – as a popular cat owner manual confirmed recently. Although it can be rather disgusting in the end, most cats can dislodge hairballs without any problems. Hairballs may occasionally move through a cats intestine and block food from getting past.
Blockages should be taken very seriously, as they can be fatal if not treated promptly. If your cat becomes constipated, isnt 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 is also a common health problem with cats.
Pee hole infections happen more with boy cats that haven’t been fixed, but girl cats can have it too. This problem is usually the culprit when your cat(s) suddenly stops going to their litter box. If a cat’s urine smells unusually strong, the cat may have a urinary tract infection and should be taken to the vet. Your veterinarian can prescribe medicine to treat the problem, and can give you advice on avoiding the problem in the future.
Nowadays, vaccines are available to treat the disease, feline leukemia, which used to be the greatest cause of death in cats in the past. To treat the disease, your cat will need to be given the shot before he or she is exposed. Even though death doesnt 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 check ups. 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. If you take cat care seriously, take him to the vet and keep him healthy he will be your companion for years to come.
