Typical Cat Health Problems and Cures
If you are new to owning a cat, you may be surprised to find that health problems are a common thing.
No matter what breed of cat you own, cat health is one of the major topics you will have to know about. There are certain problems with every breed, some of which may be hereditary, but there are also certainly others than can be prevented easily. Worms are a common and recurring problem for every breed of cat.
Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are among the most common that infect cats. There are several symptoms that indicate your cat may require testing for worms including trouble gaining weight, fleas, or white specks in his stool. Worms have been proven to be fatal if not treated correctly, so always remember to use the medicine prescribed.
Hairballs are the most common health problem for cats. Cats clean themselves every day, and they swallow the hair that they shed. 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 is kind of gross, cats can usually get rid of the hairballs without difficulty. Although rare, a hairball can occassionally become lodged in the cats intestines, this creates blockage.
Blockages are very serious problems, and can be life threatening if they arent treated. Not eating properly, having a dull coat, and blockage are three factors that could lead to your cat being constipated. Seek veterinary assistance immediately if any of the symptoms listed appear.
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.
Female and male cats can suffer from urinary tract infections, however, this is more likely to occur in male cats that have not been neutered. This is the normal cause as to why a cat stops using the litter box. One symptom that your cat may have a UTI is strong smelling urine, and if this symptom is there they need to go to the vet. Your vet can treat the problem with medicine, and make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future.
In the past, feline leukemia was the biggest cause of death in cats. These days however, there are vaccines available that can treat the disease. 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.
