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Cat Health Problems And Simple Things You Should Know.
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, health problems are to be expected. Some may
be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented.
Worms
No matter what breed of cat it may be, worms are a very
common and recurring problem. 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.
Hairball
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.
On occasion, this loose hair will gather into a ball and become
lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cat’s
stool.
When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a
hairball. Although it can be rather disgusting in the end, most cats
can dislodge hairballs without any problems.
In rare cases, a hairball can pass through to a cat’s intestine, creating a blockage.
Blockages are very serious problems, and can be life threatening if
they aren’t treated. If your cat becomes constipated, isn’t 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
Urinary tract infection is also a common
health problem with cats. Urinary tract infection is more common with
male cats that haven’t been neutered, although females can suffer from
this problem as well.
When a cat suddenly stops going to his litter box, this problem is
normally the cause. Another symptom is when the cat’s urine starts to
smell really strong.
If you suspect that your cat has a urinary tract infection, you
should take him to the vet. Your vet can treat the problem with
medicine, and make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the
future.
Feline leukemia
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 doesn’t 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.
You can also keep your cat indoors as well, which will protect him from
a majority of health problems.
If your cat is an outdoor cat, regular visits to the vet will keep
him healthy. As long as you take your cat to the vet and keep him
healthy – he will be your companion for years to come.
Tags: Cat Health and Care Cat Health Cat Health Problems And Simple Things You Should Know cat health problem feline leukemia problems |
