Cats are wonderful pets and they are pretty self-sufficient. They clean themselves, have set litter boxes, have packaged cat food available, can live indoors, and generally get along well with everyone. They generally keep to themselves and can be the best companions for their people. Surprisingly, cats are great protectors as well and can very well fend off burglars and even protect you and your family from much bigger animals!
Nobody likes it when their family pet falls ill, but it happens. Both dogs and cats can get common infections like lower urinary tract disease and illnesses just like humans do. Small things like cuts, colds, and other minor medical issues keep coming up with animals. To avoid panicking, you should know some of the most common feline medical issues you’re likely to face as a cat owner.
It is important for cat owners to know about common issues so that you can recognize symptoms quicker and your cat can get medical attention quicker as well. The smallest of common issues can snowball into something bigger without timely intervention. Let’s find out some commonplace cat health issues!
Diabetes
Instances of obesity in cats, dogs, and humans have become common in recent years. While overweight or fat cat looks cute, obesity has a lot of side effects. One of the most dangerous side effects of obesity is diabetes. Diabetes can significantly affect a cat’s lifespan and can cut short his life too. It is a painful condition, and you should know common markers so you can take your cat in for a checkup as soon as possible.
If your cat is drinking more water than usual, then you should take note. It is a common symptom of a trend towards diabetes. Other symptoms are an increase in urine output, excessive food consumption, and a sudden loss in weight despite the increase in food. Diabetes is a treatable and manageable condition. Starting treatment early, especially before the chronic onset of the disease, significantly improves the prognosis.
Urinary Tract Infections Or UTIs
UTIs are a common infection when treating cats with diseases. You might have to treat your cat for multiple urinary tract infections throughout her life. This common cat health condition is especially dangerous for a male cat. If left untreated, it can cause urinary tract blockages in male cats which can be fatal.
Signs of urinary tract infection are crying or showing other, similar discomfort when urinating, urinating outside the litter box suddenly, and having blood in the urine. If you see these symptoms of urinary tract disease in your cat, you need to take your cat to the vet immediately. If you’ve noticed that your cat has been eating less, drinking more water, licking around the urinary tract area, and seems depressed, make an appointment with your vet so he or she can check it out and treat the underlying illness.
Ticks And Fleas
Ticks and fleas are the banes of all pet owners. Similar to lice in humans, ticks and fleas are small parasitic bugs that sit on the skin of the animal and drink their blood. The bacteria and viruses that enter the animal’s bloodstream when the fleas and ticks bite can cause a lot of problems.
Ticks, for example, can cause tick bite fever which can be fatal in both cats and dogs. Fleas put your cat at risk for anemia. Ticks are easier to spot than fleas because ticks are larger. Fleas are very small and they jump a lot, so it’s more difficult to spot them. If your cat is scratching himself excessively, has small black dots on his skin, has patches of red irritated skin, you should examine your pet thoroughly for an infestation. Inform your vet about this before taking in your cat to prevent the spread of the infestation.
Eye Problems
Keep an eye out for watery eyes, water stains on the fur around the eyes, and a visible third eyelid. Contact your vet immediately since treating infections around the eyes is a delicate matter and should be done as early as possible to avoid complications. Your vet is more than likely to give you simple treatment like an ointment for treating eye infections in cats. But it is better to be safe than sorry!
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Please note: this article has been provided only for informational purposes. If your cat is showing any signs of a disease, please contact your vet immediately.