Cat Diseases
The best way to keep your cat healthy is to keep yourself informed. If you know the warning signs and the symptoms of common cat diseases you can help to prevent your cat from becoming sick. Deciding whether your cat has an illness can be difficult since they can’t verbally communicate how they are feeling to you. Usually the easiest way to determine whether your cat is sick or not is by noticing changes in their daily habits.
The most common illnesses that cats and kittens suffer from are: urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, feline distemper, chronic kidney failure, and diabetes. All of these have different symptoms and it’s important for a cat owner to know these symptoms so they can better identify when their cat is ill. Most of the above mentioned illnesses are related to viruses, which means they are transmitted from cat to cat. It is important to have a new cat checked before bringing it into a home where there is already an indoor cat. Kidney failure and diabetes are not viral related and both are incurable; however with the proper treatments cats with these diseases can live happy lives.
Another very common issue with cats is fleas. Not only are fleas annoying to your cat and cause them to scratch uncontrollably, they can also cause several diseases if they are left untreated. Anemia and tapeworm are just two of the diseases that can be the result of an untreated flea condition. Keeping a cat free of fleas not only keeps them more comfortable but also keeps them healthier.
It is very important to understand that many of the diseases previously mentioned can mimic each other and it is often difficult for a non professional to properly diagnose their cat. Before starting a home remedy for your cat, it is best to get a professional diagnosis from your veterinarian to avoid worsening your cat’s illness.
It can be scary to find out that your cat has an illness, mostly because we are unfamiliar with cat diseases and the symptoms of these diseases. Informing yourself of the signs and symptoms of common feline illnesses can help you to better cope if and when your cat gets sick. It is also important to understand that many common illnesses if left untreated can eventually be fatal to your cat so if your cat appears to be ill, seek medical attention immediately. There are two very big ways to help ensure your cats health, first is to keep your cat indoors and second, to get your cat vaccinated regularly.