Common Health Issues in Cats: Keeping Your Feline Friend Healthy
A cat can make a wonderful companion. They can be there when you get home from work to greet you with meows, purrs and leg rubs. They can be the perfect friend for your child. They can even provide comfort in times of need. But when you bring a cat into your home, you are making a commitment. It’s like any other life that you look after. You must make sure that they are fit, healthy and well looked after. There are a few common health issues in cats that can negatively impact their health. If you know what they are, you’ll be able to handle them effectively.
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Fleas
Fleas, of course, can affect any animal, but they are particularly common in cats and far less preventable. To some extent, you can usually stop a dog from going where you don’t want it to. If you think an area is clean or unsanitary, you can call them back or shorten their lead. With cats, you can’t do this. Cats will go out wherever they want, with or without you. They don’t go on walks with their human counterparts like dogs; they go exploring by themselves. That means if they do go somewhere where they could get fleas, you may not even know. But you should always keep an eye out for the signs of fleas. The main signs are constant scratching and red, irritated skin. Cats might also start to lose their fur due to trying to bite the fleas. Luckily, fleas are treatable. You can get a spray or a topical medication from your vet that will stop them wanting to make a home on your furry feline.
Tapeworm
Another one of the most common health issues found in cats is one that is particularly unpleasant: tapeworms. Tapeworms. Tapeworms are typically caused by a cat swallowing a flea. Once hatched, the worms wrap themselves around your cat’s intestine and can grow up to two feet long! They cause vomiting as well as weight loss. The clearest sign that your cat has a tapeworm is by checking the feces. Small white dots like rice point to this issue and you’ll need to take your cat to a vet. Often the vet will want you to bring a sample of the animals feces, as well. Treatment can be expensive so it’s best to make sure you take it out of your insurance policy. If you don’t have insurance, you can look at different policies online. There, you’ll be able to check them out by price and coverage.
Eye Problems
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Eye issues are another one of the most common health issues in cats, and usually these type problems mean you’ll need to take your pet to see the vet. The problem with eye issues is that they tend to slowly get worse. Without treatment, an eye issue for your cat could leave them completely blind. Treatment can range from eye drops like humans often use, or it could mean a complete surgical procedure. It all depends on the severity of the issue. However, your best bet is to head to the vet at the first signs of any type of eye issue.
FLUTD
As many as 3 percent of all cats suffer from FLUTD. FLUTD, or Feline Urinary Tract Disease, is a collection of a few different issues in cats. In general, it causes them extreme discomfort and again, it needs to be treated as soon as possible. Signs can including crying when urinating or even blood in the urine. If your cat is struggling to urinate, this is an emergency. You need to call the vet immediately before the condition worsens.
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Cats provide a plethora of love and companionship, and with a little bit of care, you can keep your cat around for years. Keeping an eye out for some of these common health issues in cats, will go a long way in ensuring that your beloved feline remains happy and healthy!