Urinary Problems And Your Pet’s Cat Health Care
Urinary problems are a major cause of cat health care problems. Some illnesses, undesirable behaviours and diseases that we see most often in our feline friends are related to urinary problems. The more serious urinary problems in cats include Cystitis, or Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, spraying and renal failure.
Cystitis and FLUTD are umbrella terms used to describe the cat health care problem of inflammation in the urinary bladder. The symptoms include irritation and inflammation affecting urination, an increase in the frequency of urination and the urgency of it, general difficulty urinating and evidence of blood in the urine. The causes and triggers of this cat health care problem are varied but this problem is often triggered when food causes urinary crystals to form bladder stones. Furthermore, overweight cats are commonly affected because they are more prone to developing cat health care problems generally. This problem can be easily treated by a vet.
Spraying, on the other hand, is more often thought of as a problematic behaviour than a cat health care issue. When male cats are eight or nine months old they will become more territorial and exhibit new behaviours. He will begin spraying strong smelling urine around your house to mark his territory. It can be very hard to get rid of the smell. This behaviour goes hand in hand with other typical male cat behaviour such as fighting, which can lead to cat health care problems, so it advisable to have a male cat neutered before this age to avoid these problems.
Renal disease is a cat health care problem which is particularly prevalent in middle aged and older cats. This is partly because of the way cats’ kidneys work so hard because of the concentration of their urine and the infrequency with which they pass urine. It is therefore not uncommon for the kidneys of older cats to begin to fail. Renal failure causes cats to drink and urinate more and in serious cases, vomiting bile, appearing disorientated and losing weight are not uncommon. The causes of this particular cat health care problem can also be varied, including cancer, infections, ingestion of toxins or, sadly, old age.
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This post was written by admin on July 30, 2010
Obesity And Cat Health Care
One of the most serious threats to cat health care at present is obesity. More cats than ever before are obese and the result is increased incidence of serious cat health care problems. Unfortunately, obesity in cats creates a cycle that is very hard to get out of: overweight cats are less likely to be physically active and are therefore more likely to remain obese.
Diagnosing this particular cat health care problem is not difficult at all: it is clear to see just from looking at the cat. A cat which is a healthy weight will have an obvious waist just in front of its hind legs when viewed from above and, if it is a short hair cat with a thin coat, you should be able to feel but not see the cat’s ribs.
A vet will diagnose obesity by weighing the cat and will be able to advise on the best way for your cat to lose weight. If left to remain overweight, cats can go on to suffer various cat health care problems including, arthritis, difficulty breathing, heart problems and diabetes. Ultimately, obesity may kill the cat.
Owners can buy special, low calorie cat food from pet shops and their vet’s practice. It’s important that we remember that any cat treats we give still count towards to overall daily intake of calories for the cat, so meals should be reduced accordingly. Leftovers from human meals and titbits can also add to the calorific content of a cat’s diet. Many pet owners are not aware that their cat is being fed by well meaning neighbours, as well as at home. It is a good idea to mention the cat health care problem and politely request others do not feed your cat.
All cat owners have a responsibility to promote good cat health care and this includes encouraging physical activity. Try and ensure your cat spends some time strolling outside everyday. Also try to spend more time playing with your cat. Having your pet chase balls and other playthings will help keep their weight down.
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This post was written by admin on July 6, 2010
Cat Health Care Problems In Senior Cats
It is natural and logical that as a cat ages it beings to face more and more cat health care problems. Just like humans, cats age and their health deteriorates. Those people who own senior cats are advised to keep a close eye on their pet’s health and to keep cat health care an absolute priority. Although unfortunately many of the cat health care problems associated with older cats are untreatable, vets can make life as comfortable as possible for the pet through medication or diet.
One of the most common afflictions developed in our senior feline friends is osteoarthritis. The condition affects cats in the same way it does humans, meaning that it causes painful inflammation of the joints making mobility difficult. Signs of osteoarthritis are normally quite obvious. Normally the animal will appear stiff, have trouble getting up or sitting or lying down, appear to find climbing stairs difficult, walk awkwardly or generally appear less mobile. Cat owners who believe that their pet is affected by this particular cat health problem should take him or her to the vet’s practice. Although there is no exact treatment for the illness, a range of cat food aimed at senior, arthritic cats is available and this can ease pain.
Older cats are also more likely to suffer from the cat health care problem heart disease. Vets typically find around a tenth of cats to have some type of heart condition. The symptoms are not too obvious but can include coughing which is more noticeable at night and a decrease in appetite. A vet will be able to confirm suspicions of heart problems and suggest ways to improve the pet’s condition. Options include altering the pet’s diet or exercise regime. Alternatively, some other treatments might be able to lengthen the cat’s life.
Finally, older cats are also often affected by chronic renal failure. This is a progressive and irreversible cat health care problem which basically means a deterioration of the kidney function. The condition can be caused by several factors such as polycystic kidney disease, cancer, infections or poisoning. Amongst its many symptoms are excessive drooling, increased thirst and urination, vomiting and mouth ulcers. Owners should remember that not all cats will develop all of these symptoms. The illness has no cure, but options are available to manage it and maintain the highest possible quality of life for the cat. The most important thing is managing the pet’s diet so that it remains hydrated. Therefore moist cat food is a good choice and plenty of fresh water must always be provided. Feeding a cat food which is lower in proteins and phosphate will limit the amount of toxins in the blood and therefore reduce the workload placed on the kidneys.
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This post was written by admin on May 17, 2010
FIV And Cat Health Care
An untreatable cat health care problem, the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is not uncommon because there is not presently a vaccine available, despite the best efforts of researchers and vets. This very serious cat health care problem is passed from one cat to another cat by biting because it is present in the saliva, so it is especially common amongst male cats that have not been castrated because they are more inclined to fight.
Similar to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), FIV works by attacking and destroying the cat’s white blood cells. This endangers the cat’s health because it is these white blood cells which are responsible for fighting off infections. As a result, cats which have been infected by the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus are more susceptible to developing infections which are more likely to lead to further complications.
All cat owners should be as vigilant as possible about their pet’s cat health care, so it is wise to look out for the symptoms of FIV. Common symptoms include sneezing, the presence of discharge around the eyes or nose, raised temperature, diarrhoea, anaemia, infections of the skin, reduced appetite, swelling of the lymph glands and gum disease known as gingivitis. Because cats can look outwardly healthy for many years whilst infected with the virus, many owners fail to realise the extent of the cat health care problem they’re dealing with.
There is not yet a treatment available for the virus but cat health care professionals are able to prescribe antibiotics to treat secondary infections to improve the cat’s quality of life. Because there is not yet a vaccine for the virus either, avoidance cannot be guaranteed, but avoiding cats mixing and fighting does help. Ensuring that your cat has been castrated is also a good idea because castrated cats are less inclined to fight with others.
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This post was written by admin on May 13, 2010
Cat Health Care and Flu in Cats
About the most prevalent cat health care issues that our feline friends face in this country is feline flu virus. The reason it is so problematic is it can easily be complicated by secondary bacterial infections and can be life threatening. Ironically, in spite of the risk of serious harm, it is actually easily avoidable. Cat health care is jeopardised by feline flu virus because there are two sorts of the illness: viral feline flu virus in addition to bacterial feline flu. Pet cats can pick up either or both, with bacterial cat flu being a frequent secondary infection in cats and kittens with viral flu. Like is the situation with humans getting the common cold and flu, it’s most often and most easily transmitted between cats who are kept in large groups, for instance those in catteries or cat rescue organisations. That is one of the primary reasons why cattery owners insist your furry friend is vaccinated before its stay.
A few of the very typical symptoms of cat flu to be aware of are sneezing and coughing, a clear discharge from the nose and eyes, abnormal salivation, depression, low appetite, lameness and ulcers on the tongue, nasal area or roof of the mouth. If your feline acquires a secondary bacterial infection then the discharge from the nose and eyes can become thicker and yellow in colouring. These kinds of signs and symptoms are all indications of a cat health care problem and so the pet needs to be taken to visit the vet. In these situations, intensive treatment by a veterinarian will be the infected cat’s best possibility for survival. The cat health care vet will be able to treat bacterial cat flu with antibiotics but there is unfortunately no specific treatment for viral cat flu.
Due to the fact that there’s no cure for life threatening cat flu virus, cat health care experts will always be keen to underline that vaccination as a kitten with continuous booster jabs is very important. Vaccination is the only established way of preventing cat flu.
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This post was written by admin on April 19, 2010
