Charles is not well

Knowledge of cat health problems will benefit both you and your cat.  Conditions which affect cats also involve the cat owner, because they are responsible for taking their feline friend to the vet.  Below are a list of feline physical condition dilemmas, how to prevent, and how to treat them if you cat has been afflicted.

Licking and grooming are normal cat behavior, but can lead to a myriad of setbacks for your cat.  When cats lick they ingest fur and other dirt attached to the body.  The dirt is full of bacteria and infection agents which will make your cat sick.  Cats do not digest fur, so it builds up in the stomach in the form of hair-balls.  These hairballs and then coughed up through vomiting.  This causes uneeded stress and discomfort for cats.  To prevent hairballs, buy catfood which prevents the build-up of hairballs in the stomach.  This special cat food has ingredients which breakdown the hairs, and assist your cat in digesting the hair.

A simple problem like hairballs, pales in comparison to serious problem like kidney failure, feline leukemia, urinary infections, bacterial infections, or ringworm.  All things cat owners must be aware of so they can diagnose and seek proper medical attention.

Kidney disease in cats is one of many serious cat health problems.  Kidneys perform the task of filtering waste products from blood.  This waste is then excreted from the body In the form of urine.  However, if the kidneys are weak or diseased, the harmful toxins accumulate in the blood.  Cats then show signs of kidney failure-  fatigue, listlessness, reduced urine, no urine, nausea, and vomiting.  All things bodies start to do to excrete the poison which has built up in the blood.

When cats get urinary infections it is related to feline idiopathic cystitis.  There is no known cause or cure, but there are symptoms.  The bladder becomes inflamed, bloated, and cats find it hard to urinate.  Although much research has been done, a great deal is still unknown about cats with this affliction.  Generally, cats are recommended to change diets, and live a stress-free life to treat this disease.

Cat leukemia is a viral sickness that attacks the immune system.  It is transferred through shared dishes, close contact with other cats, and bit wounds.  Offspring can be born with cat leukemia virus if their mother has it.  This disease cannot live without hosts, so it is impossible to get without contact with other cats.  It is highly prevalent in cats who frequent multiple house-holds, houses with many cats, and urban areas which are dense in stray cat populations.

You can read about bacterial infections and cat tapeworm elsewhere on this site for all your cat health care needs.