Common Illnesses In Cats – Get To Know What Ails Your Pet
Cats get sick too but not that often. They experience some common ailments that may disrupt their health for a short period of time. Usually, having a well balanced diet as well as a thorough grooming can help alleviate these ailments and sometimes prevent it from happening. If you notice your cat to change its normal routine, going for a check up with your local veterinarian is highly suggested. It is usually one of those normal cat sicknesses although sometimes, it may be something more.
Hair balls or knotty hair is a common ailment observed even among cats with somewhat short fur. Regular brushing could prevent or minimize the cause of such hairballs. With medium and long furred cats, it is a must; not only to prevent the problem of knotty hair but also in the prevention of many other common cat ailments. Another big problem it poses is the possible after effects of cats swallowing their own dead and broken hairs in the process of constant washing of their bodies that they very often engage in. Regular brushing can also help in keeping your cat looking well groomed and in poise.
To avoid the occurrence of hair balls, add a teaspoon of fish oil or cod liver oil to their food at least after a week. This allows the ingested hair to pass freely and easily through the gastrointestinal tract. Bran and canned pumpkin can also help. If you have a feral cat, he may be able to have a solution to hair balls and other ailments by chewing on grass and other plants.
Another problem that causes a lot of hassle for your cat is the presence of fleas. They are carriers of several diseases and most importantly, they are very itchy. Because of this problem some develop an allergic reaction to fleas and some are even traumatized causing mental and emotional distress. Regular grooming can detect this problem and keep it contained. You can also use flea collars to treat this condition. You can try some fur rubs that are environmentally friendly which work to prevent flea infestation as well make your cat smell good. Flea inoculations can also be done especially if the intolerance of fleas is quite high.
If you detect your cat persistently scratching the insides of their ears then you may mull over the potential of another cat related illness. Wax buildup and ear mites can be exceedingly bothersome to your cat. These particular problems are effortlessly remedied and can be successfully eliminated in no time at all. The likelihood is great that your feline’s veterinarian will observe the existence of wax and ear mites when performing their annual checkup. The necessary medication used to properly cure both of these conditions is comparatively simple to dispense and will impart an immense amount of relief to your pet. I can not stress enough the importance of dealing with ear mites in a timely fashion, as when left untreated these parasites can readily deteriorate your cat’s overall health and greatly reduce its abilities to hear properly.
Cats are also affected with mental and emotional distress, usually created by trauma from a change such as moving or relocating. It may be hard for your adult cat to adapt to the new surroundings. There are even cases of cats traveling back to their original homes by foot regardless of its distance. One thing you have to understand about cats is that they take their territory seriously and will fully protect their property. Humans do not recognize the fences that they build to protect their territory. It is only cats who can tell from their markings of urine and fecal matter.
Like humans, some of their major ailments too start with minor symptoms and could be easily averted through alertness and prompt treatment at the early stages itself. Therefore a visit to your veterinarian would be well worth your trouble at the slightest visible signs of departure from your cat’s normal behavioral patterns such as for instance brooding, vomiting, loss of appetite or changed patters in eating habits and eating times, so as to save your cat from much pain, agony and sometimes death itself.
