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A Resource On Cat Care Problems You Should Know About

June 30th, 2009

If you or I are in pain we can obviously make it known and attempt to find the answer to resolve our issue. A cat cannot do this but by paying close attention to them you can still get a clear understanding of whether they are in pain. For this reason it is integral to be able to recognise your cats symptoms.

Here are a few points relating to cats behaviour you should pay attention for and their symptoms.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is the most feared disease and in reality is the leading cause of death among cats. It is caused by a coronavirus infection and the worst part is that the symptoms are very common with other problems so it is really hard to tell.

There is also Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) that is similar to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). In common with the human version, it is a life long infection that progresses slowly and kills the cat.

Cats can also be infected by Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). It is a retrovirus that leads to fatal cancerous and non-cancerous diseases. Fortunately, it can be treated using some household detergents and bleach as well as warmth and drying. It is passed through the saliva, tears, urine and feces of infected cats. Different from the other two, it cannot survive very long in the environment so it is only contagious when the infected cat is close to another cat for a good period of time.

Worms are also another threat to cats and this is caused by a fungal infection that is spread through the spores. Since it is a self-limiting disease, you don’t need to do anything to make it go away. It will over time clear up but it may just take a few months.

If you cat is overweight, chances are it already has feline diabetes. The symptoms of this disease include excessive urination and thirst as well as weight loss or gain. Vets are not yet sure what causes it but there have been some research studies that have shown that there is a link between pancreatic disease, hormonal imbalance and certain medications.

The symptoms of most of the diseases mentioned are very similar. These include diarrhea, vomiting, lameness lasting for longer than five days in one leg, a decrease in vision, excessive panting, a seizure, blood in the stool or urine, hair loss, persistent coughing or gagging and breathing heavily or rapidly at rest. In order to find the answer, your cat will have to undergo some tests.

The vet will take some blood, urine and feces samples. Any input that you have seen and provide will also be useful. When the tests come out, only then will the proper treatment be administered to the cat as each case differs so what worked for one cat may not have the same positive effect with yours.

Your cat could still be healthy if you gave it constant attention. This can be done by feeding it good quality food, giving it clean water, allowing it to exercise, proper grooming, making sure it stays indoors and taking it regularly to the vet.

If you have left out any of these simple steps, something wrong is likely to happen and you will soon notice a change in the behavior of the feline and doing nothing about it is just going to make matters worse. So follow proper cat care tips and look out for symptoms. You can find more info at short hair cats.