10 Cat Diseases That Every Cat Owner Should Know
Cat owners want their cats to be healthy and happy. Unfortunately there are a number of cat illnesses, some of which can cause serious damage and even be fatal. For this reason, we would like to introduce you to common cat diseases and their symptoms.
Cat cold
Cat sniffing is without a doubt one of those cat diseases which are probably known to every owner. In contrast to a harmless cold in humans, this infectious disease can have serious consequences for your cat.
Typical symptoms of a cat cold include fever, coughing and sneezing, difficulty breathing and swallowing as well as fatigue, lack of appetite and mucous discharge from the nose and eyes.
In severe cases, an untreated cat cold can even lead to blindness, mucous membrane ulcers and bone loss in your cat's nasal concha. So take this cat disease seriously, despite its supposedly harmless name.
Cat Disease
Cat disease (panleukopenia) is one of the most dangerous cat diseases. It is caused by the Feline Panleukopenia virus and is transmitted through contact with infected urine, faeces or nasal secretions.
Symptoms of feline panleukopenia include bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, dehydration and refusal to feed. Many affected cats also develop conjunctivitis.
Cat Disease is treated with interferons and serum antibodies. Antibiotics are also used to prevent additional bacterial infection. Even if sick animals can often be saved by prompt treatment, cat epidemics are often fatal. In some animals this happens even without symptoms occurring beforehand. You should therefore have your cat vaccinated.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
The cat disease FIP is caused by mutated Feline Corona viruses. The infectious disease only affects cats and is mainly transmitted through contact with the faeces of infected cats.
Depending on which organs are affected by the disease, the symptoms caused by FIP vary greatly. For example, the infection can affect the central nervous system, the eyes, pancreas, intestines, kidneys and liver. As a result, inflammation occurs, which can lead to massive organ damage.
The symptoms of this cat disease range from loss of appetite, diarrhoea and vomiting to fever and shortness of breath or even jaundice. Despite all efforts it is not yet possible to treat FIP in cats. For once infected animals the infection is always fatal.
Chronic renal insufficiency in cats
Kidney problems are among the cat diseases that are particularly common in older animals. If your cat suffers from chronic kidney insufficiency, this means that her kidneys are no longer able to rid the body sufficiently of harmful substances.
As a result, there is an increasing deposition of harmful substances in the body, which is noticeable in the form of skin and coat problems, loss of appetite, fatigue, increased fluid intake and frequent urination, as well as increased susceptibility to infections.
In the worst case, the cat's condition can deteriorate to such an extent that it eventually leads to fatal kidney failure. There is no cure for chronic kidney failure. Animals affected by this cat disease require lifelong treatment, which mainly involves switching to a suitable dietary food.
Hyperthyroidism in cats
Approximately every 10th cat over the age of 8 years suffers from hyperthyroidism. This cat disease is therefore widespread and should be taken seriously.
Cats with hyperthyroidism often suffer from diarrhoea and vomiting. They also drink significantly more than healthy animals. In addition, they often hardly eat at all or tend to suffer from ravenous appetite attacks on a regular basis. Other typical symptoms of this cat disease are skin and coat problems and various behavioural problems.
An untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to severe organ damage. If you suspect that your four-legged friend is affected, we therefore recommend that you visit your vet as soon as possible. He or she can inform you about the medical and surgical treatment options.
Diabetes in cats
Diabetes is one of the cat diseases that have become increasingly common in recent years. The metabolic disease is characterized by disorders in insulin production. As a result, the cat's organism is no longer able to regulate the blood sugar level.
In many cases overweight and nutritional errors are responsible for diabetes in cats. However, there are several other causes that can play a role in the development of cat disease.
Typical symptoms include an increased food intake with simultaneous weight loss, frequent urination, increased drinking and increasing muscle weakness. The treatment of affected animals usually requires the daily administration of insulin in combination with an appropriate diet.
Cat Aids (FIV)
An infection with the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in cats leads to Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome, which is colloquially known as feline AIDS.
It is estimated that around 11 percent of all cats worldwide carry the pathogen, although it is probably transmitted primarily through bites from other cats of the same species. Once infected animals often show no symptoms for years.
At some point, the immunodeficiency then manifests itself through an increased susceptibility to disease, which increases continuously. Eventually, the immune system in cats with FIV breaks down completely and the animals die. A complete cure is not yet possible, which is why the treatment focuses mainly on secondary diseases.
Toxoplasmosis in cats
Toxoplasmosis is a cat disease caused by the unicellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The transmission of the pathogen is primarily through the infected feces of conspecifics or raw meat, which the cat receives when barking.
In adult animals with a functioning immune system, toxoplasmosis usually does not cause significant symptoms. Young and weakened cats, however, often have to fight hard with the infection. Possible symptoms include fever, bloody diarrhoea and breathing difficulties.
In some animals, cat disease can also lead to inflammation of the heart muscle or meninges. In kittens, the infection can even be fatal. If your cat shows possible symptoms of toxoplasmosis, we recommend that you contact a vet immediately.
Ear mites
Ear mites are caused by parasites. They are highly contagious and are very common. It’s estimated that about half of all ear infections in cats are caused by ear mites.
The typical symptoms include severe itching, reddened auditory canals and excessive formation of dark brown earwax and incrustations on the ears. However, the severity of the infestation and the associated complaints can vary considerably from animal to animal.
The treatment is usually carried out with locally applied drops or ointments. Sometimes, however, the administration of systemic preparations may be necessary. In addition it is important to clean the ears daily. You can do this particularly gently with ear care drops from I Love My Cat.
Cat fleas
Fleas are also widespread in cats. The annoying ectoparasites are highly infectious and can often only be gotten rid of with great effort. In addition, many cats are allergic to the saliva of fleas and therefore suffer particularly badly from a possible infestation.
The typical symptoms of fleas in cats include severe itching. In addition, the small parasites can usually be seen with the naked eye, although this is not always easy due to the coat.
In order to fight the fleas of the cat effectively, on the one hand the parasites on the quadruped itself have to be eliminated and on the other hand the whole environment has to be cleaned conscientiously.
Prevent cat diseases
There are some things you can do to support the health of your four-legged friend and to prevent possible diseases.
With the following preventive measures you can reduce the risk of cat diseases:
- Pay attention to a species-appropriate diet with high-quality cat food.
- Avoid excessive stress for your house cat.
- Vaccinate your cat against particularly dangerous cat diseases.
- Go to regular preventive medical checkups, especially with older four-legged friends.
- Contact a vet as soon as possible if you notice any symptoms of cat disease.
Furthermore, in many cases it is useful to strengthen the cat's immune system. The best way to do this is to take our I Love My Cat Immun or Shiimun Immun natural food supplements.
Supplements can support your cat's defences and thus make a valuable contribution to the prevention of some common cat diseases or, in the case of an existing infection, help to alleviate the symptoms.
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