The most responsible thing you can do as a cat owner is to take proper care of your Feline pals. Keeping a cat is a big responsibility and like humans, your cats are also vulnerable to many diseases. Among these diseases, there are common ones that affect most cats at least once in their lifetime.
If you are a new cat owner, or maybe you already own a cat but are not aware of these diseases, then these are 7 the most common cat diseases that you should know as a cat owner.
1. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
Urinary diseases are common in cats, and can also lead to kidney diseases like kidney stones and eventually kidney failure. It is extremely painful and a total obstruction that might kill the cat within 72 hours.
Cats with FLUTD generally show signs of pain and difficulty when urinating; they urinate more frequently and can have blood in their urine. They tend to lick their genital area frequently and sometimes urinate outside their litter box.
It is very common with middle-aged and over-weight cats. Cats under the age of one year rarely have FLUTD. Cats that have restricted access to outside, do little or no exercise and only eat dry cat food are more prone to FLUTD.
Homes with more than one cat and major changes in cat’s routine can increase the risk of developing Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease.
2. Gastritis
Gastritis or inflammation of the stomach is caused by frequent feeding, overfeeding, ingestion of foreign bodies, feeding with irritating foods, or poison in the stomach.
If your cat is vomiting, has blood in the stool, or diarrhea, then you need to contact your vet as soon as possible. Some other symptoms of gastritis include vomiting, eating less than usual, dribbling, and low energy.
The animal will show pain when pressing on its stomach at the lower edge of the last ribs, which is more or less severe depending on the severity of the inflammation.
3. Kidney Failure
This is one of the most common causes of sickness and death in domestic cats. And it is very common in older cats, if your feline pal is getting older, your vet will likely recommend some tests at its annual checkups. Frequent drinking and urinating more, often are the early signs of cat kidney failure.
Cats with this condition often have a poor appetite and this can be worsened by offering a special kidney diet that may not be appealing to your cat. In most cases, the use of appetite stimulants like anabolic steroids or cyproheptadine may be helpful in stimulating an adequate appetite.
Recently, some vets have been treating cats with poor appetite by constantly putting a feeding tube in their stomach.
4. Diarrhea
In most cases, this is a sign that your cat’s health is not okay. It can be a minor problem or a manifestation of another serious sickness.
If your cat has diarrhea, it is a good idea to consult your vet to find out the cause. Diarrhea can be caused by toxic foods, changes in diet, bacteria, allergies, or parasites.
We all know what diarrhea is, if your cat is suffering from a watery, loose, or inconsistent stool, then he has diarrhea symptoms. The causes of diarrhea in cats vary widely. If your cat has diarrhea, don’t panic, the cause is usually as simple as a small bacterial infection or dairy intolerance. But, if it lasts for several days, you need to take your cat to your vet for a check-up.
5. Allergic dermatitis.
Just like some humans, most cats are born with a tendency to develop reactions when exposed to certain substances in their environment. Cats with allergic dermatitis generally develop a skin condition characterized by signs of itching, such as scratching and biting the skin, when they are exposed to the substance to which they have become allergic.
Your cat may be allergic to some fleas, food, and dust. If your kitty is itchy, loses fur, or has scabs on his skin, take him to a vet. It is the only way to know what causes the allergic reaction and what changes you should make.
Cats with this condition may excessively lick their abdomen, flanks, and inside of their hind legs when grooming, this may lead to hair loss in certain parts of the skin. Cats with this type of allergic dermatitis must be distinguished from those with other causes of hair loss that adopt a similar pattern.
Besides skin signs, cats with this condition may have more general signs of allergy, like sneezing, watery nasal discharge, and conjunctivitis. Some cats may even experience vomiting or diarrhea.
6. Diabetes
Cats can also develop diabetes and, if not treated, it can shorten their lifespan. The early symptoms of diabetes in cats include increased appetite without weight gain. Also, your cat will tend to urinate frequently and drink too much water. And as time goes, the cat will become less active and its coat will lose its luster.
Other obvious symptoms will be a weakness in the form of vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty in breathing. This disease affects mostly elderly cats and overweight cats. You should consult your vet when your cat experience these symptoms, so you would what is causing the problem.
7. Ear infection
This is very common and highly infectious. It can be transmitted from one cat to another. It affects your cat’s external ear canal. Signs of infection in cats include excessive ear scratching and head shaking.
Also, ear infections can be caused by mites, fungus, allergies, and even adverse drug reactions. So, if your feline companion has ear discharge, shakes his head a lot and looks like he is in pain, take him to see the vet for a proper health check.
Ear mites can be prevented by checking your cat ears regularly and drying its ears after bathing. Some breeds are more prone to ear infections.