Research has proven that cats can offer emotional support, enhance moods, and contribute to the general morale of their proprietors.
Cats also are credited with selling socialization amongst older people and bodily or mentally disabled people. Nearly forty million families in the United States have puppy cats.
Cats are reliable companions. However, as a cat parent, you need to be conscious about cat diseases that can bring ailments to our health. From minor pores and skin infections to severe sicknesses, cat infections can be dangerous for our fine-tuned health.
One of the pleasant approaches you may defend yourself from getting ill is to very well wash your palms after handling, cleaning up, or feeding your cats.
Besides, knowing these symptoms of common cat diseases can also save you from adverse outcomes.
Cancer
Cancer is the primary sickness in cats we may experience repeatedly. In this disease, cells grow uncontrollably, invading surrounding sensitive tissues. It spreads in our surroundings to form different types of cancer among humans through localization and generalization.
Causes
Squamous cell carcinoma in cat’s ear, eyelid, or nose
Lymphosarcoma in saliva
Symptoms
Lumps and Swelling
Skin infections
Abnormal Body Discharge
Bad breath or Loss of appetite
Listlessness and Weight loss
Sudden lameness and Vomiting
Red skin patches
Difficulty in urinating, breathing, or defecating
Behavior changes
Preventions
Keeping a cat indoors from sun exposure
Cat spaying before first heat cycle
Diabetes
In cats, Diabetes is one of the complex diseases, which occur due to hormone insulin lacks. At this stage, when the cat eats, its digestive system breaks bread into glucose and is carried into cells by insulin. This way cat stops producing insulin, and its blood sugar levels elevate, resulting in hyperglycemia. If this sickness in cats is left untreated, it can cause complicated health problems for humans too.
Causes
lack of insulin production
Impaired insulin production with improper response to the hormone.
Symptoms
Change in appetite
Weight loss
Excessive thirst
Increased urination or tract infection
Unusually sweet-smelling breath
Lethargy or Dehydration
Unkempt haircoat
Preventions
Proper diet
Regular exercise
Pleasant Atmosphere
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
Cat health issues such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) take years to show symptoms. Although this virus acts slowly, it weakens the cat’s immune system once the sickness in cats begins. Not only this, the virus makes the cat exposed to other secondary infections. Infected cats, who receive caring medication and are stress-free in indoor settings, can lead relatively healthy lives for months and even years before the disease reaches its permanent phase.
Causes
Immune deficiency diseases
Deep bite of other infected cats
malnutrition
stress
poisons
Cancer
Symptoms
Enlarged lymph nodes
Fever
Anemia
Weight loss
Dishevelled coat
Poor appetite and Diarrhea
Abnormal appearance of eye inflammation
Inflammation of the gums and mouth
Dental disease, Skin redness, or hair loss
Wounds that don’t heal
Sneezing
Discharge from eyes or nose
Frequent urination
Behaviour change
Preventions
Keep your cat indoors
Bring your cat to your vet twice a year for a wellness checkup, urine analysis, and blood count
Feed your cat nutritionally balanced food
Be sure your cat is neutered or spayed
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
Among various cat infections, the feline leukemia virus is a transmissible RNA retrovirus that suppresses the cat’s immune system.
The sickness in cats is diagnosed due to this virus in most domestic environments. Since this virus doesn’t show instant symptoms whenever you acquire a new cat, make sure to test FeLV.
Causes
Sheds in bodily fluids such as saliva, urine, feces, nasal secretions, and blood.
Mutual grooming, direct contact, and sharing litter boxes, food, and water bowls.
Mother’s milk consumption.
Cat’s bites and scratches.
Symptoms
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Pale or inflamed gums
Poor coat condition
Abscesses
Fever
Upper respiratory infections
Diarrhea and vomit
Seizures
Changes in behavior
Vision or other eye problems
Enlarged lymph nodes
Reproductive problems (in females)
Jaundice
Chronic skin disease
Respiratory distress
Lethargy
Preventions
The vaccine of FeLV
Elimination of sources exposure
Heartworm
The cat diseases caused by the spread of infected mosquitoes are called Heartworms. It is recognized in domestic cats. Regardless of this cat infections’ name, the heartworms cause in the lungs of the cat.
The primary concern for any cat parent should be providing its cat living area, which is pollution-free with bees and mosquitoes. This concern can save cats from the veterinarian.
Causes
heartworm parasite
Dirofilaria
bites of other cats
larvae transmission
Symptoms
Persistent cough
Breathing difficulties
Depression
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Sporadic vomiting
Lethargy
Sudden death
Preventions
FDA-approved medications for feline heartworm infection.
Limiting the cat’s exposure
Regular checkups
HighRise Syndrome
Many cat parents eagerly open their windows to take advantage of the beautiful weather during the summer months. Unfortunately, screens without screens pose a real danger to cats, who fall so often that the vet has a name for this complaint: HighRise Syndrome. Falling can lead to broken limbs and pelvis, punctured lungs, broken jaws, and even death.
Causes
Injuries
Cold Weather
Unprotected guards
Symptoms
Painful abdominal mass.
Abdominal distention.
Vomiting.
Visible wounds.
Blood loss.
Jaundice.
Bleeding or swelling of the mouth.
Malaligned limbs.
Preventions
Install sturdy and snug screens in windows
Tightly wedged window frames
No childproof window guards
Rabies
Among cat health issues, Rabies is not going anywhere. It affects the brain and spinal cord of all females, including cats and humans.
Causes
Through infected saliva of other animals
Contracting rabies-infected animals
Unvaccinated cats
Symptoms
Changes in behavior
Increased vocalization
Loss of appetite
Weakness
Disorientation
Paralysis
Seizures
Sudden death
Prevention
Vaccination
Lengthy quarantines
Final words
Cat infections usually develop bald, scaly patches with broken hairs. They can also develop acne bumps on the skin. The places most affected by feline diseases are the ears, tail, face, and feet. Health problems in cats are diagnosed by fungal culture, ultraviolet lamp examination, and direct microscopic examination of the hairs or scales. Infections in cats can sometimes go away on their own, but some cats may need treatment. Medicated shampoos and dips, and antifungal medications can help speed recovery. They can also prevent the spread of mold in the environment.
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