Cat Health covers the common conditions, symptoms, and care tips every cat parent should know. From preventive care and home remedies to warning signs and when to call the vet, this section helps you understand your cat’s body and behavior so you can keep them feeling their best.
The feline parvovirus is found worldwide, affecting cats in much the same way as parvovirus affects their canine counterparts. The feline parvovirus causes severe gastroenteritis in affected cats, and can be fatal unless treated with haste. This highly contagious disease primarily affects unvaccinated cats less than a year old. Spread by oral contact with infective … Read more
Occasionally, foreign bodies can gain entrance into the nasal passageways of cats via the mouth, causing extreme irritation and rhinitis or sinusitis. The chief culprits in this category seem to be blades of grass, which is not unusual since many dogs and cats love to chew on vegetation. Pets with nasal foreign bodies will sneeze … Read more
Loss of hair, either locally or generalized over the coat of a cat, is another type of skin problem that owners may face. As with itching, the causes of hair loss can be quite numerous, and sometimes very complex. A proper diagnosis is essential for restoring a full-bodied haircoat. Shedding Although the normal shedding cycles … Read more
Chlamydophila refers to a type of bacteria affecting cats that can cause infections like conjunctivitis, rhinitis, and respiratory disease. This obligate, intracellular pathogen spreads through feline ocular and nasal secretions. Chlamydophila felis strains commonly trigger infection while Chlamydophila psittaci strains less frequently cause illness in cats. If not treated promptly, chlamydophila can lead to lasting … Read more
Cats afflicted with cardiomyopathy suffer from impaired circulation, which in turn can lead to a condition known as arterial thromboembolism. This disorder is characterized by large blood clots that form within the left side of the heart and pass into circulation, only to lodge within one or more blood vessels within the body, usually at … Read more
The causes of obesity in cats are numerous, but the first and foremost of them is plain, old dietary indiscretion also known as too many table scraps! Realize that when you feed a cat that tiny piece of hot dog, that is equivalent to you eating two to three hot dogs! In other words, it … Read more
Anesthesia is a word that tends to inspire uneasiness and fear in many people. In actuality, though, anesthesia is an indispensable tool in veterinary medicine (and human medicine, as well!). It is required for the painless performance of many important procedures, including surgery, dentistry, diagnostics, and restraint. There are basically two types of anesthetics that … Read more
Left undetected and untreated, intestinal parasites can rob or cat of much-needed nutrients, can cause severe gastrointestinal upset, and can predispose it to secondary disease. Internal parasites are widespread throughout the pet population. To make matters worse, many internal parasites of cats are also classified as zoonotic diseases; that is, they can be directly communicable … Read more
Inflammation of the thin, transparent mucous membrane lining the inner portion of the eyelids and front part of the sclera is termed conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is the most common cause of “red eyes” in cats. Other signs seen with conjunctivitis include discharge, swelling, and pain. The type of discharge present can sometimes give a clue as … Read more
Otitis media, infection involving the middle ear, usually results from a chronic, untreated or recurring otitis externa. In such cases, the eardrum might become so diseased as to tear or rupture completely, allowing direct access of infectious organisms into the middle-ear chamber. The clinical signs of otitis media are essentially the same as those for … Read more