Cat Health

conicat asked:


He goes back and forth from being better and having problems (like a day at a time). He does eat, drink, use litter pan, but mostly stays in out of the way places, but not anywhere up high like normal. He’s an indoor cat.
It will be 2 weeks before I can afford a vet. Can anyone recommend an on-line cat health site you have found good?
It doesn’t seem like a urinary problem (I’ve seen that before in cats). But I have been able to borrow some $ to make vet appt.
It’s too early for me to choose best answer. But anyone else with on-line site recommendations FFR, I’m still open to that.

Fernando

etta m asked:


My rats arm was issured by my cat and I need to know if it can nurse itself back to health or do i need to take him to the vet?

Travis

a_delphic_oracle asked:


I give my 4 cats wet food with NEEM mixed in and a dash of olive oil every Sunday to keep fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites and viral infections at bay. Who else gives their cat herbs and what herb do you use?

Camila

Hayley R asked:


My cat has been gaging for 3 days now. I dont know if it is a fur ball or whether he has got something stuck in his throat? How long do fur balls normally take for a cat to throw up?
He is not gaging all the time…only when he lies down or is sleeping. Please, please help me…I dont know whether I should take him to the vet or just wait and see?

Colton

kkmxp.online asked:


Any info on how CAT scans are better than x-rays and the benefits of the technology on society and health. biology work… thx

Andy

silent_kayos asked:


On cat health, diseases, etc

I’m printing articles off of catster.com

Do you know of any with good, factual information on FIV, FeLV, feline dstemper, etc? Anything you can think of? FIP would be great, I don’t know much about that.

I’m just collecting this information to put in a folder for quick access. That way I know what to expect when I find a sick one instead of being clueless.
I do have some books I’ll probably pick up some more this weekend when I get paid

Larissa

ziggy2282 asked:


I was told by a friend that feeding chocolate and/or onions to a cat often results in the death of the animal. Is it the food itself or a complication of problems that occur from the ingestion of these foods?

Zachariah

John Dow asked:


Cat Health threats fall into two major categories. Bodily harm from fighting, accidents, or cruel humans is one category. Common illnesses, parasites, and known system weaknesses is the other.

An indoor cat has a huge advantage against the bodily harm threats. A cat that lives outdoors (or ventures out often) is subject to many physical threats. It does depend on the environment, busy suburban areas and rural areas are probably the worst. Quiet neighborhoods, with little traffic and few predators have much less risk.

The same factors have a bearing on the second category too. If a cat is not exposed to other animals or parasites, and receives proper feeding and care the risk for illness and disease is greatly reduced. There still are some natural causes, like kidney problems, that are unavoidable.

Cats are tough little critters. The common tale of a cat having 9 lives is a result of the ability of a cat to survive under the most adverse conditions. A cat’s natural agility, suspicion of everything, and quick reflexes offer a huge advantage against many physical threats. Cats seem to possess a high survival instinct that serves them well too.

Almost any cat owner can tell a story or two of a harrowing escape by their pet from almost certain disaster. And if you’ve ever tried to rescue a feral Tom Cat that didn’t want to be rescued, you are certainly aware of their ability to defend against or escape capture.

I know from experience that some cats (especially rescued cats) want to go outside. And they will make your life miserable if you don’t concede. One solution I’ve found is to make an outdoor shelter of some kind (like a portable dog kennel - but make sure it has a top of some type) or enclosed area. That way the cat gets to go outside but you’ve protected them from most threats. I’ve even seen people put a cat on a leash but none of my cats would ever allow that to happen.

The number one cat health threat to an indoor cat is getting over weight. The more excess weight, the greater the risk for all types of health issues (just like in people). Controlling the amount and type of food is important to your cat’s health. Some dry food (helps keep their teeth clean too), some high protein soft food, and a few table scraps are all OK. It’s when you give them unlimited amounts of all three that the problems start.

Playing with your cat can be important when it comes to weight issues. Don’t let your cat become a couch potato, try to keep them active. A great simple toy such as a stick with a feature tied to a string at the end can provide lots of exercise. Anything that rolls around is a good toy too since most cats will chase it around.

Vaccinations are important and yearly checkups at the Vet can alert you to problems before they become life threatening. Watching your cat for unusual behavior (like not eating or drinking as normal) is important too. Catching any health problems before they become critical can save you lots of frustration and money at the Vet.

Urinary and Kidney infections are common in cats. The most common cause appears to be absorbing too much ash elements from prepared cat food, especially the wet variety. Always check the label on any cat food to check for ash content. I don’t know what levels are acceptable, so I avoid any brands with ash.

Another common cause of urinary and kidney problems are minerals that build up and block the urethra tube. I had a cat that constantly had blockage problems until we changed his food and went to filtered water. A simple filter on your faucet can help both you and you’re cats from too many minerals in your water. Speaking of water, you should always allow access to clean water, hydration is important to keeping your cat healthy.

It’s also recommended that you feed multiple small meals or free feed (cat has 24 hour access to food) than feed one big meal a day. This is true of most animals and people. Small meals are easier to digest and also increase the body’s caloric burn rate, which can help with the weight problems too.

Hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms are common parasites that present severe health threats to cats. Hookworms are the worst since they live in the intestines and suck blood from the host. Hookworms can cause death from creating severe anemia in very short periods of time. Roundworms will steal nutrients and make the host more susceptible to many illnesses. Tapeworms will consume nutrients and cause rapid weight loss.

Parasites can be visible in fecal matter or be found with blood tests by your Vet. That’s why it’s good to try and makes sure your cat gets an annual checkup. Or if you notice your cat eating more but not gaining any weight, or becoming listless, you should immediately have your Vet do some fecal and blood tests.

If you’d like to learn more about common cat health issues, you can find more information at our website listed below. We haven’t got all the answers but we are starting to get some good input about many cat health problems.



Bryan

Matthew Hick asked:


Like human beings, cats can suffer from a variety of health issues. But unlike humans, cats are unable to vocalize the problem. Therefore, an owner’s knowledge of warning signs must be depended upon so that a cat can receive treatment for health problems it may have.

Probably the number one problem with a cat’s health is the notorious hairball. Cats clean themselves incessantly by licking their coats. The hair that clings to their tongues is swallowed. This will eventually form in a ball, and in most instances, the cat will be able to expel it. If the hairball makes its way into the cat’s intestines, then this can cause serious complications and will need medical attention. A common symptom of this would be constipation.

Urinary tract infections (UTI’s) are another common cat health problem. Although this is most common with a male un-neutered feline, it can also affect the females. If your cat stops using the litter or his urine has a strong odor, a UTI should be highly suspected Cats can also develop stones in their urinary tract developing feline lower urinary tract disease.

Another common problem with cat health is worms. These would consist of tapeworms, round worms, and hook worms. This would occur in outdoor cats. The symptoms would be diarrhea and inability to gain weight. This is highly troublesome, since owners can get this from their pets. In addition, the outdoors cat can also be afflicted with fleas, parasites, or ticks. Ticks can give the cat Lyme Disease. If your cat is lethargic, has a fever and loss of appetite, he may need antibiotic treatment for this. So, it is important to check his coat often.

Digestive problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea, are also health problems in cats. If your cat is vomiting for more than 24 hours, then you should seek medical treatment. Initially, you should withhold food for a several hours and start by reintroducing water, in limited quantities, to see how it is tolerated. Remember, one of the most frequent causes of vomiting is the hairball, so make sure to brush his coat daily. Diarrhea lasting one to two days is normal, as long as the cat is eating well. Anything beyond this requires a visit to the vet.

There are several dangerous diseases a cat can contract in its lifetime. One is feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is a virus that is difficult to diagnose. There is no known treatment for this disease. Another is feline immunodeficiency virus, which is “cat aids.” This virus targets white blood cells. The last is feline leukemia virus (FLV), which can be avoided if the cat is immunized before contact with it. These diseases are more likely to be seen in outdoor cats.

Cats can also suffer from eye problems, because their eyes can get scratched during fights. They are also subject to abscesses, which result from bite wounds, anal gland problems, and cat allergies. There are also the occasional cold and respiratory infections.

There are many common health ailments that can affect cats. With proper attention, care and possible medical treatment, most need not be fatal. With your help, your cat can live a long, healthy, happy life.



Miriam

Gail Metcalf asked:


The more fully you educate yourself about the ins and outs of cat care, the more able you will be to create an ideal care regimen for your pet. The better your cat care, the longer your cat will live, and the higher the quality of life it will have. In case that isn’t reason enough for you to invest a bit of time and energy in learning to offer your feline pet the best possible cat care, here is a quick breakdown of a few of the many benefits to outstanding cat care.

Great cat care means that when your cat needs medical treatment, you will recognize the signs early, possibly even long before invasive or costly procedures or drugs are necessary. Conscientious cat care will help you notice any health problems as soon as they manifest in even minor symptoms. This can help you catch issues early, when they are at their most easily treatable. By providing great cat care, you are helping to stop diseases and other health problems in their tracks by getting your cat the medical attention he or she needs as early as possible.

Regular, excellent cat care means that you will be able to be more efficient and save time in your cat care regimen. If you take a bit of time each day to complete a few simple cat care tasks, you will be sure that nothing builds up until it gets out of hand. In fact, you can spend less time overall by making efficient cat care a part of every day. Habitual and thorough cat care can actually be less work than taking care of a cat who you have ignored even a little bit. After all, grooming a slightly scruffy cat once every week is easier overall than grooming an utterly filthy cat once a month.

When you fully understand the different aspects of cat care, you can be sure that you aren’t neglecting any part of the cat care equation. Cat care is a multifaceted process that includes everything from stern training to playful snuggling, and an inexperienced or uneducated cat owner may not be aware of all of these different sides to having a cat. When a cat doesn’t have all of its needs fulfilled, it can develop behavior or health problems that could have been avoided through simple, responsible care on the part of the owner.

Last but not least, one great reason to improve your cat care is simply that there is no good reason not to. Learning how to care for your cat more fully and completely is easy, so you might as well give it a try. Even if you think that you already know everything under the sun about cat care, it never hurts to double check. Take some time to skim a book or a few websites on the subject, and you just may discover your own reasons to improve the way you care for your pet.



Myles