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Pets when raised with care and affection become members of the family. Just like caring for a family member, pets also require special attention. Cats are one of the most popular pets in the world. Cat owners should be wary of various kinds of early signs and symptoms of various kinds of cat diseases and medical conditions.
In the United States, cats make up for about 30% to 37% of the number of pets in American Homes and more than 30% of them are strays that have been adopted. Thus it becomes all the more important to take special care and notice for early signs of any disease. Mentioned below are signs and symptoms of some of the major diseases that cats can suffer from.
- Diabetes- Diabetes is a complex disease in cats that happens due to the lack of production of insulin or the inappropriate response to it. There are two types of diabetes that cats usually suffer from- Type I and Type II. Cats requires routine insulin therapy for survival. Some of the common symptoms of diabetes are change in appetite, loss of weight, increased frequency of urination, sweet-smelling breath, lethargy, dehydration and urinary tract infections. The causes of diabetes are not exactly known. Some of the factors that play a role are genetics, kinds of pancreatic diseases, certain kinds of medication and deposition of certain proteins in pancreas.
- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)- Cats that are infected with the FIV virus do not show the symptoms until years into the initial infection. This disease severely weakens the immune system of cats and makes them vulnerable to various other diseases. Cats suffering from FIV are usually kept in isolated and safe environments that are free from physical and mental stress. Some of the common signs of FIV are enlarged lymph nodes, anemia and fever, discharge through the eyes and nose, disruption in urination and urinating habits, dental diseases, loss of hair and redness of skin, slow healing wounds and behavioral changes.
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Feline Leukemia Virus (FelV)- This disease was
first documented in the 1960s and the isolated virus is a form
of feline RNA retrovirus. This virus severely disrupts the
immunity system in cats. This is one of the most commonly
diagnosed diseases in domestic cats and also their subsequent
deaths. Certain cats show symptoms of the disease at all
whereas others show symptoms like poor condition of the coat,
problems with eyesight, diarrhea and vomiting, changes in
behavior, enlarged lymph nodes, seizures, reproductive problems
in female cats, jaundice, respiratory problems and chronic skin
conditions.
A lot of the diseases that feline pets suffer from have vaccines that are given at an early age. While adopting kittens it is always safe to be doubly sure and get them vaccinated.
The Top 3 Dietary Diseases Diagnosed In Cats
Dietary diseases are unfortunately quite common in our furry feline friends and more often than not, this is due to the poor nutritional qualities of mass produced dry food and wet food. This is why selecting the right brand of food or even cooking for your cat is crucial to ensuring that it leads a long and happy life.
Chronic renal disease
Chronic renal disease is one of the leading causes of death in kitties across the globe. It occurs when the kidney has been gradually decling and deteriorating over years, and certain types of breeds such as Siamese, Burmese, and Persian cats are more prone to this disease than other cats. In order to prevent the onset of this disease, cats need to be fed a diet high in quality proteins and low amounts of phosphorous and sodium.The quality of the protein is the main differentiating factor here especially for older kitties in order to prevent the disease from ever occurring. One of the major problems with this disease is that the cat may not display any symptoms for years to come, and when symptoms are displayed, it is often too late to do anything. Regular vet checks are the best way to ensure that your cat is in optimum health.
Diabetes mellitus
House cats are particularly at risk of developing diabetes mellitus especially as they grow older. This disease normally occurs due to a combination of high blood glucose levels, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. The symptoms are particularly hard to diagnose, and it is essential to keep your cat's weight at a healthy level.Prevent your cat from overeating and indulge the cat in regular exercise throughout its life. The best way to improve your cat's exercise levels is to get it a feline companion, which also has several other benefits. If your cat is diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, it will require periodic insulin injections, and it may continue for the rest of your cat's life.
Urinary tract disease
This disease affects a cat's bladder and urethra, and it results in the cat having trouble urinating and maybe even urinating blood. Urinary tract disease is particularly painful in cats and there are numerous possible reasons as to why it may occur. Some of the most common reasons include bacterial infections, dehydration, high ash content in dry food, and cystitis.Fortunately, the symptoms are pretty evident for this disease as the cat is likely to meow in pain while attempting to urinate. Urine flow is typically blocked and your cat will need to be put under some medication of your vet's choosing. Your kitty will also be put on a diet until the disease is removed entirely.