The 5 Cat Diseases that Need Proper Treatment and Care

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As felines are a part of our family, we want them to live as long as possible. Even though cats are efficient at cleaning themselves, they may catch diseases. Here is a list of five cat diseases that need proper treatment and care:

1. CancerCancer is one word you don’t want to hear when you visit the vet. Cancer, especially gastrointestinal cancer, is the most common type in geriatric felines. Lymphosarcoma is one of the most common causes of gastrointestinal cancer.SymptomsThe symptoms of cancer are:*Abdominal bloating or distension* Diarrhea* Difficulty breathing* Fever* Lack of appetite* Lethargy* Malaise* Vomiting* Weight lossSurvival from cancer depends on how early the vet knows about this deadly disease. The faster you spot the symptoms, the sooner the vet will be able to start treatment.
2. Cardiac disease Heart disease in felines is very hard to detect with the help of a stethoscope as there isn’t any heart murmur. In fact, cardiac disease is considered a silent killer among felines as 50% of the cats don’t have any heart murmur.SymptomsThe symptoms of cardiac disease are:* Abnormal or racing heart rate* Abrupt lameness or pain* Blue tinge on gums* Breathing through the mouth* Difficulty breathing* Increased rate of respiration* Sudden and acute paralysis (mainly hind legs)After the diagnosis of cardiac disease, treatment in the form of heart medications, blood pressure support, diuretics, and oxygen therapy is administered. However, heart medications only prolong the life of felines as it doesn’t cure them of the disease.
3. Chronic kidney disease Chronic kidney disease affects a large number of felines from around the world. Chronic kidney disease is also known as chronic kidney injury and chronic renal failure. The kidneys of cats suffering from this disease will either not be functioning properly.SymptomsThe symptoms of chronic kidney disease are:* Abnormal drinking of water* Bad breath* Excessive urination* Enormous* Huge feces in litter box* Lethargy* Weight lossFelines can live for years with chronic kidney disease with appropriate treatment and care. Felines need continual blood work, higher intake of water, fluid below the skin, low-protein diet, and medications to manage chronic kidney disease.
4. Diabetes mellitus As felines are prone to being obese or overweight, there are higher chances of them getting diabetes mellitus. There are two types of diabetes mellitus, Type I and Type II, which affects felines.SymptomsThe symptoms of diabetes mellitus are:* Abnormal breath* Excessive thirst and urination* Huge feces in litter box* Lethargy* Ravenous or decreased appetite* Strange style of walking* Vomiting* Weight loss or muscle wasting despite obese or overweight body conditionTreatment for diabetes mellitus requires two insulin injections every day, change in diet, constant visits to the vet and continual monitoring of blood glucose.
5. Hyperthyroidism When the thyroid gland produces a large amount of thyroid hormone, it is called hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism mainly affects middle aged and senior felines.SymptomsThe symptoms of hyperthyroidism are:* Diarrhea/vomiting* Excessive thirst and urination* Hypertension* Racing heart* Weight loss despite ravenous appetite

For the treatment of hyperthyroidism, felines need I131 radioiodine therapy or prescription diet or medication or removal of thyroid glands through surgery. The faster you detect hyperthyroidism, the lesser will be the damage and side effects.These five cat diseases need proper treatment and care. If you have any queries, feel free to leave a comment below.

Do’s and Don’ts when Caring for Your Sick Cat

Cats are one of the most common pets people keep, yet only a handful of cat owners know how to treat their pets when they are under the weather. Seeing your beloved cat suffering is upsetting, so here are a few important things to keep in mind while caring for your sick cat so they may be back to normal in no time. It is best to take your pet to the vet as soon as possible, so that you can pin point exactly what is causing their ailment. The points given below are only to aid the recovery of your feline friend after a trip to the vet.

Do’s

1. Offer fresh clean water: It is important that cats stay hydrated when they are sick. Much like humans, dehydration or drinking unclean water can only make their condition worse. So remember to offer your pet cats clean drinkable water in a clean bowl regularly.
2. Feed your sick cat healthy food: Consuming nutritious food can speed up their recovery. Getting a sick cat to eat can be quite the challenge, but offering slightly-warmed canned food like tuna or chicken with their natural juices and oil may help. You may need to hand feed them at first if they are not eating on their own.
3. Clean nose, eyes and ears regularly: Make sure you wipe away any kind of discharge from their eyes, nose or ears with warm salt water. This may help to avoid any kind of infection and irritation. Keeping your cat clean will definitely help them get well soon.
4. Keep them warm and comfortable:  A warm and cosy space helps your cat to rest and relax while they recuperate. This is especially effective if your cat is suffering from a cold.

Don’ts

1. Never let your sick cat roam free: Sick cats should always be kept indoors with a litter tray nearby. If they are let outside, they may not return as they are highly unlikely to be able to defend or look out for themselves.
2. Never medicate them on your own: Always consult a vet first before giving them any sort of medication. They may be allergic, and hat works for one cat may not always work for another.
3. Never give human medicines to your sick cat: You should never ever give your sick cat human medicines – tablets, ointments or syrups. Most of them are extremely poisonous for cats and could even kill them.
4. Never feed vomiting cat frequently: If your cat is suffering from diarrhoea or stomach flu and is vomiting heavily, do not feed it until at least 12 hours after vomiting has stopped.