Cat Health

Preventative and Curative Cat Health

 

You know the old sayings: "Cats have nine lives" and "Cats always land on their feet." With all of this going for them, you'd think that a cat would live forever - and that no sickness would ever bring them down. Right?

 

Cats Get Sick and Injured

Actually sickness and injury do strike cats. Yes, they normally outlive their canine counterparts, with the average house cat living about 15 to 20 years. Still, more and more cats are getting serious illnesses earlier in their lives. Unfortunately, this is mostly because of domestication, and because many people just don't know how to take good care of their cats. The best cat owners know that ensuring good cat health means practicing both preventative healthcare and curative healthcare. Let's examine what you need to do to address common cat problems and give your cat nine lives.

 

Starting From Day One

Your preventative cats' health regimen should begin from day one - the day you first bring him or her home. This means that the first thing you need to do is to find a veterinarian. Ideally, you will keep the same vet for as long as possible. That means either for the life of the cat, or until you move, or until the vet leaves. Keeping the same veterinarian allows him to learn all of your cat's history and problems, making him better equipped to treat him. Also, when you speak with the vet, set up an immediate vaccination schedule.

 

Be Careful with Toys

It's no secret that cats love to play! However, it's very important that you monitor what they play with. Give them safe toys and activities. Your feline companion will love safe, fun toys such as climbing poles, cardboard boxes, and a safe place to hide.

 

Kitty's Little Tongue

Remember that a cat's tongue catches string and string-like items. As a result, if they play with these too much, they might wind up swallowing them, which can cause intestinal blockage. Your cat should only play with string-types of toys when you are actively playing with him. Take it away from him when you're done.

 

Sick Cat Symptoms

Now let's discuss the curative aspects of keeping your cat healthy. The key to helping him make a speedy recovery from an illness is to first know when there's a problem. The following are common symptoms that should alert you that something might be wrong.

 

° A loss of appetite
° Excessive itching or grooming of himself
° A duller than normal coat
° Lethargy / lack of energy
° Hiding in unusual spots
° Vomiting
° Excessive drooling
° Diarrhea
° Difficulty using his litter box
° Drinking an unusually large amount of water
° Dramatic changes in temperament
° Any other odd behavior.

 

This is by no means an exhaustive list of symptoms that a sick cat might experience. However, it's enough that you should be able to spot something that tells you that something is wrong.

 

Common Cat Illnesses & Afflictions

So just what are the possible illnesses that your cat might have, that might bring on some of the above symptoms? Again, there's no way we can include every cat illness here. However, these are the most common ones. Some of these you can correct yourself by buying the right pet medications. Others you might need to speak with your veterinarian to find out what the best pet meds are.

 

° Hairballs. These are a common problem for many cats, when he passes excessive hair that has accumulated in his stomach, either through vomiting or through feces.
° Worms. These are parasites which can negatively affect your cat's health. There are various types of worms, including ring worms, round worms, hook worms, lung worms, and tape worms. Most of these cases can be effectively treated, however, you'll need to let your vet look at the cat and prescribe the best pet medications for him.
° Infections. There are some rather serious infections which can strike a cat or kitten. These include cat flu, feline infectious enteritis, and even rabies. There's also Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, which is much like HIV in humans, and also the Feline Leukemia Virus. These are all more serious diseases, many of which are treated through vaccinations, although some, such as cat flu, have prescription pet meds available.
° Respiratory Conditions. It's common to find a cat experiencing respiratory conditions, whether lung or pulmonary in nature. Some veterinarian practices treat dozens of such cases a year. Respiratory conditions can be either acute or chronic, and they often stem from parasites, allergies, growths (some benign, other cancerous), abscesses, reactions to fungi, and vital organs which malfunction (for instance, in congestive heart failure).
° Viral Infections. These are yet another reason that you should make your cat an indoors pet rather than an outdoors one. Many studies have shown that the majority of viral infections in cats were acquired when the cat was outdoors. Cats that stay indoors and have the proper vaccinations are much less likely to experience these problems.
° Bacterial Infections. Bacteria are all around us. It does not only affect humans; it affects your pets too. Bacterial infections are quite common among cats, especially those with suppressed immune systems. Factors such as stress, age and other pre-existing conditions make a cat more likely to fall victim to bacterial infections. If your cat does get an infection, your vet will likely prescribe some sort of antibiotic pet meds as well as fluids.

 

Don't Forget Fleas

Fleas are more than just a nuisance. They can be a real threat to your cat's health. Fortunately, there are good quality shampoos, washes and collars that can help.

 

Conclusion

Remember again that many injuries as well as viruses can be avoided if the cat stays indoors. Otherwise, practice proper nutrition and hygiene habits with your cat, and be sure to watch him regularly to make sure he's not showing any unusual symptoms. When he does, get him to the vet. If the vet recommends certain medications, then provide them for your feline friend religiously. The cat for most pet lovers is part of the family. Be sure to treat him as such.