5 Common Cat Diseases Every Owner Should Know

Knowing when something isn't right is essential to being a responsible cat owner. Unfortunately, cats are fiercely independent and mysterious, which makes it difficult for pet owners to distinguish between minor and serious health issues. Hence, it's critical to understand the signs and symptoms of the most common feline health issues.

While the prospect of your beloved companion becoming ill is terrifying, no cat is immune to illness. Even if you are a perfect pet parent and do everything correctly, the cat may suffer health issues. However, a closer examination of common feline diseases, including symptoms and treatment options, will be helpful.

In the following, you will learn about common cat diseases.

Cat Diseases and Symptoms

Cats are excellent at self-care. However, even your most vigilant cats cannot prevent some common feline diseases. Therefore, monitoring your cat's health is essential to your role as a cat parent. As a result, you should be aware of the most common cat diseases that can affect your pet. The best way to keep your cat healthy is to understand the symptoms of the illnesses, their causes, and how to treat and prevent them.

Get the details of the cat diseases and symptoms in the following. 

1. Fleas

Fleas are a common external cat health issue. However, it is easily treatable. Fleas can live for more than a year, and your cat may develop anemia if the situation worsens. So treat your cat's flea problem and prevent future infestations.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a flea infestation in cats are:

•    Flea dirt on the skin
•    Excessive scratching
•    Excessive licking
•    Red or irritated skin
•    Loss of hair
•    Skin infections
•    Hot spots

Treatment

Oral medication, powders, foams, and topical medication are all flea treatment methods.

2. Tapeworm

Tapeworms are parasitic worms that live in the small intestine. Tapeworms can grow up to 2 feet long and frequently break apart when expelled. As a result, identifying a complete worm is difficult. As a result, it is critical to watch for tapeworm symptoms and monitor your cat's feces.

Symptoms

A tapeworm's symptoms can be subtle. They are as follows:

•    Vomiting
•    Loss of weight
•    Rice-like segments in cat bedding, feces, or anus

Treatment

Injection, oral, or topical medication are all options for tapeworm treatment. For example, a deworming medication is typically administered as a tablet or injection.

3. Obesity

A cat weighing 20% more than its ideal weight is considered obese. Obesity in cats reduces their lifespan and makes them more vulnerable to diseases and health conditions. Obesity in cats can be caused by animal age, diet, and other lifestyle factors.

Symptoms

In addition to apparent weight gain, obesity symptoms include:

•    Difficulty in jumping or climbing
•    Sitting or lying down more
•    Refusing to get up and move around
•    No visible waistline
•    Pet parent's inability to feel ribs or hip bones
•    Unkempt, messy hair coat
•    Continuous collar tighten
•    Less frequent bowel movements

Treatment

Veterinarians recommend a new diet plan based on your cat's overall health and determine an ideal weight for treatment. Then, in collaboration with you, devise strategies to address your cat's obesity.

4. Dental Issues

Many cats suffer from dental disease. Gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth resorption are the most common feline dental diseases. However, most cases of dental disease can be avoided or treated with proper care. Yet, if dental problems persist, they can be dangerous to the cat.

Symptoms

The symptoms of dental issues in cats are: 

•    Redness
•    Swelling
•    Discomfort
•    Bleeding gums
•    Inability to eat
•    Halitosis
•    Drooling
•    Pain

Treatment

The treatment of dental problems is dependent on the condition. Infections, for example, are treated with medication. On the other hand, serious issues necessitate procedures such as scaling, root canals, or extractions. 

5. Urinary Tract Issues

Feline urinary tract disease is a group of conditions affecting your cat's kidney, bladder, and urethra. If your cat is overweight, eats dry food, and is frequently stressed, it is at a higher risk of urinary issues. Urinary problems can also be caused by genetics and grooming habits.

Symptoms

If your cat exhibits any of the following symptoms, you must take it to the veterinarian for a thorough examination.

•    increased water consumption
•    Difficulty in urinating
•    Bloody urine
•    Urinating outside of their litter box.
•    Licking in the genital region
•    Depression
•    Appetite loss
•    Vomiting

Treatment

The first step in treatment is determining the cause, symptoms, and type of problem your cat is experiencing. Pain relievers and antibiotics are standard treatment options. Aside from medications, dietary changes and increased water consumption are recommended.

Conclusion

As a cat parent, you must know the different diseases that can harm your pet. Preventative care, keeping your cat indoors, and staying current on vaccines and check-ups are all critical to their health. Furthermore, understanding the need to visit the veterinarian requires knowledge of diseases and behavior.

You may consult our veterinary resources if you need information regarding cat diseases. Vet and Tech contain information on animal diseases that can broaden your knowledge. Learn about conditions and how to protect yourself and your cats through our resource on common diseases. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the indications of a healthy cat?

They have a soft, silky coat and are well-groomed. They should urinate frequently and have good litter box habits. In addition, they should enjoy their food and drink plenty of water.

How do you know if your cat is sick?

Changes in appearance, energy level, sociability, coat appearance, amount of shedding, appetite, litterbox usage, breathing, or discharges from the eyes or nose can indicate sickness in the cat.

Can obesity shorten a cat's life?

Obesity is a condition that can lead to the development of many diseases that can shorten a cat's life. Diabetes, certain types of cancer, metabolic disorders, and respiratory and heart diseases, for example, are all linked to obesity.