Feline Health Issues

Cats are prone to a multitude of health issues and while some cat health issues can be cured through proper care and medication, others are hereditary and may be incurable.



One of the most common cat hair problems are hair balls in the cat’s stomach. This occurs because cat groom themselves throughout the day and the hair they lick of the body goes into their stomach and they irritate the lining of the stomach causing the formation of hairballs. Cats that have hairballs in their stomach may vomit frequently and cough as if trying to expel something from inside.



It would be ideal to take the cat to the veterinarian if these symptoms are present and on the home front, feeding it a high fiber diet may help ease it out of the cat’s system. In order to prevent hairballs, use a thin toothed comb to keep its fur clean and smooth. This will help in its grooming process and reduce the chance of having hairballs.



Another cat health problems stems from worm infestations, particularly tapeworms, ringworms and hookworms. A worm attack is symptomised by poor appetite, a loss of weight, a dull and limp coat, a pot belly despite a minimal intake of food and continues vomiting. A vet will be able to prescribe a dose of de-worming to clear up the condition. Cats like dogs are prone to flea attacks and if severe enough, they are known to kill off kittens. These fleas feed off the blood of cats and if the animal is allergic to flea saliva, the scratching can become intense and even cause it to mutilate itself. The fleas can be treated by an application of topical medication which a veterinarian can prescribe.

Cats are particularly susceptible to chronic renal failure which can be aggravated with a refusal to drink its necessary requirement of water. Studies show that this disease is common among cats that have been fed on a solely dry food diet. It is extremely difficult to get cats to drink water and wet food is one way to get them to drink. If they suddenly begin to drink a greater amount of water than before, consult your pet doctor immediately. If the cat displays health problems such as constant shaking and it does not eat much, meows incessantly, is nervous and keeps hiding under the bed, behind curtains and so on, it may be suffering from stress. But his stress could also be an external manifestation of a physical ailment and will require medical attention.