5 Common Cat Diseases Every Pet Owner Should Know

The key to being a good cat owner is the ability to recognize when something is wrong. However, cats are often very independent and enigmatic, making it difficult for pet owners to distinguish between mild and severe conditions. 

So, being cognizant of the common cat diseases and rare symptoms is essential.

It is such a scary thought to get your beloved companion sick, but just like anyone else, no cat is resistant to getting sick. 

However, no matter how well you care for your cat and do everything right, it may develop health problems. 

However, it will be helpful to discuss typical diseases seen in cats, their symptoms, and possible treatments.

Common Cat Diseases and Symptoms

Cats are excellent at self-care. However, even your most vigilant cats cannot prevent some common feline diseases. Every cat owner must be attentive to their cat’s condition and how they move, eat, and interact with other pets or people. For this reason, it is vital that you know the types of diseases that would likely infect cats. To be able to care for your cat properly, it is helpful to understand which sicknesses they are susceptible to, how they can be cured or prevented, and what the symptoms are.

Get the details of the cat diseases and symptoms below. 

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

Tapeworm

Tapeworms are one of the most common cat diseases. These are parasitic worms in the small intestine, which can grow up to 2 feet long and frequently break apart when expelled. As a result, identifying a complete worm is difficult. 

So, watching for tapeworm symptoms and monitoring your cat's feces is critical.

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

Tapeworm treatment can be done through injection, oral administration, or topical. For instance, deworming medication comes in the form of a tablet or an injection.

Obesity

A cat can be defined as obese if it is over its ideal weight and 20% of this weight. Obesity in cats significantly decreases their lifespan as well as increases their susceptibility to diseases and other health challenges. The condition of cats that are overweight depends on factors such as the animal’s age, diet, and many others.

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 tightens
• 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.

Dental Issues: Common Cat Diseases

Dental disease is a common problem that affects many cats. Periodontal disease, which is a combination of gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth resorption, is the most commonly observed dental ailment in felines. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that most dental diseases do not require complicated interventions and can be prevented or cured. 

Although, 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. 

Urinary Tract Complications: 

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 therapy is diagnostics, which examines the cause, signs, and type of issue your cat has. Medications like analgesics and antibiotics are the standard conventional treatment for this disease. In addition to drugs, dietary adjustments, as well as the intake of more water, can be prescribed.

Wrapping Up

As a cat parent, you must know the 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.

Search a Vet is the name to trust for all your pet care needs. We connect you to top veterinarians or animal hospitals to get online vet appointments and consultations in a single platform. We aim to bridge the gap between pet parents and animal health care professionals to make pet health more accessible.

Search a Vet enables pet parents to address common cat diseases and get immediate vet help by locating the most reliable clinic in your area. Getting expert veterinary advice for your pet has never been this easy. 

FAQs

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 the major cause of the development of several diseases that badly impact cats' health and overall shorten their healthy lifespan. Diabetes, metabolic disorders, certain types of cancer, and respiratory and heart diseases, for instance, can occur from obesity.