Cat Health Problems Advice .

Cat health problems will concern all of us at one time or another.

No matter how well you look after your cat and give the best cat care you can, they will from time to time become ill.

Cats can’t tell us when they are feeling unwell, so it is up to us as pet owners to make sure that we are aware of any changes in behavior or of any physical symptoms which may appear that could suggest that our cat isn’t well.

To help make it easier for you to recognize symptoms of poor cat health, I have provided information covering many of the most common cat illnesses.

However this does not replace a trip to the Vets and if you suspect your cat of being unwell, I advise that you take them straight away.

Common Cat Illnesses and Cat Health Issues.

Here is a list of the most common cat health issues you may come across, click through to find out more about each individual problem: cat health by living in monvoria on flickr

These problems although distressing to both you and your cat can be in most cases successfully treated or managed.

However there are some serious cat illnesses which you may have heard about and would like to find out more information on so that you can either protect your cat from or diagnose quickly. They are:

Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)

Cat Thyroid Problems

Toxoplasmosis

Feline Heart Disease

We also feel very strongly about Cat Insurance and have written about our experiences with vet bills and how Cat Insurance saved us from huge bills over the years.

How To Tell If Your Cat Is Ill

cat health - at the vets for cat health issues by sugar pond on flickr You know your cat better than anyone else. You know what it’s behavior is normally like and how it behaves in the home. Any little changes you notice may be signs that something is wrong.

Note down any changes even if you think they are small ones, as your vet will need to every detail. Don’t forget your vet may only see your cat once in a while and so will not notice the little differences.

Look out for:

Your cat’s coat, it should be shiny and free from dandruff. It is a good indicator of your cat’s general health. Ungroomed fur which is abnormally sticking up, is a sign of ill health.

Your cat’s eyes should be bright and clear. There should be no redness, discharge or excessive blinking.

If your cats third eye membrane ( the haw) does not fully retract and can be seen, there could be an eye infection or foreign body caught in it.

Unusual behavior. Like aggression in a normally happy cat, or a usually outgoing cat becoming quiet and timid.

Ears should be clean and should not contain dark brown wax, which could be a sign of ear mites. Also check for cuts or loose plant seeds.

Blood in vomit, urine or faeces. Not very pleasant to keep an eye on, but a very important observation to make.

Excessive thirst when there is no obvious reason for it like a hot day.

Straining to urinate.

Pregnancy and your Cat

Although this is not ill cat health it is important that you notice early on if your female cat is pregnant.

This will give you time to prepare for the new arrivals. A few early signs are that your cat may be more affectionate than normal and may experience morning sickness.

As the pregnancy progresses you will notice her nipples becoming enlarged and pink and that she starts to gain weight. During the final weeks, she will start to eat more and begin to make nests for her delivery.

First Aid and Emergencies At Home.

first aid kit for cat health and cat care needs by vetcw3 on flickr We should all have a first aid kit at home for ourselves, but many people do not realize that it also a good idea to have a separate kit for any injuries your cat may suffer.

Veterinary centers often sell first aid kits, although there contents are similar to our own and you may prefer to make your own.

If your cat suffers a serious injury at home it is important that we know what cat care to give and have equipment ready to deal with the initial trauma before we can get them to the Vets.

Most importantly KEEP CALM, your cat will already be frightened and they will need you to have reassuring behavior to help them to relax. See our other pages for more details on first aid treatment for your cat at home. Read our cat first aid page here for more information.

Holistic Pet Care

Many Cat owners are looking for alternatives to some conventional medicines for the treatment of illness in their pets, especially as the cases of chronic diseases and immune deficiency in pets are on the increase.

Using herbs for cats and cat supplements is another options for the caring cat owner to help keep their cat's healthy and happy and is certainly one which is worth considering.

Using herbs as medicine is not a new idea and in fact our pets have been using them since the dawn of time to cure their own illnesses, in fact that is one of the ways humans first discovered which herbs could be used for health promotion.

Cat Supplements to your pets diet is also not a new idea, as cats would vary their own diet in the wild to make sure that they remained at optimal health.

Are You Happy with your vet?

How many of you have ever worried whether or not a particular vet has a good track record or not. I personally have come across great vets and, indifferent vets and some I would definitely avoid for various reasons.

I therefore thought it would be a good idea to have a directory of vets that are actually recommended by actual cat owners. That way if you live near a recommended vet you will have more confidence with them for the care of your cat. I know how important it is to have a vet you can trust.

So if you have a vet which has given your cat excellent care, why not add his name and practice to our directory for others to benefit from. Our RECOMMEND YOUR VET page over time will grow into a great resource for cat owners the world over.