Common Ailments that can Affect your Cat

There are cat people and there are dog people. The two camps have been arguing over which makes the better pet for quite some time. Obviously, there is no right answer. Some folks like felines and some folks like canines. It really is a matter of preference. Both animals, historically, have made fine pets and companions. But when it comes to bragging rights, cats can claim a small victory. Until only recently, dogs were America’s most popular pet. They have since been surpassed in numbers by their feline friends.

According to statistics compiled by the American Pet Products Association, there are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs and 86.4 million owned cats in the United States. But that is not the statistic we want to focus on today. The only reason there are more cats in America is because cat lovers are far more likely to own more than one cat than dog lovers are. Only 28 percent of dog owners have more than one canine, compared to 52 percent of cat owners that have more than one feline. Why is this important? Because caring for pets can be expensive, especially when you own more than one!

The same survey of American pet owners informs us that the average dog owner spends a little bit more on veterinary visits each year ($248 to $219). But that owner typically only has one dog, while the average cat person has at least two! In other words, those who are fond of felines often spend more on an annual basis to take care of them. Furthermore, many cat owners live on fixed incomes, which can make it extremely difficult to afford pricey prescription medications and vet visits. What can they do?

Practice Prevention

Before we begin, it is important to note that the following is not medical advice. Only an experienced and licensed veterinarian can properly diagnose an illness or condition and provide treatment for your pet. With that said, every cat owner should know a bit about feline healthcare. This includes the illnesses they are more likely to suffer from than other pets, not the treatment. As we mentioned, treatment should be left to the professionals.

Hairballs

Cats like to take care of themselves. No offense to dogs, but they tend to be a bit more independent. A hairball is pretty much what it sounds like. It’s a ball of hair that cats swallow during regular self-grooming routines and later have to hack or vomit up because they can’t be digested. Of course, a cat doesn’t do this on purpose. It is his instinct to try to clean himself, even if he isn’t dirty.

Fortunately, hairballs aren’t deadly. But they will make your cat uncomfortable and they will cause quite a mess. Regurgitated cat fur is not a pleasant thing to find lying around the house. In extreme cases, if your cat is a meticulous groomer, the accumulated hair in his intestines may cause digestive problems. It may cause decreased appetite, which often results in lethargy or fatigue. He may also have problems with constipation, since the accumulated hair in his intestines can make it difficult to get things out.

As we mentioned, if your cat is hacking up a storm and the problem seems to be getting worse, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian. The good news is that in the overwhelming majority of cases the treatment for hair balls is fast, effective, and affordable.

Your kitty’s doctor will most likely prescribe a type of lubricant which makes it easier for the hair to pass through your cat. It typically comes in oral gel form and will stop your feline friend from coughing up his own hair. In addition, it is probably a good idea to brush your cat on a regular basis to remove loose hair, especially if he has long hair. This will prevent him from swallowing large and uncomfortable hairballs that he may not be able to pass.

Diabetes

Just like their owners, pets can get diabetes. This serious condition occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or when the cells do not respond to the hormone as they should (insulin resistance). If it is not properly diagnosed in a timely manner, diabetes will cause early death.

The symptoms of feline diabetes often include increased appetite with no subsequent weight gain, even weight loss. This is because the lack of insulin is not allowing your cat to store fat as he should (insulin is essentially a fat-storing hormone). He may also drink and urinate more than he did before. As the disease takes hold of him, your cat will suffer from weakness and fatigue. In a younger cat, this should be relatively easy to observe. Lastly, when in the final throes of the disease, his breathing will become labored or stertorous and he may vomit or suffer from diarrhea. If your cat experiences any of these serious symptoms, take him to his veterinarian immediately!