Archive for the ‘Cat Health’ Category

Cancer does not just affect human beings, cats can also be prone to the ill affects of this deadly disease. I have a cat who is called Pip and in this article I will be writing about my families experience in protecting her from cancer, which the vet has informed us, has ultimately saved and prolonged her life.

Pip is a beautiful and loving cat and is very much part of our family. She is treated like our third child and has what we hope to be a very happy and comfortable life.

I have been surrounded my animals for most of my life as my parents run an animal sanctuary in the Birmingham area of England. I have learnt quite a lot about these different animals and have a particular love of cats and dogs.

Pip herself is ninety-five percent white in colour, the other five percent is black. I am aware that cats which are mainly white are basically at a higher risk of catching a type of skin cancer than other cats. In the summer Pip would always love to sunbathe, basking in the sun. I would ensure that I put sun cream on her, mainly around her ears and tried to encourage to sleep more in the shaded areas of our garden. Pip is however quite stubborn and insisted on resting out of the shade.

Over the years I would check Pip out at regular intervals and one day noticed that she had some little black spots in and around her ears. These spots had not been there the last time I had checked her over and therefore I decided to take her to the vets. I felt confident that everything would be fine but just wanted to make sure.

The vet examined Pip and looked quite worried. He told us that Pip had a form of pre-cancer and that the only way that she would survive, in his opinion, would be to have her ears amputated.

This was very sad but we realised that in a way we had no choice. This all happened four years ago and Pip is still going strong today, unaware of how close she was to losing her life. The vet has stated that if I had not checked her out and brought her in to be examined that the cancer would have spread and that Pip would have only lived for around three to six months.

My advice for anyone who has a cat as a pet, especially if they are white in colour, is to check the cat every week or so and if you spot anything out of the ordinary, to take them to the vets.

Cats, like any other animal out there, can become sick.  There are several health problems that can affect your cat.  If you have never owned one though you may not realize just what those can be.  Knowing what to look for can protect your pet’s health.

The hairball is probably the most common of them.  Cats will groom themselves and this allows loose hair to come off the pet and end up in the stomachs.  Instead of passing easily, the hair can form a ball within the stomach.  If your cat starts coughing and hacking he may have a hairball that he’s trying to expel.  You can help prevent hairballs by grooming your cat frequently to remove the excess hair that will cause them.  You can feed your cat food that will help to control it too.  Even some cat treats are available to help you to keep your cat’s healthy.

Urinary tract infections are another common problem for many cats.  These are particularly common in cats that are not neutered, especially males.  If the cat stopped using his litter box, an infection can be the cause.  If the cat’s urine smells strong, this can be a sign as well.  In order to treat this condition, you will need to visit the vet.  But, there are some cat foods out there that can help to limit the episodes of infection your cat will have.

Viruses

Cats can get viruses too.  Some of these include the following:  Feline Leukemia Virus, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.

FIP is a disease that is related to the Corona virus.  This is a serious problem because there is no known treatment for the disease.  Cats that test positive for it may not actually have it as Corona has the same results.  There is a vaccine for FIP but many vets feel it is not very effective.  The good news is that it is not easy for the cat to catch it.

FIV or cat AIC is not always something that will kill the animal.  It is important to note that you can not catch HIV from a cat though.

FLV is a preventable condition if the cat has not been exposed to the virus before being immunized.  Cats that have the disease will not die right away, most of the time, but it can shorten the life expectancy of the pet.  It is important to keep other cats away from a pet that has this condition.

Worms are another problem that can affect your pet.  These can be roundworms, tapeworms or hookworms.  They can occasionally develop heart worms as well.  Those cats that can not gain weight are infested with fleas and those who have white specks in their stool should be taken to the vet for testing for worms.  If your pet does have worms, it can be fatal if it is untreated but most pets can be cured from it with a few doses of medication.

Another condition in which many cats that go outdoors will have is ticks.  Symptoms include the pet being lethargic and acting like they are in pain.  If you suspect that your pet may have this condition, make sure to take him to the vet to have them removed.  Also, the vet will likely treat him for Lyme Disease which can be transmitted to you and your family as well as to pets by the ticks.

There are a number of useful websites that can give you information about diseases that affect your cat. However, it is essential that if you suspect your pet of having any of these conditions that you seek out the help of a vet right away.

You know how annoying it can be when you have an itch, but you can’t reach it to give it a scratch? Well, when your cat has fleas it’s like your problem, just multiplied a hundred times.

If your cat has fleas or ticks, you need to take action.  If they are scratching or have irritated skin, your cats need you to bring this problem under control because it can become a much larger problem if you do not.

Even clean cats can end up with fleas.  All it takes is a stray animal to come close enough to the cat.  Or, the cat can pick them up outdoors as well.  Even just one flea can leave many eggs and cause a full scale attack on your pet.

To stop them before they start, you can use a product such as Frontline or Advantix.  These are pre measured liquid treatments that are applied directly to the cat’s skin and coat.  When fleas get onto the pet, these products kill them before they can lay eggs.  Those who want preventative measures for keeping the cat safe should use these.

For most though, it takes seeing the fleas to get them to start fighting them.  If you see tiny black or brown insects on your animal, these are no doubt that your cat is flea infested.  If you do see them, realize that the problem is already a big problem.

What you need to do is make sure to check your pet for fleas all the time.  You can do this with a flea comb.  Carefully comb through the cat’s hair and pay attention to the hair around the cat’s head and his belly.  These are the ideal places for fleas to hide including the ears, eyes and the nose.  And, they like to burrow in the creases where the cat’s legs and body meet.

When combing your pet, if you find a flea you know they are throughout his body.  But, if you end up with a few black or brown specks, this too is a sign that they are hiding somewhere on the pet’s body.

To find them, run your hands over the cat’s body.  Look for raised spots on him.  If you find one or more, check it closely to see if it has little legs.  If so the cat has ticks.  You’ll need to ask your vet about having the tick removed as you can not do this yourself without risking the tick’s head staying behind in your pet’s skin.

In order to get them under control, you’ll need to use one of the liquid flea and tick treatments.  You can also use flea or tick collars and baths as well.  If the fleas are in your house, as they probably are, then you will need to use a powder or spray for the bedding and upholstered furniture too.  As a last resort, you can use a flea and tick bomb in your home.  But, in this case, the animals will need to stay out of your home for at least 24 hours.

Fleas are a serious concern and you need to keep them from affecting your pet.  If your pet has them, also talk to your vet about treatments he can provide as these are professional strengths that can help.  Before they make your pet sick, take measures at the first sign of trouble.