Cat diseases - Cat disease causes, symptoms and prevention

Cat diseases and health - As a loving and responsible owner you'll not only be providing good food, shelter and a warm place to sleep but also making sure that all their health and welfare needs are met. There are many websites out there on the World Wide Web that specialize in cats and cat-related issues, including cat health problems, cat health symptoms and cat health insurance. The expert, of course, is your veterinarian, but if you keep yourself informed and actively involved in your cats health life you could well save your cat from any health-related discomfort. Early detection of any ailment is the only way to help your cat live happier and longer.

cat's health depends on many things including a proper vaccination program, comprehensive parasite control, grooming and training. Kittens are usually born with some immunity which soon wanes, that is why vaccinations are necessary. Some diseases are hereditary and cannot be detected early. Do you know that two-thirds of all cats will experience a potentially serious illness at some point in their lives? Diabetes, protein or blood in the urine, liver problems... early detection is vital. Many common cat diseases can be prevented in two ways: 1)Keeping your cat indoors; 2)Having your cat vaccinated according to your veterinarian's advice.

Preventing common cat diseases We love our cats. We want to keep it as healthy and happy as possible. However, even with the best care, cats can get sick. You are lucky if you can catch the symptoms early and identify the specific cat disease affecting your pet. But this is not always the case. And often, we only discover the problem when it is at its worse stages and the cat has been considerably weakened due to the disease. This is why it becomes increasingly important for cat owners to learn more about the common cat diseases. That way, you can “discover” the cat diseases early and know what preemptive steps to take to protect your beloved furry friend.

Rabies
Of all the diseases in cats, rabies is perhaps the most widely known. Rabies is a type of viral cat disease that is often very fatal for cats or any other infected animal. It is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal and spread through animal bites.

Rabies most commonly affects free-roaming cats as these cats are more likely to encounter and get bitten by wild animals that are infected. You can tell if your pet has been bitten by a rabies-infected animal through symptoms like: hydrophobia (your cat develops an aversion to water that is unusual even for a cat), aggressive behavior, depression, withdrawn behavior, and agitation.

The most effective treatment for rabies is vaccine. You should make sure that your cat has been vaccinated for rabies. In most states, this is required by law.

Upper respiratory infections (URIs).
URIs are similar in many ways to the common cold in humans and produce many of the same symptoms: sneezing, runny nose and eyes, reddened eyes, fever, and decreased appetite. However, URIs can be much more serious than common colds—they can be fatal if left untreated. These airborne viruses are highly contagious; they can be transmitted to cats through human handling and through contact with other cats and with inanimate objects such as litter boxes, food bowls, and grooming tools. Separate any new cat from your other cats for at least three weeks until you are sure your newcomer doesn't have any symptoms of a URI.

Prevention is the best approach to URIs—have your cat vaccinated. But if your cat does come down with cold-like symptoms, contact your veterinarian right away. The veterinarian will probably prescribe antibiotics to prevent secondary infections and give you precise care instructions. Follow them carefully and make sure your cat eats and drinks sufficiently.

Feline distemper
Also known as feline panleukopenia, feline distemper shows symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea and is very highly contagious. Feline distemper transmits through human contact, infected cats, clothing, hair, paws, food bowls. Best way to prevent is vaccinatiion.