Common Cat Disease and Symptoms

Hairball. Cats groom themselves constantly with their tongues. Normally any loose hair that is swallowed will pass straight through the cat's body but sometimes this loose hair will form into a ball and you may notice your cat coughing trying to expel the hairball. 

Prevention - Groom your cat frequently to remove loose hair. You can also feed him food that helps to control hairballs. There are also Cat treats to help prevent hairballs.

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Urinary tract infection. This cat disease is particularly common in un-neutered male cats, although female cats can also develop this problem. If your cat has suddenly stopped using his litter box, a urinary tract infection could be the culprit. If your cat's urine smells strong, you should suspect a urinary tract infection. These infections need to be treated by your veterinarian. Be sure to ask about cat foods that help alleviate the chance of an infection re-occurring. 

Cat Disease (Dangerous Viruses)

Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a disease that is related to the Corona virus. This problem is serious, because there is no known treatment for the disease. There is a vaccine for FIP, but many veterinarians and scientists say that it actually is not very effective. Luckily, this disease is not as easy to catch as some other diseases.

Symptoms FIP - Unexplained fevers, Lethargy, weight loss, eye disease, swelling of the abdomen or fluid in the chest. Any cat with fevers that do not respond to antibiotics should be considered as a candidate for this disease. Many secondary problems, such as liver or kidney disease can occur with FIP.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (cat AIDs) is not always fatal. Some people are afraid that they will catch HIV from a cat with FIV, but that cannot happen. Most cats become infected with FIV when they are bitten while fighting with an infected cat. The virus, present in the saliva of infected cats, passes beneath the skin of the victim when he is bitten. In most cases, there is no way to know whether your cat has FIV without a blood test.

Symptoms FIV - A decrease in the ability of the immune system to fight infections. Oral-cavity infections, Upper-respiratory infections, Weight loss, Skin infections, Ear infections, Fever of unknown origin, Enlarged lymph nodes, Low red- or white-blood-cell counts, Kidney disease, Eye disease, Spontaneous abortions or stillbirths, Personality changes, tremors, or seizures

Feline Leukemia Virus is preventable if the cat has not been exposed to the virus before being immunized. Although the disease is not always immediately fatal, cats with FLV rarely have a long life expectancy. You should never bring other cats into your household when you have a cat with FLV. Cats can carry this disease without showing any physical signs. The only way to know for sure is to have a blood test taken.

Symptoms FLV - Anemia (lack of pink or red color in the gums)  Weight loss, Recurring or chronic illness, Fading Kitten Syndrome (kitten becomes progressively weaker)
A syndrome similar to distemper (with lethargy, fever, and diarrhea), Persistent or recurring fevers or infections,  Rapid breathing or difficulty with breathing,  Jaundice (which causes a yellow color in the mouth and/or the whites of the eyes), Eye infections and disease,
Certain types of cancer

Worms and cat disease. Roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms are the most common types that infect cats. However, they can occasionally develop heart worms, as well. If your cat seems unable to gain weight, is infested with fleas, or has white specks that look like grains of rice in his stools, you should take him to the veterinarian to be tested for worms. Worms can prove fatal if left untreated.

Lyme Cat disease - Ifyour cat spends time outdoors, you need to check him frequently for ticks. If you find a tick on your cat's body and he has been acting lethargic or moving slowly and acting as if he was in pain, you should ask your veterinarian to test him for Lyme Disease. This disease is transmitted to people and animals by ticks.

Symptoms of this Disease in cats include, painful or stiff muscles and joints, fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, possibly sudden collapse.

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