Cat Ill

Top Ways to Prevent Cat Illness

The incredible pleasure of companionship given by your feline friends comes with certain responsibilities and obligations. Continuing your joy of keeping them company would greatly depend on how well you understand and provide for their needs. Learning about proper cat health care is important for all cat owners. Giving them love, proper care and attention will not only ensure great health for your cats. It also ensures a long and happy life.

General Needs

Your cat has several needs, which you need to pay close attention to. It needs to receive proper nourishment, proper grooming, the right medical attention in the event of a cat illness and the right pregnancy care for female cats later in its life. Not only does proper cat health care demand time and attention, it also demands a certain amount of budget to sufficiently and timely provide for all your cat's needs.

Feeding

The key to health is getting the right food. The same rule applies in ensuring optimum cat health. Putting it under a good diet and giving it the best cat food you can obtain will not only protect your cat from getting any common cat illness. It will also yield huge savings on veterinary bills. Hence, compromising the quality of cat food over value is poor economy. Investing on your cat's health means trusting the name of American Association of Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) approved cat food manufacturers. You can consult your veterinarian on this regard so you can give your pet the kind of food that is appropriate for its age, breed or health condition.

Grooming

A kitten is born with the innate ability to groom itself. You see mother cats licking her kittens soon after they were born to help them breathe. Grooming is something that comes natural among cats. For the most part, your cat can answer to its grooming needs. However, there are a number of reasons why you should use some grooming techniques for your cat. Long-haired cats need extra help to prevent getting matted fur. Occasionally combing your cat's fur prevents parasites such as fleas, lice and ticks from settling on the fur. Some cat owners even enjoy occasionally bathing and trimming the claws of their cats. Some would even go to the lengths of brushing the cat's teeth. Aside from giving them a pleasant experience with their best pets, it also prevents the onslaught of common cat parasites.

Common Cat Health Problems

From simple inconveniences, cat illness, to life threatening accidents, the concern about common cat health problems is an experience shared by all cat owners. These problems range from simple inconveniences to life-threatening illnesses. Noticing a cat illness coming is extremely helpful in limiting the risks involved. The following should guide you through your pet care experience.

Hair Balls

You cat is likely to experience a problem called hair ball. The condition is caused by the accumulation of fur inside the cat's body due to its grooming habits. The accumulated fur or hair ball usually becomes a source of irritation when the cat fails to eliminate it on the litter box or through coughing. Once the hair ball compacts with the undigested food in the intestines, it needs to be surgically removed to avoid serious health complications. Noticing symptoms such as dry and hacking cough, vomiting after meals, hair entwined with feces, constipation, diarrhea, poor appetite and weight loss means that your cat suffers from hair ball. A veterinarian's instructed use of mineral oil or petroleum lubricants and other petrochemical products may be used to relieve these symptoms.

Plant Poisoning

Cats love to chew on things, especially green things. Your cat's fondness for your indoor as well as outdoor plants can be very dangerous especially when you are using pesticides on these plants. As you cat chews on its leaves, it might ingest the chemicals you have applied on your plants. Also, there are some ornamental plants that are toxic in nature and can possibly harm your naughty cat.

Infections

Viral and other infections answer to majority of the causes of common cat health problems. Depending on the severity and nature of the infection, a particular infection can lead to complications that can compromise your cat's health. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) and Feline Leukemia Virus are the known plagues of a cat's health. Thankfully, there are vaccinations and treatments that are available for these serious infections.

Parasites

Common cat parasites include fleas, worms, ticks and lice. Fleas and lice not only cause chronic itching and infections but also deliver parasites such as worm larvae inside your cat's body. The worms thriving in the intestines can cause anemia, weakness and weight loss. Proper grooming and the use of powders, pest sprays, lotions and shampoo can help remove these parasites. Ask a veterinarian for the most suitable product that can help you eliminate common parasites.

Caution

Loss of appetite, dull coat, more frequent grooming, excessive itching or constant scratching, not grooming after eating, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling and display of unusual behavior are tell-tale signs of a sick cat. Familiarizing yourself with these symptoms of cat illness is important in ensuring the health of your feline friend. Upon noticing these symptoms, immediately contact your veterinarian.

Kathy is another cat lover and runs Cat Lover Products where you can learn more about cat health.

My landlord never listens to me and I just found rat poison in my flat...?
I moved into this flat 3 months ago, I pay �700 a month and I have a 1 year contract for a studio flat that is underneath the home of my landlord his wife and 3 kids. I noticed after about a month that there were some mouse droppings in crevices so I told them right away and they said they'd sort it out. We discussed me getting a cat too and they agreed and I made it clear that no poison should be pu down at any time because it could make the cat ill. I haven't seen any more droppings since so I assumed that the smell of the cat put them off but I said I still wanted the council to come in and seal all entrances off proffesionaly and they said they would and they are putting in a new bed for me tomorrow as I found some droppings near there (yeah I didn't really sleep for two weeks and I work full time and study in the evenings grrr). I spent all of today at the vets because my cat isn't eating and is always sleepy. I was changing the bedding on my bed and i saw just beneath the divan a MASSIVE chunk of rat poison that looked like it had been dragged from underneath. I'm so worried the cat has eaten some but the emergency helpline said she'd have been showing signs within an hour. I can't afford the �70 call out fee and she seems ok just a bit lathargic and she has eaten today now. I adopted her on Saturday so i've had her only a day short of a week. I'm going to take her to the vet tomorrow anyway but i'm so worried. When I found the poison I took it up to them and said what is this doing in my house? I left you a note saying no poison because of the cat and the woman (who I'm certain it was since it's sprinkled everywhere she said she was going to when I told her not to) looked me in the face and said she didn't put it there and maybe it wasnt poison. I immediatly put my cat in her carrier hoovered all under the bed and everywhere. I found more crumbled behind the fridge and washing machine too. How can I get them to listen to me? they just laugh and cut corners instead of doing things properly or say "well the girl before you never said anything" the woman is fairly shy so it's weird that she's such a sneaky ***** but i'm SO angry. Can I make them pay for any vet bills I incur from this? I left a note the same day the guy came to treat the garden saying DO NOT PUT POISON HERE BECAUSE OF MY CAT and she did it anyway and lied about it today. Sorry this is so long but i've been trying helplines and all sorts to no avail and i'm so worried and angry.

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who wants a cat ill contact you if you want please respond she is a sweet loving cat in need of a home?
please contact me on facebook maddie smithers

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Is my eleven year old male cat ill?
I moved house 6 days ago and brought my cat with me. He's a 17lb turkish van that's always had one hell of a appetite. He's never moved before and he doesn't seem to be settling too well. He's barely eaten or drank anything since we moved he's had a couple of treats from my hand and will only drink if I take him too the water and put him in front of it, even then it's very little. As a consequence he's not using his litter box either (I've taken him to everything a couple of times to show him where they are) He just lies on the sofa all day sleeping. If I move him he just jumps back up. He's still purring and is responsive. Also he seems to be getting a milky white film in the inside corner of his eyes and his nose is more white than pink now. In all honesty he's not a very active cat a the best of times. He's always been rather lazy and will sleep for almost the entire day. He's also of a nervous disposition due to being mistreated by previous owner when he was a kitten. But i'm getting worried now. This is out of character for him. He always gets very shaken when I take him to the vets, which I will do if I need to but I thought i'd get some opinions first.

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Is my cat ill or does he just need worming?
My cat is around a year old I got him off a friend when he was a kitten, he was a stray as she found him in her garden in her shed, he has never been a massive eater but recently he has eaten hardly anything, he will go to try and eat our food but wont touch his own. we thought he might of gone off his own food so we changed it but its still the same. He also doesn't seem himself, he seems very lethargic, and doesn't want to play much would rather sleep, he is due for his injections at the end of the month, but has recently started to go out, even though he hasn't had he injects just yet, could this make my cat ill as i think this is the reason...... i would like it if people would judt help me instead of emailing me telling me to cant look after my cat!! i was just wondering if it was normal for a cat to not eat at times as i have never had an animal before!! your opinion doesn't matter to me!!! : )

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