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10 Common Illnesses in Cats
As a pet owner it is important that you not only provide food, water, and affection to your pets, but also that you watch out for their general health and happiness as well. Like humans, there are many common illnesses that can strike your cat and lead to pain and suffering.
The following are 10 common illnesses that impact cats. In the following paragraphs you'll learn a little about each disease, and how to spot it before it gets any worse.
Conjunctivitis
A common eye problem in cats, conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane that covers the back of a cat's eyelids. You'll be able to spot conjunctivitis in your cat by their pink, swollen, or crusty eyes. You may also notice persistent squinting, discharge from its eye, or excessive blinking. Conjunctivitis is common in kittens because they have weaker immune systems.
Feline diabetes
Feline diabetes is a serious problem. Cats tend to lounge around the home and receive less owner-driven exercise than dogs. At the same time, a cat's diet is never adjusted downward to compensate for lower energy levels. Overweight cats face the greatest risk of developing feline diabetes. Symptoms to watch for include increased thirst, urination, and appetite, as well as corresponding weight loss.
Lymphoma
This is the most common form of cancer in cats. Lymphoma is a form of cancer that originates in white blood cells and has a direct impact on the animal's immune system. Symptoms of lymphoma can vary, but common signs include lumps, swelling, weight loss, skin infections, and bloody stool.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
FIV is a retrovirus that prevents your cat from developing a normal immune response. FIV is hard to catch because it can remain dormant in your cat for years and is slow-moving when it does become active. Signs to watch for include fever, enlarged lymph nodes, dental disease, decreased appetite, and wounds that won't heal.
Feline Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper)
Feline Distemper is an extremely contagious disease that attacks your cat's blood cells. The virus often attacks the blood cells of the intestinal tract and bone marrow, opening the door to future infections and leading to anemia in many cats. You should be on the lookout for signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, depression, and lack of coordination.
Kidney failure
This illness comes in two forms: chronic and acute. Chronic kidney failure often occurs as a cat ages and loses nephrons. Acute failure occurs rapidly as the result of exposure to toxins or as a side effect of an infection. The signs of kidney failure in a cat include lethargy, weight loss, increased drinking, and increased urination.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
FeLV is another retrovirus that impacts cats and inhibits the body's immune system, opening the door to numerous infections and illnesses. FeLV is tough to spot because infected cats may show no symptoms. Warning signs you can watch for include inflamed gums, poor coat health, seizures, skin diseases, and respiratory problems.
Cat flu
The cat flu, also referred to as an Upper Respiratory Infection, results in a runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes. You can catch the warning signs pretty easily by watching for sneezing, discharge from the eyes, coughing, difficulty breathing, and fever.
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD)
It is not at all uncommon for cats to suffer from a Lower Urinary Tract Disease. LUTD impacts your cat's urinary tract and bladder, and can lead to symptoms such as difficult urination, blood in urine, and urinating outside the litter box. LUTD can also lead to other diseases such as Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, urinary stones, or urethral obstructions.
Obesity
Numerous animal welfare groups estimate that roughly half of the cats in the United States are overweight or obese. Obesity can have many of the same serious health impacts on cats as humans. Obesity can lead to arthritis, respiratory issues, diabetes (as mentioned earlier), and many other problems. Aside from the obvious weight gain, signs that your cat is struggling with its weight include lethargy, trouble moving, and lack of body definition.
The following are 10 common illnesses that impact cats. In the following paragraphs you'll learn a little about each disease, and how to spot it before it gets any worse.
Conjunctivitis
A common eye problem in cats, conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane that covers the back of a cat's eyelids. You'll be able to spot conjunctivitis in your cat by their pink, swollen, or crusty eyes. You may also notice persistent squinting, discharge from its eye, or excessive blinking. Conjunctivitis is common in kittens because they have weaker immune systems.
Feline diabetes
Feline diabetes is a serious problem. Cats tend to lounge around the home and receive less owner-driven exercise than dogs. At the same time, a cat's diet is never adjusted downward to compensate for lower energy levels. Overweight cats face the greatest risk of developing feline diabetes. Symptoms to watch for include increased thirst, urination, and appetite, as well as corresponding weight loss.
Lymphoma
This is the most common form of cancer in cats. Lymphoma is a form of cancer that originates in white blood cells and has a direct impact on the animal's immune system. Symptoms of lymphoma can vary, but common signs include lumps, swelling, weight loss, skin infections, and bloody stool.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
FIV is a retrovirus that prevents your cat from developing a normal immune response. FIV is hard to catch because it can remain dormant in your cat for years and is slow-moving when it does become active. Signs to watch for include fever, enlarged lymph nodes, dental disease, decreased appetite, and wounds that won't heal.
Feline Distemper is an extremely contagious disease that attacks your cat's blood cells. The virus often attacks the blood cells of the intestinal tract and bone marrow, opening the door to future infections and leading to anemia in many cats. You should be on the lookout for signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, depression, and lack of coordination.
Kidney failure
This illness comes in two forms: chronic and acute. Chronic kidney failure often occurs as a cat ages and loses nephrons. Acute failure occurs rapidly as the result of exposure to toxins or as a side effect of an infection. The signs of kidney failure in a cat include lethargy, weight loss, increased drinking, and increased urination.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
FeLV is another retrovirus that impacts cats and inhibits the body's immune system, opening the door to numerous infections and illnesses. FeLV is tough to spot because infected cats may show no symptoms. Warning signs you can watch for include inflamed gums, poor coat health, seizures, skin diseases, and respiratory problems.
Cat flu
The cat flu, also referred to as an Upper Respiratory Infection, results in a runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes. You can catch the warning signs pretty easily by watching for sneezing, discharge from the eyes, coughing, difficulty breathing, and fever.
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD)
It is not at all uncommon for cats to suffer from a Lower Urinary Tract Disease. LUTD impacts your cat's urinary tract and bladder, and can lead to symptoms such as difficult urination, blood in urine, and urinating outside the litter box. LUTD can also lead to other diseases such as Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, urinary stones, or urethral obstructions.
Obesity
Numerous animal welfare groups estimate that roughly half of the cats in the United States are overweight or obese. Obesity can have many of the same serious health impacts on cats as humans. Obesity can lead to arthritis, respiratory issues, diabetes (as mentioned earlier), and many other problems. Aside from the obvious weight gain, signs that your cat is struggling with its weight include lethargy, trouble moving, and lack of body definition.
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