By Richard Lam
Cat care includes health issues of your pet. You may be surprised to find that health problems with cats are a common sight. This does not only stick to one breed of cats but all breeds. Some of these may be hereditary whereas others can be easily prevented.
Worms
Worms are a very widespread and persistent problem to all types of cat. Roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms are the most common to infect cats. You can look for symptoms of worm infection if your cat has problems gaining weight, having a flea problem or having white specks in the stools. Immediately take it to a vet for worms test. Although worms are treatable in the cat care category, but if left alone and untreated it can prove fatal.
Hairballs
Hairballs, being the least problematic in the cat care category, are the most common health issues for cats. All cats when grooming themselves daily will tend to swallow the loose hairs. From time to time, all the loose hair will gather and become a hairball which will lodge it in the digestive tract rather than passing out in the stool. Whenever your cat starts to cough, it is just trying to cough out the hairball. Well, eventually the hairball will be dislodged by the cat but the process can be rather disgusting.
In some rare instances, a hairball may get lodged in the intestinal tracts creating a blockage. This kind of blockage will be life threatening if they are not treated. Have a vet check your cat if symptoms such as constipation, dull coat, and having poor appetite show up. To prevent hairballs blockages, you can brush your cat 2 – 3 times a week to remove loose hair. You can also feed your cat with food that is designed to control hairballs.
Urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infection is more common with male cats that have not been sterilized. But the females do suffer from it too. Symptoms to look out for are: when the cat suddenly stops going to the litter box, or when the urine smells really strong. Take your cat to the vet immediately.
Feline leukemia
Previously, feline leukemia was the leading cause of death in cats. But today, you can get vaccines that can treat the disease. As part of the cat care precautionary measures, just take your cat to the vet for a vaccine shot. Cats exposed to the disease may not die immediately but will have their life span shortened hugely. The virus is highly contagious so never allow other cats near the feline leukemia stricken cat.
Therefore, to ensure maximum cat care provided for your pet, you should always ensure that you take your cat to the vet for regular check ups. Make sure that your cat gets up-to-date vaccinations so that it can lead a healthy and productive life. Most of the health problem can be treated although some cannot. If your cat is outdoor bound, just make sure your pet visit the vet regularly, otherwise you can keep your cat indoors to protect it from a majority of health problems.
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