Avoiding Common Ailments that Cats May Have

There are a lot of different ailments that cats may face as they get older.  You should familiarize yourself with these issues and learn how to avoid them if possible. 

You will find that most cats groom themselves. You have seen cats, both big and small, wash their face with their paws. This is because it is part of their primal instinct to keep themselves clean. While they do this, they sometimes get hair in their mouth as they shed. Sometimes it can turn into what they call fur balls. These can make the cat throw up. To avoid this, you can usually just ensure that you keep the cat’s fur brushed. This can keep the cat from getting the hair off onto its paws.

Another common ailment in cats is a bladder infection. You will see that lack of hydration is generally what causes this. If you keep them on a feeding schedule and ensure that water is available at all times, you will be able to work against this from ever becoming a problem.

Aside from bladder infections, kidney infections can also be a problem. Sometimes, as cats get older they will start to have problems with their kidneys. There are some common signs of this that you should look for if this is a concern that you have. They may start to drink a lot more water, they may lose weight, and they also may throw up. The best way to fight against kidney problems is by giving them less salt and protein.

Ear mites are another big problem with cats. Mites tend to get into the cats ears and live. Usually it is a good idea to check your cats ears frequently if you notice them scratching at their ears. Most of the time, you will see some sort of brown build up in their ears if they have ear mites. Avoiding ear mites is tough if your cat is an outdoor cat, but if you keep your cat indoors they will be far less likely to have this problem.

Cystitis is another common ailment. This is something that will cause your cat to have problems when they urinate. They may also have blood or mucous in their urine. It is tough to avoid this problem; however, you will see that having your cat fast for an entire day will help make it go away.

Worms can also affect cats. Tapeworms are especially common. If you find that your cat is experiencing worms, you will want to get them to the vet so that they can get the proper treatment for them. They can really make your cat sick if left untreated.

Sometimes cats are very prone to having allergies. You will find that fleas cause a lot of problems with cats. Fleas themselves are not that big of a problem, but it is the things that can be caused by fleas that make them dangerous. They make many products that are supposed to help keep cats from getting fleas.

As you can see, with the different ailments that commonly affect cats, there are ways to avoid them. If you notice that your cat is suffering from any sort of ailment, you will want to have them seen about immediately. Some common signs of problems include throwing up, watery stool, ear scratching, or other issues with behavior.