Cat Health Care
Posted by admin on Aug 4, 2008
Cat Health Questions
If you own a cute cat at your home, then you must be highly concerned with its health problems. Here are some important cat health questions that would help you understand your cat’s health problems.Cats are the joyous and playful companions. Many people like to own this wonderful pet. However, you need to be very careful and alert about its health and nutrition. A little negligence can lead to a serious health problem in your cat.
Given below are some typical cat health questions, which can guide you to understand these health problems.What should be included in a cat’s diet?By nature, cats are carnivorous and hence, their diet should be rich in animal tissue for its long-term well-being. For its adequate nutrition, you should provide an appropriate quantity of fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals through its diet. Cats require two essential amino acids such as taurine and arginine. Vitamins including vitamin A, C, and Niacin, dietary proteins and arachidonic acid are required to ensure a good health.
Generally, cats require a protein and fat-rich diet than a high carbohydrate diet. All these nutrients are essential for the cat’s healthy growth and reproduction.What are the common cat diseases?A cat may suffer from various health problems. Some of the common health problems in cats are rabies, dental disease, allergic dermatitis, food allergy, allergy due to fleas, mites, worm infestation, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, liver disease, urinary tract disease, feline panleukopenia, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).What are the symptoms of cat rabies?
Rabies is a fatal disease in cats, caused by the virus. It is transmitted through a bite of an infected animal. This infection has an effect on the central nervous system. An infected cat develops an erratic behavior and fever spikes. Some of the main symptoms of cat rabies include excessive drooling, dilated pupils, snapping at imaginary objects, exaggerated response to any stimulus, abnormal changes in the appetite and aggressive, violent behavior. In the last stage of this disease, cat may develop paralysis and respiratory failure, which may finally result in death.What are the causes of hair loss in cats?Hair loss in cats is also known as alopecia.
It is one of the most common health problems in cats. Some shedding of hair is normal in cats. But, there may be excess hair loss due to glandular diseases, allergies, fleas, mites and ticks. Some of the possible causes of hair loss in cats are fleabite allergy, itching due to mites, ringworm, localized pain due to abscess, food allergies, glandular diseases such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, and psychogenic alopecia.Why do cats have bad breath?
There are a number of reasons for bad breath in cats. Some of the common causes of bad breath are ulceration in the mouth; a foreign body stuck in the mouth as well as kidney and lung diseases.What are the dietary needs of the diseased cats?If your cat is suffering from any type of disease, then you should make some changes in its diet. Cats suffering from colitis or inflammatory bowel disease should be given a diet containing highly digestible sources of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
You should feed a high-fiber diet to the cats suffering from colitis, diabetes mellitus, anal gland diseases or constipation. The diet of a cat with chronic kidney failure should contain highly digestible proteins. Cats suffering from oral and dental diseases should be given a canned food. A special diet that is rich in beta-carotene and omega-3 fatty acids is recommended for the cats diagnosed with cancer.What’s about cat’s vaccination?
You can protect you cat from various diseases by the means of vaccination. Most of the cat infections such as rabies, URI, FIV and FIP can be prevented by vaccination. In most cases, vaccination is administered when the cat is very young. It is recommended to give the boosters of these vaccines on a semi-annual basis. When your cat is vaccinated, you will get a certificate from the veterinarian.
By Reshma JiragePublished: 7/7/2008
