cat health concerns!

summaries of common health conditions in cats!

      here you can find short reviews of six common health conditions and diseases cats can develop.

hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: this is the most common heart condition a cat can develop, and it has no cure, symptoms can only be alleviated with medicine. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes the left ventricle in a cat’s heart to thicken, which prevents it from filling properly, leading to less blood being able to be circulated through the cat’s body. the maine coon, sphynx, american shorthair, persian, bengal, siberian, and ragdoll are breeds of cats that are more susceptible to this disease due to their higher likelihood of heart mutations than other breeds. some cats exhibit little to no symptoms, but common symptoms are loss of appetite, an increased heart rate, lethargy, difficulty breathing, blood clots, and fainting.

pica: this is a health disorder in which cats eat items that are not food, such as fabric, plastic, rubber, wool, cardboard, and wood, and this can cause intestinal blockage. a cat of any age could develop pica, however certain breeds are more susceptible to it, like the siamese and burmese. parasites, anemia, endocrine disorders, and behavioral conditions all are poss ible causes of pica. some symptoms that your cat might have are constipation, vomiting, lethargy, and lack of appetite. the treatment of this disorder varies from cat to cat, because the reasoning behind why a cat has pica affects the health plan a veterinarian will set forward after a diagnosis.

polycystic kidney disease: when a cat inherits this disease, their kidney will develop small cysts, which enlarge and multiply over time, and eventually lead to kidney failure, which could be fatal. currently, the only known cause behind this disease is a genetic anomaly most commonly found in persian cats. signs that your cat could have this disease are increased drinking and urination, less of an appetite, lethargy, an enlarged abdomen, weight loss, and vomiting. there is no cure for this currently, however some options of treatment are dieting, aspiration (draining the cysts with a needle), medication, and fluid therapy.

feline leukemia virus: FeLV is an infectious disease that destroys a cat’s immune system and white blood cells, and could be fatal in more at risk cats, however it’s preventable through vaccinations. it spreads through close contact with infected cats, such as through grooming, biting, and sharing food/water bowls, because it does not survive long outside of a cat’s body. symptoms of this virus include weight loss, diarrhea, fever, anemia, decreased appetite, poor coat condition, inflamed gums and mouth, and enlarged lymph nodes. to help prevent your cat from contracting this disease, keep them inside and away from infected cats. there is no definitive cure currently, and infected cats are treated based off of any specific secondary infections they might have through their veterinarian.

hyperthyroidism: this disease is usually caused by a benign tumor in a cat’s thyroid gland that causes the gland to enlarge and increase production of thyroid hormones. it most commonly occurs in older cats, and there are currently no known reasons for a cat to be predisposed to hyperthyroidism. symptoms of hyperthyroidism are difficulty breathing, vomiting, heart murmur, unkempt coat, weight loss, diarrhea, and enlarged thyroid gland. to diagnose hyperthyroidism, veterinarians test a cat’s bloodstream for high levels of thyroid hormones. this disease can be cured with radioiodine treatment, or it can be managed with daily medication.

feline immunodeficiency virus: FIV is one of the most infectious diseases a cat can contract, and aggressively attacks its immune system, which can lead to vulnerability to other infections. FIV usually spreads through bite wounds from infected cats, so outdoor cats and cats that have higher tendencies to fight have higher chances of getting FIV. this virus has three phases, the acute, latent, and progressive. signs your cat might have FIV in the acute phase are enlarged lymph nodes, fever, and lethargy. during the latent phase, cats often appear very healthy and have no symptoms, but during the progressive phase symptoms worsen greatly. these symptoms include vomiting, poor appetite, difficulty breathing, weight loss, sores in their mouths, and eye inflammation. FIV cannot be cured, symptoms can just be managed.

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