Purchasing a cat is a truly happy event. After all, now you have a real purring friend. But animals, like humans, can get sick. And not always an inexperienced owner can understand that it is time to take the pet to the doctor. Therefore, it is important to learn how to identify symptoms in advance so that you can help your pet at the right time. Let's consider in the article what diseases cats have and what treatment is used.
How to understand that a cat is sick
Owners of furry pets know how their pets behave when they are healthy. After all, each animal has its own individual features in behavior, in which the owner is sure that the pet is normal. But regardless of this, there are signs that can be suspected in a cat when it appears. Among them, the following points can be distinguished:
- problems with appetite: complete or partial refusal of food;
- the cat loses weight or, on the contrary, gains it sharply;
- apathy, excessive drowsiness;
- the cat has become too aggressive;
- high or low temperature;
- the presence of blood in the stool or urine;
- the animal cannot go to the toilet;
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- discharge from the eyes or nose;
- the appearance on the cat's skin of bald patches, redness and peeling.
It's important to know
The body temperature of feline representatives is higher than in humans. The normal indicator is the figure on the thermometer - 37.5-39 °. It depends on the age of the animal: the older, the lower.
A cat's normal pulse rate is considered to be from 100 to 130 beats per minute.
Respiratory rate also depends on age:
- a kitten - about 60 breaths per minute;
- young cat - 22-24 breaths;
- adult - from 17 to 23.
How often does a cat go to the toilet?
The "small" norm is:
- kittens up to 3 months - 1 time per day;
- kittens after three months - 2-3 times a day;
- adult cats, depending on gender, go to the tray up to three times, but cats 3-4 times.
For the most part, the norm is:
- kittens can visit the tray up to two times a day (this is due to increased metabolism);
- adult cats go to the toilet once a day;
- elderly animals can go to the tray once every 2-3 days.
These norms are average, because eating a cat has a direct impact on the frequency of visits to the toilet.
Diseases of the skin and coat
Here, diseases can be divided into several subgroups: the presence of parasites in the animal, fungal diseases and allergic reactions.
Cat parasites include fleas, ticks and lice eaters. Any pet can become infected, regardless of whether he goes outside for a walk. Yes, it is animals with a free range that are mainly susceptible to parasite infection. But the owner can easily bring infection to shoes and clothes. In addition, fleas and ticks can live in the house, even after the pet has completely cured. Therefore, in addition to treating the cat, it is worth processing the apartment.
It is easy to determine if a pet has fleas: the animal constantly itches, is anxious, black specks can be found on its coat - these are traces of fleas. The disease is treated with sprays, ointments and shampoos.
In the presence of an ear tick, a dark brown coating can be found in the ears of the cat; in addition, the animal will scratch its ears intensely and often shake its head. It is important to know that the ear tick is not transmitted to humans. For treatment, solutions are used for instillation into the ears, as well as special drops on the withers, which, by the way, are also prescribed for fleas. A veterinarian can also prescribe tick tick injections.
To fungal diseases, mainly include lichen. On the body of the animal, bald spots and grayish scabs can be found. Infection occurs mainly from an already ill individual. This cat’s skin disease is transmitted to humans, so care must be taken during treatment. It is advisable to protect the animal from communication with other pets and people. Be sure to wash your hands after every touch. For treatment, injections and ointments, which are prescribed by the veterinarian, are used.
Allergic reactions occur not only in humans. Cats are also susceptible to this pathology. Unfortunately, it is difficult to diagnose on its own, as the symptoms are similar to other diseases: itching, redness and peeling of the skin. Only a doctor can help here.
Urolithiasis in cats
In another way, this disease is called urolithiasis. It is considered one of the most dangerous pathologies in cats. Basically, males suffer from it, due to the structural features of the body. ICD is also found in females, but much less frequently.
An attack of urolithiasis may begin unexpectedly - just yesterday the pet was actively running and playing, and today it is tormented by sitting on the tray. If you do not consult a doctor in time, the consequences can be very sad, up to the death of the animal.
Causes of urolithiasis in cats:
- unbalanced nutrition;
- obesity;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- castrated cats belong to the category of increased risk (after surgery they become less active and gain weight quickly);
- insufficient fluid intake;
- heredity;
- hormonal disorders;
- features of anatomy.
Symptoms of a cat's disease are hard to miss:
- the cat often sits on the tray, urinates in small portions, while being nervous, perhaps screaming;
- urine darkens, sometimes there is blood in it;
- the cat becomes lethargic, may refuse food;
- in severe cases, the stomach swells (this is due to the fact that urine does not leave the body);
- vomiting
- fever.
Treatment of urolithiasis is complex and long. A catheter is inserted through the ducts into the cat's bladder to allow urine to flow out of the body. In addition, drugs for intensive treatment are prescribed: anti-inflammatory, painkillers, antibiotics, immunostimulating. A strict diet is prescribed.
Infectious diseases
Depending on the type of pathogen, these diseases of cats can also be divided into subgroups: viral, fungal and bacterial infections.
Viral diseases include: panleukopenia (plague), calcevirus, rabies, and others. These are dangerous diseases that can lead to the death of an animal. The success of treatment depends on the stage of development of the disease, at which the owner consults a doctor. The main symptoms are: vomiting, lack of appetite, diarrhea, apathy of the animal, fever and fever. Viral diseases develop very quickly, so when signs appear, you need to urgently run to the vet clinic.
Fungal infections include: aspergillosis (affects the nose, lungs and intestines of the cat), cryptococcosis (develops in the nose and digestive tract), candidiasis (affects the mucous membranes). In fact, there are a lot of fungal infections. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a veterinarian after taking tests from an animal. Infection can occur through a wound, with food, or by inhalation. Treatment is with antibiotics.
Bacterial infections include salmonellosis and infectious anemia. These are the most common diseases, of course, there are others. Infectious anemia is accompanied by fever, cat apathy and refusal to eat. Salmonellosis has the same symptoms, but vomiting and runny nose are added. Infection occurs through blood, food and close contact with an already sick animal. Treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian.
Eye diseases
Eye diseases of cats are divided into inflammatory and non-inflammatory. The most common are conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma and inflammation and damage to the cornea. Signs of these diseases are easy to detect. These include:
- redness and swelling of the eyelids;
- purulent discharge from the eyes;
- clouding of the lens;
- prolapse of the eyeball.
In some cases, for example, with conjunctivitis, you can do it yourself with drops for cats. You can choose them at any veterinary store. In case of damage and the occurrence of various types of tumors, you need to seek help from a doctor. All diseases have their own course of treatment. It can be either medication or surgery, depending on the complexity of the cat's disease. The photo below shows conjunctivitis.
Ear diseases of cats. Symptoms and treatment
A photo of one of the diseases is presented below.
However, cats can be disturbed not only by parasites in the ears, which have already been described above. Common diseases include: otitis media, ear plugs, various types of fungi, hematomas and eczema.
A cat’s ear disease, otitis media, is considered very dangerous. The cause of its occurrence are hypothermia, infections, injuries and foreign bodies. A sign of otitis is a blood-purulent discharge from the auricles. The cat reacts aggressively to trying to touch a sore spot. Treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian, most often it is a course of antibiotics.
Symptoms and treatment of cat diseases associated with ears:
- constant scratching;
- anxiety;
- the presence of discharge in the ears;
- soreness;
- bad smell.
Hematomas appear due to damage to the ear. As a treatment, anti-inflammatory ointments are most often used. In advanced cases, surgery is prescribed as a treatment.
Ear plugs are not a serious problem for a cat, but can sometimes cause inflammation. Therefore, it is recommended to clean the ears of your pets.
With eczema and fungi, ointments are also prescribed as a treatment.
Liver disease
This group of diseases includes: hepatitis, lipidosis, liver failure, and others. The main symptoms of the disease in a cat are:
- lethargic condition of the animal;
- loss of appetite;
- diarrhea;
- vomiting
- the liver is significantly increased in size, which can be determined by touch;
- in some cases - jaundice.
Many factors lead to liver diseases:
- malnutrition, poisoning;
- the use of a large number of drugs;
- lack of vitamins.
Based on the tests, the veterinarian makes a diagnosis and prescribes a course of treatment. Usually, this is a diet and a course of restorative drugs.
Kidney disease
The most common kidney pathologies are nephritis, chronic renal failure, polycystic, renal pyelonephritis, nephrosclerosis.
The following symptoms are characteristic of kidney disease:
- increased thirst;
- frequent or, conversely, rare urination, possibly painful;
- dehydration of the body;
- high blood protein;
- dimming the color of urine;
- blood in the urine;
- lethargy and drowsiness of the animal;
- poor appetite or complete refusal of food;
- vomiting and diarrhea;
- in some cases, retinal detachment;
- in kidney disease, cats like to sleep on cold surfaces.
If these signs are found, you should immediately consult a doctor. Treatment is carried out with the help of a special diet and selected drugs. Unfortunately, the kidney tissue does not recover, and the later the owner contacts, the less chance of recovery. With late diagnosis, it is more likely that the disease will turn into chronic renal failure, which is not treated.
Heart diseases
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is considered the most common heart disease. This is a pathology in which the heart muscle thickens, as a result of which heart failure develops.
Owners do not always notice the signs of this disease. These include pet fatigue, shortness of breath, respiratory failure, apathy, and poor appetite.
The disease is dangerous, not treated. Doctors prescribe supportive therapy that will help prolong the life of the animal.
Diseases of the stomach and intestines
These pathologies include inflammation of the colon, constipation, bowel obstruction, gastritis, ulcers. Basically, these are diseases of domestic cats of an inflammatory nature. Symptoms are similar to many other diseases, among them weight loss, lethargy, lack of appetite. Therefore, a doctor should make a diagnosis based on tests. Most often, a diet is used as a treatment. But it is also possible that the veterinarian will prescribe drugs.
Oncology
Few people know that cats, like humans, are susceptible to cancer. And, unfortunately, they are found more and more often. Diagnosis of oncology is complicated by the fact that in the early stages the signs are invisible. The hosts notice the disease most often in the later stages. Signs include poor appetite, lethargy, deterioration in the quality of the coat, spots on the skin, difficult breathing, and tumors that appear on the body. In each case, everything is individual. The treatment is carried out with the help of chemotherapy and surgery.
Disease prevention is the best way to keep pets healthy. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the cat from the moment it appears in the house with good nutrition, a comfortable place to live and maintain its immunity. Even if the pet is constantly in the apartment and does not walk, it is worth considering vaccination. She can save a pet from many troubles. And if the cat is still ill, you do not need to think that the sore will pass by itself. It is best to contact professionals as soon as possible.