5 Common Health Issues in Cats You Can Help Prevent

It's never nice when your cat gets sick because it can be a very worrying time for owners who always want the best for their pets. There are certain conditions which affect cats that owners can do something about in order to reduce the risk of them ever happening. This naturally helps keep kitty in tip-top condition and a few nasty common health issues at bay.

Cats & Stress

Cats don't handle stress very well and have very feline ways of showing they are anxious about something. This could include the following:

• Hiding away and not wanting to come out
• Pulling out their fur
• Shaking
• More vocal than usual

The most common things that stress a cat out include changes in their routine, which is something cats don't generally like although some felines are more laid back than others and are very quick at taking any changes in their stride. However, the majority of cats love their routines and really don't like it when they are forced to change anything.

Other things that will stress your cat out include the following:

• A new addition to the family – this could be another pet or even a baby
• Overcrowding
• Redecorating the house
• Moving furniture around – example during a spring clean

The best way to help prevent causing any sort of stress or anxiety to your pet is to introduce any changes to your home slowly and to always make sure your cat has something they know and like which could be a familiar toy or their favourite cat bed close by. This will help your pet feel more comfortable about things and will help reduce any stress pussy cat may be feeling at the changes you make around your home.

Cats, Worms & Fleas

Intestinal worms can be a real problem and if left unchecked can prove very dangerous to cats. Kittens must be de-wormed as soon as they are old enough and this needs to be followed up with a regular worming programme which you should discuss with your vet. A kitten may contract worms through their mother's milk so as soon as you can safely worm them, it is important you do so.

Litter boxes need to be cleaned daily and allowed to dry out after having disinfected them with a cat-safe product so that any parasitic growth is completely killed off. The problem of course, is that cats by nature will go out hunting to catch rodents which means they often get re-infected so it's important to keep on top of things and discuss what you should do with your vet.

A cat with fleas will be a very unhappy feline so it's important to make sure you use a top quality product that is specifically formulated for use on cats to prevent an infestation. If you are unsure which product to use, discuss this with your vet. If you have just got a kitten or young cat, you need to know they are old enough to be treated with a flea product.

Treating Minor Bites & Scratches

If you notice has suffered any sort of scratch or bite which they got from another animal, it's really important to treat the wound as soon as you can. Depending on how severe the wound is will dictate whether you should take your cat to the vet or if you could treat it yourself. You can buy some very good antibacterial products that are specifically formulated for use on cats from reputable pet shops or you could ask your vet if they sell any or if they recommend a specific product for cats.

Having treated your cat, you would need to keep an eye on them over the next few days to make sure there is no infection brewing. If you do find that your cat hides away or goes off their food, you should make an appointment to take your pet to the vet as soon as you can.

Avoiding Hairballs

Hairballs form simply because cats are very clean creatures and if they are losing any fur, they will automatically swallow quite a lot of it as they groom themselves. The best way to avoid this from happening is to regularly groom your cat – this is especially important if they are longed haired felines. If you find that your cat does develop a hairball you can buy specific products to give them. However, if you are worried about your pet's condition, you should discuss your concerns with your vet.

Vaccinating Against Cat Flu

All of our feline friends need to be vaccinated against cat flu otherwise known as Feline Herpes Virus 1 (FHV-1) which is a viral infection. The other being Feline Calicivirus (FCV) and both can be contracted by your pet if they come into another cat who is suffering from the condition. The symptoms to watch out for include the following:

• Watery, runny eyes
• Blocked nose
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue

It is really important to have kittens vaccinated when they are old enough and then to make sure your pet gets their boosters every year. Even if you have an indoor cat, they would still need to be vaccinated so they don't get cat flu because they might just sneak out one day and come into contact with an infected pussy cat or you could bring the virus into the house inadvertently.

Conclusion

We all want to keep our pets nice and safe which means knowing how to reduce the chance of them getting ill. Vaccinations are essential but there are other things pet owners can do to help avoid a minor problem turning into a massive health issue. A happy cat that's well looked after and fed a well balanced diet that contains the much needed amino acid called taurine, will be a healthy pussy cat and valued member of the family.