Common cat health problems

Common cat health problems

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  Urinary tract health

  Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is a broad term used to describe a number of urinary tract conditions affecting the lower part of the urinary system (bladder and urethra). The most common include inflammation of the bladder (cystitis) and, in male cats, obstruction of the urethra (the tube from the bladder to the outside).

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  Fleas and ticks

  It's not just cats who suffer from fleas. For every single flea living on your cat, there could be 99 more developing in your carpeted, centrally-heated home, however clean it is! Outdoor cats may also come in with other unwelcome passengers such as ticks.

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  Food allergies

  True cases of food allergy are unusual and involve a reaction to often only tiny amounts of an ingredient in a particular food, which triggers an allergic inflammatory response. Diagnosis is very difficult, involves diet trials (see below) and there is no specific test available. The signs of an allergy are not specific and may indicate another problem.

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  Ear problems

  There are many reasons why ear problems might occur, including infections due to bacteria, yeast or parasites such as ear mites, growths or tumours. Your cat’s ears should always be clean and without any thick brown or green waxy discharge. There should also be no redness, itchiness or offensive smells. Your vet will be best placed to examine your cat’s ears safely and advise on any tests or treatment that might be needed.

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  Skin problems

  A cat’s skin condition is a good general indicator of her health. Your cat's skin can be pink or black depending on the pigments common to that breed or the individual genetic history. Some breeds need regular grooming, especially long-haired breeds.

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  Diabetes

  There are different types of diabetes and the most commonly found diabetes in cats is Type II Diabetes, also known as Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Although treatment of DM does need some time and commitment from you as an owner, usually it can be successfully treated long-term and ultimately your cat can lead a happy life.

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  Kidney problems

  There are a number of causes of kidney failure including certain diseases and tumours. However, many cats will develop some degree of kidney failure as they get older, due to the gradual deterioration of the parts of the kidney that do the work.

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  Harmful substances and foods

  There are many food and non-food substances, including plants, which can be potentially poisonous for your cat. Some of these will be obvious to most owners but others will not. For example, some foods and medicines eaten by humans with no ill effects can be very toxic and in some cases life-threatening for cats.

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