Major Cat Diseases

The development of the veterinary medicine of small domestic animals in our country began relatively recently. Even 30–40 years ago, most people did not even think to invest in the treatment of pets.Treated productive and economic animals. And if dogs could still be attributed to this group with a stretch, cats did not fall into this category. The lack of demand for treatment of domestic cats prevented the development of veterinary medicine in this area. The lack of knowledge of veterinarians and the general population has led to the birth of myths about the perfect health of cats: “cats practically do not get sick, and if they get sick, they are incurable.” Unfortunately, the stereotype that has developed in this way still prevents many cat owners from being attentive to the health of their little friends and to the prevention of their diseases. This article will introduce you to the most common diseases of cats.

The symptoms of all diseases can be divided into specific and non-specific. Non-specific signs are manifested by the poor state of the animal as a whole and are observed to varying degrees in almost all pathologies. These include: an increase in body temperature (above 39 ˚C), loss of appetite, apathy, decrease in social activity. Specific signs of disease directly indicate the area of ​​possible problems.
Diseases of the genitourinary system
The concept of the urogenital system implies a set of organs that form the urinary and reproductive systems: kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, ovaries, testicles, uterus, prostate gland.

Diseases of these organs are manifested, as a rule, a violation of their function and a demonstration of anxiety of the animal. The main specific features of these pathologies include:

• violation of normal urination (from frequent to complete lack of it);

• pain when urinating;

• hematuria (the appearance of red blood cells in the urine);

• presence of mucus and blood on the genitals;

• frequent licking of the genitals;

• increased thirst;

• abdominal pains (abdominal pain).

Of the most common diseases that can manifest itself in this way, it is worth noting kidney disease (acute and chronic renal failure), urolithiasis, inflammation of the bladder (idiopathic and infectious cystitis), inflammation of the urethra, inflammation of the uterus – endometritis.

If the above symptoms are detected, you should contact a veterinary specialist as soon as possible to get a qualified consultation, to carry out the necessary diagnostics (ultrasound, blood and urine tests) and to prescribe the necessary treatment.

Controlling the consumption of animal fluids in this situation can be considered not only prevention, but also to a certain extent, treatment. A sufficient saturation of the body with water helps to improve urine production and reduce the onset of symptoms. To maintain cat’s sufficient fluid intake, a combined type of feeding is best suited for the daily use of dry and wet food. The use of wet food in this case contributes to an increase in the level of moisture consumed.

The most effective ways to prevent diseases of the urogenital apparatus also include compliance with feedings. So, the diet must be balanced macro and microelements, contain sufficient amounts of vitamins and essential amino acids. These standards are fully met by Purina® PRO PLAN® cat food. It has been proven that feeding cats with complete diets of Purina® PRO PLAN® helps to maintain normal urine acidity and prevent the formation of urolithiasis. In the event that you feed your animal with non-commercial food and prepare it yourself, you should consult a professional veterinary nutritionist for advice.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
The organs of the gastrointestinal tract include not only the digestive tube itself, represented by the esophagus, stomach and intestines, but also the organs involved in the digestion of food (liver, gallbladder, pancreas).

Of the main diseases for this group of diseases are:

• pathologies of the liver (hepatopathy) and biliary tract: fatty degeneration of the liver, inflammation of the gallbladder and its ducts;

• pancreas pathology: pancreatitis;

• diseases of the inflammatory origin: gastritis, enteritis, colitis, and non-inflammatory origin: tumors, helminthiasis, protozoa.

Often in the process of playing cats swallow inedible objects, which can cause serious violations of the gastrointestinal tract.

The specific symptoms of the above diseases are vomiting, diarrhea or, conversely, constipation, the appearance of blood and / or mucus in the stool, discoloration of feces, increased salivation.