Like other family members, even cats need immediate medical attention when they are ill. But how do you recognize that your pet is not feeling well? A chart with common cat diseases and symptoms enlisted in it, will be of some help perhaps.
Cats are well-known for their keen sense of hearing and the ability to see at night. Not just are they armed with excellent memory, but are also very good at behavioral communication. They learn by observation and experience, and convey their feeling by resorting to behavioral changes.
If you really love your pet cat, you won't find it difficult to catch the slightest change in its behavior, which can very well be a sign of some underlying illness.
Like humans, even cats suffer from various health problems, including heart diseases, kidney problems, skin problems, hormonal disorders, digestive system diseases, stress, eye problems, and so on.
Not only medication, but a lot of love and affection is what is required to ensure a speedy recovery of your pet. A normal healthy cat can live for about 15 years, and when we talk about the health of your cat, the care that you provide has a crucial role to play.
List of Common Cat Diseases and Symptoms
Category: Eye Disease Name of The Disease: Cat eye discharge Symptoms: Pus-like sticky mucus or clear-watery discharge, reddened eye Treatment: Allergy treated with hydrocotisone medication, bacterial infection treated with antibiotics and ointments, fungal infection treated with antifungal medication
Category: Eye Disease Name of The Disease: Glaucoma Symptoms: Squinting, redness of the pupil, or one pupil appearing larger than the other Treatment: Proper medication
Category: Eye Disease Name of The Disease: Cataracts Symptoms: Opaque eye lens, light does not reach retina Treatment: Lens transplant surgery
Category: Eye Disease Name of The Disease: Neonatal conjunctivitis Symptoms: Formation of crust sealing the eyelids of kitten, bulging eyes Treatment: Boric acid eyewash
Category: Eye Disease Name of The Disease: Iris melanoma Symptoms: Changed iris color, black spot in the eye, thickening of iris Treatment: Medication, or removal of the eye
Category: Eye Disease Name of The Disease: Blindness in cats Symptoms: Stress and hypertension, dilated pupils, bloody eye chambers Treatment: Proper medication, stress removal therapy, lots of love and attention
Category: Viral Disease Name of The Disease: Feline herpes Symptoms: Reddened eye, eye discharge, running nose, fever, drooling, loss of appetite Treatment: Proper medication, herpes vaccination
Category: Heart Name of The Disease: Heart murmur in Symptoms: Vet can detect other abnormal Treatment: Proper medication, care
Category: Disease Name of The Disease: cats Symptoms: sounds apart from the normal pumping of the heart (replacing the normal 'lub-dub' sound with a 'whosh' sound), sudden weight loss, lethargy, pale gums, improper growth in kitten, loss of appetite, abnormal breathing
Category: Heart Disease Name of The Disease: Cardiomyopathy in cats Symptoms: Inactive cat, poor appetite, bony back, enlarged liver, panting Treatment: Proper medication to alleviate the thyroid, radioactive iodine therapy or thyroid surgery, ACE inhibitors to improve cardiac function
Category: Body Disease Name of The Disease: Parasites in cats Symptoms: Weight loss, diarrhea, and bloody, tarry stools, unhealthy fur coat, pot bellied appearance, vomiting, loss of appetite, spaghetti-like worms observed in vomit or feces, and bacterial pneumonia Treatment: Oral de-worming medication, proper food
Category: Body Disease Name of The Disease: Arthritis Symptoms: Limping, stiffness in limb, reluctance to walk or jump, swollen or enlarged joints, visible pain and discomfort Treatment: Anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers, glucosamine and chondroitin, use of heating pad on the affected joint
Category: Body Disease Name of The Disease: Cat sores in neck, mouth, chin, lips, legs Symptoms: Scratching of skin leading to bald patches and reddened skin, increased irritability, acnes on chin, ulcerated appearance of the sore Treatment: Application of antibiotic ointment and oral medication, proper attention to cat health
Category: Body Disease Name of The Disease: Paralysis in cats Symptoms: Paralyzed limbs or laryngeal muscles collapse leading to change in voice, difficulty in breathing while eating Treatment: Proper medication according to the causes of paralysis
Category: Body Disease Name of The Disease: Feline diabetes Symptoms: Sudden weight loss or gain, excessive thirst and urination, weakness, dehydration, loss of appetite or increased appetite, and breathing problems Treatment: Change in diet, high fiber diet, and proper medication
Category: Skin Disease Name of The Disease: Hair loss in cats Symptoms: Excessive hair loss causing bald patches on the skin, skin may appear red with small bumps and blisters. Treatment: Proper medication according to the underlying disease, providing balanced diet, controlling stress and anxiety
Category: Skin Disease Name of The Disease: Cat dandruff Symptoms: Dry, flaky skin, hair loss, itching Treatment: Proper medication, providing nutritious cat food, maintaining humidity at home
Category: Hormonal Disorder Name of The Disease: Cushing's disease Symptoms: Excessive thirst and eating, frequent urination, panting, muscle weakness, enlarged liver Treatment: Depending on the underlying cause, herbal medicines to maintain cortisol levels
Cats are loving, friendly, and loyal. So, it goes without saying that you should take care of your cat very well, so that it can lead a healthy and stress-free life.