According to The Humane Society, the number of cats and dogs that Americans have as pets has grown from 67 million in 1970 to a massive estimate of 164 million. This might not come as a major surprise to people who are familiar with the loyalty and companionship that the best pets provide, but that is still a staggering number. In fact, Americans own 86.4 million cats, which is actually greater than the number of dogs that people own, despite the fact that dogs are known as man’s best friend. Unfortunately, pets don’t live forever, cat disease symptoms can show up and cause the life of a cat to be shortened. Over the course of a lifetime, there are a handful of common cat diseases that owners might expect to have to deal with.
Fleas
Everybody knows that dogs attract fleas, and that might run through the mind of every owner when they see their dog itch. However, cats, especially ones that are allowed to roam free outdoors, can also attract fleas. The pests can cause irritation and, if allowed to stay on the cat, could cause anemia, so finding a flea prevention option for cats is a good idea.
FLUTD
Roughly 10% of all cats brought to the vet have Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, or FLUTD. Some of the cat disease symptoms of FLUTD include bloody urine, lack of appetite, dehydration, and urinating in unusual places. There are different treatments depending on the severity of the issue, so only a vet will be able to treat a cat.
Eye Issues
There are several indicators that cats are suffering from eye problems. If eyes are watery, fur is tear stained, there is cloudiness, or gunk in the corners of the eyes, that could mean the cat is dealing with an issue. Conjunctivitis, cataracts, trauma, viruses, irritation, and certain retinal diseases could all cause those problems, and beyond using a damp cotton ball to wipe away gunk, taking a cat to the vet is really the only way to figure out the problem.
Vomiting
Most every cat owner has had to spend at least a little bit of time on their hands and knees picking up vomit and trying to get stains out of carpet. The reality is that anything from eating a string to serious feline diseases could cause a cat to vomit, so it is hard for owners to worry about every little pile that they have to clean. But if it becomes persistent, it is worth visiting the vet.
The list goes on, but these are four of the most common problems that cats encounter. Though owners might always have the best intentions in mind, when serious cat disease symptoms arise, heading to the vet is always the best choice. Vets will have the experience and knowledge necessary to properly diagnose a problem.