Cat Health Problems and Symptoms
Making Sure a Furry Friend is in Good Health, is Important
Nov 9, 2009
When you have a furry feline companion it is essential to observe whether he/she has underlying cat health problems. Even though cats cannot speak, there are ways that they communicate with their owners to let them know when they are not feeling well. This can be seen either through obvious physical symptoms, such as cat hair loss and vomiting.
There are also instances when cat health problems can be apparent through their interaction with humans. Often a person can tell when her cat is not feeling well. This may be shown by behavior such as not wanting to be around people, or it may go and hide. Any time there are changes in behavior this can also be a sign that a cat does not feel good.
Tail Trauma
The tail for a cat, like the toes for humans, is used for balance. That is why this part of their anatomy is important. Without this valuable physical feature it would be incredibly difficult for them to have the agility they possess.
Have you ever seen a cat's tail just hang there limp or without any type of movement as it normally would have? As one of many cat health problems, this can be a sign of tail trauma. The cat shows sensitivity to this region by crying or not wanting to be held.
According to Dr. John McDonnell in his article, Tail Trauma, "The most important factor in regards to your pet's prognosis is the nerve sensation to the tail and area around the rectum. This is best assessed by your veterinarian. Although your cat can live with a paralyzed tail, it can become soiled with urine and feces.
Cat Hair Loss or Alopecia
We as humans lose up to 100-150 strands of hair everyday; this is our body's natural way of shedding and getting rid of dull and dead hair. The same rings true for animals and cats in particular.
Cat health problems begin occurring when there is a significant amount of cat hair loss that results in bald spots on parts of the cat's body.
According to Dr. Mark Thompson, in his article, Alopecia in Cats, he states that it may be self inflicted, due to a hair follicle disease or inability for the hair to grow back after normal shedding. The issue of cat hair loss can leave a cat susceptible to many harmful environmental factors, and affect other organs in the cat.
"There is no specific treatment for alopecia. Instead, treatment is aimed at eliminating the underlying cause of the problem" (Thompson).
Cats that Vomit
When people do not feel well and have feelings of nausea this can induce vomiting. Although there are various reasons why this occurs, when it does, this is our body's natural reaction to eliminating anything within our bodies that has caused us to feel this way.
Cats are the same way. Cats that vomit, usually feel nauseous or something did not settle right in their tummies. There are many different causes for cat health problems related to this symptom, and it could signify that there is an underlying issue.
Causes for Symptoms
If you noticed your cat gets sick and vomits with foam coming from the mouth this can be sign that it has been bitten by an infected flea. This is one of the very common cat health problems amongst many cats.
People who live in houses with hard wood floors can have fleas that hide within the floor. When the cat lays down on the floor an infected flea hitches a ride onto the cat's furry coat. It then sets up house within the cat's coat, bites the cat and also breeds other fleas.
If you notice your cat gets sick more then once in a day then it would be wise to seek the advice of a licensed veterinarian.
By following some of these simple symptoms and definitions a person should be able to tell whether his feline friend has any serious cat health problems. By knowing more about the symptoms and causes the better equipped people are at handling the health of their cats and giving them the proper care they need and deserve.
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