As your cat gets older, they are prone to develop some diseases. Knowing what is normal for your pets is important so you can tell when something changes in their regular routine.
Some illnesses and diseases that cats are prone to are:
Diabetes
Hyperthyroid
Certain Cancers
Kidney Disease
Dental disease
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
With many of these diseases, early intervention and treatment can make a huge difference in the life of your cat.
Things to look for:
Diabetes – changes in urination, excessive drinking, weight loss, changes in behavior
Hyperthyroid – vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination and thirst, dry coat, and changes in appetite.
Certain Cancers – symptoms can vary depending on the type of cancer but any changes from normal are cause for investigation.
Kidney Disease – dry coat, weight loss, bad breath, drooling, increased urination, and thirst.
Dental Disease – cats can develop severe dental conditions that include abscessed teeth, resorptive lesions, and gingivitis
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease – Straining to Urinate, Bloody urine, urinating in unusual spots, licking around the urinary area (Due to pain), lack of appetite, and vomiting.
Some things that you can do to reduce the risks of these diseases are:
Keep your cat at a healthy weight
Providing plenty of exercise and mental stimulation will reduce boredom and stress.
Cats may prefer a water fountain to water bowls. So, providing your cat a water fountain is a great way to increase their water consumption and support their kidney function.
Also, appropriate litterboxes are important. First, you should have one more litterbox than you have cats and spacing them around the house so that each cat can use the litter box they prefer. Second, use the cat litter that your cats prefer and each litterbox should be cleaned frequently. Changing cat litter should be done very slowly if it is necessary to prevent inappropriate urination due to litter preference.
All of these are little things that can have a big impact on your cat’s life.
Knowing what is normal for your cat and being aware of any changes in your cats’ normal routines can be a good indication that a visit to your veterinarian is in order. As always, if you have any concerns about your cat, please contact your veterinarian.