Essential Knowledge About Common Cat Diseases
Many people find cats so adorable that they can't help but want to have one of their own. However, before bringing a new feline member into your home, it is important to be fully prepared. Taking care of a cat is not a simple task!
Today, I would like to help you understand some common cat diseases and equip you with essential daily knowledge to better care for your furry friend.
How to Treat Fleas on Cats
If you find fleas on your cat, you can use a flea comb to remove them. Afterwards, apply a cat-specific topical flea treatment to kill the fleas effectively.
It is best not to bathe your cat shortly before or after applying the flea prevention treatment to avoid causing a cold. Be careful to protect your cat during this time.
Next, thoroughly clean your cat's bedding and home environment to maintain cleanliness and prevent re-infestation.
Regularly perform both internal and external deworming treatments on your cat to ensure ongoing protection and good health.
Feline Panleukopenia (Cat Distemper)
Feline panleukopenia is a dangerous contagious disease commonly found among cats. It is infectious within cat populations but does not spread to humans. This disease mainly affects cats under one year old and is characterized by symptoms such as fever, lethargy, and vomiting.
There are many causes of feline panleukopenia, including weakened immune systems, stress, cold weather, and more. Treatment primarily involves non-oral administration of fluids to replenish electrolytes and nutrients, correct dehydration, alleviate vomiting symptoms, and administering broad-spectrum antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections.
If any signs of illness are noticed in a cat, it is important to take the cat to a veterinary hospital immediately for examination. Tests for feline panleukopenia are now very common and can quickly confirm whether a cat has the disease, so timely medical care is crucial.
Feline Influenza: Understanding the Viral Disease in Cats
Feline influenza is a viral disease that typically spreads through contact between cats. It shares similarities with human influenza in terms of transmission and symptoms.
The usual treatment focuses on alleviating the clinical symptoms in cats, such as sneezing and nasal discharge. Providing a balanced diet can help enhance the cat's own immune defense, protecting its life until it naturally recovers.
Understanding Intestinal Inflammation in Cats
Intestinal inflammation, also known as enteritis, poses a significant danger to cats, especially young kittens. Common symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. If a mother cat contracts the disease during pregnancy, her kittens may suffer from neurological damage after birth. Similar to the flu, cats that recover can become carriers of the enteritis virus.
Cat Ringworm: A Common Skin Disease in Cats
Cat ringworm is a common skin disease affecting cats. Its typical symptoms include irregular circular areas of hair loss, mixed with scaly spots and scabs. Sometimes, itchy allergic bumps may also appear.
This ringworm is highly contagious. Once detected, the cat should be treated under a veterinarian's guidance using specialized skin care products, such as Micacoxen Fairy Water, which is designed specifically for treating cat skin diseases.
Additionally, all related cat items should be thoroughly disinfected. Surfaces can be wiped or sprayed with a 0.5% bleach solution. For better results, expose the disinfected items to sunlight for 5 to 6 hours a day, continuously for one week.
Understanding Ear Mites in Cats
Ear mites appear as dark brown or black debris inside a cat's ears. Sometimes the debris looks oily, while other times it appears dry and flaky.
Ear mites spread very quickly. Kittens are more susceptible to ear mite infections because their immune systems are weaker. Kittens living in groups are at a higher risk of catching ear mites compared to adult cats.
The simplest and most effective way to treat ear mites is to use specialized ear cleaning solutions. Carefully apply the ear medicine to a cotton ball and gently clean the outer ear canal of your cat to remove the debris.
Conjunctivitis in Cats: Symptoms and Care
Conjunctivitis commonly presents in cats with increased eye discharge, swollen and reddened eyelids. In severe cases, within just one midday nap, the discharge can cause the upper and lower eyelids to stick together, making it impossible for the cat to open its eyes.
However, there is no need to be overly worried. Simply use warm water to gently wipe away the discharge, then apply cat eye wash to clean the eyes and reduce inflammation. Improvement can usually be seen within 2 to 3 days.
Common Cat Health Issues and When to See a Vet
The ailments mentioned above are among the more commonly seen diseases in cats. However, it is very important to remind all cat owners that if your cat shows any abnormal signs and you are unsure about what condition it might be, the best course of action is to take your cat to the veterinarian promptly.
