Cat Health Check

You should be alert to any unusual behavior, such as lack of appetite, or lack of vitality, it may mean that the cat is not well.
If signs of illness persist you should seek a veterinarian, because the health state of the cat may degenerate into a more serious situation.

A healthy cat shows vitality, ease of movement and a bright hair. When the cat is relaxed examine him/her:

Fur

Look for fleas, scratches, or lack of hair.

Ears

Check if the cat has dark wax in the ears, if the cat has swelling or if the cat's head is "dropping" to one side.

Butt

Check if the cat urinates without difficulty, if the cat licks the genitals without stopping, or if there are signs of diarrhea.

Eyes

It is important to check the eyes of your cat. Check if there is excessive secretions or inflammation in the eyelids.

Teeth

Check if the cat's teeth have saliva, if the cat has bad breath, or if the gums are inflamed.

Nose

Look for secretions, if the cat does not breathe easily, if it's sneezing continuously.

Are also not good health signs if the cat has swelling in the body, if the cat presents an unusual posture, or if the cat limps. In these situations you must take a closer look at the affected areas, and may be required the intervention of a veterinarian.

Cat Fleas

It is common in cats the appearance of external parasites such as lice, fleas and ticks. The cat begins to scratch persistently, and it may lead to skin irritation and even to hair loss.

Fleas are generally in the neck and base of tail.

Treatment with application of anti-flea powder

Hold the cat and spread the powder over the hair of the whole body with care not to hurt the cat. Rub the powder along the cat's body. At the end remove the excess powder with the help of a comb.

Treatment with an anti-parasites collar

This is a complementary treatment to be administered after having treated the places that the cat uses more, like the cat's bed, furniture, etc.. Thus it prevents further infestation. If the collar cause irritation in the neck of the cat it should be removed.

Cat Eyes

Eyes should be bright and clear. Discharge, irritation, discoloration, tearing or cloudiness, are all signs of eye problems. Check if the third eyelid is showing. These are situations that need to be addressed or could lead to blindness. Usually the treatment is made with application of drops. But you should never apply drops without the indication of a veterinarian. A veterinarian should be consulted for the most appropriate treatment.

Third eyelid

Cats have a third eyelid. This is a membrane that is located in the inner corner of each eye. The third eyelid may become visible when the cat is sick, with cats flu, or diarrhea. In these cases the third eyelid is usually apparent in both eyes. If the cat damaged one eye in a fight usually only the lid of the damaged eye becomes apparent.
When the third eyelid is visible you should always take the cat to the veterinarian.

Cat Ears

The ears of cats are areas especially exposed to all kinds of injuries. Wounds caused by fighting can infect. Continuous scratching can also cause injury and infection. White cats in particular tend to suffer from burns, by the action of cold or by the action of the sun, which may lead to the development of tumors.

The veterinarian should be consulted whenever you suspect of these problems.

Mite

The secretion of dark brown wax is caused by mites. Mites are usually a problem only if there is a large quantity of them in the ear of the cat. If they spread to the inner ear they can damage the hearing of the animal. Scratching ears persistently and shaking head are signs of mite infestation.

Usually the problems in ears, like wounds and infections, and infestation of mites, are treated with drops prescribed by your veterinarian.

Cat Worms

Cats can be infested by internal parasites. Lungs can accommodate Strongylus micrurus which causes respiratory problems. The small intestine can be infested by hookworms, which can cause anemia. And even more common are the nematodes and tapeworms that install themselves in the intestines.

Some of the contamination symptoms by internal parasites are anemia, diarrhea and weight loss. The cats become weakened.

The treatment involves the administration of medicines against worms. These can be a paste that is placed in the cat food, or tablets.
The adult cats should be examined twice a year. The kittens should only be treated with these pills when they are older than a month.

Strongylus micrurus

If contaminated with this parasite cats can suffer a pleura-pneumonia. The contamination occurs when the cat eats a mouse or a bird that fed on a snail or slug which in turn has eaten larvae of Strongylus micrurus. One of the symptoms that may indicate contamination by this parasite is a persistent dry cough.

Cat Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be caused by several types of health problems. It can be a symptom of an intolerance to foods, can result from an allergy, or may be a result of a disease such as infectious enteritis of cats.

If diarrhea persists, you should take your cat to the veterinarian who will examine your cat. He will start by verifying whether the abdomen is swollen.

If nothing is done to treat diarrhea, the cat can die of dehydration.

Cat Vomiting

Vomiting one time or another may be normal in cats. It may be a reaction to defend themselves from something that they have swallowed, or it may just be to get rid of the balls of hair that have settled in their stomach.

But the vomiting may also indicate a serious illness, especially if it persists, and is accompanied by blood or diarrhea.

If the cat show pain in the abdomen and demonstrate an excessive thirst, he/she may have been poisoned.

Either way, if the vomiting persists, with the cat vomiting continuously, then you should consult a veterinarian immediately.

Cat Appetite Loss

Loss of appetite can be caused by a disease. But it may be just a normal behavior of the cat, for example due to warm weather, or due to the fact that the food is not fresh.

You should not try to force your cat to eat. You should try another type of cat food, giving it to the cat as snacks. Heat food several times a day (at the temperature of the body of the animal), food that you know that the cat likes, to see if he/she eats. Make sure to give your cat fresh food. After 10 minutes, the food that is not eaten should be removed.

If the cat refuses to eat any food for over 24 hours then you should take your cat to a veterinarian.

Cat Flu

There are several viruses that attack the respiratory system of the cat causing what is known as "cat flu".

Cats can be vaccinated against certain viruses. But there is no vaccine for all of them.

Treatment is based on antibiotics that are administered for some time, after which there must be major nursing care with the cat at home. The sick cat should be kept warm.

Some symptoms of cat flu are the eyes and nose dripping, sneezing and coughing. The third eyelid of the cat can become visible.

Treatment by a veterinarian is very important to get soon as feline influenza can be severe and spread quickly.

Cat Gums and Teeth

Usually cats don't have dental caries. But gums disease can cause loss of teeth.

Therefore, you must examine the cat's mouth regularly. The cat should be accustomed to have his/her mouth examined up, from kitten.

Brushing the teeth of your cat

You can avoid most problems in your cat's teeth just by brushing his/her teeth. This can be done with a special toothpaste or a solution of water and salt.

Usually dental problems in cats are due to the accumulation of plaque, which can cause gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) or an infection in the tooth, causing an abscess.

Gingivitis

Begins to appear a dark red line along the gums. The gum will back as the inflammation develops which may lead to loss of teeth. You should consult your veterinarian quickly.

Cat urine problems

The urine of cats should present a clear yellow color. The cat must urinate with ease. If effort is needed for the cat to urinate and the urine is cloudy or without color, the cat may be sick.

Infections in the bladder, kidney diseases or diabetes are some of the urinary problems that cats may suffer.

In the feline urological syndrome, the bladder is blocked, making that the cat has to endeavor to urinate, expelling bloody urine. It is a painful process that requires immediate attention by a veterinarian.

Cat Kidney Disease

Symptoms of kidney disease is a growing thirst, frequent urination, loss of weight, difficulty in breathing and ulcers in the mouth of the animal.

The kidney disease may be chronic or acute. For both of them a veterinarian should be consulted.

Older cats tend to suffer more chronic illness. As the cats age there is more chances for the kidneys to deteriorate. In this case, for the cat to survive a careful diet and appropriate medical treatment is needed.

Younger cats are more prone to suffer acute kidney disease. This is usually caused by an infection and is accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting and dehydration.

Remember that if the cat shows an excessive thirst and urinates often, these are signs of kidney disease.