| If you are new to owning a cat, you may be | | | | cat 2 — 3 times a week to remove loose |
| surprised to find that health problems are a common | | | | hair. You can also feed him food that is designed to |
| thing. No matter what breed of cat you own, health | | | | control hairballs as well.Urinary tract infectionUrinary |
| problems are to be expected. Some may be | | | | tract infection is also a common health problem with |
| hereditary, while others can easily be prevented. If | | | | cats. Urinary tract infection is more common with |
| you are new to owning a cat, you may be surprised | | | | male cats that haven’t been neutered, |
| to find that health problems are a common thing. | | | | although females can suffer from this problem as |
| No matter what breed of cat you own, health | | | | well. When a cat suddenly stops going to his litter |
| problems are to be expected. Some may be | | | | box, this problem is normally the cause. Another |
| hereditary, while others can easily be | | | | symptom is when the cat’s urine starts to |
| prevented.WormsNo matter what breed of cat it | | | | smell really strong. If you suspect that your cat has |
| may be, worms are a very common and recurring | | | | a urinary tract infection, you should take him to the |
| problem. Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms | | | | vet. Your vet can treat the problem with medicine, |
| are among the most common that infect cats. Cats | | | | and make recommendations to help avoid this |
| who have problems gaining weight, problems with | | | | problem in the future.Feline leukemiaIn the past, feline |
| fleas, or if you find white specks in his stool, you | | | | leukemia was the biggest cause of death in cats. |
| should have your vet test him for worms. Although | | | | These days however, there are vaccines available |
| they can be treated with medicine, worms can prove | | | | that can treat the disease. To treat the disease, |
| to be fatal if they are left untreated.HairballHairballs | | | | your cat will need to be given the shot before he or |
| are the most common health problem for cats. All | | | | she is exposed. Even though death doesn’t |
| cats groom themselves on a daily basis, normally | | | | happen immediately, cats that are exposed to feline |
| swallowing the loose hair that comes from their | | | | leukemia normally don’t have a long life span. |
| coats. On occasion, this loose hair will gather into a | | | | If you know your cat has feline leukemia, you should |
| ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead | | | | never allow other cats around him, as the virus is |
| of passing through in your cat’s stool. When | | | | highly contagious.To protect your cat, you should |
| your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally | | | | always make sure that you take him to the vet for |
| coughing up a hairball. Although it can be rather | | | | his regular check ups. If you keep him up to date |
| disgusting in the end, most cats can dislodge hairballs | | | | on his vaccinations, he should lead a healthy and |
| without any problems.In rare cases, a hairball can | | | | productive life. Although some health problems |
| pass through to a cat’s intestine, creating a | | | | can’t be avoided, most of them can. You |
| blockage. Blockages are very serious problems, and | | | | can also keep your cat indoors as well, which will |
| can be life threatening if they aren’t treated. | | | | protect him from a majority of health problems. If |
| If your cat becomes constipated, isn’t eating | | | | your cat is an outdoor cat, regular visits to the vet |
| properly, or has a very dull coat, he could have a | | | | will keep him healthy. As long as you take your cat |
| blockage. If you notice any of these symptoms, | | | | to the vet and keep him healthy — he will be |
| you should take him to the vet immediately. You | | | | your companion for years to come. |
| can prevent hairballs and blockages by brushing your | | | | |