Health

Have you noticed your cat pawing at their eye which, all of a sudden, has become red and swollen? Your feline friend might suffer from cat conjunctivitis. Find out what it means, what’s causing it and what you can do to help this uncomfortable eye condition go away. If you’ve just discovered your cat has a sore-looking eye or they are trying to rub their eye with their paw, on furniture or along the floor, chances are your pet is suffering from a case of cat conjunctivitis. While you’re waiting for your vet appointment, find out more about this eye condition and what to expect when you visit the vets. What is cat conjunctivitis? Cat conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the thin membrane on the inside of the eyelids and white part of the eye. The inflammation will cause the conjunctiva to become red and swollen and the eye might water or have some discharge. Cat conjunctivitis can be either infectious, when caused by viruses or bacteria, or non-infectious when something gets into the eye and irritates it. The inflammation can appear in one eye or both eyes at the same time. If your cat has conjunctivitis, you may catch them pawing at the affected eye or constantly blinking and squinting, because the condition is uncomfortable. Arranging a trip to the vet is the best thing to do for a speedy recovery. What causes cat eye infection? Infectious cat conjunctivitis can be caused by a range of viruses, with Feline Herpesvirus one of the most common. Bacteria such as Chlamydophila can also cause an eye infection as part of an upper tract respiratory infection, so cat sniffles and sneezes might accompany the appearance of the red or watery eye. In both cases the cat eye infection can spread to other felines, so if there are any cats nearby, you may want to keep their interactions with the poorly cat to a minimum. Your vet may wish to see all the cats in your household. Make sure you wash your hands after checking on your cat’s eye and if possible try to keep them in separate rooms for the duration of the cat conjunctivitis flare-up. What causes non-infectious cat conjunctivitis? Non-infectious cat conjunctivitis is usually caused by irritants in the cat’s environment. Even something as little as a speck of dust finding its way into your cat’s eye can be enough to trigger a reaction. Anything able to irritate the eye is a possible risk – mould, air fresheners and even shampoo can cause eye redness. Other possible causes include trauma to the eye like bumping it on something, or even contact with certain plants can trigger allergic conjunctivitis. Understanding what has caused your cat’s conjunctivitis can help with the treatment, which is why a prompt visit to the vet is important. How is cat conjunctivitis diagnosed? If your cat seems to be in pain, the vet might start by using anaesthetic eye drops to numb the area before inspecting it for foreign bodies, scratches or wounds. Sometimes a green dye might be applied which, when illuminated with a bright blue light, can show where the eye problem originated.

If you’re expecting new bundles of fur arriving at your home soon, it can very exciting – and perhaps a little daunting too. You shouldn’t need to worry - pregnant cats are usually more than capable of taking care of themselves, although they will still need close care and attention from you during labour. As they often try to sneak away to give birth in private, you’ll need to keep a close eye on them in the last few weeks just in case! Speak to your vet if you have any concerns about pregnancy in cats, or are worried about your cat giving birth. Their advice should help to put your mind at rest. Here are some helpful tips from our Pet Care Team to help you be as prepared as possible for when your cat becomes a new mum. Preparing for the birth During the last two weeks of your cat’s pregnancy, make sure everyone else in the family knows to be calm and quiet around her, and to handle her with care – especially children, who can be understandably excited at the prospect of kittens to play with soon! Try to keep her as calm and inactive as possible during this time, and encourage her to relax in her special maternity bed. Even the snuggliest soft bed might not tempt her however, and some cats will reject your suggested birthing bed for a corner of a cupboard! Just make sure she has some choice on where to give birth and never try to move her from her chosen spot. Have help on hand Your cat’s labour should go smoothly, but it’s useful to have help on hand to keep her calm and in case she runs into any complications. Get hold of your vet's out-of-hours phone number prior to your cat giving birth, as delivery often happens during the night, or they might need an emergency helping hand. If mum does have problems delivering her kittens, you may need to take her to the vet, so make sure that you have access to transport. When you think labour might be approaching, it’s good to get a few things ready in advance, including a clean bowl of warm water, clean towels and cloths, dental floss and disposable gloves, together with a cat carrier and your vet’s details. It’s important to have these things to hand, just in case! If you need to move the kittens away from mum at any time, you’ll need to keep them warm. We recommend using a microwaveable beanie bag instead of a hot water bottle, as their sharp teeth and claws can cause punctures. Know what signs to look out for Impending labour can be tricky to spot. During the first stages of labour, the mum (queen) will become very restless, pace as if she is looking for something, and become very vocal. Contact your vet if you are unsure if labour has started, and keep a close eye on your cat in her final weeks and days of labour to make sure you know when and where she will give birth to her kittens.

Pregnancy is both wonderful and wonderfully tiring, for you and your pet. One important thing you can do to help your mum-to-be is to give her the nutritional support she needs. Choosing the right feeding plan during pregnancy will ensure that she grows fit kittens, and has the strength to handle birth and nursing her newborns. The adult food you normally give your cat is great for her everyday diet, but it won’t provide the extra boost she’ll need when expecting. For a happy mum and healthy kittens, pick a formula that will meet her new requirements. A high-quality kitten food will provide all the necessary nutrients when feeding your pregnant cat. Start weaning her onto it from mating until a few weeks after giving birth, to keep her strong and give her the energy she needs to support her new kittens. Pregnant cats need higher amounts of calories and protein, both of which can be found in high-quality kitten food. Switching mum onto a kitten food will also help her litter, as they’ll be able to copy her and try some of her solid food as they wean off her milk. We have a selection of products to suit a variety of diets that you can try.

Although cat constipation is a fairly common problem, the causes and symptoms can be wildly different from one cat to the next. Discover what you need to know about this condition to help treat it quickly and prevent it from making sudden appearances into your cat’s life. If you suspect your cat is constipated, you’re no doubt eager to figure out what has caused it and how you can provide some relief to your beloved cat. In this article, we look at the essential information you need, from early symptoms all the way to veterinary cat constipation treatment and ways you can prevent the discomfort to help your cat get back to their usual happy self. Cat constipation symptoms A cat who hasn’t produced stools for more than 24 hours is likely to be suffering from cat constipation. However, sometimes owners might not be up-to-date with their cat’s bathroom routine as some felines are known to like going to the toilet outdoors as well. Therefore you might not notice the infrequency of their toilet habit straight away. These are some of the other symptoms of cat constipation you may want to keep an eye on: • Tense abdomen • Hard, dry, small stools • Straining which can be mistaken by owners as difficulty urinating sometimes • Lack of appetite (occasionally) • Hunched posture

If your cat experiences a stroke, it can be really scary and it’s important to take them to the vet quickly so they can receive any treatment they need. Find out about the symptoms you should look out for and the current treatment options in this guide. Strokes in cats occurs far less frequently than they do in humans, but a stroke is still classed as a medical emergency. If your cat experiences a stroke, it’s important to seek veterinary care quickly to make sure they have the best chance of recovery. Find out all you need to know about the cat stroke symptoms to watch out for and the treatment options currently available. What is a cat stroke? A cat stroke refers to the sudden reduction of blood supply to the brain. There are two types of stroke – ischemic, which is usually caused by a clot within a blood vessel, and haemorrhagic, which is when there is bleeding in the brain due to a blood vessel rupture. The brain needs a constant supply of blood to bring oxygen and nutrients and to remove waste from the brain cells. When the blood supply to a part of the brain fails, its function will be severely disrupted and the tissue could even be destroyed. What causes stroke in cats? There are several possible causes for strokes in cats, including: • Head trauma • Body trauma: this can dislodge fat or cartilage • Brain tumour • Tumours elsewhere in the body • Heart disease • Genetic defects • Kidney failure • Diabetes • Parasitic infection such as lungworm • Ingestion of toxins that cause bleeding, such as warfarin in rat poison • Hyperthyroidism • High blood pressure • Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism) Cat stroke symptoms The symptoms of your cat’s stroke will depend on whereabouts in the brain it occurs, how much brain tissue is affected and how severe the effects are. Some symptoms you should be on the lookout for include: • Circling • Pressing their head against objects • Unusual walking gait (sometimes affecting just one side of the body) • Weakness or unsteadiness • Head tilting • Abnormal eye movements • Unequal pupil sizes • Coma • Seizures • In extreme cases, death Many of these symptoms of cat stroke are not specific to this condition and can indicate other diseases, so it’s important that you seek veterinary advice. In particular, the condition of ‘vestibular disease’ can cause some of these symptoms – a head tilt and loss of balance to one side, as well as rapid eye movements. Your vet will assess your cat and they’ll be able to advise you on how best to diagnose and treat your pet.

If your cat has developed an unusual cough lately, you’re probably wondering ‘why is my cat coughing’ and what to do about it. Although it can be disturbing for owners to see their cat coughing and wheezing, this is not uncommon in the feline kingdom and it’s often a sign of the occasional hairball your pet is trying to get rid of. However, a simple cough can quickly get a bit more complicated when we take into consideration all the possible issues with their nose, throat and lungs that could cause this symptom. And even your cat’s heart might have something to do with it. This means your cat’s cough riddle is best left for the vet to solve. But while you wait for the appointment, here are some of the possible reasons why your cat is coughing. Why is your cat coughing? Top 6 possible reasons Is it an allergy attack, asthma or a lung infection? There are many possible causes for a cat’s sudden coughing fit. Even something as inconspicuous as dust can trigger all that feline coughing and wheezing. The list is long, but we’re breaking it down for you. Here are some of the reasons your cat might start coughing more than usual. 1) Asthma

What is FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) in cats? FIP is a relatively rare but often fatal viral disease which is common in young cats (less than 2 years old) and kittens and is caused by an infection with the virus named feline coronavirus. It’s important to note that this is different from the coronavirus that infects people and leads to COVID-19. This is a feline coronavirus that is very common and only causes mild symptoms, but in a few cases, it mutates into the feline infectious peritonitis virus, triggering FIP, a serious disease that is deadly for most cats. A mutated feline coronavirus can trigger feline infectious peritonitis, so before we get to the specifics of the FIP disease in cats, let’s look at what the feline coronavirus is and how your pet might get it. What is the feline coronavirus? The feline coronavirus affects cats and is not contagious to humans. However, it can easily transmit from feline to feline and it’s usually passed in cat faeces. This is why it’s more common in cats that are in close proximity with or share a household with other cats and are in contact with their litter trays. The good news is that, despite being a very transmittable virus encountered by nearly every cat throughout their lives, feline coronavirus doesn’t typically make your cat visibly ill. The infection is normally limited to the intestinal tract, so if symptoms do manifest, they’re mild and you will usually notice your kitten suffering from diarrhoea for a few days and nothing more. Why does feline coronavirus cause feline infectious peritonitis? So how does a seemingly harmless virus turn into a more dangerous strain, capable of activating a disease that is fatal for most cats? As the feline coronavirus starts to replicate inside your cat’s body, mutations might occur. Scientists don’t know yet what is causing these mutations, but a weak immune system, stress and even age (with younger cats being more susceptible to FIP virus) have been proposed as possible explanations. One of these mutations can turn the feline coronavirus into the feline infectious peritonitis virus which, instead of remaining confined to the intestinal tract, infects blood cells that then travel throughout the entire body. The immune system should be able to intervene at this point and fight off the infection, but if this does not happen, the cat will develop feline infectious peritonitis. So, even if the cat becomes infected with the FIP virus, it does not necessarily follow that they will suffer from the FIP disease. A strong immune system will be able to stop the illness from being triggered. However, this means that young and old kittens with weaker immune responses are less likely to stop the virus and FIP will be triggered as a consequence. Despite this, the disease luckily remains quite rare in cats. What are the symptoms of FIP in cats?

Flat-faced cats have become extremely popular in recent years with their smooshed faces, button-like noses and doll-like eyes, but there’s a price to pay for this cute factor. The technical term for cats with these flat faces is ‘brachycephalic’, and there’s tonnes of health risks that come with it. If you’re considering a brachycephalic cat, keep reading to find out about the risks involved and how extreme breeding has negatively impacted the health and well-being of these felines. What is a brachycephalic cat? Brachy means shortened and cephalic means head, so to break it down, brachycephalic means shortened head and in brachycephalic cats this is because the skull bones are far shorter than the average, healthy cat. As the face and nose are more pushed in, their anatomy and soft tissue are altered which causes a wealth of physical problems. Flat-faced cats first became popular in the 1950s when a kitten was born with a genetic mutation which gave them a flatter face. Over time this became very desirable so more kittens were bred with this feature in mind. This extreme practice of breeding cats has become far worse as of late with the attempt of making them look more flat-faced, but this comes at the cost of their health and quality of life. Brachycephalic cat breeds The following breeds are currently classed as brachycephalic: • Exotic Shorthair. • Himalayan. • Persian. • Scottish Fold. • Chinchilla. • British Shorthair. It’s important to remember that, within the breeds classified as brachycephalic, some individuals may be affected by this condition to a greater or lesser degree. Do flat-faced cats have breathing problems?

Incontinence in cats is a condition that’s most frequently observed in older felines. Just like with humans, when cats reach their senior years, it can be quite common for them to develop certain health conditions such as cognitive impairment and loss of muscle control that can lead to problems with defecating and urinating. If your cat is leaking urine or seems to be having problems with defecating, it could be a sign of incontinence. Keep reading to find out what can cause this problem and the possible treatment methods. What is incontinence in cats?

Just like most female mammals, cats experience monthly cycles. However, their ‘periods’ are quite different from the menstrual cycle in humans. In this guide, find out all you need to know about the cat heat cycle, including how often they go into heat and whether or not you should let your feline go through an initial cycle prior to spaying.