Health

Good digestion is one of the keys to excellent health. By digesting and absorbing the goodness from food, your cat can take in all the nutrients needed to stay in top condition.

Ear mites are a common cause of feline ear problems. These tiny parasites can be extremely itchy and lead to long-term damage if left untreated. Find out what they are and how to treat them successfully. Is your feline scratching their ears more than usual? One of the most common causes for a cat’s ear discomfort are microscopic parasites known as ear mites. Read on to find out how ear mites in cats affect your pet’s health and what to do to get rid of them. What are cat ear mites? The most common type of ear mite in cats is Otodectes cynotis. These are barely-visible to the naked eye but may be seen as very small white dots. Diagnosis usually requires looking for the mites under a microscope. They get inside your cat’s ear canal, where they feed on the ear wax and skin debris. These mites can cause significant inflammation and swelling in the ear canal and are very itchy. Cats of all ages and breeds can be affected, with outdoor felines being the most susceptible to an ear mite infection.

Hyperthyroidism in cats is a common disease which mainly affects middle-aged and elderly felines. Read our guide to find out everything you need to know about the condition. Hyperthyroidism in cats is a common disease that affects middle-aged and senior cats. Hyperthyroidism refers to excessive levels of thyroid hormone being produced by the thyroid glands located in the neck. This can have significant health implications, because thyroid hormone is involved in the normal regulation of metabolic processes in the body. Therefore, the condition can affect multiple body systems. If you are concerned that your cat might have hyperthyroidism, we’ve created this guide to tell you all you need to know about the condition, from the symptoms to watch out for to the life expectancy for hyperthyroidism in cats. What causes hyperthyroidism in cats? Most cases of hyperthyroidism are caused by a benign tumour of the thyroid gland leading to excessive thyroid hormone production. However, the tumour can be malignant and spread within the body in a small proportion of cases. You may hear the terms T3 and T4 used – with T3 referring to triiodothyronine which is the active form of the hormone and T4 referring to thyroxine which is the precursor for this. Blood levels of both of these forms of the thyroid hormone can be tested as part of the diagnostic process.

Just like us, cats can put on a few extra pounds, especially as they get older and become less active, or if they spend every day indoors. It’s important to prevent your cat from putting on too much weight, as overweight cats can face many health implications that can prevent them from enjoying a happy and healthy lifestyle. The good news is that you can do a lot to help your feline friend to keep their weight under control. By monitoring your cat's weight and body condition, you can help to reduce their chances of developing health issues that are common in overweight cats such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, lower urinary tract problems and constipation. How to tell if your feline friend needs to go on a cat diet It can be tricky to tell if your cat is overweight, particularly if they’re long haired, and some cats are naturally stockier than others depending on their breed. Our body conditioning tool only takes a few minutes to complete, and quickly gives you a good idea about what shape your pet is in. If you’re still not sure, or you think you might have an overweight cat, have a chat with your vet. It’s important to speak to them before you make any changes to your cat’s diet if you think they are overweight, as their weight gain could be caused by an underlying illness, rather than an over-active appetite. For more information before you talk to your vet, take a look at our ‘assessing your cat’s body condition’ article. How to weigh your cat Weighing your cat at home is a simple way to monitor their weight. Simply hold your cat as you stand on a set of weighing scales, and then subtract your weight from the final figure to be left with what your cat weighs. However don’t rely on this alone, as a proper body condition check will give you a much better overall picture of your cat’s health. How to help with cat weight loss If you’re already feeding your cat a diet recommended by your vet, speak to them before you switch to another food. If you don’t it could stop your cat losing weight or even worse have a negative effect on its health. Start by cutting out all treats and titbits, including cat milk, for two weeks. You might feel like you’re being unfair but it’s the kindest thing to do in the long run if you have an overweight cat.

Cat's kidneys play several important roles in keeping your pet healthy including removing toxins, maintaining their blood pressure and helping to produce hormones for new red blood cells. With so much to do, it’s perhaps not surprising that as cats get older, it’s quite common for their kidneys to wear out after working so hard. There are a number of causes for kidney failure, from cat kidney diseases to tumours, and these problems can be acute or chronic. Acute kidney failure in cats If your cat has acute kidney failure, it means that their kidneys are suddenly unable to function properly – this can be due to causes such as infection, or because your cat’s eaten something dangerous to them, such as antifreeze. Acute kidney damage in cats can either be permanent or reversible, depending on what the cause is. Chronic kidney failure in cats Chronic kidney failure in cats is more gradual, and usually develops over several months or even years. There are a number of reasons for chronic kidney failure in cats including infections and tumours, and unfortunately by the time it’s diagnosed the kidney damage is sometimes irreversible. In the early stages of kidney disease in cats, the healthy areas of the kidney compensate for any damage by increasing their already busy workload. However, as the disease progresses, the healthy areas start to shrink and eventually there simply aren’t enough remaining healthy areas for the kidneys to be able to perform as they should. By this stage, your cat will be showing signs of kidney failure (see below for more information). Chronic kidney failure in cats is a progressive illness that your vet will need to keep an eye on, but it can usually be managed with a combination of medical treatments and a special diet. Signs of kidney disease in cats Large amounts of very dilute urine and increased thirst As your cat's kidneys become less able to concentrate their urine, they will urinate more and drink more to replace the lost fluids.

If your cat is suffering from coughing fits and lack of energy, lungworms might be the culprit. Find out more about symptoms and treatment. Lungworms in cats can pose a series of dangers for your little ball of fur. These parasites travel the distance, hopping from host to host looking for perfect places to burrow into and every once in a while an unlucky cat becomes a stop on their route. Although less common than intestinal worms, lungworms are not to be ignored. Here are a few useful things to know about lungworm in cats and how you can help your cat get back to a clean bill of health. What is lungworm? Lungworms are parasites infecting other organisms and use their nutrients to stay alive and produce eggs at the expense of their host. If you are more familiar with the classic lungworms in dogs, these are not known to affect cats. In fact, cats have a different type of lungworm to contend with. There are two types of lungworm in cats: the Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (feline lungworm) and Capillaria aerophilus (bronchial capillarid that affects cats and dogs) and they can both cause lung damage. How do cats get lungworm? The more your cat is a keen outdoor explorer, the higher chance there is for lungworms to get attached to your feline companion. The little parasites usually have to travel through an entire food chain before reaching your cat’s system. Cats become infected with lungworm when they drink water or eat prey infected with the larval stage of the worm. The larvae migrate out of the intestines via the bloodstream to the lungs, where they develop into adult worms and lay eggs in the host’s lungs within 40 days. The eggs are then coughed up by the cat or passed in faeces, which may then be eaten by birds, rodents and/or snails.

Is your cat lethargic with a reduced appetite? There are many possible causes for these symptoms, but pancreatitis in cats is one to be aware of. Find out more about this condition including its diagnosis and management. The pancreas is one of the organs in the abdomen. It has roles in digestion and also produces insulin to help control blood sugar levels after eating. Pancreatitis in cats refers to inflammation of this organ, and is a more common disease than previously thought. This guide will help you to notice possible symptoms of pancreatitis and find out more about the condition. What is pancreatitis in cats? The pancreas makes digestive enzymes which help to break down food. In a healthy pancreas, these enzymes are not activated until they have reached the small intestine. In a cat with pancreatitis the enzymes become activated while they are still in the pancreas, leading to self-digestion and inflammation of the organ. What are the symptoms of pancreatitis in cats? The symptoms of pancreatitis in cats can be more subtle than those of pancreatitis in dogs, which is a more commonly diagnosed condition. Symptoms generally include non-specific signs such as dehydration, loss of appetite, weight loss or lethargy. What causes pancreatitis in cats? The initial trigger for feline pancreatitis is not fully known and is likely to vary between individuals. There is evidence that a range of underlying causes could be responsible such as infectious disease, other inflammatory illnesses, or trauma.

Despite the name, ringworm in cats has nothing to do with worms! If you suspect your cat has this fungal skin condition, it’s important that it gets treated as soon as possible to prevent spreading to other animals or even you. Ringworm in cats is a highly contagious fungal infection of the skin. It is more common in kittens and long-haired cats, but can affect any breed and age. It is also a zoonotic disease meaning it can spread to humans, particularly people who are immunocompromised. Despite the name, ringworm is not actually caused by a worm at all, rather a group of fungi called dermatophytes and can be referred to by its medical name dermatophytosis. Due to the highly contagious nature of the condition, it’s essential that ringworm treatment for cats is sought as soon as possible. If you suspect that your cat is suffering from ringworm, keep reading to find out what you should do. What is ringworm in cats? This common skin condition is a fungal infection which feeds on the keratin in a cat’s fur, skin and nails. It’s called ‘ringworm’ because the fungus creates circular ring-like lesions on your cats’ skin, usually also associated with hair loss. These are often found on the head, ears, along the ridge of the back and on the front legs, but they can be present anywhere on the body. How do cats get ringworm? Ringworm in cats is highly contagious and is most commonly caught through contact with infected cats. It can spread rapidly in multi-pet households as it gets distributed via fungal spores on skin and hair that’s been shed. Ringworm is very common in kittens under the age of one as their immune systems are still developing. It also affects long-haired cats more, because the fungus gets trapped in the long coat and is harder to remove. Symptoms of ringworm in cats Sometimes ringworm in cats can be hard to detect as symptoms may be very mild. If your cat displays symptoms, it’s likely to include the following:

Being a cat owner can be difficult when it comes to health issues – cats are notoriously secretive and can try to hide when they are in pain. This means you need to be on the lookout for symptoms that something is wrong. And dental issues can be a common problem. In this article, we’ll look at a condition called stomatitis and how to spot the signs of a dental health issue. What is stomatitis in cats? Stomatitis in cats is a medical condition which causes severe inflammation to the mouth and gums of felines. This inflammation will look reddish in colour and cause cats a significant amount of pain. In some extreme cases, it can even cause bleeding in the mouth. What causes stomatitis in cats? Multiple factors are suspected to cause stomatitis in cats and the causes have still not been definitively identified. Many believe the main cause of feline stomatitis is viral infections as many cats with stomatitis have a concurrent viral infection, particularly with a virus called 'calicivirus'. Plaque and calculus are also thought to be important contributory factors.

Find out how to encourage your cat to be active, even if they live indoors. Getting your beautiful cat to exercise can sometimes be a challenge. As any cat lover knows, cats have strong and independent personalities; they need alone time and are unlikely to do anything they don’t want to do. This can be especially worrying for a house cat, who has no outdoor exercise to help keep her healthy, or a kitten who has to be kept in the house for the first six months of their life. So how do you make your cat exercise? Enticement is the way forward: cats need to be engaged with their task or they can rapidly lose interest. Luckily, they all have a few personality traits that you can tickle to ensure they are having the time of their lives and are being active in the process. 1. Laser pointers Different cats have different preferences for the toys they like. Some are in love with the fishing pole, where you dangle a string above their heads and they bat at it. Others adore paper bags and boxes. But if your cat seems disinclined to play, then it is best to appeal to her feral nature-pouncing. Cats love to chase, especially items that move quickly. The laser point is an absolute favourite: point a laser at the wall and watch your cat try and catch that elusive red dot. 2. Battery-operated toys These are another great way to make your cat exercise, and are ideal solutions for busy owners. Just turn on a battery-operated toy, available from most pet shops or online, and your cat will be entertained for hours! 3. Outdoors While it may seem unusual, house cats can be encouraged to go outdoors and be walked. It is, of course, necessary to see if your cat is happy with this-don't do anything that might stress or upset her. If you plan on this form of cat exercise, try and introduce it when they are kittens (after the first six months!) when they seem more inclined to try new things. Older cats may be set in their ways and may take more convincing. Remember to use a leash when walking them, and make sure it fits comfortably.

Even if you keep a close eye on your cat's health it’s a good idea to take them to the vet for an annual wellness and cat health check-up. Looking after cats is fun but it's also full of responsibilities, including taking your pet to the vet. Sometimes it takes a professional eye to detect subtle changes in your pet’s health, especially as cats are very good at hiding their illnesses. Luckily, your vet will be very good at detective work. General cat health You already take your fluffy friend to the vet when they’re sick or injured but those appointments tend to focus mainly on one particular issue. ‘Check-up’ visits, on the other hand, work on the principle of ‘prevention is better than cure’ and they’re important to keep your cat healthy and prevent certain diseases. Your vet will want to check your cat over thoroughly at least once a year and more frequently as they get older or if they have special medical needs. This appointment will take an all-inclusive approach, making sure your cat is examined from their whiskers to the tip of their tail. Another advantage of these annual check-ups is to get your cat used to visiting the vet surgery when they’re well and this can help them form a bond with your vet. If they only visit when they’re hurt or ill they can become nervous, associating their trips with bad times or stressful experiences. It’s a good idea to pop into the vet practice every so often, even if it’s just for a flea check. The receptionists and vet nurses will always welcome a stroke as you pass by, and it will create a positive memory with no prodding and poking involved!

Cat scratch fever is an incredibly rare bacterial infection that can affect humans when a cat's claws or teeth break the skin. Read our guide to discover everything you need to know about the rare disease, including what causes it and who's generally most at risk. Cat-scratch fever, also known as cat-scratch disease is a bacterial infection that affects humans, and comes from cats infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria. According to the CDC, around 40% of cats will carry the bacteria at some point in their lives – usually when they’re kittens – but it’s very rare that it’s fatal for both humans and cats. Keep reading to find out about cat-scratch fever symptoms, the possible causes and who’s most at risk for getting the disease. What causes cat-scratch fever? Cats get infected with Bartonella henselae when they’re bitten by fleas carrying the bacteria, or if flea droppings get into their wounds.