Cat Health Collection

Cat health articles. Browse our health collection for common and uncommon cat health issues.

Hairballs in Cats: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Hairballs in cats

What are hairballs? Also known as trichobezoars (pronounced trike-oh-bee-zohr), hairballs are balls of hair that are ingested during grooming and later vomited from the stomach. What causes cats to produce hairballs? Cats spend 24% of their awake time grooming; during this process, the cat ingests loose hair. The tongue of the cat has backward-facing barbs … Read more

Home Remedies For Cat Colds And Flu

Home remedies for cat colds and flu

What are cat colds? Cat colds or flu can be caused by several viruses or bacteria, the most common are the feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, and chlamydiosis. Colds in cats tend to be more serious than human colds, and it is always recommended pet owners seek veterinary attention for a chlamydiosis displaying the following clinical … Read more

Urinalysis Test in Cats

Urinalysis test for cats

What is a urinalysis test?

A urinalysis test (also known as UA) is a series of physical and chemical tests performed on urine to provide the clinician with important information on the cat’s physical health.

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Snail Bait Poisoning in Cats

Snail bait poisoning in cats

 
Although seen more commonly in dogs than cats, snail bait poisoning does occur in cats too. Snail bait contains one of two poisons, metaldehyde, and methiocarb, both of which can be fatal to cats if ingested. These products typically contain around 3% poison and the rest contains bait such as bran or molasses which are not only attractive to snails and slugs but also other animals.

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Lead Poisoning in Cats

Lead poisoning in cats

Also known as plumbism, lead poisoning occurs when a cat ingests or inhales products that contain lead, resulting in toxic levels building up in the blood. There are many possible ways for this to occur however the most common is from lead-based paint. Since 1978, paints in the United States can no longer contain lead, … Read more

Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) Poisoning in Cats

Aspirin toxicity in cats

Aspirin toxicity in cats at a glance

  • About: Aspirin is a popular over the counter medication to treat pain, fever, and inflammation. While safe for humans, aspirin is toxic to cats.
  • Toxic effects: Bone marrow suppression, liver inflammation, bleeding, stomach ulceration, and kidney damage.
  • Symptoms: Vomiting blood, black and tarry feces, loss of appetite, rapid breathing, and jaundice.
  • Treatment: Gastric decontamination, fluid therapy to correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalances and antacids.

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Diarrhea in Cats

Diarrhea in cats

At a glance

About: Diarrhea is the passage of loose, watery stools. It can be acute (sudden onset) or chronic (lasting longer than two weeks). It can originate from the small or large intestine.

Causes:

  • Dietary indiscretion
  • Food allergy or intolerance
  • Gastrointestinal blockage
  • Sudden change in diet
  • Certain medications
  • Intestinal parasites
  • Infection (viral, bacterial, fungal or
    protozoal)
  • Systemic disease (hyperthyroidism, kidney
    disease, liver disease)
  • Inflammatory (colitis, inflammatory bowel
    disease, pancreatitis)
  • Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
  • Poisoning
  • Intestinal lymphoma

Diagnosis: Baseline tests to evaluate the overall health of your cat, fecal tests, diagnostic imaging and additional tests depending on the veterinarian’s index of suspicion.

Treatment: A bland diet to rest the gastrointestinal tract, supportive care such as fluids, nutritional support and specific treatment depending on the underlying cause.

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Uveitis in Cats: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Uveitis in cats

Uveitis at a glance About: Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, which is the middle layer of the eye. Causes: There are several causes which include immune-mediated, diabetes, cancer, trauma, infectious and high blood pressure. Symptoms: Cloudy or red appearance to the eye(s), abnormal pupil size, sensitivity to light, change in pupil shape. Treatment: … Read more

Is My Cat Pregnant?

Is my cat pregnant?

What are the signs of pregnancy in cats?

The gestation period for a cat is 63-65 days. This varies between cat though, and anywhere between 60 to 70 days is normal. Unlike humans, it is not possible to determine a pregnancy via a blood or urine test in cats.

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Cat Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye)

Conjunctivitis in cats

Conjunctivitis at a glance

What is conjunctivitis? Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the membrane covering the front of the eyeball.

Causes: Infection, allergies, irritants, injury and foreign object in the eye.

Symptoms of cat conjunctivitis:

  • Meaty appearance to the eye
  • Redness
  • Eye discharge
  • Blinking
  • Squinting
  • Watery eyes

Cat conjunctivitis treatment: This depends on the underlying cause but may include antibiotics, antivirals, supportive care and removal of the discharge.

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