| Cats need only be provided with decent shelter, food | | | | devastating but easiest to prevent disease that |
| and water and they will be quite healthy most of the | | | | affects cats is infectious enteritis, or feline distemper. |
| time. Like any other living thing, however, they can | | | | This is a virus disease that strikes quickly and leaves |
| get sick and can come down with anything from a | | | | little time to enact treatment. |
| minor cold to a major ailment. | | | | Feline Leukemia or FeLV is another deadly disease |
| As a responsible pet owner, you want to make sure | | | | that can be prevented through early vaccinations. |
| you feed your cat premium cat food so he can be | | | | This disease poses no threat to humans but can be |
| his healthiest and also watch your cat closely for | | | | spread between cats. These days, it is treatable and |
| signs of sickness so that you can get him to a vet | | | | some cats can live a long life with Feline Leukemia |
| right away. Hopefully most ailments will be minor, but | | | | although you would want to be very careful to keep |
| in some cases getting your cat expedient veterinary | | | | them away from other cats so as not to spread the |
| help can be the difference between life and death. | | | | disease. |
| Some things to look for include: | | | | One health problem in cats, particulary those that go |
| Your cats coat - is it full and shiny or dull and patchy? | | | | outdoors is worms. A cat with worms usually has a |
| Is he shedding abnormally? If so get your cat | | | | lackluster coat and can either have a large appetite |
| scheduled for a vet visit. | | | | or none at all. There are many kinds of worms, and |
| Behavior - is your cat acting sluggish and not eating? | | | | cats are susceptible to all of them. Cats can get |
| Any change in behavior warrants a trip to the vet as | | | | worms from lice or fleas or in the organs of the |
| it is better to be safe then sorry! | | | | rodents that the cats eat. Typically the cat ingests |
| Diarrhea or vomiting - If your cat is doing either of | | | | the eggs which mature and attach to the intestinal |
| these for more than a day, I would get him to the | | | | walls. Feeding your cat a bit of garlic every once in a |
| vet as soon as you can. | | | | while can protect him against worms. |
| Coughing - Some cats routinely cough up hairballs, but | | | | Keeping your cat happy and healthy is really a simple |
| if your cat is coughing for no reason then you should | | | | matter of caring for him properly and making sure he |
| have this checked out. | | | | gets the appropriate veterinary care. Make sure your |
| Swelling or lumps - when you pet your cat, take the | | | | cat gets all the recommended vaccinations and you |
| time to feel around for any unusual lumps or swelling. | | | | give him the proper treatments to repel fleas and |
| To insure that your cat doesn't fall victim to disease, | | | | other pesky pests. These simple steps will keep your |
| you should make sure he has all of his vaccinations as | | | | cat happy and healthy for a lifetime! |
| recommended by your vetrenarian. The most | | | | |