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