10 of the Most Common Health Problems Cats Experience

Know What to Expect

When it comes to recognizing the signs and symptoms of illnesses in cats, cat owners are faced with a difficult and challenging task. Cats are resilient and tend to hide their weaknesses. Therefore they usually show no signs of distress until it is too late. Being well-informed and observing your cat carefully is the best way to spot any alarming changes in their well-being.

Respecting vaccination protocols and regular check-ups also help keep your cat healthy. To make things easier, we have compiled a list of the top 10 cat diseases.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a virus similar to HIV in humans. It attacks the immune system, rendering the cat more susceptible to a range of other illnesses and secondary infections. The virus transmits through deep bite wounds. FIV infected cats may not show symptoms for years. Once the symptoms become apparent, they include:

• Fever
• Sneezing
• Eye and nose discharge
• Dental issues
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Delayed wound healing
• Poor coat quality
• Hair loss

FIV cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. If kept in a stress-free, indoor environment and given proper supportive medical care, infected cats can live comfortably for years before the disease reaches its chronic stage.