Find out about common cat illnesses: like abscess, cat flu, ear mites, flea bite allergy, and ringworm.
The common illnesses that affect cats are abscess, cat flu, ear mites, flea bite allergy and ringworm.
An abscess is an infected area swollen with pus. It is derived from bites and scratches sustained during a cat fight. These lumps is hot and painful for your pet. The size of the swelling varies. Due to the infection, your cat may become feverish, lethargic and experience loss of appetite. You need to bring it to the vet for treatment. Surgical treatment uses lancing, draining and flushing the abscess with antibiotics. Oral antibiotics may be fed to your cat. Follow up treatment involves use of topical cleansers and antibiotic ointments to heal the abscess.
Cats suffer from cat flu, too. This is a respiratory tract infection caused by feline rhinotracchetis virus and feline calicivirus. The symptoms are similar to human flu signs of lethargy, sneezing, coughing, fever, runny nose and eye, loss of fluids and appetite. In severe cases, pneumonia may set in. Antibiotics can't fight the virus but they are given to fight the secondary bacteria infections. To improve the cat's appetite, vitamins are given. Eye ointments and decongestants are also used. Cat flu is very contagious. It is better to get your cat vaccinated against cat flu.
Ear mites cause scratching and secondary infection on the irritated skin. You can clean your pet's ears first before using insecticidal ear drops to kill the mites. Massage the ears to ensure the medication reaches into the ear canals.
Flea bite allergy is the sensitive reaction to flea saliva when your cat is bitten by a flea. The symptoms are hair loss and excessive scratching of the infected areas. You need to get rid of the fleas first by using a flea collar, anti-flea shampoo, powder, spray or dip. You need to use a combination of these products as fleas are very persistent and recontamination may occur when the fleas in the environment hop onto your cat.
It is necessary to engage pest control services to fumigate your house and garden against the fleas. Your vet will prescribe antibiotics to heal the sores and anti-inflammatory drugs to treat the skin inflammation.
Ringworm is contagious as it spreads through contact. If your cat has them, it is likely you're infected too. Symptoms are circular bald patches with scabby lesions on the skin. Topical anti-fungal dips and washing reagents can be used to get rid of the parasitic fungus.
Other than these common illnesses of cats, they are basically a tough breed of animals and won't trouble you much.
