Did you know that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the commonest cause of sickness and diarrhoea in cats? Shocking, isn’t it. But then again IBD isn’t a black and white, all-or-nothing condition, but exists on a ‘spectrum’ from mild to severe. For example, since this is a waxing and waning condition, if your cat has regular, intermittent tummy upsets then IBD could …
Signs and Symptoms of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
An owner brings a young cat into my clinic. The cat’s been off her food for a few days, has a dull unkempt coat, and is running a fever. Something clicks and the thought “FIP” pops into my head. I take a history, hoping for a simple explanation, such as the cat got into a fight…but, no, she’s strictly indoors and an only pet…and the suspicion of FIP ratchets up a notch. As …
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Common Illnesses Older Cats are More Likely to Experience
Anyone caring for an older cat knows how they tug at the heart strings. Cats are such independent, graceful creatures, whilst their ageing bodies make it hard to maintain that dignity. For example, stiff joints can make it difficult for an older cat to reach hard-to-get-to places when grooming, which leads to a dull, matted coat. The truth is your older cat depends on you …
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Understanding Epilepsy and Seizures in Cats
“Cats are not small dogs” When I trained as a vet in the 1980s, cats had only been treated in their own right for about a decade. (Astonishing I know!) To prove how far things had come in the last ten years, the lecturers often said, “Cats are not small dogs”….and then illustrated the point with a piece of new research that highlighted how ridiculous it was that veterinary …
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Feline Asthma and Bronchitis: Triggers and Treatment
Does your cat cough? Unlike dogs and people, it takes a lot to make a cat cough (a proper cough, different from the “I’m about to bring up a hairball so everybody look,” sound). Cats have a weak cough reflex and so if you answered “Yes, my cat coughs”, this is significant and you should get her checked by a vet. Indeed, one of the few things that cause cat’s to cough is …
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Cat Flu: Sneezes and Sniffles…or Something More Serious?
From your own experience, you know there’s a big different between having a head cold and the flu. It's the same for cats. Cats can get upper respiratory tract infections (a ‘cold’ in plain English) that are mild and don’t need treatment, but catching cat flu is a whole different story. What Causes Cat Flu? Traditionally cat flu is a viral disease, caused by feline Calici …
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FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) and Your Cat
Does your cat spend ages in the litter box? Straining and feeling the urge to constantly visit the litter tray are signs your feline friend may be suffering from FLUTD. Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is common, with your average vet practice seeing more cases of FLUTD (5% of their caseload) than kidney disease (4.2%). But if you think a sore bladder is all …
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Pancreatitis and Your Cat
If the condition ‘pancreatitis’ was a person, he’d be a grumbly pessimist who makes life a misery. Indeed, when describing pancreatitis this condition has so many different faces and outcomes that it’s hard to know where to start. So let’s begin by understanding what the pancreas does. What is the Pancreas? The pancreas is an organ that sits in the front of the abdomen, …
Breast Cancer in Cats – Signs and Prevention
Did you know breast cancer in cats is the third most common type of feline cancer? There are three common cancers in cats. These are, in order: It is perhaps, a surprising statistic that breast cancer is as high on this list as it is. Mammary tumours in cats is not something that pops readily to mind when worrying about our cats’ health . . . but it does …
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Zoonotic Diseases: Can I Catch What My Cat’s Got?
A zoonotic disease is a disease that can be transmitted between humans and animals. Yes, there are actually some diseases that you can catch from your cat! Zoonotic diseases can be transmitted via the bodily fluids of an infected cat, through flea bites or via skin contact if it’s a skin disease, but the method of transmission varies. It’s important to understand which …
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