A cat can become ill, just as you can. This post will discuss 10 common health problems for cats, and how to deal with them. Learn some hints as to causes and how to deal with these problems.
1) Vomiting
There is not much that can get me out of bed faster at night than the sound of a cat retching somewhere in the house, undoubtedly on a rug. I rush to save the rug, and then offer sympathy to the cat.
Why do cats vomit? There are many causes. Perhaps he is sensitive to medication or to a new food. Maybe he ate something he shouldn’t, like a piece of string, or maybe he has a hairball. He might have parasites or an allergy.
The vomiting may be a sign of a more serious condition. If it persists, worsens, or if accompanied by other symptoms, it’s time to visit the vet.
Try these remedies:
Tomlyn Laxatone Hairball Remedy 
Tuna flavored gel for cats
Size: 4.25 oz
Price: $8.19
2) Diarrhea
Causes of diarrhea are varied, and can include parasites, viral infections, dietary or food allergies, metabolic illnesses of the liver, intestinal tract, or thyroid. The diarrhea can last for a day, a week, or months.
Offer your cat plenty of fresh, clean water. This will prevent dehydration. Remove food for no more than 12 hours. If diarrhea persists after a day, or if the cat shows other symptoms, these may help:
Forteflora — helps promote intestinal balance
NatureVet Digestive Enzymes with Prebiotics and Probiotics
Vetasyl — source of soluble fiber
Probiotic; gastrointestinal support
Price: $30.99
3) Fleas
If your cat is scratching frequently or experiencing some hair loss or heat spots, the problem may be fleas. These will look like little black specks.
These nasty little creatures cause an allergic reaction in your cat, which can succeed in making your cat miserable. If you catch the problem early, try using Advantage II or Frontline Plus.
Revolution
Yucca Intensive — Reduces inflammation and itching
Revolution topical solution for cats
5.1 to 15 pounds (blue box)
Price: $130.05
Requires prescription approval
Once the fleas are under control, you might try the Seresto Flea Collar. I have a friend who swears by this collar, so have included a review of the product.
4) Tapeworms
First of all, as cats almost always get tapeworms because they swallowed a flea, it is important to tackle the flea problem first before going after the tapeworms.
If an animal is heavily infested, he may be bloated, with occasional vomiting or diarrhea, and will show itching and skin irritation.
You can often see tapeworms crawling out of the anus or near the tail. You will also find them in the cat’s stools.
To rid the cat of these worms, try Homeopet Worm Clear.
Dog, cat, bird, & small animal supplement
Price: $9.79
5) Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD)
Urinary tract problems are very common in cats. It is estimated that 3% of cats seen by vets have FLUTD. It’s often seen in cats that are overweight, unfit, or who eat dry food. It is often brought on by stress.
FLUTD symptoms could include:
- Drinking more
- Straining to urinate
- Bloody urine
- Urinating in unusual places
- Crying when urinating
- Licking around the urinary area (often because of pain)
- Depression
- Dehydration
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
If your cat is having a serious issue with urinating, call the vet immediately. It might be necessary to treat the cat with injectable antibiotics.
Nutritional supplements might be helpful. Try NaturVet Cranberry Relief + Echinacea, or UT Soft Chews for cats.
NaturVet Cranberry Relief + Echinacea
by NaturVet
Price: $10.99
6) Eye Problems
There are a number of things that can cause eye problems in cats. These include conjunctivitis, corneal ulcer, cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, viruses, inflammation and retinal disease.
Symptoms to watch for include watery eyes, tear-stained fur, cloudy appearance, eyelid linings appearing red or white, squinting, pawing at the eye, or the third eyelid being visible.
Unless you know what disease is the problem, your only choice is to see a vet. An eye problem should be considered an immediate emergency.
7) Dental Disease
Dental disease has become a common problem in cats. Unfortunately for you, the best way to prevent dental disease is to learn to brush your cat’s teeth and to do so regularly.
Without dental care on a regular basis, your kitty can develop gingivitis, ulcers, and lost teeth. A tell-tale sign of dental problems is bad breath. Also, gums may be red and swollen, kitty may drool excessively, or paw at his mouth.
Often, the vet can do ultrasonic scaling and cleaning. These processes help to maintain optimal dental health.
Products that may be helpful:
C.E.T. Oral Hygiene chews for cats (helps keep breath fresh and clean)
C.E.T. Enzymatic toothpaste
Dog & Cat toothpaste
Poultry flavor
Price: $9.98
8) Obesity
If your cat is overweight, he is at risk for several health issues. These include diabetes, joint pain, and liver issues.
At a healthy weight, you can see his waistline when viewed from above, and from the side you should see a tuck in the tummy.
It’s a long, slow practice to put your cat on a diet. Here’s a post that may help: https://theliteratecat.com/how-to-put-your-cat-on-a-diet/ If you feel your cat needs to diet, have your vet check him and tell you if it is necessary.
9) Upper Respiratory Problems
These are usually caused by a viral infection. Kitty’s condition can be mild to serious. The cat may have a runny nose, be sneezing or coughing, have teary eyes and fever.
Since these viruses are contagious among cats, keep your cat away from others if possible. They can get progressively worse, so you may have to consult your vet.
To make your cat less prone to such infections, you can give an immediate booster, such as Vetri-DMG or Vetri-Lysine Plus Soft Chews. The latter contains an amino acid that can help lessen the severity of the infection.
Immune Health Chews
by VetriScience
Price: $15.00
10) Allergies
Allergies can include such causes as food allergies or flea allergies. Cats can develop secondary raw spots and hot spots. Other parasites such as ringworm can also bring about raw or hot spots.
There are shampoos that can help eliminate bacteria, ringworm and yeast infections.
Allergies can have other causes as well. I started giving my last cat, Carlos, Greenies for dental help. Then his fur started coming out of his tail, and fur loss started rising like the tide, first on his stomach and then up his sides.
As the only new change I’d made in his routine was the addition of the Greenies, I stopped giving them to him. Soon all the fur grew back.
Here are three helpful shampoos:
Malapet
Ketochlor
Yucca Intensive
KetoChlor Medicated Shampoo for Dogs & Cats
16-ounce bottle
No prescription required
Price: $39.64
May this information help you solve a problem your cat is having.
Please Note: I have placed a blue-highlighted link to Chewy.com for one product for each health problem. While you are on the Chewy site, you can look at what else is available. You may find something you’d prefer.
References I used for this post:
healthypawspetinsurance.com/blog/2021/03/03/6-common-health-problems-cats
pets.webmd.com/cats/6-most-common-cat-health-problems#1
1800petmeds.com/education/common-health-problems-cats-23.html
petcarerx.com/article/5-common-cat-problems-and-health-issues/1230
Great advice and information! Appreciate all the great posts.
Hey, Joe, your appreciation is appreciated.