Animals have their share of common diseases and afflictions. Cats are no different. Rest assured that many of these afflictions are not fatal and easily treated by your local veterinarian. However, there are some diseases that have no cure and can be terminal. Such diseases are often hereditary or passed from other infected animals.
First on the list of common illnesses a cat may acquire are hairballs. Hairballs occur as the result of cats performing their everyday grooming routine. Loose hair and debris collect in quantity on the cats tongue and are then swallowed into the stomach. When there, these elements become lodged and eventually form a round ball of mucus.
Typically, a cat can dislodge the hairball by coughing, but on occasion one may become lodged in the intestines creating a serious and sometimes life threatening situation. Regular grooming, specialty cat food and cat treats along with visits to the veterinarian are all great ways to both prevent and treat this common ailment.
Similar to mankind, cats are susceptible to urinary tract infections too. Infections and the food that is low in quality can be the reason. The good news is this ailment is treatable with medication prescribed by a veterinarian. It is also preventable by providing specially formulated cat food created to prevent this infection from occurring.
If a urinary tract infection is present, common symptoms are that your cat may show signs of infrequent urination, fowl smelling urine, and urinating in places other than the litter box. Male cats that have not been neutered seem to be the most susceptible; however, female cats can be affected as well.
Common Cat Viruses - The three common viruses that felines are prone to suffer from; Feline Leukemia, Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Feline Immune Deficiency Virus. FIP or Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a very dangerous illness as it is related to the Corona Virus. Testing for FIP is also a problem as the results are not completely reliable. A positive test result has the possibility for being false as the same results appear for the Corona Virus. There is a vaccination available for FIP; however, many veterinarians and scientists believe its results to be inconclusive. With no known cure, it is extremely beneficial that this disease is not as easily contracted as some other diseases may be.
The feline version of the AIDS Virus known as FIV has not yet proved to be fatal. However, unfortunately it has left owners of these cats fearful that they too will contract the disease. This belief is false and truly unwarranted.
Feline Leukemia Virus is another disease that is preventable. A vaccine is available from a veterinarian's office and must be acquired before exposure to other infected cats has occurred. If you own a cat with FLV it is highly recommended that you do not expose him to other cats. The life expectancy of a cat with FLV is very short.
Common Cat Worms Problem - In addition to hairballs being one of the most common afflictions in cats, worms are another. Problems such as roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms are all issues for concern. Although heartworms are not commonly found in cats, they can be a source of problems.
Veterinarians will give medication that will help prevent nasty parasites from invading and finding a host in your cat. Signs of worm infestation cam come with flea infestation or as tiny white specs appearing in the stool, almost resembling a grain of rice. Loss of weight or inability to gain weight is also signs of a worm infestation. This illness is fortunately one that comes with a treatment and it is usually an affordable one. However, if this infestation goes without treatment, the results are most commonly fatal.
Fleas and ticks are another form of common diseases, cats that spend time outdoors are known for contracting. The tick however brings another illness to the table, Lyme disease. If a tick has been found on your cat's body, symptoms of possible Lyme disease include lethargy, sluggish movement and acting as if in constant pain. Humans can get infected with the disease by ticks as well. If you have an inkling that your cat has contracted this disease or should you find a tick on his body, a check with the vet will help in the removal of the tick and medication will help in treatment.
Last, but certainly not least is feline obesity. This disease affects other parts of a cat's body and is a serious, potentially fatal ailment. This is a number one factor for feline diabetes. As usual, prevention is the best cure in preventing such illnesses. Providing a proper diet in combination with exercise is essential in the fight to keep your cat healthy. Luckily, cats with diabetes do live, but need to be put on a special dietary supplement as well as medication.
The most important thing you can do to defend your cat against common illnesses and disease is to remember that prevention is the key.
The idea of keeping a pet ferret is gaining more popularity as more people discover how friendly and curious they can be. As ferrets can be comfortable around humans, they make good pets. They love to find hiding places for their tidbits and toys, and this is how they got their name. They were called 'thieves' or 'furoneum' in Latin, describing their furtive behavior when storing their possessions. However, bear in mind that you will need equanimity when trying to litter train them.
Ferrets were domesticated as few as 2,500 years ago. Ever since that time, they have considered humans as part of their social group. They were the favorite pets of the royalty in the Middle Ages for their friendly nature and unique looks.
Ferrets are part of the weasel family, which can include a lot of members. The weasel family are mustelids. They have over 65 different species of cousins in the weasel family, including otters and badgers. If you were to closely observe a ferret, you will begin to understand how similar they are to these creatures instead of the rodents they are usually contrasted with. Ferrets come in different shades of brown with black highlights although they are sleek and have short fur. There are ferrets which are albinos and they are easily identified by their pink eyes and white fur, similar to other animals which have an albino strain.
Male ferrets are usually about 18 inches and 2-3 pounds, while females are a little smaller. We still have no clue why ferrets have a tendency to hide and hoard food and playthings. It could have started off as a method of saving food during the cold winters, quite similar to the behavior observed in squirrels. It could be how this trait began, but it is still observed to this present day.
Ferrets are commonly blamed unfairly for being odorous. This is not the case. They do have a slightly dank smell about them due to their natural oils, however, you can take away these glands that are responsible for such odors. Most of the time, if your ferret smells, it is a result of their cage being dirty or their owner not taking proper care of them. Should you neglect your ferret's living space or litter box for a number of days, be prepared for the odor!
Additional care needs to be given to ensure that ferrets do not give off an unpleasant odor and are maintained in tip-top condition. Sadly, they are susceptible to a number of ferret illnesses and their short life spans can be drastically reduced. The diet of the ferret should be very high in fat and protein. They require a diet consisting of 35% protein and approximately 15% fat in order to be well maintained. For the first few years of a ferret's life, you will have to be very careful about what you feed them to make sure that they grow up strong.
Of course, if you are in a tight spot, you may give your ferret cat food, however, this cannot continue over long periods of time. After all, cat food doesn't have all of the vitamins and nutrients that ferrets need.
Ferrets are naturally smart and can be taught to perform little parlor acts, but you will need to be patient during training. They love holes as they were originally bred to get rabbits out of their burrows. They are descended from polecats and love to sleep. An average ferret can sleep up to 18 hours a day, but when they are awake, you will definitely know it! Such pets are intelligent and devoted, and a joy to be around, making them wonderful pets.
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