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Cats will vomit occasionally. Persistent and frequent vomiting is not normal. If you notice that your cat is vomiting more than five times within a few hours, if it contains blood or is accompanied by diarrhea or abdominal pain call your veterinarian immediately.
Many factors may contribute to your cat having diarrhea. Internal parasites, bacteria, toxic substances, viruses, food or psychological upsets are a few of those factors. Call your veterinarian if it continues for more than 24 hours, if blood is present in the stool or if there is a large amount of watery stool.
The main factor that causes constipation is hairballs. Cats will swallow alot of their fur when they groom themselves. Frequent brushing is important to help reduce the amount of fur that your cat swallows. Iams pet food has a special formula made especially to help reduce the formation of hairballs.
This is a very common and serious problem for cats. In fact, one in ten cats who are admitted to a veterinary hospital suffer from FLUTD. The disease may be more common in male cats due to obstruction caused by bladder stones formed by minerals like struvite which is very common. Urinary tract infection and urethral plugs or crystals also contribute to FLUTD.
Symptoms include:
attempting to urinate frequently
squatting and straining when attempting to urinate
little or no urine in the litter box
blood in the urine
urinating outside the litter box
crying in pain
What contributes to struvite stones and crystals:
Age - Stones and crystals is common in cats between the ages of one to four years but can occur at any age.
Diet - Foods that are high in magnesium and foods of poor quality have been associated with struvite.
Obesity - Cats that weight more than they are supposed to are more prone to developing stones and crystals.
Sex - The disease is more severe in male cats because of obstruction of the urethra but can occur in female cats as well.
Treatment options depending on the severity of the condition:
Relieve the obstruction if there is a blockage in the urethra and commence fluid diet
Feed a special diet to the the cat that may help dissolve the struvite stones and crystals
Perform surgery if necessary
Give the cat antibiotics if necessary
Feed a special diet for four weeks after the stones or crystals have been dissolved
Reduce your cats risk of getting FLUTD by checking the following during your cat's annual veterinary check up:
Physical examination
History of cat's diet and health
Palpation of bladder
analysis of cat's urine (Urinalysis)
If you suspect your cat may have FLUTD, contact your veterinarian immediately. The vet will have to perform a few procedures such as blood work and x-rays. Your cat may be hospitalized. This disease can be prevented or treated with the right nutrition. Ask your veterinarian which brand (s) he/she recommends.
