It is the responsibility of a domestic cat owner to keep her as healthy as possible. A great way to start is by understanding some of the common health conditions a domestic cat faces. Some of the conditions, such as Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, may be prevented with a vaccine.
Hairballs
Domestic cats groom themselves and swallow their own hair. Generally, the hair passes though the digestive system and is expelled in the feces. Sometimes the hair fails to pass though the body and forms a hairball in the stomach. When this happens, the stomach lining becomes irritated and the domestic cat usually vomits the hairball.
Feline Leukemia
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a specific virus that only affects cats. According to Peteducaiton.com, it is estimated that up to 2 percent of seemingly healthy cats have FeLV. The virus is spread by common contact, such as grooming, sharing food bowls and touching noses. The virus causes the domestic cat's immune system to become weak and unable to fight infection. Sings of FeLV include swollen lymph nodes, fever, diarrhea and lethargy.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is the domestic cat's version of the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. After a cat is diagnosed with FIV, the life expectancy is about five years. Most virus infections are transmitted by bite wounds during fighting. Signs of the virus include loss of appetite, gingivitis, weight loss and diarrhea.
Kidney Disease
When a domestic cat suffers from kidney disease, he loses the ability to expel waste from his body. The effect is the build up of toxic chemicals in the bloodstream. Generally, kidney disease is found in older cats that suffer from high blood pressure, infection, cancer or decreased blood flow to kidneys, but younger cats may be affected also. Signs of kidney disease include weight loss, vomiting, dehydration, blood in the urine, change in urination habits and bad breath.
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