Health

Diabetes in cats is a long-term condition, but it needn’t have an impact on your kitty’s quality of life. Find out what to do if you suspect your cat has diabetes and how to manage it with our guide. Diabetes in cats is generally nothing to worry about – this long-term condition can certainly be managed with treatment, and it doesn’t need to impact hugely on your pet’s quality of life. In fact, with a little extra TLC, your cat will be back on all four paws before you know it. They’ll probably be causing mischief, getting attention from visitors, and escaping trouble just as they used to! If you have a cat with diabetes or simply want to find out more about the condition, read on to find out all you need to know, including the various cat diabetes symptoms to look out for.

If you notice that your cat is going to the litter tray more often than usual, their stool is more liquid, or it has an increased volume compared to normal, then they may have diarrhoea. Diarrhoea in cats is an increase in the frequency, volume, or liquid content of faeces, leading to unformed or loose stools. The consistency of your cat’s diarrhoea can vary from soft but formed through to liquid/watery, and the colour can be darker or lighter than normal stools or even green, red or yellow. If you think your cat has diarrhoea, it’s important not to panic. Most of the time the condition is temporary and not serious, and is usually solved quickly with a simple change of diet or appropriate medical treatment from your vet. The severity and the duration of diarrhoea episodes vary depending on the underlying cause. Diarrhoea in cats is usually classified as either: • Acute (sudden onset and short lived) or chronic (more than 2-3 weeks duration) • Persistent (constant) or intermittent (i.e. comes and goes) As you can imagine, the most serious of cases are chronic and persistent. Causes of diarrhoea in cats Diarrhoea in cats can occur for a wide variety of different reasons. Some possible causes include:

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a major viral infection in cats. Although it is similar to HIV (AIDS) in people, FIV is species-specific, which means it can only be transmitted from cat to cat, not to humans or other animals. This is why it can also be known as ‘Feline AIDS’. What is FIV? Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus. Lentiviruses typically only cause disease slowly and thus infected cats may remain healthy for many years before showing signs of disease. Once a cat has been infected with FIV, the infection is usually permanent and needs to be managed rather than cured. How can my cat contract FIV? FIV is present in the blood and saliva of infected cats but as it cannot survive for long outside the body and requires a high dose to cause an infection, it is not easily transmitted from cat to cat. The most frequent way FIV is spread is through a bite from another cat, when the virus in the saliva of an infected cat is introduced directly into the blood of the cat it bites. For this reason, male cats that fight often are most likely to be infected. As the virus cannot be transmitted via food, feeding bowls, bedding or hands, the virus spreading within groups of cats which do not fight is highly unlikely. Occasionally infection is transmitted from an infected mother cat to her kittens during the birthing process or via her milk. Sexual contact is not a major means of spreading FIV in cats.

True allergies are thankfully very rare in cats, and can often be confused with the more common (and less severe) food intolerances. Learn how to spot if your cat has an allergy, and what you can do to get them back to their happy and healthy selves again.

Gingivitis is a common dental problem that affects a number of different animals, including cats. If left untreated it can develop and become a more serious issue known as periodontal disease. Keep reading to learn about the causes of gingivitis in cats along with how to spot the signs of the disease.

Have you gone to give your cat a loving stroke and felt that their fur isn’t as thick as it usually is, or have noticed that there’s a bald patch on your cat? There are a number of reasons why your cat could be losing their fur and it’s always important to get your vet to take a closer look to solve the problem of hair loss in cats. Check-ups with your vet are the best way to spot any signs of possible illness as soon as possible. Here are some of the cat symptoms to watch out for. Bear in mind that this list isn’t exhaustive, and you should always speak to your vet if you have any worries about your pet’s health. What causes hair loss in cats? Cat hair loss, also known as alopecia, could be caused by several common factors. Once you understand what is causing your cat to lose their fur, you can start to seek the right treatment to get them feeling, and looking, like themselves again. Cat skin conditions It’s possible that your cat may have an infection such as cat ringworm (a fungal infection), an infestation of parasites such as mites or fleas, or another cat skin condition caused by an allergy. As these will all be irritating to the skin, your cat might find it impossible not to scratch! By over-grooming or itching, they’ can give themselves bald patches and also fur-balls from swallowing hair as they lick or chew the area. Stress or painful cat skin You’ve heard of the phrase “tearing your hair out” when under pressure, and this can be very true for upset cats, as sometimes a stressed cat will start to pull out their fur. More unusually but also possible, cats can over-groom an area if it causes them pain, such as a sore joint. Cat Hormones In your cat, bald patches and hair loss can also be caused by a hormonal imbalance. Specific hormones are responsible for your cat’s hair growth and in turn, may also be the reason why your cat is losing hair. When there is a surplus or deficiency of these hormones, hair loss can occur. You might also find that your pregnant or lactating cat loses their hair due to the changes in their hormones during this time, but don’t be too alarmed as fur should eventually grow back overtime. General poor health, nutrition or underlying disease An unhealthy diet, poor health or an undetected disease can all be causes for your cat to lose their hair. As these are all quite broad reasons, it’s important to visit your vet to identify the underlying cause. Some causes for hair loss in cats can also affect humans, and are contagious. Although this is unusual, it’s worth booking an appointment with your vet as soon as possible to avoid an unhappy pet and owner, too. Remember that a cat shedding it's fur happens all year round, but they tend to shed more in the summer and autumn, known as cat moulting season. If the hair loss is from all over their body, with no bald patches appearing, this is completely natural and will soon pass.

Hernias in cats are quite uncommon but they can still occur, and if they're caught early enough they generally aren't serious. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about hernias in cats and what you should do if you think your kitty has one. Hernias in cats are quite uncommon but they can still occur, usually either as a result of trauma or most often they’re congenital (meaning they’re born with it). A hernia usually comes about as a result of a muscle defect or damage which allows internal organs and tissue to pass through. There are three different types, categorised by the location of the hernia itself. When caught early on, usually cat hernias aren’t serious, however they may become fatal if they’re left untreated. Keep reading to find out about the different symptoms, types, causes, diagnosis and how cat hernias are most commonly treated.

Most cats take real pride in their appearance, spending almost half their waking hours preening themselves to perfection. Being independent creatures, cats are keen to look after themselves, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t lend a hand in their pampering routine. Grooming your cat plays a big part in caring for your pet and regular maintenance will mean your cat looks great and feels great too! As well as helping to keep your cat looking beautiful, regular cat grooming allows you to spend quality time bonding with your pet, and gives you the opportunity to check their body condition and spot any unusual signs of health problems, such as lumps or bumps.

Pamper your feline friend with a lavish cat massage that will make them feel like theylives in the lap of luxury. There are a few things to keep in mind before you can become the resident specialist in premium cat massaging techniques. This article will give you the information you need to massage your way into your cat’s good graces.

Good digestion is one of the keys to excellent health. By digesting and absorbing the goodness from food, your cat can take in all the nutrients needed to stay in top condition.

Ear mites are a common cause of feline ear problems. These tiny parasites can be extremely itchy and lead to long-term damage if left untreated. Find out what they are and how to treat them successfully. Is your feline scratching their ears more than usual? One of the most common causes for a cat’s ear discomfort are microscopic parasites known as ear mites. Read on to find out how ear mites in cats affect your pet’s health and what to do to get rid of them. What are cat ear mites? The most common type of ear mite in cats is Otodectes cynotis. These are barely-visible to the naked eye but may be seen as very small white dots. Diagnosis usually requires looking for the mites under a microscope. They get inside your cat’s ear canal, where they feed on the ear wax and skin debris. These mites can cause significant inflammation and swelling in the ear canal and are very itchy. Cats of all ages and breeds can be affected, with outdoor felines being the most susceptible to an ear mite infection.

Kidney problems in cats are common, especially as they age. Cats' kidneys play vital roles in keeping them healthy - removing toxins, regulating blood pressure, and helping produce hormones for new red blood cells. With so much to do, it’s perhaps not surprising that as cats get older, it’s quite common for their kidneys to wear out after working so hard. There are a number of causes for kidney failure, from cat kidney diseases to tumours, and these problems can be acute or chronic. Read on to learn more.