This week's Thursday 13 (and my second Thursday Thirteen overall) is going to be a bit of a serious topic: 13 cat diseases and disorders you should be aware of if you're a cat owner.

1. Diarrhea - Occasional diarrhea is probably not need for concern. But if your cat has constant diarrhea or if the diarrhea contains blood or is an abnormal color then you should take your cat straight to the vet. This can be a symptom for many different kinds of illnesses.

2. Hepatolipidosis (or Fatty degeneration of the liver) - This can occur if a cat does not eat for a few days. When a cat does not eat their body may release a large amount of stored up fat which then gets into the bloodstream. Cat's bodies have a hard time dealing with this large quantity of fat and it actually poisons their body. This can be a very serious condition that can lead to death. If your cat does not eat for more than a day you should take him to the vet to find out why he is not eating. If your cat will not eat it may need to be force fed by a tube to make sure this disorder does not occur.

3. Diabetes - This is particularly common in older cats. The first symptom of diabetes is an a huge increase in appetite and thirst along with increased urination and a loss of weight. If your cat shows signs of diabetes it must be taken to the vet or he or she will surely die. If your cat does have diabetes it can be treated with daily insulin shots.

4. Cancer - Just like with humans there are many different forms of cancer that can affect a cat. Cancer can affect any cat organ and it's location and type will determine how it should be treated. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are all available for cats with cancer.

5. Abscesses - These are rather common. They come from wounds (usually from bites or scratches) that cause an inflammation under the skin after the skin has closed up. Often times they will heal up without the cat owner noticing but sometimes the abscess is a bigger problem and should be treated by a vet. Cats can get a fever and become lethargic from an abscess. They can also cause bald patches on the coat to develop where the abscess is.

6. Food Allergies - Just like people cats can have food allergies. A food allergy in a cat cannot be confirmed by a simple test. Instead a cat must be given a special diet where you slowly introduce different foods to see if the cat has a reaction to them.

7. Flea Allergies - Some cats are allergic to fleas. If a cat has a flea allergy it is important to treat your cat periodically with a preparation that will kill the fleas before they bite your cat. This is because a single flea bite can cause a long lasting reaction in a cat that is allergic to fleas.

8. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - This is also known as HCM. It's an inherited cardiac disorder that can occur in any kind of cat. Cats that have HCM tend to be quieter, breathe faster, eat less than normal, and get tired quickly. Sadly HCM is always fatal. But some cats can live to an older age before they die of HCM causes. There is medication to treat HCM to help a cat suffering from it to live to an older age but there is no cure.

9. Epilepsy - Any cat can have epilepsy, both pure breed and non. A cat with epilepsy will have uncontrolled body movements either in one section of the body or throughout the entire body. Sometimes, but not always, a cat will lose consciousness during an epileptic seizure. Obviously if your cat has an epileptic seizure he or she should be taken to the vet.

10. Stud Tail - Stud tail only effects non neutered male cats and unspayed female cats. It effects male cats much more often. It can occur once a cat has reached sexual maturity but sometimes it may not occur till later on in a cat's life. Extra vitamin B and food with a high fat content can help stop stud tail from occurring. Study tail is when the scent gland in the tail is working "too hard" and results in a sticky brown discharge which looks ugly and can cause the hair to fall out in tufts.

11. Cystitis - This is the inflammation of the bladder. Usually a cat will only have the urge to urinate when it's bladder is full. But in the case of cystitis the bladder becomes inflamed with even the smallest bit of urine in the bladder and can cause the cat to urinate frequently. The most common symptom of this type of bladder infection is a sudden display of unsanitary behavior. You should take your cat to the vet if he or she displays sudden strange behavior with urination.

12. Bladder Crystals - This is a particularly common disorder among male cats. These crystals can block the urethra which can cause a bladder inflammation. Cats who suffer from bladder crystals may spend a lot of time in their litter box without actually urinating. This can be a very serious problem because if a cat cannot urinate they will eventually die. If your cat seems to be having trouble urinating it's important to take them to the vet as soon as possible.

13. Dental problems - Dental problems can occur in cats just as they can with humans. A cat who has a tooth ache can suffer greatly and become very agitated. Some symptoms that may help you become aware if your cat has dental problems is an unpleasant smell in the mouth and a sudden preference for soft food rather than hard. Usually a cat will not have dental problems until they are 3 or 4 years old. Sometimes it will be necessary to remove some teeth to end the cat's suffering.

Labels: Thursday Thirteen