Cats can acquire diseases specific to cats,
such as feline leukemia, but also non-contagious diseases or conditions that
humans can develop, such as asthma, diabetes, and kidney disease, to name a
few. Below is information and links to some diseases cats can come down with.
Hepatic Lipidosis occurs in some cats when they have stopped eating, for whatever reason. In some cats, this condition can develop in as little as three days of not eating, or hardly eating at all. Overweight cats who suddenly experience a weight loss are likely to develop hepatic lipidosis, but it occurs in thin cats as well who have not eaten much or at all for a time period. Untreated, the cat will die.
The treatment for Hepatic Lipidosis is primarily force feeding the cat.
Cat with hepatic lipidosis being force fed.
If a cat stops eating for more than a day, get that cat to vet to find out why. Do not assume that a cat will just eat again when it is hungry or that the cat is merely being "picky" or "finicky". Cats that stop eating have some sort of medical or physical problem that needs treatment. In some cases, it it due to dental problems, where eating causes too much pain, so the cat stops eating. Other illnesses that make a cat feel very unwell can cause the cat to not want to eat. Feeling nauseated, which occurs with several cat illnesses and diseases, will make a cat not want to eat.
You don't have much time to get treatment started for a cat who has stopped eating, before things take a serious downturn to where it may not be possible to reverse the situation, so treat not eating for more than a day as an emergency.
A caregiver's recounting of saving several cats from death due to Hepatic Lipidosis, despite a vet saying the cats would not live. The cats did! http://www.eattheapple.com/sandra
Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common diseases of middle aged and older cats, so all cats in those age ranges should have blood work done preferably twice yearly so any problems can be detected early. Seven years old is generally middle aged for cats, and at ten cats are considered senior cats. Kidney disease is also common in older cats, so blood work needs to be done to check for that as well. The symptoms are also very similar. Often the two go hand in hand.
Furry, longer haired cats need to be checked physically on a frequent basis to determine if they are getting bony and lost weight, as one can't tell just by looking due to the fluffy fur.
Untreated, hyperthyroidism is fatal, so any weight loss in a cat not on a special reducing diet controlled by humans needs a vet exam ASAP.
Common signs of hyperthyroidism in cats are listed below. Not all cats will have all signs.
Signs of Feline Hyperthyroidism:
Weight loss
Increased or sometimes decreased appetite
Increased drinking of water and increased urination
The liver is the largest organ in the body and has many functions. It is involved with almost all of the biochemical pathways involved in fighting disease, supplying nutrients, providing energy, allowing for growth and aiding in reproduction. All blood supply travels through the liver to be detoxified.
Many of the functions of the liver are similar to the functions of other bodily organs, and the symptoms of liver disease may resemble those of diseases of other organs. This is why several tests might need to be performed by a vet when a cat is showing certain symptoms, to determine exactly what the problem is.
Symptoms of liver disease can include some or all of the following:
Loss of appetite
Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation.
Excessive salivation (probably due to nausea)
Weight loss or wasting- due to the cat not eating much as well as the liver not properly metabolizing fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
Jaundice (icterus). Any pale or white skin or visible tissue takes on a yellow hue. One may notice it in the mucous membranes, the gums, roof of the mouth, and the inner ears or the whites of the eyes. This is due to the biliary pigments that are accumulating in the body because the liver is not processing them.
Progressive depression or lethargy.
Swollen belly. This is known as ascites and is fluid accumulation in the belly due to circulation alterations in the abdomen.
Pain associated with the abdomen. This is due to the stretching of the liver capsule.
Pale gray feces. Bile pigments are what give the feces its usual brown color. When the liver is not processing bile properly, the feces will not get the brown color.
Overly dark or orange urine. The improper processing of bile results in the excretion of bilirubin in the urine in high amounts, resulting in orange urine.
Behavioural changes, seizures, aimless pacing or circling, head pressing, often after eating.
Increased water consumption (polydipsia) and urination (polyuria). Most likely due to dramatic shifts in serum and kidney salt balances.
Treatment will vary depending upon what is found to be the cause. Causes of liver disease include among other reasons:
Veterinarians are seeing an increase of health problems in cats, dogs, and horses — chronic diseases, immunological illnesses, cancer, and more. Conditions thought to affect only one breed are showing up in others. This illustrated book explores the causes and treatments.
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