Common Cat Health Problems

In This Chapter

• Working with your veterinarian
• Understanding diagnostic tests
• Coping with illness
• Seeing veterinary specialists
• Giving pills and medication

Cats can live long, healthy lives — and many of them do — if they receive the benefits of preventive health care and are protected from accidents and infectious diseases.

If cats get sick, the chances are better than ever before that a veterinarian can help. The growth in the popularity of pet cats has led to an explosion of interest in their health-care needs. Research into feline diseases is ongoing at the world’s top schools and colleges of veterinary medicine, and at pharmaceutical companies serving animal health needs. Then, too, the science of veterinary medicine in general has advanced as the diagnostic and treatment tools of human medicine have become widely available to pets as well. Such procedures as CAT scans (appropriately!), MRIs, kidney transplants, and radiation therapy are now routine at veterinary colleges and high-end veterinary practices. The ranks of veterinary specialists have grown as well — Paul (one of the authors of this book) is a board-certified veterinary cardiologist, for example — bringing even more knowledge and options to cat lovers in the area of veterinary care for their pets.

What do all these advances mean for you and your pet? If you’re careful to practice preventive health-care measures for your pet, and you’re both lucky, you may barely be touched by the revolution in veterinary medicine. But if you need help, it’s there — now more than ever before — and getting better all the time.

Cat Tracks

Despite all the incredible advances in the diagnosis and treatment of feline illness, one of the most important elements in maintaining good health for your pet is still the laying on of hands — yours. For what you need to know to conduct an at-home examination — as well as a full discussion of other important preventive-health measures — see Chapter Preventive Health Care for Your Cat. And don’t forget the importance of good nutrition! All you need to know to get your cat eating right is located in Chapter Feeding Your Cat.

The Cat’s Meow

You can help advance the future of feline health by supporting two charitable organizations that provide grants for companion animal health research: The Winn Feline Foundation and the Morris Animal Foundation. The Winn Feline Foundation is affiliated with the Cat Fanciers’ Association. The Morris Animal Foundation was founded in 1948 by the contributions of veterinarian Mark L. Morris, developer of a line of therapeutic diets for pets, and Morris Frank, owner of the first seeing-eye dog in the United States.

A Cooperative Approach to Cat Health

We named this section “a cooperative approach” because we’ve come to realize, after years of listening to both pet owners and veterinarians, that what should be a team effort to protect and ensure the health of a pet is sometimes closer to a battle. The relationship between the client (that’s you, not your cat) and the veterinarian can become adversarial if neither party respects the contributions of the other and both parties forget the reason that brought them together: to help the patient — in other words, your cat.

Sometimes, the task of figuring out what’s wrong with an animal is like walking into a movie that began half an hour ago — for one brief moment you have no idea what the story’s about and little chance of predicting the outcome. But given the opportunity to see a few more scenes, you start to understand what’s going on. For the veterinarian, all too often that one glimpse is all he gets. The client wants an answer, a shot, or a pill to makes things better. He wants the problem fixed — now.

Although the client probably wants an immediate solution to his own health problems, too, he’s resigned enough to say “yes” to diagnostic testing to find the right answer — as long as his medical insurance is footing the bill. Can you imagine the malpractice suits that would hit the medical doctor who didn’t suggest appropriate tests in trying to diagnose a disease?

Isn’t it strange that a physician who won’t recommend diagnostic tests and a veterinarian who will are often criticized by their clients? What’s the difference? In many cases, money.

Nearly all the time, the client is footing the bill for veterinary procedures. And although veterinary costs are a small fraction of comparable procedures in human medicine, the fact that you’re spending hundreds instead of thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of dollars isn’t all that reassuring if your budget is stretched as far as many families’ are today. We suppose it’s natural to wonder if everything you’ve agreed to on your pet’s behalf is necessary.

And what about your veterinarian? What forces are driving him? Your veterinarian wants the best for your cat, but he has bills to pay, too. And he also wants to make his clients happy, which is why many of them fall into the habit of giving the client exactly what he wants — a shot or a pill that takes care of the symptoms, regardless of whether the problem is fixed for the long term.

This practice is not good veterinary medicine, and you should tell your veterinarian that you understand he may not be able to fix what’s wrong right now. Let him know you want diagnostic tests (if they’re needed, of course) and that you’re happy with fewer medicines (if he was considering giving them just to make you think you got something out of the visit). Finally, let your veterinarian know that you value his diagnostic skills and respect his desire to investigate the problem more before acting. Your cat will receive better care as a result of a relationship between you and your veterinarian based on mutual trust and respect. If you have the right veterinarian, he will listen to your concerns about treatments and finances.

Remember

You and your veterinarian are on the same team — or you should be — together in the goal of keeping your cat in good health. Your cat deserves the best, and so do you. And so, too, does your veterinarian, who has spent years studying to be able to help your cat. So let him. Take the time to develop a relationship for the good of your cat. You won’t feel gouged and your veterinarian won’t feel unappreciated if your dealings with each other aren’t adversarial.

Cat Tracks

Choosing the right veterinarian is about more than price-shopping and convenience. The old saying, “You get what you pay for,” very much applies when you are selecting a veterinarian; the “lowest-priced” veterinarian is not necessarily the best choice for your cat, or the most truly cost-effective. For a discussion of the factors that should go into choosing a health-care professional with whom you can workfor the benefit of your cat, see Chapter Preventive Health Care for Your Cat.

When Does My Cat Need a Specialist?

Although not as many specialists exist in veterinary medicine as in human medicine, you still find a growing presence in your community or within a short drive — and more specialists are likely to turn up in the future. Your veterinarian should be open to referring you to a specialist or consulting one on your behalf, if your pet’s condition warrants it.

Although many urban areas can support independent specialists or specialty practices, in less-populated areas you’re more likely to find a full complement of specialists at the closest university that has a school or college of veterinary medicine. Current companion animal specialties relevant to cats include the following:

üAnesthesiology üInternal medicine

üBehavior üNeurology

üCardiology üOncology

üClinical pharmacology üOphthalmology

üDentistry üRadiology

üDermatology üSurgery

üEmergency medicine and critical care

Technical Stuff

What’s special about “specialists?” Becoming a veterinary specialist requires additional study in a two- to five-year residency program, as well as a specific examination for each specialty. The result is certification over and above that required to achieve a degree in veterinary medicine.

For veterinarians already in practice, the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) also offers specialty certification. This program does not require a formal residency program prior to examination but is still a very meaningful and rigorous demonstration of a veterinarian’s commitment to excellence and lifelong education. Among the subspecialties of ABVP certification are a companion animal (dog and cat), avian practice, and, of special note, feline practice.

If your veterinarian doesn’t suggest a referral to a specialist, and you wonder whether seeing one may help your cat, bring the idea up for discussion. Let your veterinarian know that you aren’t questioning his care but want to bring more-specialized expertise in to help your pet. If you have a good working relationship with your veterinarian, calling in a specialist is never a problem.

If your veterinarian is reluctant to refer, remember that the final decision in your cat’s care is always yours. Keep the lines of communication open, though, and always be sure your regular veterinarian is kept fully informed when you seek specialist care.

Technical Stuff

The relationship between your regular veterinarian and a specialist is a complementary one, each with respect for the skills of the other. Your veterinarian knows the specialist isn’t out to “steal” clients, and the specialist realizes that, to get referrals, she needs to be clear on her limited role. To save time and money, your veterinarian shares your pet’s medical history with the specialist and discusses your pet’s case. The specialist probably requires additional tests to get the information she needs to make an accurate diagnosis and develop an appropriate course of care. A specialist doesn’t practice “shotgun medicine” — if she’s brought into the case, her purpose is to figure out exactly what’s wrong, if she can, and work to restore your pet to health.

Tip

You can help encourage the benefits of a healthy referral system within your community by following a few rules. First, understand you’re being referred for help with a special problem to someone your veterinarian believes can help. Do not permanently leave your regular veterinarian for this new person unless you, the specialist, and your veterinarian agree doing so is best for your cat. Doing otherwise spoils the relationship between your veterinarian and the specialist. In fact, any specialist who’d agree to taking you on as a permanent client should be looked at as having less-than-ideal ethics and, therefore, perhaps is not the best veterinarian for your cat.

Finally, do not ask that the specialist to perform procedures for which you weren’t referred to him — especially routine tests or vaccinations. An ethical specialist would be put in the difficult position of refusing your request out of respect for the referring veterinarian. Are these guidelines necessary? We argue “yes,” for without your support and participation, top-notch specialty care for your cat could prove hard to find when your pet needs it.

Technical Stuff

Two of the greatest challenges that those in veterinary medicine face are the small number of specialists and the lack of a central hospital system where practitioners have “hospital rights” in a facility with advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities. This reality has created a system with many smaller self-contained hospitals, while limiting the “reach” of specialists and interaction among colleagues. Recent changes in technology have changed the way veterinarians share diagnostic information — and saved time and money as a result.

The online world is changing the way veterinarians consult with colleagues. Members of the Veterinary Information Network, for example, have access to a contingent of colleagues and online specialists, such as cardiologists and surgeons, who, although they may be thousands of miles away, can help diagnose and treat cases. Other services accept and interpret transmitted ultrasound and radiographic images and other data. Laboratories maintain computerized databases of their animal-health records, and should your pet end up somewhere his records are not — such as at an emergency-care clinic on a holiday — the attending veterinarian can, in many cases, access recent test results for comparison and analysis.

Ten Common Health Problems

Although the cat has a reputation for being a pet who doesn’t have a lot of health problems, the fact is that a lot of things can go wrong. Despite Paul’s desire to tell you about every one of them in such complete detail that you could pass the veterinary boards after reading this book, we’re going to stick to ten of the most common problems and give you what you need to know to make the care decisions necessary in working with your veterinarian.

Remember

The most important role you play in keeping your cat healthy is preventive. Keep on top of the preventive-care measures your veterinarian recommends, such as vaccines, and get into the habit of noticing changes in your cat’s attitude, appearance, or behavior. For more on preventive medicine, see Chapter Preventive Health Care for Your Cat.

Cat Tracks

A few health problems are more common in older cats, and so we’ve put them in the older-cat section in Chapter Caring for an Older Cat. These problems include diabetes and hyperthyroidism, as well as dental problems brought on by neglecting your cat’s teeth and gums. Important preventive care for your cat’s mouth appears in Chapter Preventive Health Care for Your Cat.

Abscesses

Nearly every outdoor cat and even many indoor cats at one time or another develops an abscess, or large pocket of pus under the skin. The most common cause of abscesses in cats is puncture wounds, often the result of a bite from another cat during a fight for territory or during mating. (Another good reason for spaying or neutering your pet — see Chapter Littering: Should Your Cat Become a Parent? for even more information.)

A cat’s mouth is full of a nasty mix of bacteria, and your cat’s body starts trying to fight these bacteria after he’s been bitten. At first, you may not even know your cat has been injured. Whether the inciting wound is from a sharp rock or the teeth of a neighbor’s cat, the first evidence of a problem may be noticing your cat is limping or just “not doing right.” Hints that an abscess is brewing may range from finding nothing but an elevated temperature to finding the abscess itself — either still closed and feeling like fluid in a pocket under the skin or open and draining and smelling disgusting! At the first sign of persistent (more than an hour or so) limping or “not doing right” (being less active, not eating, not drinking, avoiding or seeking out attention), you should get your cat’s carrier and make a trip to the veterinarian.

Caution

The potent bacteria in a cat’s mouth and rabies are two reasons why you need to be careful if you’re ever bitten by a cat. Washing the wound thoroughly and seeking medical attention are important for you to do.

If possible, your veterinarian will open the abscess and flush the pus out. He may also insert a drain to keep the site from closing up too soon to allow adequate drainage of the pus and give a shot of antibiotics or prescribe some antibiotic pills to be given at home. (For tips on giving pills and other medications, see the section “Giving Your Cat Medication,” later in this chapter.)

Believe it or not, finding out that an abscess is the cause of limping or not feeling well is a good thing. An abscess is usually easily diagnosed, treated, and quickly resolved. Repeated abscesses, however, may be a sign of a problem with your cat’s immune system — and that may be the first sign of a significant health problem.

Remember

The best “treatment” for abscesses is prevention. Indoor, altered cats have the least chance of being bitten by another cat; unneutered roaming males have the greatest.

Figure 12-1: Outdoor cats are exposed to many more potential health problems than indoor ones, including abscesses and infectious diseases.

Feline asthma

Gina is a lifelong asthmatic who has ended up in the hospital a few times struggling to breathe. Although she takes medication regularly to help prevent and stave off attacks, sometimes the disease gets the best of her for a while. And she’s not alone. Asthma is on the rise in humans, and the experts aren’t sure why. Cats frequently get what we call feline asthma — and in most cases, veterinary researchers are likewise stumped.

The signs of asthma in cats are very similar to those seen in humans — difficulty breathing, first and foremost. Cats with asthma also “wheeze” and may exhibit a cough that sometimes sounds like gagging. If he’s having trouble breathing, a cat sits with his neck extended and inhales and exhales rapidly with his mouth open.

Caution

Asthma is not the only disease that can cause difficulty breathing, so neither you nor your veterinarian should immediately assume that asthma must be the cause.

The signs of feline asthma can come on quite suddenly and be very serious — frightening to observe. Like an asthmatic person who feels as if she can’t breathe, your cat can panic. You must do all you can to minimize stress while your cat is having difficulty breathing. The best way to do so is by not creating stress: Now is not the time to be chasing your pet and forcing him into a carrier. Let him calm down first.

If this instance is the first time your cat has had a problem breathing, take your cat immediately to your veterinarian or to an emergency clinic (if it happens after normal business hours or on a weekend or holiday). Call ahead so that the clinic can be prepared for your arrival, and be prepared for a stressful wait while the staff finds the cause of your cat’s breathing difficulties.

Caution

Cats having difficulty breathing are quite fragile, and too much handling can worsen their condition to the point where they may even die. As much as you and your veterinarian want to know the cause of the problem and begin treating immediately, often the best thing for your veterinarian to do is to rule out quickly any obvious problems, such as obstruction of the airway or air or fluid around the lungs, and avoid significant handling while giving medications and time a chance to work. In more serious cases, your cat may need to be given additional oxygen by face mask or oxygen cage until she is more stable and better able to tolerate further treatment or diagnostics.

If your veterinarian has diagnosed asthma in your cat, she probably will have prescribed medications that help ease the symptoms. Whenever your cat is having breathing problems, give him the medication if you can do so without stressing him further; otherwise, wait for him to settle down. Use the time to call your veterinarian and discuss the symptoms and whether your cat needs to come in for treatment. If you’re told to bring your cat in, use the carrier he feels so familiar with and, after you get to the office, walk directly to the receptionist for an immediate assessment. Your veterinarian or her staff can determine the severity of the attack, and if warranted, your cat can be immediately seen to get the medications and oxygen that should help relieve his distress.

Remember

Although no one knows the cause of feline asthma, minimizing exposure to dust (remember to use low-dust litter and leave off the litter box hood), smoke, aerosol sprays, and other irritants is essential. Keep your ears and eyes open and stay in close contact with your veterinarian so that you can get the newest information relating to the cause, prevention, and treatment of feline asthma.

Three nasty viruses

The three “F” viruses — feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) deserve their first initials — they are all bad news on your cat’s health report card. The viruses also share another attribute: They are all transmitted from cat to cat.

FIV

Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, is the feline counterpart to what in hu-man medicine we call human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, which causes AIDS. Cats infected with FIV may develop opportunistic diseases ranging from cancer to ringworm to bacterial or viral infections. FIV also may make treating other diseases more complicated.

Testing and isolating infected cats is the only way to control this disease; no vaccine or cure currently exists. Testing on kittens is unreliable, so feline health experts recommend testing of all cats more than 6 months old. Only by knowing the FIV status of your cat can you be certain of what you’re dealing with and protect the uninfected cats in your household.

Technical Stuff

Because most kittens are 3 months old or younger when they’re brought home, any adoption brings a matter of risk. If the cats you already have are free of the disease, however, you’ve greatly reduced the total risk. Beyond that, the best you can do is test your kitten at 6 months old and hope for the best.

A test that is positive for FIV proves only that the cat is or has been infected by the virus and the infection has stimulated production of antibodies to the virus. A positive test performed by your veterinarian doesn’t prove your cat is sick from the virus — even if your pet appears sick at the time of the test. Two different tests exist, and you should ask that your cat be retested with the one your veterinarian didn’t use to confirm the results before making any decisions regarding your pet.

The good news is that infection with the feline immunodeficiency virus generally carries a better prognosis than does infection with the feline leukemia virus (also covered in this section). A positive FIV test, therefore, should not be considered a reason to change how you treat your cat except that no new cats should be introduced into your home and your cat should stay indoors to protect himself from other diseases and to protect other cats from his infection.

Remember

FIV-positive healthy cats may live for months to years — many cats live for six to ten years after diagnosis. To help your pet live longer with FIV, work with your veterinarian to catch health problems early and treat them aggressively. Your cat doesn’t have the healthy immune system of a normal cat, so you and your veterinarian must help him out.

Cool Cat Facts

Despite what you may have heard, no evidence has been found to suggest that FIV can have ill effects upon humans. FIV may be the feline counterpart to AIDS, but it is a different disease — one that humans cannot catch.

FeLV

Feline leukemia virus, or FeLV, is a known killer. FeLV both weakens the immune system and directly contributes to the development of cancers in infected cats. The disease is thought to be the most important infectious contributor to the death and suffering of cats.

Although vaccines are available against this deadly disease (see Chapter Preventive Health Care for Your Cat for more information on vaccines), they’re not foolproof. As with FIV, the best way to protect your cat against feline leukemia is to know the infection status of the cats he associates with and protect him from the infected ones — ideally, that means keeping him inside, alone, or with other FeLV-negative cats.

Test all new kittens or cats before introducing them to the cat or cats you already have and vice versa. (You should test for FeLV before your new pet is vaccinated against the disease anyway.) Your cats should also be retested after exposure to potential FeLV carriers, especially if your pet has been bitten. Because FeLV is associated with many symptoms of illness, your cat should also be tested if he’s sick. Outdoor cats or others who are exposed to potential FeLV carriers should be retested annually.

Most veterinarians use a combination FeLV and FIV test that allows them to determine the presence of both of these viral diseases with a single blood sample, and generally for less cost than doing the two tests separately.

Caution

FeLV is serious business. Don’t let your soft heart convince you to take home a cat or kitten before you know your new pet’s FeLV status, especially if you already have a cat or cats at home — you’re risking their lives to do so. If you find you have exposed your cat or cats to FeLV, though, do not panic. Isolate your pets from the FeLV-infected cat and have them tested according to your veterinarian’s recommendations. Infection with FeLV can require long-time repeated exposure, so don’t be too concerned because of one interaction.

What does having your cat test FeLV positive mean? First, realize that having the virus does not equal being sick. Some otherwise healthy FeLV-positive cats live for months or even years with no evidence of disease. If the infected cat is your only pet, you have no known reason to consider changing how you care for him other than not letting him out where he can expose other cats to his disease or be exposed to bad things other cats may be carrying. Take extra care to prevent exposure to diseases and work closely with your veterinarian to diagnose and treat early and aggressively any FeLV-related diseases that may develop.

The Cat’s Meow

The good news (yes, we think you deserve some now): Unlike with FIV, many cats can eliminate FeLV infections from their bodies. That’s why retesting any cat who tests (and is confirmed) positive within two to three months after the previous test is so important.

FIP

Feline infectious peritonitis, or FIP, is a serious concern for those with multiple-cat households or breeding facilities, but the disease is not a common threat to those with single pet cats. Having said that, however, we must note that FIP is a deadly disease whenever and wherever it strikes.

Technical Stuff

FIP is caused by a virus classified as a coronavirus. The confusing part about FIP is that many types of coronaviruses are around, some of which cause disease, and some of which do not. Most disease-causing coronaviruses cause only short-term diarrhea in young kittens. Unfortunately, we have no good way to tell which kind of coronavirus is infecting a cat — the mild kind or the deadly FIP kind. Your veterinarian can tell you your sick cat has been exposed to a coronavirus but can’t tell you — until it’s too late — whether the disease in your cat is FIP.

As if this situation weren’t bad enough, evidence is accumulating that the not-so-bad coronaviruses can rapidly mutate into the very bad FIP virus. The result: You really can’t protect your cat from FIP. The virus is pretty tough and can infect a cat after weeks to months of lying around on the floor or floating around in the air. On the plus side, the virus is easily destroyed by common disinfectants and detergents, so basic hygiene helps a lot.

Technical Stuff

FIP is a “great impersonator” disease, meaning that it can present itself in many ways and is very difficult to definitively diagnose. The disease may look like a spinal or brain disease, a digestive-system disease, an eye disease, or even cancer or heart disease. The most common clues to your veterinarian that FIP is present are found in blood tests, in the results of analysis of fluid from the chest or abdomen, or in the results of a biopsy sample after surgery to find out what’s wrong with your cat.

Unfortunately, no known effective treatment exists for FIP, and the outcome is usually fatal. Available treatments are aimed at quieting your cat’s immune system and prescribing antibiotics to fight the bacterial infections that may go hand-in-hand with FIP.

Although an FIP vaccine has been produced, many top veterinarians, including Paul’s friend Dr. Alice Wolf, of Texas A&M University, believe that little risk of exposure to or of developing FIP in household pets exists. For your cat, then, the current vaccines seem to have little practical application.

Cats in large colonies, catteries, or breeding operations are the greatest risk for developing FIP because of the number of cats in close quarters, but even for those cats, the current vaccine may not be advisable. Studies done at Cornell University raise further questions as to the benefits and maybe even about the safety of vaccinating against FIP.

Remember

For now, if yours is a household with one or just a few cats, we recommend that you not vaccinate for FIP. Discuss the situation with your veterinarian, however, because research continues and the situation could change.

Upper respiratory infection

Many cats catch what seem to be “colds” sometime during their lives, and most of these afflictions are caused by viruses. Cats with an upper respiratory infection are lethargic, have fevers and runny eyes and noses, sneeze, and often do not want to eat or drink. These infections are quite contagious, so spreading disease through to other cats is a real concern. Young kittens, and kittens and cats with other diseases that weaken the immune system — such as FIV and FeLV — are most susceptible to these infections.

Caution

If your cat develops an upper respiratory infection, call ahead and let your veterinarian know why you are coming in — he may want to take special precautions to help prevent exposing other cats in the waiting room to the virus upon your arrival at the hospital.

As with a cold in humans, so long as the fever is not too high (normal is 100 to 102.5°F) and your cat continues to eat and drink, overnight (or longer) hospitalization can usually be avoided. Keeping your cat’s eyes and nostrils free of “crust” by washing gently with a warm, moist cloth helps keep his appetite up. If your cat stops eating and, especially, drinking, dehydration is a danger and hospitalization or home veterinary care is needed. Since upper respiratory infections can be complicated by bacteria, antibiotics are often prescribed as well.

Remember

With appropriate care, most cats recover fully in a few days to a week; however, some cases can persist for more than two weeks. If your cat has repeated bouts of upper respiratory infections, or if he is particularly severe or persistent, your veterinarian is likely to be concerned and want to test for diseases that weaken the immune system.

Urologic problems

The kidneys are the blood filters of the body. These organs help eliminate excess fluid if a cat drinks more than he needs; retain fluid if the cat drinks less than he needs; and eliminate waste materials from ingested food, drink, or medicine, and bodily by-products. The bladder stores urine until the cat is ready to eliminate it from the body (preferably in a litter box). The system is not foolproof, however, and some cats have problems, especially as they age.

Cat Tracks

Cat lovers are often very conscious of their cat’s elimination problems, because a sick cat often stops using the litter box. Making sure a behavior problem is not a health problem is the first step toward trying to solve it. After your cat has a clean bill of health, you may need to retrain him in correct litter-box routines. See Chapter Getting Good Litter Box Behavior for more information.

Kidney diseases

Kidney disease appears mostly in older cats but is possible at any age. Initially you may notice changes in urination or drinking (more and more often), but as the disease progresses, you may see weight loss and more-severe evidence of a buildup of toxins in your cat’s body such as vomiting.

Caution

A preventable cause of kidney failure in cats is poisoning from the ingestion of antifreeze. Make sure you protect your pet by cleaning up spills. More information on common household dangers for your pet appears in Chapter Ten Common Household Dangers to Your Cat.

Be concerned if your cat is urinating and drinking excessively. These symptoms can mean any number of problems. Observant owners may also note reduced appetite, more frequent vomiting, less grooming, and weight loss — but these symptoms are usually later-stage results of kidney failure.

Cat Tracks

Some veterinary researchers have proposed that chronic kidney problems are caused by bacteria entering the blood of cats whose gums are badly infected. Although the impact of an infected mouth is still under debate, research does suggest the importance of preventive dental care for your pet. For more information on preventive dental care, see Chapter Preventive Health Care for Your Cat.

Treatment for kidney failure can include diet changes. Current trends lean toward low-protein diets, with special attention to low salt if high blood pressure accompanies the problem. Don’t be surprised if these recommendations change — such changes are part of the evolutionary nature of medicine.

You need to work with your veterinarian to monitor the situation of a cat with kidney disease. Your cat will likely need regular blood tests to spot problems and changes. Your veterinarian may need to hospitalize your cat to give intravenous fluids and may even ask you to give your cat fluids under the skin at home. You can help monitor how your cat is coping with the illness by keeping a written daily log of your cat’s attitude, appetite, and weight. This record helps you notice trends that may signal a need for additional attention from your veterinarian before they become serious.

Remember

Unfortunately, no true cure for chronic renal failure exists at this time. Treating kidney failure requires long-term effort on your part, and much progress has recently been made in managing this disease. Consult your veterinarian to learn the latest available options, from diet to drugs that stimulate production of red blood cells, to blood pressure control, to kidney transplants.

Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD)

Formerly called feline urologic syndrome, or FUS, the term feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) encompasses a range of health problems. In the mildest form, this group of diseases causes irritation to the bladder, which reacts by pushing the cat to urinate more frequently. As anyone who’s ever had a bladder infection can attest, irritation of the bladder results in a feeling of always having to “go.” If you notice your cat is going to the litter box more often than usual, or suddenly missing the box or using other parts of the house as a litter box, arrange an appointment with your veterinarian. You can provide helpful information by telling the veterinarian if your cat is urinating more frequently with the usual volume or with more volume and more frequency.

Tip

You can judge volume by the wetness of the litter and how often you need to change the litter.

In its most urgent form, FLUTD causes urinary obstruction. The urethra — the tube connected to the bladder that takes urine out of the body — can become blocked by mucus and plugs of crystallized material. Blockage is far more prevalent in male cats because of how they’re built — the space through which urine flows is more narrow in male cats. The blockage of the urinary tract is a true veterinary emergency because the situation can result in kidney damage and death if not treated promptly.

In most uncomplicated cases of FLUTD, you see the following symptoms:

• Frequent urination.
• Small amount of urine.
• Clear, cloudy, or bloody urine.
• Urine deposits that are not in the litter box. A cat will often choose to urinate in unusual places such as the sink, bathtub, or shower. A cat with FLUTD often comes to associate the litter box with discomfort and will choose to avoid it.

A cat that is fully obstructed or “blocked” will exhibit frequent straining without successful urination, and will often cry out in pain.

Technical Stuff

Until the late 1980s, the majority of cats seen with FLUTD were found to have struvite crystals or stones forming in the bladder. The theory then was that this condition resulted from too much ash or mineral content in food, especially magnesium. Pet-food companies responded with many diets low in ash. Later, researchers started focusing more on the effects different diets have on the acid content of urine. An increase in acidity of the urine helped greatly with struvite stones and crystals but along the way may have caused other health problems.

Struvite crystals and stones have become less common, and cats found to have FLUTD now require more individual investigation to determine what is causing the problem. These conditions include a different kind of crystal or stone (including calcium oxalate and urate), infections of the bladder, and a condition called interstitial cystitis.

Remember

Your cat’s inability to urinate normally is an urgent health problem that needs to be addressed immediately. Your veterinarian will take action to re-lieve the buildup of urine and then suggest tests to help figure out the source of the problem.

Heart disease

Heart disease is relatively common in cats. Your veterinarian generally first detects heart disease in your cat in one of the following two ways:

• Hearing an abnormal sound (a murmur, a gallop sound, or an irregular beat) with her stethoscope during a routine physical examination
• Examining your cat after you first notice your cat is breathing rapidly or having trouble breathing

In the case of a breathing problem, heart disease can appear to come on very suddenly. You may think your cat is fine and then a few hours later notice her gasping for breath.

What many cat owners see as “sudden” usually has been building to a noticeable state over time. This is why we give you the information you need to take your cat’s heart rate and respiratory rate in Chapter Preventive Health Care for Your Cat so you know what’s normal and what’s not before you’re faced with an emergency situation.

Other signs of heart disease you may notice include

• Changes in weight. More than a half pound or pound weight loss or gain that occurs within a couple of weeks.
• Coughing. Sometimes, determining whether your cat is coughing, as opposed to vomiting and gagging, is difficult. If your cat demonstrates either frequently, consult your veterinarian.
• Weakness or paralysis of one or more legs — most commonly a hind limb(s). Some cats with heart disease develop blood clots in the heart that can then suddenly leave the heart and block the arteries that “feed” the body. These most commonly affect the hind limbs but can affect any area of the body, including the forelimbs, kidneys, brain, and so on.
• Not feeling well. This last one fits into the category of what Paul calls the Ain’t Doing Right (ADR) cat.

Technical Stuff

Congenital heart disease is not as common in cats as in dogs but is seen from time to time. A murmur heard in a kitten should be evaluated by a specialist. Many cats with congenital heart disease appear normal until they reach several years of age.

If serious heart disease is found or suspected in your cat, the primary concern is to stabilize any life-threatening situations. Your veterinarian may suggest the removal of fluid from in or around the lungs by using medication or a needle and syringe.

If the situation is not as acute and you suspect heart disease — or if your cat was having trouble breathing and is now feeling better — your veterinarian is still going to want to know what’s wrong with your cat. Diagnosis in such cases usually requires a chest radiograph (X-ray) and an echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound). Electrocardiograms (ECG) may also be helpful.

Tip

If you have limited funds, the most valuable money you can spend in this situation is often for the echocardiogram and an experienced veterinarian or specialist who knows how to read it.

After an accurate diagnosis is made, your veterinarian or the veterinary specialist works with you to determine the best combination of medications, diet, and monitoring that gives your cat the best chance at a long, healthy life. Nothing is guaranteed, however, and a cat with heart problems is always a candidate for sudden death. As difficult as this fact is to deal with, you need to be prepared.

Cool Cat Facts

Don’t despair! The area of cardiology is one of the bright spots in feline health in the last 20 years. There was a time when tens of thousands of cats died from a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, but thanks to research breakthrough, such deaths don’t happen much anymore. As more becomes known about feline diseases, other research breakthroughs will make a difference in the lives of cats.

Tumors

Tumors are, unfortunately, common in cats. Many can be traced back to feline leukemia virus, but others . . . well, no one knows why they occur. Some tumors can be ultimately fatal; others are of little concern at all.

The most important things to remember about tumors is that you should carefully monitor your cat for lumps and bumps — he enjoys your loving rubbing, poking, and prodding, and the more you do this sort of thing, the more you get to know what’s normal for your cat and what’s a new “growth.” You should also be constantly aware of weight loss or other signs of your cat not feeling well. At the first sign of a problem, consult your veterinarian. She will want to examine your cat and probably perform some diagnostic tests, including blood tests and perhaps a fine needle aspirate of any suspicious masses. If cancer is suspected, the most important test to pursue is a biopsy.

Your veterinarian may recommend a consultation with a veterinary oncologist to assess the seriousness of the tumor and the options for care. Commonly available treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation — often a combination of treatments is used. Your veterinarian, perhaps with the help of a veterinary oncologist, can help you understand what to expect from the tumor type diagnosed.

Remember that what veterinarians tell you is their best guess based on what happens to most patients, and that your cat could do much better or worse than average. Your veterinarian will help you make decisions regarding treatment options based on what they believe is best for your cat.

Cat Tracks

The very vaccinations that have saved so many feline lives have ended up killing a few, who end up with malignant tumors at the injection sites. The risk is low, however, and you’re putting your cat at much greater risk if you avoid vaccinations because of your worries. For more information on the risks of vaccinations — and the benefits, of course — see Chapter Preventive Health Care for Your Cat.

Tip

Health insurance for cats?

Money looms over every suggestion a veterinarian makes and every decision a client considers. One way to tame the beast a little is to purchase health insurance for your cat. Pet-lovers in the United States have been slow in warming to the concept, which is well established in Europe: In Sweden, 17 percent of all pets are insured, as are 5 percent of the cats and dogs in Great Britain. Still, it’s worth investigating. Ask your veterinarian about health insurance plans that may help you cope with the cost of veterinary care. Some veterinary hospitals are even experimenting with their own HMOs!

Giving Your Cat Medication

No matter how much you and your cat hate the idea, at some point in your pet’s life, you’re going to come home from the veterinary office with medication, and you’re going to need to give that medication to your cat. Is it easy? Not really, but we can help make the process easier. Is it necessary? You bet. Seeing your veterinarian and then not following through on care instructions is worse than a waste of money: It may be dangerous for your pet.

Remember

Your veterinarian depends on you to report whether the medication given is helping or hurting. Do not hesitate to call your veterinarian and let her know if you think the medications are making a difference — positive or negative. Sometimes, the only way to know is to stop the medication. Just don’t do so without talking to your veterinarian so that she knows and agrees. And don’t adjust the dose — up or down — without your veterinarian’s knowledge and approval. Doing so is like playing with fire. Only in this case, your pet is the one who may get burned!

Pilling your pet

Gina once asked her readers for their best tips on getting pills down their pets, and her phone was ringing off the hook for days. Most people try the sneak method, attempting to disguise a pill in a bit of something yummy in hopes that their pet doesn’t notice the pill inside. You can try this approach, but honestly, it works a lot better for dogs, who are “wolfers,” than it does for cats, who eat carefully, considering every mouthful.

Better still is the straightforward approach: Take a firm but gentle grip on your pet’s head from above, pry open his jaw with the index finger of your other hand, and press the pill far enough back on the tongue to trigger swallowing. Some people have good luck with “pill guns” (available in pet-supply outlets). These plastic devices enable you to put the pill on the tip and then press it to the top of your cat’s throat.

Tip

Although experienced cat lovers — and, of course, veterinarians and veterinary-health technicians — can make pill-popping look like an easy, one-person job, you’re likely to find the task easier at first if you have someone else hold your cat while you pill her.

Cool Cat Facts

One of the best suggestions to come out of Gina’s poll came from the fellow who “screened” his cat to pill her. He “hung” her by her claws on the screen door and then gave her the pill. Tough on the screen door but easier on the owner — and in some cases, the cat!

Figure 12-2: A firm, swift, and gentle approach is best when giving your cat medication in pill form.

Liquid medication

For liquid medications, ask your veterinarian for some large syringes with the needles removed. These syringes have measurements marked on the sides, and they are very handy at getting liquid medicine in the right place. An eyedropper works well, too.

Raise your cat’s muzzle with a firm but gentle hold on the top of her head and lift her lip on one side. Ease the tip between the teeth and toward the back of the mouth and then release the liquid in a slow, steady motion. Your cat will swallow naturally. Pause if she needs more time to swallow.

Ear medication

Lay a large towel across your lap and draw your pet up, relaxing her with stroking and soothing words. After she’s relaxed, apply the ear drops, massaging the base of the ear gently. Be prepared to have her shake her head, throwing some of the medication in every direction! The dosage takes this shaking into account, though, so don’t double-dose your pet.

Figure 12-3: Release liquid medication into the back of the throat with a slow, steady motion.

Eye medication

To use eye medication, restrain your pet and gently apply a line of ointment from the tube across the length of the eye, being careful not to touch the surface of the eye. Try to land drops squarely in the center. Close the lid for a couple of seconds to let the medication distribute evenly.

Remember

As with anything your pet would rather avoid, be patient, gentle, and firm when giving medication — and follow with praise and petting. If you’re having trouble medicating your pet, have your veterinarian walk you through the process — or discuss alternatives.

by Gina Spadafori and Paul D. Pion