A clean litter box, and a balanced diet will go a long way toward keeping your cat healthy. But cats do get sick just like we do. Following are some tips to help recognize problems.

» Common Cat Diseases
» Upper Respiratory Infection
» Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
» Internal Parasites
» Litter Box Training
» Tips To Get Your Cat To Use The Litter Box

There are several diseases common to cats. Luckily, many of those with deadly consequences have vaccines available. Vaccinating your cat or kitten should be part of your health care regimen. Feline leukemia, distemper and rabies all have effective vaccines. Keep your cat healthy by making sure they’ve had all the necessary vaccinations.

The symptoms of this disorder include repeated sneezing, fever, discharge from eyes, loss of appetite, depression and coughing. These infections are highly contagious among cats and can be fatal if left untreated. See your veterinarian if you suspect your cat may be infected.

Also known as Feline Urological Syndrome (FUS)

Pay attention to a change in how your cat urinates. Refusal to use the litter box, blood in the urine and strain or pain while urinating are all indicators of FLUTD. Other symptoms include a listless cat, unusual thirst, poor appetite, vomiting and dehydration. FLUTD can be caused by a urinary blockage and may be fatal if left untreated. To assist in preventing FLUTD, you need to prevent growth of bacteria by keeping the pH of the urine balanced. Dietary supplements and some diets are formulated to assist in preventing FLUTD. This is a common problem, with 90% of all cats displaying signs of FLUTD in their life time.

A worming program should be part of every cat owner’s health care program. Some signs that your cat might have internal parasites include diarrhea or constipation, a huge appetite and being very thin with a potbelly. A dull coat and listlessness may occur when parasites are absorbing nutrients that your cat needs to be healthy. Worms can be detected by a fecal exam at your veterinarian’s office.

Kittens have a natural instinct to be clean. Most will train themselves to use the litter box by the time they are 12 weeks of age. However, sometimes a sudden change like a new home, can stress a kitten out so much that it forgets to use its litter box.

• Keep the litter box cleaned
• Do not put the litter box next to your cat’s food
• Never place litter box on your carpet, because they will track litter
• Don’t move the box around
• If your cat refuses to use the litter box, try a new litter