Common Cat Ailments - Diabetes, Chlamydia, Diarrhoea & More

Diabetes insipidus in Cats

This renders the body incapable of regulating the use of water.

Symptoms
These include polydipsia excessive thirst and polyuria production of large amounts of urine.

Causes
Diabetes insipidus is caused by lack of the anti-diuretic hormone ADH produced in the cat’s pituitary glands, or the failure of kidneys to respond to this hormone. Normally, the production of ADH is increased when there is little water intake and decreased when the cat drinks large quantities of water, thus controlling the body’s water balance.

What to do
Any sign of abnormal water intake should be investigated by a vet as soon as possible.

Treatment
Depending on which form of diabetes inspidus is present, treatment may involve the administration of ADH to the affected cat; this is administered through nasal drops.

Diabetes mellitus sugar diabetes

In this hormonal condition, the cat is unable to control his blood-sugar levels.

Symptoms
Increased appetite, particularly if coupled with other symptoms such as an increase in the amount of urine passed, lethargy, weight loss and maybe cataracts. Very often,

Causes
A lack of insulin produced by the pancreas or an increase in blood- sugar levels hyperglycaemia. It is most common in cats over 8 years of age. Due to the increased levels of progesterone a hormone in the blood during phantom or pseudo pregnancies, unspayed queens are said to be more than three times more susceptible to diabetes mellitus, and obese cats of either sex are also at increased risk.

What to do
Take any cat showing symptoms of diabetes for examination by a vet as soon as possible.

Treatment
Treatment for this condition- is likely to be long-term, as your cat may need regular insulin injections and other treatment, so the costs in terms of both time and money will be fairly high. Typically, you will need to collect and test a sample of urine from your cat every morning to check the glucose levels, calculate the amount of insulin needed and administer it by injection, and feed your cat an extremely regulated high-fibre diet at specific times. Your vet will advise you on all of these matters. In queens, spaying will keep the cat’s condition stable.

Feline Chlamydia infection

Chlamydia consists of infection with Chlamydia psittaci, a bacterium that causes conjunctivitis.

Symptoms
Conjunctivitis reddened eye and a thick, ocular discharge. Sneezing and a nasal discharge are also common.

Causes
Cats become infected by Chlamydia psittaci which is spread by other infected cats in their bodily discharges.

What to do
Seek urgent veterinary treatment for any eye infection.

Treatment
The vet will prescribe antibiotics, and the whole course must be completed. If feline chlamydial infection is not treated quickly and adequately by a vet, it can infect the gastrointestinal digestive and genital systems of the cat, and may cause reproductive problems in queens.

Feline Diarrhoea

Like vomiting, diarrhoea is a symptom of an underlying condition and is not an illness in itself.

Symptoms
Pungent, liquid-like faeces; these may be passed frequently, necessitating many trips to the litter tray, or appear as ‘accidents’ around the home. If your cat is suffering from colitis, an inflammation of the colon, his faeces will contain quite a lot of mucus and bright red blood. Another symptom of colitis is tenesmus, where the cat strains to defecate; this latter symptom is often mistaken for a symptom of constipation. Diarrhoea often leads to dehydration, so your cat may appear slightly disorientated.

Causes
Diarrhoea may simply be a symptom of overeating or stress. Intestinal worms are a common cause of diarrhoea, as are foreign bodies in the digestive system and fungal infections.

What to do
Prevent the cat from eating anything, but ensure that he is given adequate amounts of drinking water. If the diarrhoea is acute, provide the cat with a rehydrating fluid and contact the vet. Keep your cat where you can see him, covering the floor with newspapers, or something similar, to keep your home clean. Note the times of his motions, and also the consistency, colour and quantity of diarrhoea. By doing this, you will help the vet to find the cause of sudden diarrhoea and to treat the problem effectively.

Treatment
The treatment for diarrhoea depends upon the underlying cause. If it is due to internal parasites, then anthelmintics wormers will be used to rid the cat of the infestation, while antibiotics will be used for infections. Diarrhoea can cause the cat to dehydrate and can lead to irreparable body damage particularly of the kidneys and even death. In all cases of severe diarrhoea where overeating is not the cause, if it persists, or if there is blood in the motions, consult your vet immediately so the cat can be treated at once.

Feline infectious peritonitis FIP

Caused by a virus that affects cat under about three years of age, this infection is known to spread rapidly among cats, and so is particularly dangerous in households where there is more than one cat.

Treatment
There is no treatment for FIP and most cats die as a direct result of this infection. It may be advisable to have your cat put to sleep; your vet will help you to make this decision.

Causes
A virus which is contained in blood, semen and saliva; it is spread through mating and bite wounds.

What to do
There can be a delay of as much as three years between the cat becoming infected and showing signs of the condition, so there is no real urgency to seek veterinary treatment unless the cat exhibits severe symptoms that cause him pain or discomfort.

Symptoms
These include loss of appetite, a swollen abdomen, loss of weight, breathing problems and a fever.

Urinary Incontinence in Cats

Symptoms
The cat will have ‘accidents’, particularly when resting. He will not have urinated deliberately, but because of his condition, the urine will dribble out involuntarily when he is lying down.

Causes
There are many possible causes of urinary incontinence, which may include faulty urethral valves, congenital defects of the cat’s urinary system, urolithiasis crystals or ‘stones’ of insoluble calcium in the urinary system, cancer or prostate problems in male cats. Urinary incontinence is seen particularly in older queens.

What to do
When taking your cat for veterinary examination, provide a fresh sample of your pet’s urine for testing; this will reveal if any diseases are causing the problem. It is unfair to punish or reproach a cat for incontinence. The cat’s bed is likely to become soiled, so bedding must be changed and cleaned at regular and frequent intervals, preferably daily.

Treatment
Surgery may be needed to treat faulty urethral valves, congenital defects of the cat’ urinary system, urolithiasis, cancer or prostate problems in male cats, while drug therapy may be used to improve the effectiveness of the urethra in sealing the flow of urine. Urinary incontinence is not life-threatening in itself but, because some of the possible underlying causes may be serious, it is better to seek veterinary advice sooner rather than later.

Halitosis – bad breath in Cats

This is one of the most common mouth problems suffered by cats; most show symptoms before they are three years old.

Symptoms
Foul-smelling breath, tender gums, loss of appetite and excessive drooling. Plaque and calculus a build-up of minerals on a cat’s teeth can lead to heart and kidney disease if left untreated. Yellow-brown stains on the teeth where they meet the gums are a classic symptom.

Causes
Usually gingivitis inflammation of the gums, or food becoming trapped.

What to do
Keep the cat’s teeth in good condition. Regularly cleaning them can act as a prevention measure, and also as a way of inspecting the cat’s teeth, and finding minor problems while they can still be dealt with. Take your cat for a regular check-up which includes a mouth examination.

Treatment
If your cat suffers from gingivitis, it may be helpful to use an antiseptic spray in his mouth. Ask the vet for advice on this. Feeding mainly soft, tinned food may adversely affect the teeth, so provide some crunchy food kibble or biscuit-type feed at every mealtime, as this will help clean teeth. Feline ‘dental toys’, if the cat will play with them, may also help to keep his teeth clean.