Common Genetic And Non-Genetic Cat Health Problems

If you are a new pet owner or are planning on getting a kitten, you should be aware that it is pretty normal for your kitty to fall ill every once in a while. However, cats are also prone to several genetic ailments and other serious diseases. As a cat owner, it would help you to know about some of these more common diseases. Though being cautious while getting a kitten can help you avoid a few genetic disorders, there are some cat health problems that you cannot prevent.

cat carrier

A majority of cats are vulnerable to worms. The presence of ringworms, hookworms, roundworms or tapeworms may make your cat suffer from stomach ache and vomiting. The presence of these worms may also cause discoloration of her coat and give her a bloated tummy. But you need not worry too much about these conditions as there are various medicines that can successfully cure such problems.

CAT

Cats love to groom themselves. However this frequent grooming can also result in hairball problems. While grooming themselves, cats often gulp hairs that remain undigested. Later, cats vomit these hairs out as hairballs.

Fleas too may bother your cats. These fleas would feed on the blood of your loving pet and too many fleas can also make it anemic. This uncomfortable situation may cause it to scratch itself more often, thus resulting in skin diseases. Keep a close watch on your pet and take her to a vet before the infestation gets serious.

Genetic cat health problems may include some kinds of kidney diseases, blindness and many others. Many Abyssinian cats are born with retinal dystrophy, progressive retinal atrophy and familial amyloidosis. Burmese cats are genetically more prone to diabetes, glaucoma and hypokalaemic myopathy. Gingivitis is another genetic condition that is present in many cats.

Despite their adorable appearance, even Persian cats have their share of genetic illnesses. The major genetic disorders that this breed suffers from include Chediak-Higashi syndrome, dystocia, progressive retinal atrophy and corneal sequestrum.

The list of cat health problems also includes feline leukemia. Unfortunately there is no permanent medication for this terminal illness and vomiting and weakness are some of its symptoms. Cats can also develop urinary tract infections and conjunctivitis. Injuries to the inner ear and ear mites can cause ear infection in cats. You should check the ears of your cat on a regular basis during her grooming sessions.

If your cat is falling ill, do not panic and remember to consult a vet or any reputable resource as soon as possible to prevent her condition from worsening. Good luck!

Common Genetic And Non-Genetic Cat Health Problems

Does your kitty have Feline Leukemia Symptoms or Cat Urinary Tract Infection? Visit our website today and discover solutions to your cat health problems. Remember to sign up for your free 7-part Healing Your Pets At Home mini-course absolutely free for a limited time only!

CAT

Cat Breeding - The Breeding of Designer Cats and Cats With Genetic Disorders

Banning wild cat/domestic cat hybrids

savannah cat

Recently the USA state of Iowa banned the keeping of Bengal cats. This ban included all cats with a wild ancestry meaning wild cat/domestic cat hybrids. These cats are the Bengal, Chausie, Savannah and Safaris for example. The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) refuses to register domestic cats with "wild blood" in them. Fourth generation Bengal cats have about 12% Asian Leopard in them. The CFA is the most conservative registry. The International Cat Registry is more adventurous and registers more breeds including the Bengal. There is divided opinion about wild/domestic cat hybrids. The Bengal though is a very popular cat demonstrating the desire of the public to keep wild cat substitutes.

SAVANNAH CAT

There is a continuing desire by the cat lovers to "own" (I prefer keep or adopt) unusual and valuable "objects" and that includes animals and one of the most popular animals to keep are cats. How do cat breeders keep up with the demand for the exotic and unusual while maintaining a moral code and high standards of animal welfare?

Moral issues/arguments

The moral issue is whether it is good for wildlife to create designer and exotic cat breeds by mating wild and domestic cats. The idea is that in keeping such a hybrid cat the keeper is reminded of the plight of the dwindling number of wild cats in the world.

The counter argument is that this form of breeding damages the wild cat in that the increased interest is fed by the breeding program which encourages malpractice by importers of wild cats into the West and increases the importation of wild cat breeds into Western countries. The biggest market for exotic pets and cats by far is the USA.

Genetic Mutations

Not only are there questions about exotic cats the same moral dilemma exists in relation to the breeding of cats that suffer from genetic defects (mutations). These cats such as dwarf cats, tailless cats and cats with malformed ears are interesting and rare. Once again the unusual catches the eye of the public consumer and cat lover and breeders feel an obligation to create more of these rare cats. But is it right to create more cats that have a major defect/disorder which sometimes (rarely with careful breeding) has fatal consequences and secondary conditions that harm the cat (e.g. flat chest kitten in dwarf cats). You can see links to articles about a number of mutated breeds at the Different Breeds Page of my website. Examples are the Bobtailed cats and the Dwarf cats.

Commercial pressure

There is then commercial pressure to breed more cats and it could be argued cats of the wrong type. The public's desires are being checked and controlled by the authorities (see the Iowa ban above).

Conclusion

It is not possible to make a cattery highly commercial and prioritize the cats welfare in my opinion. Catteries should be small and one litter should ideally be bred at one time. The exception appears to be the Allerca cat, a wild/domestic hybrid being bred by a company and which sells at high prices (up to ,000 per cat or so). The company treats these cats as a product. I find this to be an incorrect moral attitude.

As to the exotics and mutated breeds; I can accept the exotic designer breeds provided the breeders observe high standards and can see the wider issues (effect on wildlife). I cannot, however, agree that creating more cats with disorders is acceptable and in that regard I agree with the CFA who don't register for example Dwarf cats for that reason.

Cat Breeding - The Breeding of Designer Cats and Cats With Genetic Disorders

The author is Michael Broad, as retired solicitor and cat lover, who runs his website http://www.pictures-of-cats.org for the charitable purpose of helping cats less fortunate than the majority of those in the Western World. The website is being continually added to and includes well researched facts and photographs by the world renown cat photographer Helmi Flick plus many other fine amateur made photographs from a wide range of legitimate sources.

SAVANNAH CAT