Pet Health

Cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles fails to descend into the scrotal sack, is a rare condition that occurs most often in Persian cats. In most cases, when cryptorchidism does occur in cats, one of the testicles will descend by the time the cat is 6 weeks old, and the other testicle remains within the abdominal area.

Avian influenza, also known as bird flu or H5N1, is a type of influenza virus that can infect birds. Wild birds can often carry this disease without displaying any symptoms, but domesticated birds can become very ill from this virus.

Bordetella in cats is a contagious infection which develops when a cat is exposed to the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria. Bordetella infections are particularly harmful to young kittens and cats with compromised immune systems.

Bronchitis in cats is a condition that develops when the bronchial airways, known as bronchi, become irritated and inflamed. There are a number of conditions that can cause bronchitis in cats, and the main symptom of feline bronchitis is coughing.

Respiratory infections in cats are usually viral infections, though in some cases the infections can be caused by a bacteria or fungus. These types of infections generally affect the cat’s upper respiratory tract, and if the infection is not treated secondary infections, such as pneumonia, can occur.

Upper respiratory infection in cats affects the upper airways which also includes the mouth, nose, sinuses, and in some cases the eyes. These types of infections are highly contagious, and they are caused by a variety of viruses.

Cats, like people, can suffer from asthma, and the symptoms of asthma in cats are similar to the symptoms that asthmatic persons suffer from as well. Asthma in cats itself is caused by an allergic reaction which leads to an inflammation of the airways and mucous buildup in the lungs.

Atopy, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a disease which can commonly occur in cats. The effects of the disease cause allergic reactions which drastically affect the skin. Cats with atopic dermatitis may suffer from a variety of symptoms which include: severe itching all over the body, sores on the paws and base of the tail caused by continual licking, hair loss, skin which becomes thick and takes on a leathery appearance, and a darkening of the color of the skin.

Dermatitis in cats is an irritating and sometimes painful condition that is often easy to diagnose but difficult to treat. Cats in particular seem to frequently suffer from skin reactions caused by parasites, fungus, and allergens. In fact, there is a special term for dermatitis in cats, feline miliary dermatitis, which cats often develop if they have a reaction to an irritant.

Cats can become infected with mange, just like dogs, but their mange mite is the highly contagious Notoedres cati. An infection with this type of mite is also known as Notoedric mange or feline scabies. These mites burrow deep within the cat’s skin, and they cause severe itching and skin infections.