Every owner will have cat health questions from time to time. Short of calling a vet or paying for an expensive visit every time a little issue crosses your mind, you have to find resources that will give you answers directly. Cats are a pleasure to have in the home, but their health must be looked after just as any other animal requires.
You are probably already familiar with the most basic issues of cat health. You likely know how to look after the litter box so it remains sanitary and smell free, but are you aware of some of these other health issues?
When injured, can a cat be given pain medication?
If your cat experiences something that could result in pain you may have to watch them closely. They are very good at hiding their pain as a natural instinct, so look for any signs of them withdrawing from the household or otherwise not behaving as usual. It is very difficult for some homeowners to imagine the pets they love being in pain, but it is something that can be overlooked if you don’t know that cat pain is not always obvious.
The good news is there are some specific pain killers that are safe for cats as long as they are given in the right dosage and at the right intervals. If you think your cat is in pain take them to the vet and never try to medicate them on your own.
Can diseases be passed from cats to humans?
There are some diseases that can be transferred from a cat to a human, though many owners today consider this a rumor. It is in fact the pure truth as there are multiple types of health conditions that a feline can transfer to human owners.
This doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of your cat to be safe. You just have to take proper care of every animal in your household. Care includes making sure they are vaccinated on schedule, cleaning the litter box properly and routinely, and maintaining a regular grooming schedule.
How long does a cat typically live?
The feline species can fall victim to some of the life threatening diseases that humans face, such as cancer. Given that your cat avoids that serious disaster and is healthy, you can expect them to live in your house for a long time. The life span of felines has considerably lengthened, with some living over twenty years easily.
The average age of death for a cat is 9, but do not be surprised if your friend is around for much longer.
As long as you are familiar with these cat health questions as well as a variety of other care concerns, you will likely have many years to enjoy your pet
