Page 33 - AVS-Catalog

CAT FACTS

1. Cats tend to mask the signs of heart disease better than dog. Some
of the symptoms include restlessness, weakness, fainting, swollen
abdomen, weight loss or gain, poor appetite, depressed, inability to
walk normally on the hind legs, difficulty breathing and vomiting.
2. Liver disease can occur in cats of any age although in younger cats
it’s most commonly caused by toxic hepatopathy. The most common
cause of liver failure in cats is fatty liver.
3. Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) can be seen in cats of
any age, it is most frequently seen in middle-aged, over-weight cats
affecting from 0.5% to 1% of the population. Approximately 15-20% of
FLUTD cases are caused by urinary stones.
4. The three most common parasitic protozoal diseases in cats and can
infect humans are cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, and toxoplasmosis.
People with weakened immune systems, or infants whose mothers are
infected during pregnancy, can develop severe illness.
5. Studies suggest that degenerative joint disease (DJD) is a very common
condition in cats of all ages, although the likelihood of a cat developing
DJD increases with age. 90% of cats over 12 years of age had evidence
of DJD. The most frequently affected joints are the hip, the knee, the
tarsus and the elbow.
6. Skin disorders are common in cats. They can be caused by parasites
such as fleas or mites, fungal or bacterial infections, allergies, stress,
injury, or by hormonal imbalances.
7. Cats are sensitive animals and are prone to stress. Stress in cats not
only can exacerbate existing physical conditions, but it can lead to a
number of problems such as litter box avoidance, aggressive behavior,
or depression and withdrawal.
8. Feeding cats a probiotics supplement can result in systemic and immune
system health benefits as well as positively altering gastrointestinal
flora and may help nutritionally manage cats with diarrhea.
9. Feline “normal” body temperature range is 100.5 - 102.5 Fahrenheit
(38 - 39.2 Celsius).
10. Feline respiratory rate is 16 - 40 breaths per minute.
11. Feline heart rate is 120-140 beats per minute.

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