Health

Q- I recently lost a three-year-old female cat to heartworm disease. I would like to see more information on what heartworms are, how to treat them, and most importantly, how to prevent these parasites from taking our precious cats. All of my cats are indoors, fixed, and go to the veterinarian yearly.

any cats, at some point in their lives, will contract an upper respiratory disease characterized by persistent sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the inner surface of the eyelid), and in some cases keratitis (inflammation of the transparent outer covering of the front of the eyeball).

The feline eye is a complex arrangement of delicate structural components that, in a normal, healthy creature, operate in exquisite harmony to enable a cats typically keen vision.

It is well known that few can resist the winsome charm of the teeny, tiny kitten. He is loving, playful, downright adorable and a wonderful companion. I remember, as a child, bringing home two beautiful kittens.

When a cats food intake drops off, for whatever reason, the resulting decrease in protein intake can trigger feline hepatic lipidosis (FHL), the most common form of liver disease in cats.

Late one afternoon a while back, a virtually comatose cat was rushed by its distraught owners into the emergency unit of the Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA) in Ithaca, New York.

For several days, your good old cat has been acting oddly, lolling about the house, uncharacteristically lethargic, off his food and seemingly depressed.

For most aesthetically sensitive people, watching a cat engaged in the process of relieving itself in its litter box certainly cannot be counted among lifes great pleasures.

FIP: Almost always fatal. Owners can reduce the risk of this serious feline disease by practicing good litter-box hygiene. Here's why.

Here's how to tell if your cat is suffering from incontinence or is displaying inappropriate urination.

Diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite are the major signs of trouble if your cat is suffering from digestive tract problems.

All cats, especially females, are at risk for developing many severe reproductive-system disorders.