Five Cat Illnesses that are Impacted by Nutrition
Just like humans, the health of your cat is impacted by his diet. Feeding him an incorrect, unhealthy, inconsistent diet can cause your cat to suffer a number of health problems that could lead to more serious health concerns, or even death. The health and nutrition of your cat is no laughing matter. Many people assume that it’s a cat, so it’s not like it has to worry about weight gain or an unhealthy diet, but this is absolutely not the case at all. Cats have to worry about these things just as much as humans have to worry about them. Diet is essential to the health of all living creatures. Without water, a plant will die. Without proper nutrition, humans become sick, suffer from health problems and eventually die. Cats are no exception to the rule of good health, which is why your cat might be suffering right now. The downside is that you might not even know that your cat has issues he or she needs to rectify. We’re going to help you determine if your cat’s diet is affecting his or her health by letting you know how your cat’s nutrition is affecting his or her health.
Diarrhea
It’s not uncommon for cats to experience a bout of diarrhea from time to time. There is typically no cause for concern when this happens infrequently and randomly, as it could have been something that the cat got into it shouldn’t have – such a food left in the sink that’s not good for the cat – or even an expired can of food could cause an upset stomach. However, if your cat begins to have loose stools several times a day without ceasing, it could be caused by something far more serious. For example, your cat could be suffering from health issues related to food. You should take your cat to the vet immediately if diarrhea does not subside after 24 hours to be sure that there is nothing seriously wrong with your cat. However, you can also provide your cat with a high-fiber diet that will likely eliminate this issue if it’s nothing more than a food-related incident.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is nothing that’s relegated specifically to humans. Cats can experience this, too. One of the most common causes of heart disease in cats is sodium intake, according to PetMD. If your cat is eating food that’s high in sodium and it’s not agreeing with the cat, it’s time to make some dietary changes for your feline friend. Additionally, cats that eat food from the table are also more prone to heart disease than cats that do not. This is because most human food is very high in sodium and very unhealthy as far as most everything is concerned. Your cat will likely need to stop eating human food, and he or she will need to be kept away from it if the cat likes to take the food without permission. This can have a huge impact on your cat’s health.
FLUTD
Feline lower urinary tract disorder is something that can be caused by any number of things directly or not directly related to nutrition. Some cats don’t handle stress very well, which could be caused by anything from a move to a new pet or a new baby in the house. Even too much tension in a family can cause cats to begin having issues urinating, including incidents in which the cat urinates outside of his or her litter box. Nutrition can actually play a large role in handling this issue. For example, cats experiencing this issue are typically going to feel better and have fewer issues if they drink more water and/or change their diet to canned food. The reason for this is that the increased intake of fluid is going to benefit the cat. Where many people feel that increased moisture will make the cat’s symptoms worse, these positive dietary changes will actually benefit the cat.
Obesity
Let’s be honest here and say that obesity is clearly linked to overconsumption of food as far as a cat is concerned. While other factors can help link to this issue, it’s not uncommon for a cat to experience this issue because of dietary concerns. According to PetMD, more than 50% of cats in America suffer from some level of obesity, and it’s largely to blame on their owners. Many of us fail to limit our cat to what is actually required for a healthy diet each day, and therefore we overfeed our cats and cause them to have health issues that can be terribly harmful to the animal. For example, did you know that a fat cat might be something you love, but you can be causing your fat cat to develop a host of health issues that will shorten its lifespan and make it very sick? You must speak to your vet about the proper amount of food that should be given to your cat each and every day to ensure obesity is not an issue.
Pancreatitis
Dietary fat intake is a big concern for cats as well as people. If your cat is taking in too much fat, he or she might be at risk for several health issues. For example, if your cat has too much fat, it could cause your cat’s pancreas to inflame. This will release the enzymes that are used for digestion into other parts of the body, where your cat will then begin digesting food in organs not meant for this practice. This can cause other issues in terms of your cat’s health, and it can even take your cat’s life if it is left untreated and it’s not cared for. It’s very important that you take your cat to the vet if you feel that this might be an issue. Only your vet can tell if this is the real cause of your cat’s health issues, and only your vet can help you find a treatment method that will work properly.
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