CAT HEALTH & MEDICINE

It’s often said that if a cat is in a prolonged state of lethargy, he should be taken to the vet to see if there’s an underlying cause. Lethargy can be a sign of everything from an infection to arthritis to diabetes. But what is lethargy?

There are an estimated 600 million cats in the world, and almost 500 million of them are free-roaming. Up to 100 million homeless cats live in the U.S. alone. They often survive in suboptimal conditions while they prey on vulnerable wildlife. And they frequently enough get euthanized at overcrowded shelters even though there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. The answer is sterilization to prevent more unwanted cats from coming into the world, and dedicated cat lovers work hard in trap-neuter-release programs where they capture cats, take them to a willing veterinary facility to have them spayed or neutered, and then return them to their feral lives.

A cat allergy, whether to something in the environment, something in the diet, or insects such as fleas, often plays out on the skin. A cat that has an allergic reaction can become chronically itchy to the point that all the licking, chewing, scratching, and biting at the uncomfortable spot(s) can cause her hair to come out. It can also cause something known as miliary dermatitis, a skin condition characterized by crusty lesions. (Miliary dermatitis is also known as scabby cat disease.) Often, an allergy causes the skin to become inflamed, too, among other reactions.

As of this year, a veterinary specialty in shelter medicine is fully recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association. A veterinarian who is board-certified in shelter medicine must complete a residency that typically lasts 3 years (or work directly in shelter medicine for a minimum of 6 years). She or he must also submit a credentials packet that includes multiple case reports and research papers and then sit for a qualifying exam.

One or both of your cat’s eyes has become bluish-gray in color and looks opaque. Is she suffering vision loss because of a cataract? Probably not.

Ironically, probably the most common disease to affect cats is the one not necessarily covered by pet health insurance. We’re talking about dental disease. By the age of 3, 85 percent of cats show at least some dental deterioration in the form of periodontal (gum) disease. If left untreated, it can lead to infections and, eventually, tooth loss. Fractured teeth comprise another common dental issue. But health insurance for cats varies widely in terms of reimbursing for treatment, which for a procedure like multiple teeth extractions can easily cost thousands of dollars.

The veterinarian palpates (feels) your cat’s abdomen during a clinical exam and finds that one or both of her kidneys are bigger than they’re supposed to be. It happens more frequently than you might expect. The medical term for enlarged kidneys is renomegaly, “reno” meaning “kidneys” and “mega” meaning “large.” But the finding is not a diagnosis in itself. It’s a clue that a diagnosis is necessary, and it’s sometimes accompanied by other clues, such as decreased appetite, weight loss, lethargy, and vomiting.

There is no dispute about how often a cat should have a physical exam. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) all agree that every pet cat should have a wellness visit once a year, twice yearly if the cat is older. (The AAFP says twice a year is the correct frequency once a cat turns 11.) What’s not set in stone is how often blood tests should be done as part of those exams.

Q: When a cat regurgitates, is that the same thing as vomiting? I often see the two terms used interchangeably.

The term “caregiver burden” is often applied to people taking care of human loved ones who are very sick and possibly dying. Such caretakers experience greater stress, depression, and anxiety than those in the general population as well as a reduced quality of life. But researchers have also found that those who care for chronically ill or dying cats experience the same levels of distress.

Some cats sit around sticking out their tongue from time to time. It’s nothing to be concerned about. A slightly protruding tongue is just one of the ways in which a cat can look adorable. However, if your cat has not had a prior habit of letting her tongue hang out and has started to do so, it could be a sign of a health problem.

Dogs are a natural host for heartworms. A single dog may harbor hundreds of them, which can cause lasting damage to the heart, lungs, and arteries if the heartworm disease is left untreated. Therein lies the rub. The drug used to combat heartworm disease in dogs cannot be used in cats. In felines, the disease must be left untreated by default. Only supportive care is available to manage symptoms without getting to the root cause.