5 Common Health Problems in Adopted Cats

From the moment you bring your cat or kitten into your family, your world is changed. Certainly, a lifestyle with a feline brings new experiences and encounters — some of which might include health issues for your furry friend. From recognizing cat stress to understanding behavior and managing dental health, health problems in cats that came more recently from a shelter can be common, despite age, size or breed.

By knowing and understanding cat behaviors and cat health, cat lovers can become great cat owners. We sat down with Trupanion veterinarian, Dr. Caroline Wilde, to create this quick guide to recognizing and managing cat health problems that may be especially common in adopted pets.

5 common health problems in adopted cats that every pet owner should know

If you’ve recently become a new pet owner, or even if you are a tenured cat owner, take into consideration these common cat health problems.

1. Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common health problem in cats of all ages. “If a newly adopted feline has soft stool, it’s important to always take the pet to the veterinarian where they can check a stool sample, and make sure it’s not parasite-related,” states Wilde. Certainly there can be a wide variety of reasons why your feline friend is experiencing gastro-intestinal issues.

Contributing factors of diarrhea include:

• Stress
• Food intolerance
• Diet change
• Internal pesticides

If you feel your furry friend is experiencing signs of discomfort and gastrointestinal upset, please seek veterinary care. Consider notating when your cat has stomach pain and signs of diarrhea, for instance during feeding time, to help your vet find the cause of the pain. For more on cats and anxiety, read here.

2. Ringworm

Ringworm, an infectious skin disease, is a common health problem in cats, and it’s especially seen within animal shelters and rescue organizations. Although ringworm is a treatable disease, it is incredibly infectious, and should be taken seriously in any household. In addition, “It’s important to take them to the vet as soon as possible, especially since ringworm is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to people and other pets in the home,” points out Wilde. Naturally, if skin issues like scabs, bald spots, or scaling appear on your new cat, seek treatment with your veterinarian.

3. Respiratory infections/ eye issues

If a cat is showing signs of a respiratory infection, chances are they may have eye issues. Essentially, a number of issues could cause these infections. For example, respiratory infections can be transmitted through bacteria, viral, or trauma. Although this is a common health problem in cats, the severity of the infection can be extreme in younger cats and kittens. Further, “If they progress, they can become very sick, very fast. It’s important to take any eye issues very seriously. In addition, the veterinarian will want to check the eyes for trauma by staining them,” says Wilde. For example, consider an e-collar or an alternative to avoid any additional to your cat’s eyes.

4. Inappetence

Keeping your cat happy and healthy is a top priority for pet owners. Naturally, a factor of that is keeping your pet well fed. Granted, not all cats have a large appetite, and the key is understanding why they don’t want to eat. Is your cat eating enough? To find more on the topic, click here.

Why your cat may not be eating

Certainly, understanding your cat’s behavior or the reason for your cat’s stress can help in the role as a new pet owner. For instance, being in a new home might be stressful for your cat and they don’t have an appetite. In addition, they could be experiencing a food intolerance. Further, “Any issues regarding how much a cat is eating (too much or not enough), can be a cause for concern, and should be discussed with a veterinarian,” states Wild.

Naturally, humans and cats alike are affected by stress. Certainly, a transition to new home can take some getting used too, for all parties.