Cat health facts and myths

Cat health facts and myths

Every owner knows very well that you need to take care of your cat's health. However, not everyone needs to know about all cat diseases. That is why we decided to present a few facts in the form of curiosities and to deny myths about cat's health.

Cats do not get rabies

It is commonly believed that cats do not get rabies. Meanwhile, it turns out that there is nothing more wrong - all pets are at risk of contracting this virus, which is why it is so important to vaccinate our pets regularly, even if they only go out to the balcony or smell our shoes. Indoor cats can be vaccinated once every two years, not like dogs (obligatory every year).

Cats staying at home cannot be infected with any disease

Well, this is not true. Remember that germs are transmitted through the air, they can also be brought home on the shoes or clothes of the owners. Therefore, cats that do not leave the house should also be vaccinated. Remember that pets staying in the yard are exposed to other diseases and require other, often richer, vaccination packages, as well as regular, more frequent deworming programs than cats outside.

Cats can catch the tapeworm by eating spoiled food

There is a myth in the cat world that pets can become infected with tapeworms by eating spoiled food. The truth is that cats can catch tapeworms by ingesting fleas, mice carrying the parasite, or fresh meat contaminated with untreated parasites. Never give your pet rotten food as it can be a source of pathogens that will affect its health throughout its life.

Cats lick their wounds to speed up their healing

The cat's tongue is very rough and sharp, suitable for tearing pieces of meat from bones and combing cat's hair. Licking wounds can cause even greater irritation, and thus significantly slow down the healing process. Cats lick their wounds because moistening them gives them temporary relief. Nevertheless, we should be careful that the injured cat does not touch the wound. It is best to wrap it with a thin layer of bandage.

Adding garlic to cat's food helps to fight against gastrointestinal parasites

It is true that, unfortunately, garlic has no beneficial effect on parasites. It also has no beneficial effect on the cat. On the contrary, it is very harmful to it, leading to liver damage, which over time becomes anemia. Both internal and external parasites are treated by your veterinarian, and sometimes additional tests may help to identify them.

Cats should eat a lot of fish

Domestic cats have never, of course, eaten fish. They were introduced into their diets by humans due to their rich nutritional composition. Fatty sea fish are rich in essential long-chain Omega 3 fatty acids, but at the same time provide the cat's organism with many minerals that burden the excretory system. Therefore, the cat should be given this undeniable delicacy only occasionally after steaming for 20 minutes and in an amount not exceeding 10% of the diet. An excess of minerals can lead to serious urological problems. In addition, raw fish contains anti-enzymes and anti-vitamins that can lead to deficiencies and, over time, deterioration of our cat's health and appearance

Cats spread disease

The vast majority of feline diseases are not contagious to humans. If the cat is dewormed, chapped, vaccinated and well-groomed - it does not pose a major threat. An outgoing cat should be regularly dewormed 4 times a year and undergo a health check at a veterinary office at least once a year.

You can tell when a cat is sick by its behavior

Cats never show weakness, as mammals instinctively hide their ailments to protect themselves from predator attack. Therefore, it is the owner who should notice the subtle lesions appearing in the pet. Unfortunately, usually when a cat shows symptoms, it is often a medium or heavy problem

Tip:

Believing in myths can lead to serious illness of your pet. Therefore, if you are just starting your long-term relationship with a cat and everything seems new, and your knowledge about caring for your pet is so far little - do not trust unreliable sources of information - friends or even breeders, ask your veterinarian.