Loving owners want to see their cats happily purring all day long! Unfortunately, many cats struggle with pain and discomfort due to an illness that for a whole host of reasons is not easy to see.

Osteoarthritis is, to put it simply, a long-standing inflammation that affects the different components and tissues of a joint (usually the elbows, knees and hips). As time goes by, the joint becomes damaged by this ongoing process, causing persistent and long-lasting pain.

This process of deterioration, also known as degenerative joint disease, can begin due to joint abnormalities, trauma, and of course, long-term use, but in most cases, there isn’t a single cause or event we can point to as being the culprit. We know that it affects middle-aged to older cats and that this disease is severely underdiagnosed in our feline friends. There are two main reasons for this.

First of all, cats struggling with the condition will find ways to adapt and cope with their aches and pains, mastering the art of hiding any mobility issues. Arthritic cats may show some stiffness when trying to get out of their beds and in general reduce their levels of activity, spending more time resting or sleeping.

They also start avoiding movements that may be more painful like jumping. This will often result in sleeping in new locations, as well as changes in their toileting habits. Affected cats may avoid using the litter tray as they find it harder to get into the tray. This leads to house soiling and other abnormal toileting behaviours.

Cats with chronic joint pain show other significant changes like overgrown nails and a scruffy or matted coat, as it becomes harder to groom. Changes in character are also common such as being more distant, more vocal, and even becoming aggressive.

Now this is the time to mention the second reason why osteoarthritis often slips under the radar. All these changes (if they are noticed) are often seen as something to be expected from an older cat and not as manifestations of a condition that needs to be addressed.

There are many options to consider: weight loss to reduce unnecessary strain on affected joints, medication and acupuncture to help with pain relief, and physiotherapy.

Simple environmental changes such as enabling easy access to all important resources such as food, water, and providing low-sided litter trays can make a huge difference in the life of an arthritic cat. Ramps or steps can help reach higher levels, well-padded beds offer extra comfort and a helping hand with grooming will be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately, osteoarthritis has no cure but there is plenty that can be done to improve quality of life, reduce the possibility of further joint damage, and most importantly, to bring much needed comfort to cats struggling to cope.

If you’re concerned that your cat may be affected by osteoarthritis, schedule an appointment with your vet to discuss treatment options!

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Cryptorchidism is described as the failure of one or both testicles to descend to the scrotum. This descent usually happens in about 2 to 6 months as animals are born with testicles that reside in their abdomen and then slowly but surely descend to their final position.

As far as we know, what causes testicles to not descend correctly is most likely genetic but there isn’t much information available in cats. It’s much more frequent and most often talked about in dogs, especially because there are several dog breeds who have a higher incidence – for cats there is about a 1 to 1.7% incidence overall.

They can be palpated if they are retained in the inguinal canal but if they are still in the abdomen, advanced imaging like an ultrasound will be required to see if they are really there or if for some reason they failed to form at all.

This distinction is particularly important because, while a retained testicle by itself is not painful, these abdominal or inguinal testicles are at a much higher risk of cancer or of twisting the blood vessels, nerves and muscles that support them. Be on the lookout for acute abdominal pain in your cat, as this might indicate a torsion has happened and needs to be seen by a vet!

Cats that only have one retained testicle may still be fertile but as it is a genetic condition, it’s best to remove these cats from the breeding pool to lower the risk of other animals with retained testicles.

Do you suspect your purring partner may have cryptorchidism? Bring them over to your vet. They will be more than happy to do the necessary tests to confirm what is going on and recommend the best way to proceed!

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Have you noticed your feline companion is sneezing more than usual, and you’re a little worried? In that case, this post might help!

Just as it is with us, sneezing is a normal mechanism our pet’s body uses to clear any irritants from their nose. This means an occasional sneeze from time to time is quite normal, but if your pet is sneezing more than usual, maybe even showing some nasal discharge, cough, or any other symptoms, there might be something else going on.

Sneezing can have several different causes. The most common cause is without a doubt upper respiratory tract infections, particularly in younger cats. You have probably heard of this already as it is commonly known as ´cat flu`. These infections usually have viruses as a primary cause and the viral agents typically involved are the feline herpesvirus and calicivirus. Although it’s not as common, bacteria such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, Streptococcus canis, Mycoplasma spp., and Chlamydophila felis can also be directly responsible for these infections.

Upper respiratory infections tend to be more common in kittens, young cats and in free-roaming cats that frequently come in contact with other outdoor felines. These viral infections are easily-spread, as these agents can be passed on from cat to cat, through any objects in their environment, or even through their caregivers.

In many of these infections the clinical signs can resolve in about 2 to 3 weeks, even without treatment. However, some cats may be more severely affected and veterinary assistance is necessary. These cats may also present thick and purulent discharge from their nose, depression, fever and lack of appetite. Some are left with recurrent nasal discharge and eye disease.

Other possible causes of sneezing involve nasal obstruction, nasopharyngeal polyps, nasopharyngeal stenosis, inhaling foreign bodies, trauma, chronic rhinitis, neoplasia (typically in older animals) and even dental disease.

Cats have tiny noses, but in some cases the sneezing is due to an inhaled blade of grass or grass seed. This is more common during warmer weather, and in cats with outdoor access. It also worth pointing out that if a cat’s sneezing is also accompanied by cough, feline asthma might also be a possible cause.

The best way to protect your cat from upper respiratory tract infections is to keep your cat’s vaccination plan up-to-date, as this provides protection against herpes and calicivirus. The vaccine does not always prevent infection, but it will dramatically reduce the severity of its clinical signs.

If you are planning to bring a new cat into your household don’t forget to keep the new cat separated from the resident cats for 7 to 10 days, for quarantine purposes. It is also recommended to provide your cat with adequate dental care.

If you notice your cat is sneezing more than usual and possibly showing other clinical signs, or if you are at all concerned, take your pet to the vet.

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Beautiful sunny days are right around the corner! And nobody loves that better than our purring partners who will undoubtedly lounge on the best sunny spots for hours on end.

But, as with everything, the sun can also have its ill effects. Like people, cats are susceptible to sunburns and some forms of cancer come from chronic exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet light. Who is at the highest risk? Because fur protects from the sun’s rays, white cats, especially short haired cats and obviously, cats with very little to no fur are at the most risk.

Squamous cell carcinoma is a form of cancer that arises from the squamous epithelium. This cell type forms most of the skin, lines the oral cavity and also the oesophagus. When these cells are hit with UV rays, they might get damaged at a DNA level and start having errors when they multiply – this situation may lead to an uncontrolled proliferation of cells.

Most cases of this carcinoma are caused by chronic exposure to the sun, especially in areas with low fur density like the nose, ears and eyelids. Carcinomas that do not originate due to damages by UV radiation can happen anywhere, including inside the oral cavity and oesophagus. It’s a disease of older animals, showing up usually at around age 10 or 12.

This type of cancer is locally invasive and can do severe damage to facial and head structures if left untreated though it has very little chances of migrating to other areas of the body that are far away from the original site. It often starts as small scabs that do not seem to heal that will progress into larger lesions with ulcers and rearrangement of bone and other structures.

How the disease progresses can vary a lot and treatment will depend on the cancer stage, location and cause. Animals with smaller lesions that can be submitted to surgery tend to have the best outcomes.

A couple of things that can help avoid this nasty situation are:

• High risk cats should avoid at high sunlight hours;
• UV light blocks for the windows in cats that love to sunbathe;
• Sun block, especially on ears. Make sure you keep an eye on your cat, so they don’t clean it off before it gets absorbed!

If you notice odd wounds on your cat, especially that seem to be getting worse or that don’t seem to heal at all, don’t hesitate to contact your vet!

The sooner this is treated, the better the chances your fuzzy friend has.

Image via: “White Beauty Visiting” by Pinti 1, was built upon and is licensed under CC BY 2.0

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