Keeping My Cat Well: A Guide to Common Feline Health Problems

I learned early that caring for a cat isn't only about affection; it's about noticing small things before they grow heavy. The way she grooms just a bit more than usual. The way he hesitates at the litter box door. The soft shift in breath after a nap. I keep a quiet checklist on the fridge, but more than that, I keep a promise: I will pay attention, prevent what I can, and seek help when something rises beyond home care.

Hairballs: When Grooming Leaves a Knot Behind

Cats are meticulous. Their tongues are covered in backward-facing papillae that pull loose hair into the mouth. Most hair passes quietly through the digestive tract. Sometimes, though, it mats into a trichobezoar—a hairball—that must be expelled. Coughing, hacking, and the unmistakable retch are familiar in many homes and usually resolve without issue.

Prevention is steady: brushing during heavy shedding, diets that support coat and digestion when a veterinarian recommends, and play that diverts stress-grooming. Red flags are clear: repeated unproductive retching, appetite loss, constipation, lethargy, or a dull coat. These require a veterinary visit. True obstruction is rare, but when it occurs, it is dangerous and not something to manage at home.

Intestinal Parasites: Quiet Guests I Don't Invite

Roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms are common, especially in kittens and outdoor cats. Signs can be vague—potbelly, poor weight gain, diarrhea, or rice-like segments in stool. Because signs are unreliable, I rely on fecal testing at veterinary intervals. I deworm only with products and schedules my veterinarian recommends for age and lifestyle.

Prevention rests on flea control: year-round ectoparasite prevention blocks tapeworm transmission. For roundworms and hookworms, routine testing and broad-spectrum preventives are key. Litter box hygiene matters, especially in multi-cat homes. I also remember zoonotic risk—prevention protects both cats and people.

Heartworm in Cats: Uncommon but Serious

Heartworm is not only a dog disease. Mosquitoes transmit it to cats, and even immature worms can inflame the lungs. Treatments are limited; prevention is the path. I follow veterinary guidance on preventives, year-round, for both indoor and outdoor cats. Mosquitoes visit every house. If coughing, labored breathing, or sudden collapse occurs in an endemic region, I seek urgent care immediately.

Urinary Problems: From Stressy Bladders to Emergencies

Many lower urinary tract signs are grouped under FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease). Causes vary: inflammation, stones, plugs, infection, even stress. Bacterial infections are more common in older cats, less so in young ones. That's why diagnosis matters—urinalysis, culture, imaging, history. Treatment must be targeted.

Above all: urethral obstruction is an emergency. Signs include straining with little urine, crying, frequent unproductive trips, or a firm painful bladder. Delay can be fatal. For other urinary problems, prevention blends hydration (wet food helps), clean litter boxes, weight control, stress reduction, and—when prescribed—therapeutic diets for confirmed stone types. I never self-start urinary diets; the wrong one can shift mineral balance unfavorably.

I lean beside the bowl; her whiskers twitch as warm light threads the room.

What We Know Now

Most cats encounter feline coronavirus (FCoV). For most, it stays in the gut without harm. In some, it mutates and triggers feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a severe inflammatory disease. Historically fatal, outcomes are now changing. In some regions, veterinarians can access antivirals such as GS-441524 or remdesivir. Availability and legality vary; dosing and monitoring require a veterinarian. Signs include persistent fever, weight loss, abdominal or chest fluid, ocular or neurologic changes. In those cases, I seek professional guidance—hope is real, but must be handled by experts.

Long Lives With Care

Feline immunodeficiency virus weakens immune defenses but many infected cats live long, comfortable lives with routine care. Transmission is usually through deep bite wounds, so neutering and indoor life reduce risk. Testing is advised after adoption, after high-risk events, or when a vet suggests. Vaccination against FIV is no longer available in many regions; old vaccine antibodies can confuse testing. Management focuses on preventing secondary infections, dental care, and stress reduction.

Testing and Vaccines

Feline leukemia virus spreads between cats and can cause anemia, immune suppression, and cancers. I test new cats before introductions. Kittens receive vaccines as core care. Adult vaccination is based on lifestyle risk. Vaccination does not help FeLV-positive cats. In mixed households, FeLV-positive and negative cats are best kept separate. If they live together, a veterinarian guides care to protect all.

Ticks and Lyme: The Cat Reality

Cats can carry ticks, though true Lyme disease in cats is rare. I still use safe tick prevention, check coats after outdoor time, and manage yard habitat. If lethargy, lameness, or fever appear in a high-risk area, I consult a veterinarian. I stay cautious but keep perspective.

Red Flags I Never Ignore

• Breathing trouble: open-mouth breathing, blue gums, rapid or labored breaths.
• Urinary obstruction signs: straining with no urine, vocalizing, swollen painful bladder.
• Neurologic changes: sudden weakness, seizures, disorientation.
• Persistent vomiting: unproductive retching or paired with appetite loss and lethargy.
• Severe lethargy or collapse: profound weakness or unresponsiveness.

Routine Care That Pays Back

I keep a rhythm: wellness exams, tailored vaccines, parasite prevention, dental care, weight checks, and behavior notes for the vet. I use wet food and water stations to support urinary health. I play daily for stress and weight. For outdoor time, I rely on enclosures or supervised leash walks. Indoors, I rotate toys and add climbing space. The goal is always the same: safe, engaging life.

Indoor vs Outdoor

Indoor life reduces many risks—cars, parasites, infections—but demands richer enrichment. Outdoor life offers stimulation but increases risks, requiring parasite control, microchips, and more frequent checks. In both, the priority is balance: safety and fulfillment.

Conversations With My Vet

• Hairballs: when to check for GI or skin disease; which diets or products are safe.
• Parasites: fecal testing cadence; correct dewormers; flea and tick prevention year-round.
• Urinary signs: how to distinguish behavioral from medical; when to use therapeutic diets; emergency thresholds.
• FIV/FeLV: testing intervals; vaccine plans; management of positives.
• Heartworm: local risk, best preventive, testing schedule.
• FIP: current diagnostics and legally available therapies in my region.

The Promise I Keep

I will notice. I will prevent what I can. I will not delay in emergencies. Cats are quiet magicians—they hide illness until it grows heavy. My work is to keep life light: steady food and water, clean boxes, safe play, and a veterinary team I trust. That is how small problems stay small and companionship stays long.

References

Cornell Feline Health Center — hairballs, FLUTD, ticks and Lyme in cats.

American Heartworm Society — feline heartworm prevention and diagnostics.

AAFP/AAHA — Feline Vaccination Guidelines (2020); Feline Retrovirus Testing Guidelines (2020).

iCatCare/ISFM & AAFP — consensus on urinary tract diseases and NSAID use in FIC.

UC Davis CCAH/Koret — FIP overview and antiviral notes (jurisdiction dependent).

Important Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed veterinarian about your cat's health, vaccines, diagnostics, or medications. In emergencies—breathing difficulty, suspected urinary blockage, trauma, sudden collapse—seek veterinary care immediately.