At Sugarland we treat all breeds of cats including but not limited to:

• Burmese Cats
• Siamese Cats
• Domestic Short Hair Cats
• Domestic Long Hair Cats
• Russian Blues
• Maine Coon Cats
• Persian Cats
• Ragdoll Cats
• Scottish Fold Cats
• Sphynx Cats
• Tabby Cats

We also treat cats of all ages, including kittens, adult cats and senior cats.

There are many different illnesses that can affect cats. Some of these are more serious than others in nature. Some of the diseases and illnesses that can frequently affect cats include:

Cancer
Like humans, cats can be affected by a wide variety of cancers. There is no single known cause of cancer, and it can be localised, where it is confined to one area of the body, or it can be generalised, where it is spread throughout the body.

Cats can also get a form of skin cancer known as squamous cell carcinoma. This most commonly affects lighter coloured cats and is usually caused by repeated exposure to the sun.

Diabetes
Cats can be affected by diabetes, which is caused by either the inability to respond properly to insulin or there is a lack of insulin. Insulin helps to carry glucose and other components from the cat’s food into its cells. However, when the cat is unable to produce insulin or its body doesn’t process it properly, it can affect the blood sugar levels, which can lead to further health complications.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a blood-borne virus that can sometimes take years for symptoms to show after the initial infection. FIV is most commonly caused by an infected cat biting another cat. It can also be transmitted from a mother cat to kittens via its milk.

FIV weakens the cat’s immune system and can make your cat more susceptible to other illness and infections.

FIV is more likely to affect outdoor cats as they have more of a chance of coming into contact with other infected cats.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
This is the term used to describe conditions that can affect the urinary tract and bladder of cats. The exact cause of these is unknown some illnesses believed to contribute to Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease include bacterial infections, bladder stones and urinary tract infections. The most common sign that your cat may be experiencing Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease is a change in their urination habits, including the frequency and even location of where they are urinating.

Wounds and injuries
Wounds and injuries to your cat can be very serious. Common injuries can be fractures, cuts, and wounds, which can be caused by a wide variety of things, including animal attacks and road injuries. If left untreated, both wounds and injuries can have very serious repercussions for the health of your cat.

If your cat has been attacked by another animal and a wound, cut or scratch has occurred, there is a danger of it becoming infected from bacteria. Not all infections are obvious so if your cat has been involved in an accident, it’s important to see your vet.

Cats are inclined to hide signs of illness and pain which can make it difficult to tell that they are unwell, particularly in the early stages of their illness.

There are a number of different signs that your cat is unwell, some are more obvious than others. For example, some obvious signs of illness in your cat include:

• Continued vomiting
• Inability to keep meals down
• Not interested in eating their food
• Changes in toilet behaviour
• Lethargy
• Blood in vomit

However, sometimes, the signs that your cat may be unwell might be more subtle. Some of these subtle signs include:

• Behavioural changes such as they may not be as affectionate or social and may start hiding
• Your cat might not be as graceful as usual
• They may be drinking water excessively
• They may be sitting hunched over or not lifting their heads up as high
• They may be grooming more than usual.

If you notice any of these changes, or any other changes in their behaviour, don’t be afraid to get in touch with your vet. It might be a very early sign of illness and may help prevent your cat from getting very unwell.

The amount you need to visit the vet with your cat is somewhat dependent on its age. In the first year of your pet’s life, you may be required to visit multiple times over a 12-month period. AS your cat gets older and is around 1-7 years of age, you may only need to visit your vet once a year for an annual check-up and any required vaccinations. And as your cat gets older, and is considered a senior cat, you may need to visit twice a year or so. This is because pets age faster than humans and their health can change quite significantly as well.

It is recommended that your cat visits a vet at least once a year to keep on top of its health. As cat’s are very good at hiding their illnesses, these check ups can help the highly trained veterinarian pick up on any signs of sickness.

Cats are notorious for sleeping, in fact, on average, an adult cat may sleep between 16-18 hours every day. Though this might sound like a lot of sleep, a lot of this time is spent cat napping, and your cat will likely respond quickly to stimuli such as someone walking into the room.

It is important to understand your cat’s sleeping patterns so you can notice any changes in their sleeping behaviour and energy levels. If your cat doesn’t respond to stimuli, is sleeping longer than usual, or a lot less than usual, these can be signs that they are unwell.