Owning a Persian cat is a gift that keeps on giving. They are affectionate and loving. They will fill your life with laughter and joy. However, as a cat breeder, you must make sure your Persian cat is healthy and fit.
That begins with care and a healthy diet. Additionally, There are certain Persian cat health problems they are predisposed to that you should be aware of.
In this article, we will discuss the six most common Persian cat health issues so that you can be vigilant for the signs and be well prepared to respond when you notice them.
So what are the health problems that may affect the Persian cat?
Brachycephalic syndrome
Brachycephalic is a disease that affects dogs and cats (Burmese, Exotic Shorthair…) that have a flattened nose and face.
The crushing of the skull in The Persian cat and the narrow form of the trachea can cause dangerous consequences such as breathing difficulty, snoring, and sensitivity towards heat and exercising.
They may also suffer from digestive disorders like vomiting and regurgitation.
The clinical symptoms can be avoided by preventive measures, however, when the cat is really suffering, then a medical surgery is necessary. It consists of reducing the palate veil and opening the nostrils.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums. This disease leads to tartar, virus infection, and broken teeth. However, when gums are hypersensitive, they can cause dental caries.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to remove the affected teeth so as not to harm the others.
The causes of the teeth”s hypersensitivity are not known but there are many steps you should take into account to guarantee the dental health of your cat.
Focus on maintaining good oral hygiene habits for your cat. You need also to feed him using a well-balanced diet and healthy food.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a syndrome in which the muscular walls of the cat’s heart become thick.
Thus, the heart’s efficiency decreased. Its symptoms include coughs or murmurs. It can also cause heart failure, arrhythmias, and blood clots.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Progressive retinal atrophy describes the fact that a group of genetic disorders that result in atrophy and degeneration (loss) of the retina( part of the eye responsible for transmitting light to the brain, then decodes it and interprets it in the form of images).
This wasting may cause a gradual decline in the quality of sight and sometimes lead to blindness.
Cats breeders may notice this illness when vision becomes somewhat impaired which means the cat starts to disorient towards objects.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is a disease in which the hip joint fails to develop ordinarily(malformation in growth), which leads to gradual deterioration and loss of the function of hip joints.
The hip joint contains the ball and the socket. Dysplasia happens when there is an abnormal development of a part of the hip joint, which causes the displacement of the ball and the socket.
The growth of hip dysplasia is based on an interaction of genetic and environmental factors, however, a part of this disorder is attributed to inheritance.
The cats that suffer from hip Dysplasia inherit the genes from both parents, even if they do not show any visible predisposition to this illness.
Polycystosis of the liver
Polycystosis of the liver is a hereditary disease in which cats develop a lot of cysts in the liver. At an early age, the affected cat shows no symptoms.
However, the gradual development of the cysts leads to the destruction of the kidneys which may cause death to your feline.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment that can cure the cysts. But, there are many measures you can undertake to alleviate the pain and to improve the cat’s life.
This will happen if you follow an adapted and healthy diet, providing fresh water and administering of various molecules(chelator, enzyme inhibitor)
Diseases and daily care of the Persian cat
The Persian cat is liable to many diseases but the polycystic kidney is the most common one. Before adopting a Persian cat, you need to ask the breeder about his health issues, and if his parents suffer from any hereditary illnesses.
Apart from this disease, the Persian cat is like other cats. He may get affected by casual illnesses like coat dermatitis, eye irritation, cystitis, and so on. Accordingly, regular checkup of your cat by the veterinarian is the only solution to prevent diseases.
Once you have decided to adopt a Persian cat, you need to be careful about his specificities. This cat requires high-quality food and daily care.
The Persian cat has a thick hair, which requires regular brushing, otherwise, it becomes very tangled that gives the cat a bad looking.
