The Most Common Diseases in Young Cats
Your young cat has probably only been living with you for a few weeks - and so it is completely normal to worry when your kitten is unwell, stops eating, or is obviously in pain. It doesn't always have to be something serious when your kitten refuses its food or has diarrhea. We provide you with an overview of the most common problems in kittenhood.
Parasites in Kittens
In addition to [→ear mites](/magazin/katzen/katze-gesundheit/ohrmilben-bei-katzen-symptome-diagnose-und-behandlung), which are noticeable by dark, crusty spots in the ear and lead to severe itching in the ear, your kitten can also become infected with →fleas. These also cause your kitten to scratch, and fleas can transmit various diseases. →Worms are also among the parasites. You can recognize them by white specks in your cat's stool.
Coat problems, vomiting, and weight loss can indicate an infestation with parasites, among other things. Veterinarians usually administer a →prophylactic treatment to protect your kitten from an infestation. Regular deworming prevents a potential infestation from recurring. It is important that you never choose parasite treatments on your own, as this should be done by veterinarians to avoid incorrect dosages.
Kitten entwurmen
Infos zur Wurmkur bei jungen Katzen
Colds and Cat Flu
A cold can also affect your kitten particularly frequently in the first few months. Due to a fluctuating temperature regulation, your furry friend can catch a cold more easily than an adult cat. Make sure that it is always exposed to a consistent temperature and that the rooms are not too cold. However, your young cat usually recovers well from a harmless cold.
Sometimes, however, this can extend, and the symptoms worsen. Due to their susceptibility to infections, unvaccinated kittens can catch →cat flu more quickly. If your cat has fever, [→sneezes and coughs](/magazin/katzen/katze-gesundheit/katze-niest-oft-moegliche-ursachen-behandlungen-und-hausmittel), and is quieter than usual, you should act quickly. The eyes are also affected by this disease: They →tear and sometimes show a yellow discharge. Cat flu is a serious illness and, if left untreated, often leads to blindness and chronic respiratory problems. To prevent your cat from getting sick, you should have it vaccinated against it.
Katze impfen lassen
Ab wann & wie oft Kitten & Katzen impfen?
Digestive Problems and Diarrhea
Your kitten's digestive system stabilizes over time and is easily thrown off balance at first. Young cats often experience →diarrhea when they try new food for the first time and pick something up from the floor that their stomach is not yet familiar with. Thus, stomach and intestinal upsets are not uncommon during kittenhood**, but in most cases, they are harmless.
However, sometimes serious problems are behind the diarrhea, such as a parasite infestation or an infection. If your kitten loses weight and the problems persist for several days, you should take your furry friend to the veterinarian immediately.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Das richtige Futter und einen schonende Umstellung auf dieses ist für junge Katzen sehr wichtig.
Make sure to give your young kitten →special kitten food and to gradually switch to the new food type. To best support the rapid growth of your cat's bones and organs, it is essential to choose a good kitten food. This contains certain nutrients in higher amounts than adult food, for example, the protein content is up to 10% higher than in food for adult animals. Our →Healthy Kitten Food provides optimal support for the development of your little favorite.
At Pets Deli, we recommend feeding junior food until the 12th month. By then, the most important processes of the growth phase are completed, and your pet's body no longer relies on higher dosages of nutrients.
The Best Start to a Four-Legged Life: Discover Our Healthy Junior Food
Your Kitten Won't Eat
If your young →cat is off its food and even its favorite food is left untouched, it may be due to initial stress. The little ones discover something new every day, and sometimes there is no time to eat. However, the cause may also lie in the following points:
- Teething: If your darling refuses dry food or harder snacks, teething may be the reason. During the phase when your kitten is losing its baby teeth and new teeth are growing in, it may have difficulty chewing hard food. During this time, you can offer it food with a softer consistency.
- Too much of a good thing: Some kittens feel they could still manage two more portions, while others are more than satisfied with their daily rations. If your furry friend generally eats but always leaves some food in the bowl, you can slightly reduce the amount of food and instead feed several small portions throughout the day.
- The wrong bowl: If your darling won't eat from the bowl but will eat from the floor or your hand, the type of bowl may play a role. It may be difficult for your furry friend to eat from the existing bowl. Cats generally prefer very shallow dishes, both for food and water. Also, make sure to position the water far away from the food; this is a preference of cats.
- Training: Can you rarely resist the big, round eyes of your kitten, and does it get everything it wants? This can become a problem in many cases, especially regarding feeding. If your kitten has learned that rejected food is replaced with something else, it will remember this and hope for a food change when the bowl is not touched. To prevent your furry friend from becoming picky, first reduce the amount instead of switching to a new food type. When your kitten gets hungry, it will eventually eat the food and realize that the decision about the food lies with you.
