Cats are fascinating creatures. They share a history with humans that rivals dogs. Some cultures have history’s that portray cat’s as good warm hearted creatures, while other cultures have folktales that tell tales about cats being the root of all that is evil. On one hand cat’s are warm creatures that look forward to cuddling and loving their humans, on the other hand the same cat can go for weeks without ever looking at its human.

One of the most intriguing things about cats is their cleanliness. Cats practically house train themselves, just show them where the litter box and they are ready to use it, if you keep the litter box clean you cat will reward you by never making a mess in your house, (although some do prefer potted plants to the litter box). Most cats are happy to spend hours cleaning themselves, using their tongues to remove the dust from their bodies and to straighten their hair. Watching a cat bathe itself can be a hypnotic experience for its owners.

If you are new to owning a cat, you may be surprised to find that health problems are a common thing.  No matter what breed of cat you own, health problems are to be expected.  Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented.

Worms

No matter what breed of cat it may be, worms are a very common and recurring problem.  Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are among the most common that infect cats.  Cats who have problems gaining weight, problems with fleas, or if you find white specks in his stool, you should have your vet test him for worms.  Although they can be treated with medicine, worms can prove to be fatal if they are left untreated.

Hairball

Hairballs are the most common health problem for cats.  All cats groom themselves on a daily basis, normally swallowing the loose hair that comes from their coats.  On occasion, this loose hair will gather into a ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cat’s stool.  When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a hairball.  Although it can be rather disgusting in the end, most cats can dislodge hairballs without any problems.