Health of the Abyssinian cat: the list of the most common diseases
What are the most common diseases in the Abyssinian cat? Let’s find out the list of pathologies that most frequently affect this breed.
The cats of this beautiful breed are the result of crossing specimens of different origins: Burmese, Siamese and Russian Blue. These felines are strong, healthy and enjoy good health and excellent life expectancy. However, there are common diseases that tend to affect the Abyssinian cat. What is it? Let’s find out and understand how to identify them in a timely manner.
The most common diseases in the Abyssinian cat
The most common diseases to which the Abyssinian cat is predisposed are hereditary. These pathologies include:
Progressive retinal atrophy
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency
Hyperthyroidism
Chronic renal failure
Let’s see in detail what these pathologies entail, through which symptoms they manifest themselves and how to treat them.
Progressive retinal atrophy
Progressive retinal atrophy in cats is a common disease in Abyssinian. This pathology affects the cells of the cat’s retina, which are responsible for night and day vision.
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for progressive retinal atrophy: it is a degenerative disease that leads the animal to blindness around 4 years of age. Timely detection of this pathology, in any case, can help us improve the living conditions of the animal.
Its initial symptoms are:
Night blindness
Change in eye color
Visual disturbances
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency
Pyruvate Kinase is an enzyme that should be synthesized from red blood cells. A deficiency of this substance occurs when red blood cells fail to synthesize it, due to the reduced duration of their life. Symptoms of this pathology are:
Weakness
Anemia in cats
Pale gums
Slimming
One possible treatment is to have blood transfusions. Unfortunately, this is a non-resolving therapy. The only possible cure would be to subject the Abyssinian cat to a bone marrow transplant.
In addition to being a very expensive intervention, however, it is also a decidedly delicate and invasive operation, which could put the animal’s life at risk.
Hyperthyroidism
Chronic renal failure is one of the most frequent hereditary diseases in the Abyssinian cat. Although it can arise at any age, it is more frequent in older cats. What are its manifestations?
Halitosis
Cat vomiting
Diarrhoea
Weakness
Increased blood pressure
Increased thirst and increased frequency in urination
