Ocicat Cat health: the common diseases of this feline breed
Knowing what the common diseases of Ocicat are is essential to take care of its health in the best possible way: let’s find out together.
Worrying about the well-being of our four-legged friend is the first way to ensure that his life is long and healthy. Here are the common diseases in the Ocicat, how to identify them promptly and what treatments to submit to our faithful furry cat to help him recover strength and energy as soon as possible.
Common Ocicat diseases: the complete list
The specimens of this breed are quite long-lived: the average duration of their life, in fact, is between 12 and 15 years.
These cats tend to be in good health. However, there are some common diseases in Ocicat, which are passed on genetically from one generation to the next. Among the most frequent pathologies are:
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
Progressive retinal atrophy.
In addition to the hereditary diseases that can affect the specimens of this breed, there are also ailments that commonly arise in domestic cats.
These include infections, allergies, skin irritations. To prevent them and avoid their occurrence, it is essential to take good care of the Ocicat.
If you don’t know how, check out our article to find out everything you need to know about it.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is one of the common diseases of Ocicat.
It is a heart disorder that involves thickening of the left ventricle. This, in turn, reduces the volume of the ventricular lumen and impairs normal blood circulation.
Symptoms of this condition do not always occur. Among the signs of the pathology are:
Weakness
Difficulty in breathing
Heart murmur
Cyanosis
Pulmonary edema
Syncope
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
The goal of treatment, therefore, is to relieve the cat’s symptoms and discomfort through targeted therapy.
Prevention is fundamental: it is essential to prevent the reproduction of cats affected by the disease.
If your cat is predisposed to the onset of the disease, it is advisable to periodically undergo diagnostic tests such as electrocardiogram and cardiac ultrasound.
Progressive retinal atrophy
Progressive retinal atrophy is one of the common diseases of Ocicat.
It is an ocular pathology that involves the progressive loss of vision of the animal. It can occur in the cat between 3 months and 2 years of life. Symptoms, however, begin to appear around the age of 4 to 6 in the cat.
Among the main signs of the disease are:
Night blindness
Accumulation of weight
Hypersensitivity to light
Abnormalities in the structure of the retina
Loss of central or peripheral vision
Unfortunately, it is an incurable disease, destined to deprive the cat of sight.
For this reason, it is important to help the cat get used to the new condition, designing for him a safe, stimulating space where he has everything he needs to live peacefully within reach.
