Siamese cat health: what are the most common diseases
Discovering the Siamese: let’s see what are the most common diseases of this breed and how to protect the health of our four-legged friend.
These beautiful specimens with magnetic eyes tend to enjoy excellent health. However, cats of this breed are more predisposed to the onset of genetic pathologies. Let’s discover the list of common diseases in the Siamese, to understand how to intervene promptly and protect the well-being of our four-legged friend.
Common diseases in the Siamese cat
The Siamese belongs to the breeds of cats that live longer: the average life span of these beautiful felines, in fact, is between 16 and 20 years. In the most exceptional cases, these long-lived animals can reach up to 25 years of age.
Of course, it is essential to subject the cat to periodic visits to the veterinarian to monitor its state of health. In the same way, at the time of adoption it will be appropriate to rely on a serious breeder, who has tested Siamese mom and dad for any hereditary pathologies, which could be transmitted to puppies.
Let’s find out in detail what are the most common diseases in the Siamese.
Strabismus
The Siamese cat tends to suffer from eye diseases or particular conditions, such as strabismus. Despite the fact that the eyes are not correctly aligned and are not turned in the same direction, the cat’s vision is not at all compromised.
A further ocular alteration that the cat may present is nystagmus. This means that an involuntary oscillation of the eyes occurs. They move, quickly and repetitively, from top to bottom or from right to left.
Be careful: this condition may indicate that the cat is suffering from kidney or heart disease.
Hydrocephalus
Among the most common diseases in the Siamese is hydrocephalus. It is a hereditary pathology in the cat, caused by the alteration of the hygiene. It causes an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid is normally present within the brain and has a protective function.
However, an excess of fluid causes increased intracranial pressure and can result in irreparable brain damage. The symptoms of this pathology vary depending on the age of the animal and the compromised brain tissue. Among the most frequent manifestations are:
Behavior alterations
Seizures
Loss of vision
Motor deficits
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats is one of the most common diseases in the Siamese. It is a cardiac pathology of a genetic nature, which involves thickening of the left ventricle. As a result, its containment capacity is reduced and the heart pumps a reduced amount of blood.
This alters normal blood circulation and results in the appearance of a number of symptoms, such as:
Breathing difficulties
Lack of appetite
Weakness and lethargy
Depression
Breast adenocarcinoma
Among the most common diseases in the Siamese is breast cancer. In 85% of cases, it is a malignant and very aggressive form. Breast adenocarcinoma is the most frequent cancer in these animals, after cat skin cancer and hematopoietic cancer.
Females are more affected than males, due to the hormones produced by the ovaries. For this reason, if you do not want your four-legged friend to reproduce, it is advisable to subject him to the sterilization procedure.
Other factors that increase the risk of breast cancer include:
Genetic predisposition
Older age
Obesity
Passive smoking
Administration of drugs
Unfortunately, the prognosis is poor: the cat has a life expectancy of no more than 1 year.
