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It may be surprising that Irritable Bowel Syndrome not only affects humans but also animals, particularly cats. Basically, the IBS that is experienced by people is the same type that cats also feel and cats and humans exhibit the same Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. The following are some of those symptoms:

• Constipation among cats is just like in humans. It can be exhibited by hard, small, pebble-like stools, which make bowel movement very difficult.

• Diarrhea is a more frequent bowel movement wherein the stool is often soft and watery. Cats with irritable bowel syndrome usually experience successive loose bowel movement alternating with constipation.

• Abdominal pain is also common among cats with IBS. The pain can range from mild to severe.

• The presence of mucus in the stool is also a common sign of IBS.

• Another symptom of IBS that may be observed in cats is vomiting and nausea.

• Gas pain or flatulence is also an indication of IBS in cats.

• Bloating

• Intolerance to certain types of foods

• Anorexia which most of you may think is only common to us human but surprisingly is also exhibited by our feline friends.

Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome In Cats

Since Irritable Bowel Syndrome involves many factors, it is very important that you have your cats examined by a veterinarian. This way you will know what’s triggering IBS symptoms in your pet cats. In case you prefer to apply natural methods in controlling your pet’s IBS symptoms still it is better to consult first a veterinarian before applying any type of IBS treatment to your cat to avoid further complications.

A change in your cat’s diet is also a good way to control Irritable Bowel syndrome. However make sure that you consult a veterinarian or a nutritionist to provide your cat with a personalized diet and program.

Feeding your cat with the right type of food is still the best way to control your cat’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Cats like humans prefer different types of foods. There are some cats that like eating raw food while there are some that prefers home cooking or canned food.

In order to find a non irritating diet for your cat, you should try to experiment with foods. If you can keep a food journal in which you can jot down foods that your cat needs to avoid then so much the better. This will help you on the proper food to give your cat and in turn keep Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms in control.

One of the most common and fatal kinds of disease a cat can contract is feline leukemia virus disease, known as FeLV. Just like in humans, cats can develop very deadly medical conditions. Leukemia, a disease of the white blood cells and as with humans can be a very deadly medical condition. A vaccine is available today to protect our cats from feline leukemia virus, so it is important to have your pet up-to-date with medical care at all times.

With FeLV, there are three disease categories. The first are the leukemias, which are similar to what leukemia is like in humans. This is cancer of the white blood cells. However, not all FeLV diseases are cancer. Lymphosarcoma is the second category. Also cancerous, this disease begins in the lymphoid tissue around the lymph nodes. It affects the intestinal tract, kidneys, liver, spine, brain, blood, and bone marrow. The third category is the non-cancerous diseases that fall under the umbrella of FeLV and include immune suppression, anemia, and arthritis. Some of these medical conditions may also be fatal.

Cats are most commonly exposed to FeLV when they get into fights. FeLV is a virus that is spread mainly through saliva, and the wounds a cat receives from bites during a fight provide an entry point into the body. Cats can also get FeLV from sharing food or water bowls, grooming one another, and transmission from mother to kittens. If your cat contracts FeLV, there may be many possible outcomes. Some forms of the disease cannot be treated, however, so prevention is important. Remember, though, that a cat can live with the disease for many years and so your vet can help you choose the best course of action. Cats infected with FeLV are dangerous to other cats, and so they must live in confined single-cat homes, or you can choose euthanasia.

So far, there have been no studies that have found any correlation between this disease in cats and diseases in humans, so your family should be safe. That said, high-risk individuals should avoid contact with a sick animal. This includes newborns, senior citizens, AIDS patients, and chemotherapy patients. Because the virus cannot live for more than a few hours outside of the cat, you are safe in having cats return to your home as soon as two days after the infected cat is gone. Talk to your vet for more details.