Cat health conditions

Cat tongues have backward-facing barbs to assist with pushing food towards their throats. As they groom, they constantly ingest small amounts of loose hair. When ingested hair develops into a mass within the GI tract it is referred to as a hairball or trichobezoar.

There’s not a whole lot that’s much cuter than tiny little cat faces. It’s why we’re all so obsessed with cat videos. But no matter how cute your cat is, it can be kind of a downer when you pick them up to snuggle their little faces and — BAM — you’re smacked with some seriously bad cat breath. Sure, halitosis could just be something they ate. But halitosis in cats could also be indicative of a larger problem, like a dental disease or infected gums.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) in cats are faults in the structure of the heart that are present at birth.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats is the thickening of the heart muscle resulting in reduced internal volume of the heart chambers. Early signs of HCM are subtle and may include lethargy, breathing difficulties, and fainting.

Heart Sac Inflammation (Pericarditis) in Cats

Heartworm is a serious disease in cats caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis. The parasite lives primarily in the blood vessels that connect the heart and the lungs. Heartworm disease is uncommon in cats, but is increasingly thought to be underdiagnosed.

Feline heatstroke is a rare, potentially fatal condition that occurs when body heat cannot dissipate effectively.

Hemangiosarcoma is cancer of the blood vessel walls. Visceral hemangiosarcoma is when this cancer occurs internally. Hemangiosarcoma is a highly aggressive and metastatic cancer type characterized by fragile, blood-filled lesions in the organs.

Feline hepatozoonosis is an uncommon disease caused by several different parasitic species of Hepatozoon protozoa

A hernia is any abnormal space in the wall of a muscle where other tissue can protrude through. The characteristic symptom is a compressible bulge under the skin.

Hip dysplasia in cats describes abnormal development of the hip joint, resulting in excessive movement of the joint within its socket. Hip dysplasia is a lifelong, degenerative condition, where excessive movement of the joint gradually wears away bone and cartilage in the affected joint.

Hookworms are a type of intestinal parasite that feed on blood in cats. Hookworms pass their eggs in the host fecal matter, contaminating the environment.

A hot spot (pyotraumatic dermatitis) is an infection that develops on the surface of the skin as a result of a cat licking, scratching, or biting the skin. Hot spots are uncommon in cats.

Hyperparathyroidism is a rare endocrine condition in cats that results from excessive levels of parathyroid hormone. Significantly elevated parathyroid hormone levels lead to symptoms like vomiting, excessive thirst, frequent urination, weakness, limping, and seizures.

Hyperthyroidism is the most common hormonal disease in cats over the age of 10. It results when the thyroid gland produces excessive thyroid hormone.

Hypothermia is defined as low body temperature. In cats, this is when body temperature drops below 98°F (36.6°C). Normal body temperature is between 101-102°F (38.3-38.8°C) in cats. Hypothermia can be life-threatening, and prompt medical attention is required to ensure positive outcomes.

Hypothyroidism refers to abnormally low levels of thyroid hormones. The condition is not common in cats,