Have you ever thought that there are typical summer illnesses that can affect your cat? Felines like all animals are prone to certain diseases regardless of the time of year. Some ailments are, however, related to seasonality.

In particular, in the period from spring to summer, there are certain diseases in cats that are more prone to develop, due to the high temperatures and increased humidity. Let’s find out together what summer cat diseases are, how to recognise them and how to help our four-legged friend!

Summer diseases in cats

Giving care and attention to our furry friends is a responsibility and as such should be honoured and respected all year round. There are, however, some special periods when greater care is required to ensure our cat’s health and well-being at all times. Greater attention will help to detect summer illnesses and diseases in time and to treat them more easily.

Diseases related to sun exposure

Sun-related illnesses are the most common summer illnesses in cats and are often caused by the feline’s enjoyment of basking in the sun even during the hottest hours of the day. 

Exposing a cat to sunlight is good for its organism, but it is very important that there is no excessive exposure to the sun. 

Here are some disorders that can arise from frequent and prolonged exposure of the cat to the sun:

• Burns: it doesn’t only happen to us humans! The cat has several extremely delicate spots such as ears, nose and paw pads which it is very important to protect with special lotions.
• dermatitis: causes hair loss and reddening of the skin
• Skin cancer: high exposure to the sun can also lead to the formation of cancer cells.

Tularemia

Tularemia is one of the summer diseases of the cat, although it is not extremely common. It is an infectious disease related to parts of the body such as the skin, lymph nodes, eyes and lungs. The cause of tularaemia is the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which is transmitted from animal to animal through ticks. 

This summer illness of the cat may manifest itself through symptoms such as fever, enlarged lymph nodes and small ulcers concentrated in the mouth area. In more severe cases, your furry friend may also suffer abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. The remedies prescribed by your vet usually consist of antibiotics and medication. 

Gastrointestinal infections

For our furry friends, the change of temperature also brings about some changes in their eating style. Each season should in fact be accompanied by a specific diet for the feline, according to its needs. If this is not adhered to, certain typically summery illnesses can occur in cats, in particular infections of the digestive system and intestinal organs. 

It is very important not to intervene in your four-legged friend’s diet yourself, but to consult your vet. It is also good that your cat does not binge on food. To overcome this problem and avoid unpleasant inconveniences, you can help with Ferplast’s food dispensers, such as Cometa.

The Cometa vending machine has a timer with programmable opening up to 44h. It is perfect for calibrating the right amount of food for your cat, even when you are not at home. 

Watch out for the symptoms of summer illnesses in cats and help them get through the summer without any problems with Ferplast tips!