Defining Colitis in Cats Colitis is the medical term for inflammation of the colon, which is also referred to as the large intestine or large bowel. The colon is the lower part of the digestive tract. It includes and extends from the cecum to the rectum. The cecum is the first part of the colon…
Defining CRF in Cats Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a progressive disease caused by long-term insult to the kidneys. This over time, damages their ability to concentrate urine and remove waste products from circulation. The word “renal” means anything pertaining to the kidneys. Chronic renal failure is one of the most common causes of death…
Defining Cherry Eye in Cats “Cherry eye” is the common name for a condition in cats where the gland of the third eyelid pops out of place and can be seen protruding from the inner corner of one or both of a cat’s eyes. Unlike people, who have two eyelids, cats have three. Their third…
Introduction Cats do not develop the same type of cavities that people get. Cats do get holes in their teeth, but they are generally the same color as the tooth and are the result of tooth resorption rather than decay. Most commonly seen at or below the gumline, these “cat cavities” or “neck lesions” are…
Defining Cataracts in Cats A cataract is defined as any opacity of the lens that impairs the eye’s ability to absorb and transmit light to the retina. This therefore interferes with a cat’s vision. Any spot on the lens of a cat’s eye that blocks light technically is a cataract, regardless of its size. Cats…
Defining Cancer in Cats Cancer in cats, medically referred to as “neoplasia,” is defined as a malignant cellular tumor. A tumor, which is an overgrowth of abnormal cells and/or the transformation of good cells into bad cells, can be either benign or malignant. Benign (which is good and means that they are usually harmless), or…