4 Most Common Health Problems of The British Shorthair Breed

Getting a cat is an opportunity to exercise responsibility, acts of caregiving, and love. All cat owners can agree that felines of all breeds, sizes, shapes, and colors deserve all the care we can give them. One way we can demonstrate this is through making sure they're healthy and happy living with us. Of all the actions we can do for our cats to realize we treasure them, perhaps keeping their health in tip-top shape may be the most important one of all.

However, many factors come into play once our cat crosses the threshold of being a youthful creature to one that is aging quickly. With time comes many different problems, some that can be prevented beforehand with proper exercise, diet, and supplements. Others are, unfortunately, inevitable.

Nevertheless, it is never too late to look into these health problems you and your cat may face, especially if they're a British Shorthair Breed. Here are four diseases your cat is likely to have and must be prevented at all costs.

4 Most Common Health Problems of The British Shorthair Breed

1. Heart Disease

Heart diseases predisposed in not only human genetics but also that of felines. And unfortunately, the breed that has this mutated gene woven tightly into their own is that of blue shorthair cat breeds and other closely related sister breeds under their genus Felis. Heart diseases are considered rare for other cats, and it is relatively unknown as to why this certain feline group is more susceptible to having the disease than most. 

The most common type of heart disease that occurs in this breed is HCM or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This happens when the thyroid glands become overactive, which in turn causes the heart to thicken its walls. Due to this, blood flow is inadequate, leaving the cat lethargic, having difficulty in breathing despite their clear airway, and taking longer napping times than before. 

This is all to compensate for the lack of oxygen-rich blood in their body that causes body malaise. However, these symptoms appear when the HCM is already too severe to do anything about, which is why regular checkups with your veterinarians are so important. 

Unfortunately, most heart diseases are preventable rather than curable. Proper diet, exercise, and keeping your cat at an ideal weight are just some of the things you can do for them. 

2. Fate

Fate or Feline Arterial Thromboembolism is a condition similar to that of our condition, namely Arterial Thromboembolism. However, instead of a human heart with a blood clot stuck in one of its important arteries, it is a cat's heart instead. And as you can imagine, this is a very serious situation. 

When a thrombus (a traveling clot) becomes an embolus (a clot that settles in a smaller artery), the risk they pose to the biological body increases twice over. That clot, depending on which type, can result in many problems. For example, if it blocks an artery that supplies blood to the hind legs, there is a big possibility your cat will lose their mobility. 

Because FATE is usually developed from pre-existing heart problems, the main goal a cat-owner must focus on is to keep their cats as fit as possible. However, other factors play into the development of this disease as well, such as the thickening of the blood (link: https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/feline-arterial-thromboembolism/), which can directly cause the origin of FATE: the creation of these thromboses. Blood thinners can easily remedy this, but you'll have to be very lucky to find out if your cat's blood is turning vicious at once. 

3. Cataracts

One of the most common causes of blindness is canine, felines, and even humans are cataracts. However, many studies have shown a more frequent recurrence of cataracts in the Himalayas, Birmans, and British Shorthairs. Though relatively benign, cataracts can be deadly in other ways, such as being the root cause of many accidents, falls, and injuries. 

Cataracts are caused, other than genetic factors, by inflammation of the eye, trauma, and infection, whether bacterial, viral, or protozoal. Of course, for genetics, there is little to nothing we can do to prevent it. But as for other factors, we can certainly prevent it from happening. 

CBD oil is one alternative organic product with both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Not only can it keep away preventable factors, but it helps your cat develop a stronger immune system in the long run. 

4. Polycystic Kidney Disease

One of the most devastating and unassuming diseases in this list, Polycystic Kidney Disease, appears at birth in many cats, especially for British Shorthairs. This disease manifests itself as cysts growing on the kidneys. As time goes by, these cysts multiply and grow, until after a threshold of 7 years or less, the cat begins to feel the signs and symptoms of kidney failure. 

Before that, your cat can appear just as healthy and active as any other. There are no clinical signs that show a cat suffering from PKU early, which makes it harder to diagnose early on. Worst is, they can easily pass this gene to their offspring, even if they turn out to suffer from the condition or not. 

The condition is genetic. There is no clear way to prevent or, sadly, cure it. There are special treatments such as fluid therapy, medications for nausea and vomiting, and pain management that are done for these cats suffering from PKU. However, they're just common treatments one would have when having kidney failure. As of today, PKU cannot be prevented or cured.