If it seems as if a lot of your feline patients have similar diseases, guess what? Your observations may be correct, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Helsinki and Folkhälsan Research Centre in Finland studied the health of Finnish cats and concluded that the typical health issues in cats concern the mouth, skin, and kidneys. Additionally, the researchers identified nearly 60 illnesses specific to particular breeds.

The study was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science on Aug. 29.

To gather data, the researchers developed a comprehensive health survey that included the cats' living environments, diets, and behaviors. The surveys were distributed over social media and the data was collected in a little over six months.

The survey data charted the prevalence of 227 illnesses in 29 breeds, including mixed-breed house cats, among a population of more than 8,000 cats. The study identified the most common diseases and disease classifications for specific breeds and breed combinations.

Photo Credit: © iStock/Dragoncello