Most common diseases in cats

Content

• The most common serious illnesses in cats
• Other common health problems in domestic cats
• General prevention of feline diseases

If you have a cat or are thinking of welcoming one into your family, you should be aware of many things that are important for your care. Among the most important things you should know to help your feline properly are the illnesses it may suffer from.

In this new article by PeritoAnimal, we indicate which are the most common diseases in cats. We remind you that the best way to prevent any of these diseases is to visit the veterinarian regularly and have your vaccinations up to date.

The most common serious illnesses in cats

Like any living thing, felines can also suffer from a variety of illnesses, some more serious than others. In the case of cats, the vast majority of these diseases are caused by different types of viruses.. Fortunately, with proper prevention it is possible to avoid many for which vaccines already exist.

Below you will find information about the most common serious illnesses in cats:

• Feline leukemia: It is a viral disease of cats produced by an oncovirus, that is, it is a type of cancer transmitted by contact with bodily fluids. For example, cat fights can cause a wound that bleeds when they clean and lick themselves and come in contact with the saliva of other cats. If they share a litter box, they can also come into contact with urine and feces from other cats. An infected mother can pass the virus through her milk when nursing her offspring, among many other forms of transmission through fluid contact. This disease usually affects puppies and young kittens and is common in large groups such as stray farms and colonies. It is one of the most serious diseases due to the ease of transmission and the extent of the damage it causes, including death. It causes tumors in different organs of the affected cat's body, lymph node inflammation, anorexia, weight loss, anemia and depression. The best way to prevent this disease is to vaccinate and prevent your kitten from coming into contact with other animals that are already sick.

• Feline Panleukopenia: This disease is caused by a parvovirus that is somehow related to the canine parvovirus. It is also known as feline distemper, enteritis or infectious gastroenteritis. Infection occurs through contact with bodily fluids from an infected fact. Common symptoms include fever and later hypothermia, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, weakness, dehydration and anorexia. By performing blood tests, it is possible to see a significant drop in white blood cells and/or white blood cells.This viral disease affects puppies and young kittens more severely. Treatment consists of intravenous hydration and antibiotics, among other things that depend on the progress of the disease and the state of the sick cat. This disease is deadly, so any sick cat must be separated from others that can remain healthy. Prevention consists of vaccinating and avoiding your pet's contact with other cats that are already sick.

• Feline rhinotracheitis: In this case, the virus that causes the disease is a herpesvirus. The virus remains in the airways, causing respiratory tract infections. Between 45 and 50% of respiratory illnesses in cats are caused by this virus. It particularly affects unvaccinated young cats. Symptoms include fever, sneezing, runny nose, conjunctivitis, tearing and even corneal ulcers. It is infected through contact with fluids such as nasal secretions and saliva. This disease can be prevented with proper vaccination. There is no specific treatment for the disease, the symptoms being treated. Healed cats become carriers once they no longer show symptoms but continue to harbor the virus and can infect other individuals. The ideal is prevention through vaccination.

• Calicivirus or Feline Calicivirus: This feline viral disease is caused by a picornavirus. Symptoms include sneezing, fever, a lot of salivation and even ulcers and blisters in the mouth and tongue. It is a widespread disease with high mortality. It makes up between 30 and 40% of cases of respiratory infections in cats. The affected animal that manages to overcome the disease becomes a carrier and can transmit the disease.

• Feline Pneumonitis: This disease produces a microorganism known as Chlamydia psittaci that produces a series of infections known as chlamydia that are characterized by rhinitis and conjunctivitis in cats. These microorganisms are intracellular parasites that become infected through direct contact with bodily fluids and secretions. It is not a deadly disease in itself, but to avoid complications that could result in the cat's death, you should see your veterinarian as soon as possible to begin treatment. Feline pneumonitis, along with feline rhinotracheitis and calicivirus, were the well-known feline respiratory complex. Symptoms of feline pneumonitis include excessive tearing, conjunctivitis, sore and reddened eyelids, abundant eye discharge that may be yellowish or greenish, sneezing, fever, cough, runny nose, and lack of appetite, among others. Treatment should be based on antibiotics in addition to eye washes with special drops, rest, a high-carbohydrate diet and, if necessary, fluid therapy with serum. As with most diseases, the best prevention is to have the vaccination up to date and avoid contact with cats that may have this disease and transmit it.
  

• Feline Immunodeficiency: The virus that causes this disease is the lentivirus. It is known as feline aids or cat aids. Its transmission usually happens in fights and during reproduction, since it is transmitted through the bite of a sick cat to another. It greatly affects unsterilized adult cats. Symptoms that make guardians suspicious of this disease include complete depression of the immune system and secondary opportunistic illnesses. These secondary illnesses are usually the ones that cause the sick cat to die. Experts have not yet found an effective vaccine, but there are some cats that develop resistance to this disease from being in contact with cats that are already sick.

• Infectious peritonitis: In this case, the virus that causes the disease is a coronavirus that affects more young and occasionally older cats. It is transmitted mainly through the feces of infected cats when a healthy cat smells them and the virus enters the airways. It is more common in areas with a lot of cats such as breeding sites, stray colonies and other places where many cats coexist. the most notable symptoms include fever, anorexia, swelling in the abdomen and accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. This is because the virus attacks white blood cells, causing inflammation of the membranes in the chest and abdominal cavities. If it occurs in the pleura, it produces pleuritis, and if it affects the peritoneum, it causes peritonitis. There is vaccination against this disease, but once contracted there is no cure, being deadly. Therefore, it is best to follow the vaccination protocols and prevent your cat from contracting the disease. Only symptomatic supportive treatment may be given to relieve the cat's pain and discomfort. The best prevention is to have the vaccination up to date, avoid situations that weaken the animal and cause stress, and avoid having relationships with sick cats.
  
  
• Anger: This disease caused by a virus is spread all over the world. It is transmitted between different species of mammals, including humans, making it a zoonosis. It is transmitted through saliva inoculated with a bite from one infected animal to another. Fortunately, it has been eradicated or at least controlled in many areas of the world through reliable vaccination and is mandatory in many countries.

Other common health problems in domestic cats

In the previous section, we talked about the most serious major illnesses. However, it is also important to mention other health problems and diseases also common and important things that can affect cats:

• Allergies. As with us, cats also suffer from allergies from very different origins. You can consult this PeritoAnimal article to learn more about cat allergies, their symptoms and treatment.
  

• Conjunctivitis. Cats have delicate eye health, so they get conjunctivitis easily. Learn all about conjunctivitis in cats by entering our article.

• Periodontal disease. This disease that affects your feline's mouth is common, especially in older cats. It can be fatal if not treated in time. You can also see tips for getting tartar out of cats in our article.

• Otitis. Otitis is not just common in dogs, it is one of the most common, easy-to-solve health problems in cats. You can refer to this article to know everything about otitis in cats.

• Obesity and excessive weight. Obesity is a very common problem in domestic cats today. See all about how to prevent obesity in cats in our article.

• Colds. The common cold is common among cats. Even if it is caused by a draft, it is very common in these furry little ones. In this article, you can find home remedies for flu in cats.
  
  
• Poisoning. Poisoning in cats is more frequent than it might seem. It is a very serious problem for your feline's health. Here you can find everything about cat poisoning, symptoms and first aid.

General prevention of feline diseases

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the most important thing to prevent your cat from suffering from any of these diseases is to regularly prevent the agents that can cause them. He must see the veterinarian periodically and whenever you detect any symptoms or abnormalities that are not normal in your cat's behavior.

Respect the vaccination schedule, as it is essential that your cat is vaccinated as the vaccines administered serve precisely to prevent some common and very serious diseases.

It is essential that you maintain a both internal and external deworming. In case of internal deworming, there are products such as tablets, tablets and other chewables with doses of antiparasitic suitable for cats. For external deworming, there are sprays, pipettes or collars. Never use any of these products that are not specifically intended for cats. You may think that giving your cat a lower dose for puppies is fine, but it is quite likely that you will unintentionally intoxicate your cat.

Finally, you should avoid contacting your feline with others whose health status is unknown, especially if its appearance makes you suspect some symptoms of possible problems or illnesses.

Also check out our article about cat with Down syndrome exists?

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.