The cat is exposed to various types of diseases that can be caused by a virus, bacteria or parasites, but for some of them, their source is still not well known until today. Here are ten common diseases that cats frequently encounter, their characteristics and symptoms that should cause concern.
To protect the health of their little friend, it is very important to consult a veterinarian, because as we shall see, many cat diseases are highly contagious and some are fatal.
1 - Feline cold
This highly contagious disease caused by a virus is not related to human flu although it is usually called the feline cold. It should be treated as soon as possible because it takes a long time to treat. However, a cat with a cold will continue to carry the virus for the rest of its life. For this reason, recurrence cannot be ruled out.
The main symptoms of a feline cold include fever, sneezing, running eyes, worsening infection in the respiratory tract, mouth sores, and even lung complications. If the symptoms are similar to a major cold at first, the cat's condition can deteriorate very quickly.
Every cat should absolutely be vaccinated against feline cold.
2- Feline viral rhinitis and throat (RVF)
This is a serious and sometimes fatal disease for weaker kittens and adults, but it also causes miscarriage in female cats. It is transmitted to the cat by the feline herpesvirus 1 virus, or FeHV-1, which is responsible for the common feline cold. The infection is transmitted through saliva and lacrimal secretions.
Cats who sneeze, cough, or have conjunctivitis can easily pass the infection on to others. The main symptoms of RVF include runny nose, fever, loss of appetite, cough, conjunctivitis, severe rhinitis, and dehydration. In case of any doubt, a veterinarian should be consulted. Vaccination of the cat provides protection for its immune system and thus reduces the risk of infection with this type of virus.
3 - Feline viral leukemia
Viral leukemia is a viral disease caused by the feline leukemia virus. It is a disease so serious that its incubation period can last up to two years. Even a cat that doesn't show any symptoms has the infection for the rest of its life.
Leukemia is transmitted through sexual contacts, saliva, blood and during lactation. No treatment can cure a cat infected with viral leukemia, which is, unfortunately, a fatal disease.
4- Feline leukemia virus, or FeLV
This post-genetic virus infection is one of the most serious diseases that cats face, as it can be the cause of cancer, immune impairment, and at least various secondary diseases. Its diagnosis and treatment are complex.
The main symptoms of FeLV include a general weakness of the cat's condition, runny nose and eyes, an increase in lymph nodes, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nutritional deficiencies, fever, anemia, and even neurological disorders.
There is no treatment yet that can eradicate the feline leukemia virus, which is fatal to 9 out of 10 cats within the four years after the first symptoms.
5 - cat fever
Also known as feline panleukopenia, cat fever is a contagious viral disease that most commonly affects community or feral cats today. It is caused by the parvovirus, which is a highly contagious infection. Symptoms of cat fever appear after an incubation period of 2 to 5 days.
Related: Dangerous foods for cats: what are they?
It varies according to the form of the disease (chronic, acute or - more seriously - supra-acute): loss of appetite, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea. The ultra-sharp form can be fatal to a young or fragile animal in just a few hours.
The best way to prevent cat fever is vaccination, which is proven to be 100% effective.
6 - Feline pancreatitis
The source of this dangerous disease is still unknown, but we know that it can be caused by treatment or transmitted to the cat by various viruses and bacteria. It affects males and females, both young and old cats.
There're two kind of pancreatitis, chronic and acute. The latter is easier to diagnose than the chronic form because the associated symptoms come on suddenly and are very violent. Abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, and even jaundice. You must act quickly.
7 - feline acne
This skin disease is common in cats. It is characterized by inflammation of the sebaceous glands at the level of the chin and lower lip.
Black dots and crusts can be seen and, in severe cases, local infection causing swelling, blisters and fistulas. Feline acne can be well treated but the risk of recurrence should not be ignored. As a precaution, it is recommended to prefer ceramic pots over plastic, which are not always well tolerated by kittens.
8 - Chlamydia feline
This feline disease is caused by the bacterium Chlamydophila felis and is transmitted through eye and nasal secretions. It mainly affects young cats that live in groups. It is a complication of the common cold and can sometimes be transmitted to people with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms of chlamydia include conjunctivitis, runny eyes and nose, sneezing, very swollen eyelids, and frequent bouts of coughing. The cat may be at risk of a breathing problem and serious lung complications.
Prevention of feline chlamydia consists in vaccination.
9. Feline AIDS Syndrome (FIV)
It is one of the most dangerous infectious viral diseases for cats. The virus responsible for it is rotovirus, which is similar to the AIDS virus in humans, however, feline FIV is not transmissible to humans. The incubation period can last for several years as the animal transmits the infection to its peers despite the absence of symptoms, but the repercussions of the disease eventually appear.
Examples include enlarged lymph nodes, weight loss, and high fever. Then the cat vomits, suffers from diarrhea, and due to its weak immune system, suffers from many diseases of the mouth, nose, eyes, and skin. The cat's death is inevitable.
10 - Borrelia felis
Transmitted by a tick, Borrelia, also known as Lyme disease, is much less common in cats than in dogs. However, they still pose a danger. It settles sequentially and symptoms appear 60 to 90 days after the tick bite. Requires antibiotic therapy. The cat becomes tired, has a fever and loss of appetite.
Related: When to Take Your Cat to The Vet
Sometimes, he suffers from joint stiffness , and at an advanced stage, such inflammation can lead to paralysis. In the absence of treatment and in the most serious cases, the cat's heart or kidney can be affected and the result is the cat's life is threatened.
Prevention is carried out by checking the cat's fur after each outdoor walk. It is necessary to remove the tick as quickly as possible using special forceps for this.