COMMON FELINE DISEASES
PANLEUKOPENIA: Also known as Feline Distemper, this widespread disease is often fatal. The virus is readily spread from cat to cat via bodily secretions and remains viable for long periods of time in an infected environment. Clinical signs include fever, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.
FELINE RHINOTRACHEITIS: This disease is the most severe and widespread upper respiratory disease in cats. In young, old or immune compromised cats this virus can result in death. Cats that do recover often become lifelong carriers of this Herpes virus exhibiting periodic episodes of clinical signs. Clinical signs may include fever, appetite loss, sneezing, tearing, purulent discharge from eyes and nose and open mouth breathing in the more severe cases. Rhino, as it is often called, can be spread via air borne dissemination and it is very contagious.
FELINE CALICIVIRUS: This virus also affects feline upper respiratory system. It accounts for about 40% of infectious respiratory disease in cats. The severity of clinical signs vary from mild to severe. The infected cat usually exhibits a fever and ulcers on the tongue that can be very painful and debilitating. Cats infected with this virus often become lifelong carriers with episodic recurrence of clinical signs.
CHLAMYDIOSIS: This disease, once known as Feline Pneumonitis, causes a relatively mild but persistent upper respiratory infection. It primarily affects the mucous membranes of the eyes resulting in inflamed tearing eyes but can also result in sneezing and nasal discharge.
FELINE LEUKEMIA: Currently researchers consider Feline Leukemia to be the #1 infectious disease causing death in cats. This virus attacks the immune system leaving the cat vulnerable to a host of secondary infections and cancer. The virus itself is thought to cause certain forms of cancer. Although infected cats can live a full lifetime most die within three years of clinical infection. Cats often show no clinical signs in the early stages of this disease, however, it can be readily detected with a screening blood test. This virus is transmitted cat to cat via blood and other body fluids. It is not viable for long periods of time in the environment. Thus, cats that live in unscreened multi-cat households or are allowed to roam free are at high risk for this disease.
FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS: Exposure to this virus may or may not lead to infection, however, once clinical signs appear it is almost always fatal. It is a form of immune mediated disease whereby the cat's immune system, in an attempt to fight against the virus, actually speeds the nature of the disease. FIP can manifest as an acute Wet Form or as a more prolonged Dry Form. In the Wet Form, the abdomen swells with fluid as a result of widespread circulatory injury. Fluid can also collect in the chest cavity causing respiratory difficulty. Besides a swollen abdomen and/or respiratory distress, signs may include ocular and/or nasal discharge, decreased appetite, weight loss and depression. In the Dry Form the most common symptoms are are central nervous system abnormalities, including incoordination, partial or complete paralysis of the hind limbs, personality changes and ocular changes. These animals are often listless, fevered, anaemic and down in weight. There is no definitive test for FIP other than organ biopsy. The FIP virus is shed in the saliva, urine and feces of infected cats. The natural route of infection is is through the mouth or nose. The virus is unstable outside the host cat. Thus, cats living in multi-cat households, catteries and those which have contact with large feral cat populations are of highest risk for this disease.
FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS: (FIV) causes an infectious disease in domestic cats and cheetahs similar to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV infection) in humans. It attacks and weakens the body's immune system, making the animal susceptible to infections and diseases that don't usually affect healthy cats. There is no cure for FIV. FIV is a lentivirus, a virus that causes slowly developing disease. Though eventually fatal, an FIV-positive cat can live for many years without any signs of illness.
