Common Cat Diseases & Viruses
Cats are popular pets, with about 37 percent of all American households owning at least one (see "Additional Resources," below), and about 500 million cats as pets worldwide. Just as humans do, cats need good health care. There are some diseases they can contract that are also common to humans, such as diabetes, thyroid disease and leukemia. By keeping current with shots, vaccines and regular medical exams, owners can ensure their cats lead long, healthy lives. With the right care, the average cat lives to be around 14 years old, and some live as long as 26 years.
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Identification
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Although cat diseases and viruses seemingly mean the same, there is a subtle difference. Diseases occur from infecting agents such as viruses and bacteria, referring to the sickness that can be caused by viruses. While a disease is a broad term meaning an abnormality hampering normal body functioning, a virus is a tiny microorganism that attaches to a living host, spreading disease. As living organisms, viruses cause diseases in animals as well as humans. Other potential causes of disease include bacteria and parasites.
Common Feline Viruses and Diseases
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Rabies is a viral disease that's spread by an infected warm-blooded animal. Once inside the cat, the rabies virus spreads through the nerve tissue, affecting the brain. This results in an agitated animal that can also become dangerously aggressive. Sometimes symptoms are depression and withdrawal, typical of cats that roam free. If bats get into a house, indoor cats can also get rabies. Besides being fatal, rabies is a serious health threat. Vaccines can prevent rabies, however, so staying current with their shots can protect cats even if they are bitten.
Also known as feline panleukopenia, feline distemper mostly affects kittens, lowering the immune system by reducing the production of white blood cells. Because of hemorrhaging in the small intestine, cats pass liquid, bloody stools. High fever, refusing to eat, vomiting and depression are other symptoms. Because the animal doesn't drink water, dehydration can also occur. Although the sick cat is distressed from not eating, healing comes when vomiting and diarrhea end.
Rhinotracheitis is a common disease caused by a virus that can result in upper-respiratory problems as well as death. A few symptoms include coughing, sneezing, fever and nasal discharge. Cats with this disease look ill, with crusty eye discharge and continual tearing. The disease can mostly be prevented by vaccines.
Cats can get worms, such as tapeworms, roundworms and ringworms, usually by contracting parasites. For example, cats that are infected with and eat fleas can become infected with tapeworms because of the tapeworm within the flea. Eating raw meat and fish can also infect cats. Roundworms can enter kittens through a mother's milk. Besides a pot-belly appearance, other symptoms include stools and vomit resembling spaghetti noodles. Ringworms come from fungus in the skin, hair follicles and claws. Symptoms include slightly reddish skin along with grayish scales. -
Cat Diseases Similar to Human Illnesses
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Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a virus that drastically reduces a cat's ability to fight all infection. Clinical signs may be seen in cats who are injured or have been lost, as well as those stressed from surgery. Over time, FeLV is usually fatal.
Cats can contract the disease of diabetes, just as humans can. Treating diabetes mellitus can be hard to manage with insulin shots because of the cat's small size. Regulating blood-glucose levels is difficult, as the small insulin amounts need watchful attention in the pet's erratic eating patterns and daily routine.
Too much thyroid hormone in cats can cause hyperthyroidism, leading to various physical as well as mental changes. Hyperthyroidism occurs mostly in older cats. If your older cat has a rapid heart and is hyperactive, it should be checked for the disease. Also, if your cat has a good appetite but loses weight, that's another red flag. The disease can be controlled once diagnosed. Treatment varies.
Prevention Tips
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Make sure all your pets are current on shots and vaccinations.
Until your newly adopted cats receive all their vaccinations and are tested for diseases and viruses, isolate them from other pets.
Ensure all sanitary measures are taken in your home.
Warnings
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Get your cats vaccinated well in advance, because vaccines are useless once an animal has a disease. As with all animals, cats need time to build up an immune system. Therefore, if they're exposed long after they're vaccinated, their defenses are prepared to defeat the intruder.
Cats carrying feline leukemia virus may not show any symptoms.
Misconceptions
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Some owners consider feline distemper to be linked to canine distemper. However, there is no relationship between the two.
Another common misconception is that cats do well on a tuna diet. This is false. In fact, a diet consisting of only tuna can be dangerous because it's nutritionally deficient, leaving a cat at risk for diseases that are caused by poor nutrition. Tuna contains thiaminase, which destroys a vital B vitamin. This can lead to a thiamine shortage, risking pansteatitis, which is a serious disease. High magnesium levels in tuna can cause lower urinary tract diseases as well as other types of disease.
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Resources
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