If you are the proud guardian of a cat or if you are considering welcoming one into your family, you need to find out about the care you need to give it. Among the most important things to know to take care of our cat are the diseases it may suffer from.
In this new article from Catsmeaw – Cat disease: 8 common diseases of cats, we inform you of the most common diseases of cats. We remind you that the best way to prevent these diseases is to follow a regular schedule of veterinary visits and vaccinations for your cat.
Table of Contents
What are the most common cat diseases?
The most common serious illnesses in cats are:
- Cat leukemia
- Feline panleukopenia
- Feline rhinotracheitis
- Feline calicivirus or calicivirus
- Feline pneumonia
- Feline immunodeficiency
- infectious peritonitis
- Rage
Cat disease: the most common serious diseases in cats
Like all living beings, cats can also suffer from various illnesses, some more serious than others. It turns out that in the case of cats, the vast majority of these diseases are caused by different viruses. Fortunately, with adequate prevention, cat disease can be avoided, since for some of them there is already a vaccine.
Related: Best Natural Remedies for Cat Allergies
Below, we tell you which are the most common serious diseases suffered by felines:
Leukemia in cats: this is a disease in cats caused by an oncovirus, that is to say a type of cancer, which is transmitted by contact with bodily fluids. For example, during fights between cats, wounds occur and, as a rule, they bleed. On the other hand, when cats lick and groom themselves, they come into contact with the saliva of other cats; if they share a sandbox with other cats, they may come into contact with those cats’ urine and feces; a mother nursing her kittens, and if infected, can transmit the virus through breast milk, among other possible modes of transmission through fluid contact.
This disease generally affects young and small kittens more. It is common in cat farms and feral cat colonies. It is one of the most serious diseases due to its ease of transmission and the extent of the damage it causes, which can even cause death. Tumors form in different organs of the affected feline’s body and show, among other symptoms, enlarged lymph nodes, anorexia, weight loss, anemia and symptoms of depression. The best way to prevent this viral disease is by vaccinating your cat and preventing it from coming into contact with any individuals who are already sick.
Feline panleukopenia: This cat disease is caused by a parvovirus, which is somewhat related to the canine parvovirus. It is also known as distemper, enteritis or infectious gastroenteritis in felines. Transmission occurs through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected cat.
The most common symptoms of this cat disease are fever followed by hypothermia, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, weakness, dehydration and anorexia. During blood tests, it is common to find a significant drop in leukocytes and/or white blood cells.
This viral disease affects kittens and young cats more severely. Treatment consists mainly of intravenous hydration and antibiotics, among other necessary treatments depending on the advanced stage of the disease and the condition of the sick cat.
This cat disease is fatal and that is why we must quickly separate sick cats from others that may still be healthy. Prevention consists of vaccinating and avoiding contact with other cats that may already be sick.
Infectious peritonitis: in this case, the virus that causes this disease in cats is a coronavirus that affects the youngest and sometimes the oldest specimens. It is transmitted mainly through the feces of infected cats and when a healthy cat sniffs it, the virus enters through the respiratory tract.
This cat disease is most common in areas with large numbers of cats, such as shelters, feral cat colonies, and other places where large numbers of cats live together. The most notable symptoms are fever, anorexia, abdominal enlargement, and fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
Indeed, the virus attacks white blood cells, causing inflammation of the membranes of the chest and abdominal cavities. If the disease settles in the pleura, it produces pleuritis and if it affects the peritoneum, it produces peritonitis. There is a vaccine for this cat disease, but once contracted there is no cure and it is fatal.
It is therefore preferable to follow the vaccination protocols and thus prevent our cat from contracting it. Only palliative treatment can be given to relieve the pain and discomfort the cat is suffering from. The best prevention is to be up to date on the cat’s vaccines, to avoid situations that weaken our cat and cause it stress and to avoid contact with infected cats.
Rabies: this cat disease, caused by a virus, is widespread throughout the world and is transmitted between different species of mammals, including humans, making it a zoonosis. It is transmitted by saliva inoculated by the bite of an infected animal to another. Fortunately, it is eradicated or at least controlled in many parts of the world because reliable vaccination is available and compulsory in several countries.
Old cat disease
Youth is not eternal, neither for us nor for our faithful companions. Cats are considered senior when they reach 10 to 12 years of age. The aging of the cat affects its daily activities. The older cat sleeps more than a young cat, his environment is calmer and he has less appetite. Over time, his vision and hearing also deteriorate, the risk of getting sick increases, and he may suffer from illnesses related to his advanced age.
The most common senior cat diseases and conditions
Hyperthyroidism: this disease, common especially in cats over the age of 7, manages to go unnoticed in most cases, manifesting itself only when the health of the cat is seriously compromised. It consists of an alteration of the body due to the overproduction of thyroid hormones. Detected in time, there is a high probability of control and improvement, but if not, the complications that accompany this excessive secretion of the hormone are fatal for the cat.
Renal failure: renal failure (RI) is a slow but progressive deterioration of the kidneys, which no longer manage to maintain the balance between water and minerals or to eliminate the chemical components introduced into the body, as well as the substances derived from protein mechanism like urea or creatinine.
Vomiting: Several diseases and conditions can cause vomiting in cats, such as food allergies, gastroenteritis or poisoning. However, with age, a cat’s appetite decreases and it may suffer from weight loss and vomiting. It can also be a symptom of kidney, liver, pancreatic, or thyroid disease.
Diarrhea: Diarrhea in cats can be caused by various disorders such as intolerance to dairy products or certain foods, food poisoning, ingestion of hairballs or bacterial or viral infection, among others.
Diabetes: Age is one of the factors that makes your cat more likely to develop diabetes. This disease requires some care and regular monitoring to allow the animal to lead a normal life. Symptoms of diabetes can include excessive thirst, voracious appetite, weight loss, difficulty jumping and walking, among others.
Tumours: Just like in humans, cancer can be a deadly disease for cats. This pathology, in addition to being more frequent in cats over the age of 10, is one of the most delicate that exist. For this reason, your pet deserves maximum attention for as long as possible, as early detection of any disease will increase the chances of being able to cure it.
Related: Bloody Diarrhea in Cats: What Does it Mean?
Cat disease: Feline leukosis
Feline leukosis is a disease caused by the feline leukemia virus, and is sometimes confused with cat AIDS. Although there are similarities between these two diseases, they are indeed two different diseases. There is a vaccine for feline leukemia but not for AIDS in cats, and contrary to popular belief, neither of these diseases can be transmitted to humans.
Cats contract this virus through the saliva, urine or blood of cats infected with leucosis. Transmission through the placenta from an infected pregnant cat to her kittens is also possible, among other modes of transmission.
As with AIDS in cats, feline leukosis leads to immunodeficiency: the body’s defense system becomes faulty and unable to defend the animal against the different types of secondary diseases that affect it.
Other Common Health Problems in Domestic Cats
We’ve talked about the main serious cat diseases, but we also want to cover other common health problems that cats can suffer from:
Allergies. Like us, cats also suffer from allergies of various origins. You can read this article from Catsmeaw to learn more about allergy in cats, its symptoms and its treatment.
Conjunctivitis. Cats have delicate eye health, which is why they easily catch conjunctivitis. For this, we recommend that you read our article on conjunctivitis in cats, its causes and symptoms.
periodontal disease. This cat disease that manifests in the mouth is common, especially in older cats, and if not treated in time, it can be fatal. You can also consult our tips for taking care of your cat’s teeth.
Otitis. Ear infection is not only very common in dogs, it is also one of the most common health problems in cats, and one of the easiest to solve. You can read this article to learn all about how to take care of your cat’s ears.
Obesity and overweight. Obesity is a very common problem in domestic cats today. Read all about how to prevent obesity in cats.
Common cold. The cat cold is also very common in these animals. In this article, you can check out home remedies for cat colds.
Poisoning. Cat poisoning is more common than you might think and is a very serious health problem for our feline. You can read in our article all about poisoning in cats, its symptoms and first aid.
Cat disease: general prevention
As we commented at the beginning of this article, Cat Disease: 8 Common Cat Diseases, the most important thing to prevent your cat from suffering from one of these diseases is regular prevention against the agents that can provoke them. For this, you must visit the veterinarian regularly as well as each time you detect a symptom or a reaction that does not correspond to the normal behavior of your cat.
It is also necessary to respect the schedule of vaccines, because they relate precisely to certain common and/or very serious diseases.
Deworming your cat, both internally and externally, is vital. For internal parasites, there are products such as pills, tablets, and other chews that contain the appropriate dose of antiparasitic medication for cats. For external disinfection, there are anti-parasite sprays, drops or collars. You should never use any product that is not specifically made for cats, because even if you administer a lesser dose, you can still inadvertently poison your cat.
Finally, you must avoid contact between your feline and other cats whose state of health you do not know, especially if their appearance makes you suspect certain symptoms linked to an illness.
You have come to the end of our article – Cat disease: 8 common diseases of cats! We hope we have helped you to get to know your feline better and to take care of it in the best possible way.
