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The Top Three Fatal Feline Diseases
PetCareLibrary, PetsVetsandYou, Inc.
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BENGAL CAT HEALTH CORNER
HDW Enterprises, Inc., & Foothill Felines Bengals
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Brief Descriptions Of The Most Common Feline Diseases
Stuart D. Johnson, Polly’s Palace
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Common Cat Diseases and Health Problems
(4-H 851-W)
4-H Companion Animal Health, Dr. Duane Rice,
Dr. Diana Longfellow, Janet Berish, RVT, & Norman D. Long,
courtesy Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service
(Adobe PDF file)
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Feline CRF Information Center
Carol A. DiFiori and David A. DiFiori
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Feline Leukemia (FeLV) Virus & Feline Lymphosarcoma
DWM Tech Web Design
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Feline Services (Feline Diseases & Procedures)
Moore Veterinary Hospital
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FUS (Feline Urologic Syndrome)
Bengal Cat & Kitten HEALTH CORNER,
HDW Enterprises, Inc., & Foothill Felines Bengals & Savannahs
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Hyperthyroidism in cats
The Feline Advisory Bureau Information Sheets,
Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB)
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Hyperthyroidism in Cats
PetEducation.com,
Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department,
Foster & Smith, Inc.
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Lyme Disease - General Information and FAQ
Lloyd E. Miller, DVM
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Mad Cow Disease and Cats
Cornell Feline Health Center,
College of Veterinary Medicine,
Cornell University
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Pets With Diabetes
Pets With Diabetes
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INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND DISEASE-SPREADING PARASITES (Southwestern U.S.)
Robert A. Gruda, DVM, Seasonal Concerns, PETroglyphs
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Pets are our companions and our friends. They give a great deal to
us and ask little in return — just the love of a caring master
who will shelter and protect them, as we do our children. It can be
doubly tragic when a pet such as a cat falls ill, not only because
they are in distress, but because they cannot verbally communicate to
us what is wrong or where it hurts.
Cat owners can prevent or mitigate the effects of feline diseases
and cat health problems by insuring that their cats are provided with
proper living conditions, nutrition and exercise. Learning how to
interpret your cat’s behaviors may alert you to a problem, since
behavior changes such as increased timidity or anxiety, lethargy,
uncharacteristic aggressiveness, excessive licking or chewing of body
parts such as legs, torso and tail, or loss of appetite often occur when
a cat becomes ill. Note, however, that such behaviors by themselves do
not necessarily signal the presence of cat illness or disease.
Talking to other cat owners, especially those having cats of the same breed as
your own (though cat owners tend as a whole to show less breed preference
than do dog owners), is a good way to learn about your cat’s health
and potential health problems and risks as well as what to expect if your
feline does get sick. A comprehensive reference book for your
breed of cat or for cats in general is a handy item to have around the
house. Knowing your cat and how it behaves is by far the best
way to determine whether your cat is feeling frisky or is under
the weather.
If you are unsure whether your cat has a health problem, seek the advice of
your veterinarian. If you know your cat is suffering illness,
a visit to the vet should be scheduled as soon as possible, since some
feline diseases and medical conditions can become life threatening very
quickly.
The best way to combat cat diseases is to be proactive, making sure your
cat is properly vaccinated and gets his or her required booster shots.
Feline vaccination is now available for most but not all common cat
diseases, some of which are potentially fatal. An unvaccinated indoor cat
may be at risk, even if it does not come into direct contact with an
infected cat, from secondary contact and because some feline diseases are
airborne. Also, indoor cats often temporarily escape; a brief
encounter while outdoors, or walking through an area where an infected
animal has been, may be all that is necessary to infect your precious
family member. Get those shots!
Most canine diseases are not transmissible to cats. Most feline diseases are
not transmissible to dogs. Most animal diseases are not transmissible to
humans. Most does not mean all; some very serious
diseases (which are also very rare in domesticated animals) are
transmissible. Always use common sense and proper hygiene. Parasitic
diseases and fungal infections are most easily transmitted between species.
Always take proper precautions, such as washing your hands after cleaning
the litter pan, to avoid infection. Remember, too, that some human
diseases can be acquired by felines; trans-species infection can
work in both directions.
Authored by Kenneth L. Anderson.
Original article published 27 December 2003, updated 16 February
2006.
Follow links to the right to learn more about cat diseases, feline diseases and cat health problems. Ten Spider Pets
is dedicated to providing information and resources that can help you
protect your cat’s well-being and health to maximize his or her
longevity and quality of life. Check out other topics in our
Pet Care & Pet Health section to
learn more about how to care for cats and other pets and animals. If you
desire to become a cat owner, investigate
Pet
Adoption & Rescue. If you already own a cat, you may be
especially interested in
Pet
Health Care Products and
Pet
Products & Supplies.
At the left margin, Related Links address topics of interest
pertaining to pets and companion animals. View the
Pet Care & Pet Health SiteMap
for a complete list of pet care and pet health topics.
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