Cats are susceptible animals and prone to many diseases that may deter them from getting the best quality of life.
Most common cat diseases are better controlled if caught early, while prevention is an essential measure for management. Proper care, regular vet check-ins, and preventive measures can prevent or protect the cat from respiratory infections or chronic kidney diseases.
Below are the five most common cat diseases by vet tech professionals and some tips on how to prevent them.
Upper Respiratory Tract (URI)
Upper respiratory infections are one of the common cat diseases present in cats and can be caused by several viruses. Some of the major ones are:
- Herpesvirus
- Calicivirus
In shelter cats, most cases are characterized by being epidemic and infectious.
Signs:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
Fever and loss of appetite may be mild symptoms in severe cases.
Prevention
Routine vaccination with the FVRCP vaccine remains the best preventive measure. Training clients on quarantine procedures for new or infected cats could help minimize outbreaks.
Regular wellness exams help detect those silent carriers subclinically, which may benefit from supportive treatments to reduce the viral load and symptoms.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease affects older than seven years of age, and it is a very common cat disease.
This means it only gradually decreases the kidneys’ efficiency in removing waste from the bloodstream.
Symptoms:
- Thirst
- Urination
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Advanced cases can show lethargy and poor coat.
The question is, how common is kidney disease in cats? It is becoming a top cause of death in older cats. Regular blood tests can catch it early.
Prevention
Prevention is hard; early intervention can help check the disease’s development. Regular geriatric blood panels from 7-8 years old are essential. Diet management, primarily through renal diets, would also reduce the impact on kidney function.
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
This is a disease that falls within a group of disorders affecting the bladder, which in some instances may involve the urethra. There are many causes of feline lower urinary tract disease, such as:
- Diet
- Obesity
- Stress
Clinical Signs:
The cat strains to:
- Urinate
- Bloody discharge in urine
- Frequent trips to the litter box
- Vocalizes pains when attempting to urinate
Prevention
Environmental enrichment and stress reduction are essential, especially in multicat households.
Feeding a moisture-rich diet and encouraging hydration through water fountains should be considered. Monitoring urinalysis during routine exams is an excellent method for detecting any crystal formation or infection early.
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is one of the increasingly emerging relevant common diseases that must be treated in cats. Overweight cats happen to fall victim to the disease.
This disease occurs when the body contains little or no insulin or fails to use the insulin properly.
Symptoms:
- Polydipsia
- Polyuria
- Cachexia
- Polyphagia
Prevention
Clients should encourage their cats to have an ideal body weight through controlled feeding practices. This is an excellent preventative measure for diabetes prevention.
Still, glucose levels will be monitored regularly during wellness visits, especially in high-risk populations such as obese or older cats.
Feline Leukemia Virus
A viral disease through which the cat’s immune system will be weakened.
This is contagious in affected cats or from contact with saliva, urine, or physical contact with infected animals.
Symptoms:
- Fever
- Weight loss
- White coloured
- Swollen gums
- And recurrent infection
Prevention
Vaccination should be provided to cats that are at risk for exposure; these include outdoor cats and multi-cat households.
Serologic testing for FeLV should be included in the routine initial examination of any new feline patient, especially in shelters or before introducing a new cat to a home.
How Veterinarians Can Play a Role in Prevention and Control of These Diseases
These are the common cat diseases that veterinarians should diagnose early to prevent them from advancing.
It is, therefore, possible to greatly minimize the occurrence of those conditions through periodic checkups, client education, and prevention.
Attending veterinary conferences helps enhance the management of these diseases in felines due to updated knowledge.
Realizing these enhancements will undoubtedly make better care for cats beneficial for pet owners. Once a cat develops a long-term condition such as:
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Other long-term illnesses
That involves:
- Constant medication
- Diet changes
- Frequent check-ups to make the cat as healthy as possible
Long Story Short
Knowing these diseases affect cats enables veterinarians to administer preventive measures that reduce the occurrence or impact of such diseases.
In collaboration with our clients and by employing current research as well as best practices, we can help our feline patients live longer and better.
Visit Vet and Tech to explore more about common cat diseases. Plus, join free online webinars led by the top veterinary speakers.
FAQs
What is the most contagious disease in cats?
Like HIV/AIDS in humans, the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are retroviruses. Outdoor cats are more at risk. Although infected cats typically do not exhibit signs for years, they will ultimately acquire viral infections or cancer.
What are the most common diseases of cats?
Lymphosarcoma, or lymphoma (LSA), is the most common form of cancer in cats. Some reports indicate that 30% of all reported feline cancers are because of LSA.
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