Cat diseases – How to detect them and prevent his suffering (part 2)
This article continues the explanation of some of the most common cat diseases and their symptoms, treatments and preventions. If you have not seen our previous article on this subject, you can see it here: Cat Diseases (I).
Rhinotracheitis
A highly contagious viral disease which is responsible, together with calicivirus, for most respiratory diseases in cats. The main ways of infection are nasal secretions, saliva and urine.
Symptoms
Fever, sneezing, mucosity, watering eyes, conjunctivitis, and ulcers on mouth, tongue and palate.
Cat with conjunctivitis
Treatment:
- Keeping the animal hydrated.
- Cleaning the nostrils with physiological saline in order to prevent clogging.
- If the cat has ulcers in the mouth, provide a special soft textured diet.
Cat with mouth ulcers
Image: School of Veterinary Medicine and Science University of Nottingham, UK.
- Medical treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics to control possible secondary bacterial infections.
- Eye creams and eye drops for eye infections.
- General care and medical treatment are essential for recovery.
Prevention
Vaccinate from week eight and repeat after a year.
Feline Pneumonitis or Feline Chlamydiosis
Disease of the soft tissues surrounding the eyeball and lining the inside of eyelids; caused by a bacterium called chlamydia, transmitted by contact with ocular, nasal or oral secretions from an infected animal. In severe cases it develops significant eye injuries.
Cat with feline pneumonitis
Image: Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue.
Symptoms
Conjunctivitis and mild respiratory problems (sneezing, coughing, runny nose).
Treatment
Pharmacological therapy has a good prognosis in most cases. Eye creams are also used to relieve ocular symptoms. Nevertheless, this disease weakens the immune system, which predisposes the cat for new relapses.
Prevention
The vaccine protects the cat from the disease but not wholly; therefore, disinfecting the places frequently inhabited by the animal with chlorine or ammonia is recommended.
Dermatophytosis
Skin infection caused by fungi; commonly known as “ringworm”.
Causes
Weak immune system, malnutrition, poor hygiene.
Symptoms
- Scratching and licking the affected area.
- Circular injuries with hair loss, redness and peeling skin, particularly on the head, ears and legs.
Cat with dermatophytosis, or “ringworm”.
Sometimes infection affects the nails. It´s a contagious disease for humans, although it has no dangers.
Treatment
Ointments and creams are used so that other parts of the body don´t get affected. Oral treatments are very aggressive and should only be prescribed by a vet specialist.
Prevention
Clean the affected area with products such as povidone-iodine or gentian violet.
Mange
Disease caused by microscopic mites with two main variants for cats:
a) Notoedric Mange
Highly contagious in cats. It occurs mainly in the edge of the ear continuing towards the area of the face and neck.
Symptoms:
- Hair loss, skin thickening, crusts, flaking skin.
Cat with Notoedric Mange
Image / Nuraishah Bazilah binti Affandi.
- Loss of appetite, weakness, persistent movement of the head.
- Eye injuries due to scratching.
Treatment
Pharmacological prescription and application of creams in injuries.
Prevention
Avoid contact with infected animals and whenever a symptom shows up, go to the vet.
b) Otodetic Mange
Consists of mites that live, feed and reproduce within the cat’s ear canals.
Cat with mite in the ear
Image: Uwe Gille.
Symptoms
- Infection and inflammation of the inner ear canals.
- Production of wax in black or dark brown color.
- Itching (hurting himself when he scratches).
Treatment
To attack these mites, ointments or liquids are applied into the animal´s ears. Treatment must be observed all the way to permanently remove mite´s eggs and preventing reproduction.
Prevention
Keep the cat’s ears clean, using specially designed products for the hygiene of the area.
Rabies
A viral and fatal disease transmitted primarily through a bite of an infected animal.
Symptoms
- When reaching the brain, the virus causes an inflammation of the encephalon.
- Early in the disease the cat is hiding in dark places, getting scared to any stimulus.
- As the disease progresses he displays behaviors such as nervousness, convulsions, disorientation or excessive salivation or aggressiveness.
Treatment
Most infected cats die within a few days. There´s no treatment for this disease. Any human handling a sick cat can get rabies, so if that´s your case, you should see your doctor urgently for immediate treatment.
Prevention
Vaccination provides excellent protection: it should be started at 3 months old, followed by annual revaccination.
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Cristina Pichon
Cristina Pichon is a psychologist with a specialization in clinic psychology from Complutense University of Madrid. Since 2012 she has dedicated herself exclusively to researching the animal world, with an emphasis on dogs and cats with mobility problems. Her biggest aspiration in life is creating an animal shelter, and she knows that, eventually, dreams come true.
