Cats and Illness

Sadly there are a number of illnesses that can affect cats. Many of us are aware of cat flu, cat colds and other medical conditions that are similar to those from which we suffer such as Diabetes. However few of us have heard of such things as Feline Leukemia Virus Disease which is both common and fatal. It is therefore vitally important that if we choose to keep cats as pets that we fully understand how to care for our pet and that we are willing to take our cat to visit a vet at the earliest opportunity if we suspect that something is wrong.

Feline Leukemia Virus Disease is also known as FeLV. Leukemia and it is possible to protect cats from this disease with a vaccine. If you have a cat which is likely to mix with others it is extremely important to make sure that your pet is fully vaccinated as the most common cause of FeLV is the transmission of the virus during fighting. If your cat becomes infected with FeLV you have two options, you can choose euthanasia or you can choose to treat the poor soul however if you choose the later it is vitally important that you do not allow any other cats access to the infected cat as it will be contagious. There is no evidence that the illness can be transferred to humans so it should be fine to keep an infected cat as a family pet.

Another illness which is common in cats it the flu. Unfortunately it is common in young cats and kittens and also older cats and as such these animals are less able to withstand the infection (upper respiratory) and the recovery time is far greater than a healthier cat's. A cat with the flu can be a pitiful sight, like humans they will cough and sneeze, their appetite will be suppressed, they may have a temperature and it is likely that there will be a discharge from the nose and. possibly, some swelling around the eyes and nose. If one of your cats displays such symptoms visit your vet as soon as possible as he will be able to determine if any medical treatment is required to ensure that there is no lasting effect upon your cat's health.

If you have a number of cats and one seems to be suffering from cat flu it is advisable that all other cats receive a vaccination against the flu and that you isolate the poorly animal from the others to reduce the risks of cross infection. Treat your home as you would a hospital, ensure that every time you come into contact with the cat suffering from the flu that you thoroughly wash your hands before handling another, uninfected, cat. You should also consider also changing your clothing to make sure that any risks are kept to an absolute minimum.

There are a few simple things you can do to help a cat which is poorly. Firstly you should ensure that your pet is in a peaceful environment in which you can gently care for it without causing alarm. Try to encourage the creature to eat something, if it is unable to do so don't panic just try to ensure that it drinks a little. If the condition of your cat deteriorates contact your vet as it is not uncommon for cats suffering from illness to become dehydrated. If this happens it may become necessary for your pet to be cared for by the vet in his surgery where he can closely monitor your pet while ensuring re-hydration occurs sufficiently for it to return home.

Remember all cats and kittens can become ill but if they are cared for properly and fed well they should be healthy strong creatures able to withstand minor illness without the need for the involvement of a vet (and the expense associated with it). Also you should always ensure that your pet's vaccinations are kept up to date.

Andrew Kelly has been a cat lover for many, many years and together with his wife they have gained much experience in the behavior of cats including the resettlement of homeless cats and kittens.