Feline Diseases

Two of the most common cat illnesses are the feline upper respiratory disease complex and the feline lower urinary tract disease or the FLUTD. Both of these ailments are a variety of common feline medical conditions collectively afflicting your pet cats. Accordingly, these two conditions are also caused by varied infections. Let's take a closer look into each of them.

The feline upper respiratory disease complex is the condition affecting the mouth, air passages, sinuses, and upper airways in cats; and caused by several viruses, and bacteria namely:

·         Feline rhinotracheitis virus and Calicivirus – about 90% of cases are caused by these two viruses. Viral causes are not treatable by antibiotics but can be reversed spontaneously over time.

·         Chlamydophila felisi and Bordetella bronchiseptica – these are the common bacterial causes of feline upper respiratory diseases. Symptoms caused by viral infection may slightly differ from symptoms caused by bacterial infection. Bacterial infections are treatable by antibiotics.

·         Mycoplasmas – these bacteria can cause asthma and chronic bronchial disease, and they are resistant to most antibiotics.

The feline upper respiratory disease is most likely to arise in cats with a delicate immune system, and in young kittens whose immune systems are not fully-developed. Cats mostly affected with this disease are those that live multi-cat households such as catteries and shelters. Outdoor cats are more prone to this illness than indoor cats; however, the indoor cats may also contract the virus because it is air borne. Suckling kittens may get the virus from their nursing mother through her milk. This feline disease could be very well prevented with vaccination of the unaffected cat and isolating it from infected ones.

Cats affected with this illness shows varied common respiratory difficulties such as nasal discharge and sneezing; fever, salivating and mouth lesions; swelling of the conjunctiva (a mucous membrane that covers the internal part of the eyelid) with mucous discharge; and pneumonia.

Proper diagnosis involves specific laboratory tests; analysis of medical history such vaccinations and exposure to infected animals; and symptoms assessment done by your veterinarian. Laboratory tests include sampling of discharges from the conjunctiva, nasal cavity, and oropharynx.

Treatment of this feline disease includes regular freeing up of the eyes and the nostrils of discharges to clear the air passages and eyes; manage bacterial infection by antibiotics; use veterinary medicines to decongest air passages; have your cat take in food and water in sufficient quantity for proper nutrition; and keep your cat calm and warm; and avoid physical or emotional stresses. Be the usual tender cat owner to your ailing cat.

The feline lower urinary tract disease or FLUTD is an assortment of common conditions that distresses a cat's urethra and urinary bladder which itself is brought about by several causes. Signs of FLUTD are difficulty and pain when urinating (you can hear howling when your cat urinates); blood in urine; increased frequency of urination; frequent licking of genitals; vomiting; and urinating outside the litter box. Most likely to have this malady are the middle-aged indoor cats which are obviously lacking in physical activities, and have perennial dry diet.

Biological factors that contribute to this feline disease include bacterial or viral infections, trauma, crystal formations in the urine, mineral mass in the bladder, uncontrolled mass growths in the urinary tract, and other innate irregularities. Other factors that may contribute to development of FLUTD include lack of water intake; high mineral diet; excessive alkalinity or acidity of the urine which leads to bladder and kidney stone formation.

Diagnosis of FLUTD consists of history and physical examination by the veterinarian; laboratory works such as complete blood count, urinalysis, and perhaps x-rays to look for possible stones, tumors, and other substances that may collect in the bladder and block the urethra.

Treatment of FLUTD is primarily based on nutritional deviation. Diets specifically designed for this illness have been formulated and sold under veterinary prescriptions. Cats are encouraged to increase water intake; and if it is necessary to rehydrate the body or wash down the bladder, fluids are intravenously introduced. Your veterinarian prescribes antibiotics for bacterial infections. If your cat's urethra is obstructed, catheter insertion is necessary to wash down the bladder and remove the blockage. The cat will be admitted for observation until the next day for fluids and antibiotics administration, and to make sure that there is no recurrence of obstruction. If the FLUTD is clinically proven to be due to inborn irregularities or abnormal cell growth, the cat will be subjected to surgery for the removal of the anomaly.