Disease & Parasite ID:

Cat

Diseases

Feline panleukopenia (Feline Distemper)• Description:

▫ Infectious disease caused by a parvovirus or DNA virus. This primarily affects young cats younger than sixteen weeks of age and has a 75% death rate.

• How is it contracted?:▫ It is spread by direct contact

but also from infected food and water dishes, bedding, and litter boxes.

• Symptoms:▫ depression, loss of appetite,

high fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration.

• Prevention:▫ FVRCP vaccine▫ Clean environment

Feline herpesvirus (FHV)• Description:

▫ An infectious respiratory virus infection caused by a DNA virus. Shed in the discharges from the nose, eyes and throat. Cats can become carriers.

• How is it contracted?▫ Direct contact with virus

• Symptoms:▫ depression, sneezing and

coughing, severe eye and nasal discharges with an increase in temperature, and mouth ulcers

• Prevention:▫ Vaccine

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)• Description:

▫ An infectious disease caused by coronavirus that leads to organ failure. Coronavirus infections are more common in domestic cats, but few actually show signs of the disease.

• How is it contracted?▫ Cat-to-cat contact and exposure to feces. ▫ Most common transmission of feline

coronavirus occurs when infected female cats pass along the virus to their kittens

• Symptoms:▫ fever, refusal to eat, depression and

weight loss• Prevention:

▫ Litter boxes should be kept clean and located away from food and water dishes

▫ Prevent overcrowding▫ Keep cats current on vaccinations▫ Providing proper nutrition▫ FIP vaccine is not very effective and not

recommended

FIP infected kidney

Feline enteric coronavirus• Description:

▫ Infectious disease caused by ingestion of contaminated feces in kittens between four and twelve weeks of age.

• How is it contracted?▫ Spread by the ingestion of

contaminated feces• Symptoms:

▫ low grade fever, vomiting, soft or watery diarrhea, blood in the feces and dehydration.

• Prevention:▫ Prevent overcrowding▫ Daily litter box cleaning▫ Weekly litter box disinfection▫ Clipping/cleaning fur from the

hind end of long haired cats

Feline Urologic Syndrome (FUS)/Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)

• Description:▫ A non-infectious urinary tract

disease. FUS may range from mild inflammation to blockage of the urethra, uremic poisoning, and death. VERY common in male cats.

▫ Also known as “being blocked”.• What causes it?

▫ 3 possible causes: 1 - Improper diet (where cats are

fed high levels of magnesium and phosphorous)

2 - low water intake that causes concentrations of various salts in the urine

3 - Possibly a virus.• Symptoms:

▫ Urinating outside of litter box▫ Difficulty urinating▫ Painful urination (cat meows/cries)

• Prevention:▫ Control stress in cat’s life▫ Increase water consumption▫ Use of urinary diet foods

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)• Description:

▫ A retrovirus that affects the white blood cells, leading to immune deficiency

• How is it contracted?▫ Infected mother to kitten

though milk▫ Contac w/infected saliva and

nasal secretions, but also in urine, feces, and milk from infected cats

• Symptoms:▫ Loss of appetite▫ Weight loss▫ Poor coat condition▫ Enlarged lymph nodes

• Prevention:▫ Keep cat indoors▫ FeLV Vaccination

Feline Viral Respiratory Disease (Upper Respiratory Infections - URIs)

• Description:▫ Highly contagious viral infection

that affects the respiratory systems of cats

• How is it contracted?▫ Direct contact with infected

discharge from the eyes, nose, mouth of cat; by contaminated litter boxes, water bowls, and human hands; and rarely, by airborne droplets.

• Symptoms:▫ Begins with severe bouts

of sneezing▫ Then, conjunctivitis and watery

discharge from the eyes and nose▫ Fever, apathy, and loss of appetite▫ Cat will breathe with their mouths

open• Prevention:

▫ FVRCP Vaccination

Feline Gingivitis • Description:

▫ Considered the earliest stage of periodontal disease

▫ Inflammation of the gingiva (gums)

• What causes it?▫ Plaque accumulation due to

lack of dental care, old age, crowded teeth, soft food, diabetes etc.

• Symptoms:▫ Red or swollen gums,

especially on the side of the gum facing the inner cheeks

▫ Halitosis/bad breath▫ Variable amounts of plaque and

calculus on the tooth surface• Prevention:

▫ Proper dental care & diet

Wet eye• Description:

▫ Excessive tear production or blockage of drainage canals that drain tears to the nasal cavity; causing the tears to overflow at the inner corner of the eyes

• How is it contracted?▫ Genetics▫ Nasolacrimal occlusion (the result of

scarring from eyelid injuries from cat fights)

▫ Chronic infection in the duct system and plugging of the ducts by thick secretions, dirt, or grass seeds

• Symptoms:▫ Watery or mucus-like discharge to

overflow the eyelids and run down the sides of the face, staining the hair

• Prevention:▫ Keep cat indoors/away from other

cats that can fight

Parasites

Toxoplasmosis• Description:

▫ Zoonotic disease produced by infection of Toxoplasma gondii protozoan

• How is it contracted?:▫ Spread through contaminated

litter or cat feces• Symptoms:

▫ Particular concern for pregnant women, as it can cause miscarriage, premature delivery and blindness

• Prevention:▫ Wear rubber gloves to clean

litter boxes, thoroughly wash hands afterwards

Ascarids/Roundworms• Description:

▫ Zoonotic, internal parasites that affects dogs and cats intestinal system

• How is it contracted?▫ Ingesting infected feces▫ Milk from infected queen

(female cat)• Symptoms/Complications:

▫ Fever, headache, cough, poor appetite

▫ Pot-bellied appearance or “unthrifty” look

• Prevention:▫ Deworm pets▫ Good sanitation

Hookworm• Description:

▫ Small, thin intestinal worms that attach to an anima’s small intestines

• How is it contracted?▫ Migration through the placenta

in utero▫ Ingesting infected mother’s milk▫ Ingesting larvae in the soil▫ Direct penetration of the skin

through pads of feet▫ Ingesting an intermediate host

• Symptoms/Complications:▫ Severe blood loss▫ Malnutrition▫ Bloody wine-dark or tar-dark

diarrhea• Prevention:

▫ Deworm pets▫ Good sanitation

Tapeworm• Description:

▫ Internal worm that lives in the small intestine and can range from several inches to several feet

• How is it contracted?▫ Ingesting fleas or infected feces,

animals or meat• Symptoms/Complications:

▫ May cause AHD (Alveolar Hydatid Disease) – can be fatal or produce parasitic tumors/cysts in the liver

▫ White segments of worm moving on anus/rectal area of animal or on their feces

▫ Anal itching• Prevention:

▫ Flea prevention▫ Avoid feeding uncooked meat,

raw game or dead animals

Ticks – Hard & Soft

• Description:▫ external parasites that feed

on the blood of host animals • How is it contracted?

▫ Dog picks up ticks in tall brush and grass

• Symptoms/Complications:▫ Blood loss▫ Anemia▫ Tick paralysis▫ Skin irritation and infection

• Prevention:▫ Tick preventative▫ Lyme vaccine▫ Avoid woody areas during

tick season

Fleas• Description

▫ Brown, blood-sucking insects of small size that move rapidly over the skin. Typically found on back of neck in cats.

• How is it contracted?▫ Pick them up in the

environment▫ Direct contact w/infected

animal• Symptoms:

▫ Irritation and extreme itching▫ “Flea Dust” or black/brown

specks in the fur (flea feces)▫ Tapeworms

• Prevention:▫ powders, dips, shampoos,

collars, oral insecticides, foggers and sprays

Lice• Description

▫ Wingless insects▫ 2 types: Chewing and

Sucking that may bite or suck blood from the host.

• How is it contracted?▫ Pick up from environment

or direct contact with infected animal

• Symptoms:▫ severe hair loss ▫ scratching and rubbing

• Prevention:▫ Dips, dusts, or spray▫ Clean environment

Demodectic Mite• Description:

▫ Small biting insect that only causes problems when overpopulated/accumulated

• How is it contracted?▫ Naturally on skin, but can

become overpopulated due to unclean environment/lack of grooming

• Symptoms:▫ Hair loss▫ Reddening of the skin▫ Crusty spots on the

skin/entire body of animal Known as “Demodecic

Mange”• Prevention:

▫ Proper grooming & bathing

Sarcoptic Mite• Description:

▫ Mites that burrow within the outer layer of skin, are highly contagious, and result in mange or scabies which cause the animal intense irritation

• How is it contracted?▫ Direct contact with mite

• Symptoms:▫ Intense irritation and itching▫ Dog scratches & injures

itself by chewing & rubbing the skin

• Prevention:▫ Flea preventative

(fipronil/moxidectin/selamectin)

Ear Mite• Description:

▫ Highly contagious mite found in the outer ear canal and other areas of dogs, cats, and rabbits.

• How is it contracted?▫ Direct contact with mite

• Symptoms:▫ Animal shakes their head

and scratches at ears▫ Reddish-brown “dirt” or

wax build-up in ears• Prevention:

▫ Proper ear cleaning▫ Flea preventative w/ear

mite protection/preventative

Cheyletiella• Description:

▫ Contagious, non-burrowing mite that lives on the skin and feeds on the keratin layer of the epidermis

▫ Also known as “hairclasping mite”

• How is it contracted?▫ Direct contact with mite or

vector of mite (fleas, lice, flies)• Symptoms:

▫ “Walking dandruff”▫ Severe scaling on the back may

occur, but itching is not as severe as with other mite infestations

• Prevention:▫ Topical moxidectin, selamectin,

or fipronil (flea preventative) on a monthly basis.

Chiggers• Description:

▫ Orange-red larvae stages of Trombicula mites; remain on the skin for a short time and usually do not require treatment other than something to stop the itching.

• How is it contracted?▫ Picked up from

underbrush• Symptoms:

▫ Itchy, red rash on belly, face, feet and legs

• Prevention:▫ Avoid woody areas and

underbrush