Archive for the Cat Diseases Category

Feline Infectious Anaemia (FIA) is caused by Haemobartonella felis, a tiny, microscopic bacterial parasite which attacks the cat’s red blood cells within the circulation. Damaged cells may die or be destroyed at an increased rate by the spleen, leading to anaemia. Although FIA is caused by an infectious agent, it is not necessarily a problem in other cats

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a common disease in cats caused by Feline Coronavirus. The infection normally causes a mild intestinal disease, which may either be asymptomatic or cause temporary diarrhoea. In general, cats don’t usually catch the mutated form of the virus directly. FECV is the form that is transmitted between animals, usually through the saliva or

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is the virus that causes feline AIDS, a disease similar to human AIDS, where the immune system is attacked and gradually weakened. The virus is found in high levels in the cat’s saliva, and transmitted predominantly by bites, when an infected cat spreads the disease by biting an uninfected cat. Transmission can also occur

Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) attacks the immune system of the cat, making them more susceptible to other infections, and to developing cancer. Because the virus attacks the immune system, cats may become sick or even die from other diseases they have been vaccinated against, such as Feline Respiratory Disease (cat flu) and Feline Enteritis. FeLV is relatively fragile

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is a disease that results in inflammation of the bladder — cystitis — and/or the urethra (urethritis). The condition may result in partial or complete obstruction of the urinary tract. The condition is usually due to the presence of small crystals in the urine. Urinary obstructions are life threatening and require immediate

FAD, or flea bite hypersensitivity, is a reaction to the bite of a flea. When a flea bites and dog or cat (or human) it injects a small amount of saliva into the skin. Normally this produces little more than a mild itching. Some cats and dogs can develop an allergy to this saliva, and, in these animals,

The heart is a unique organ, different from any other in the cat’s body. It consists of 4 chambers, all of which contain blood and are responsible for sending blood that is low in oxygen to the lungs to receive more oxygen, then sending this oxygen-rich blood throughout the body to all the tissues in need. A series

Hyperthyroidism is a relatively common disease seen in cats over 8 years old. In most  cases, it is brought on by a non-malignant growth of the thyroid gland, which causes an increased production of thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism is a progressive disease which, if untreated, will continue to worsen until the cat dies. Clinical signs: Cats with hyperthyroidism can

In recent years we have seen what can only be described as an explosion in the number of obese cats and dogs coming into the hospital. Like diabetes, a serious illness in which obesity can be a major causative factor, this increase in the number of ‘fat pets’ we see is mirroring trends in the human population. And

Ringworm (dermatophytosis) is not actually a worm, it’s a fungal infection that can affect the hair, skin or nails of both cats and dogs, and humans. The most contagious skin infection in cats, it can easily be transmitted from cats and dogs to other animals, and also to, and from, people. Several different fungi can cause ringworm but