In addition cats can be vaccinated against Rabies if they are going to countries where this is required.
Finally cats can contract a disease similar to human HIV/AIDS, although there is no vaccine there are things you can do to protect your pet.
Cat Flu
This common condition is caused by two very infectious viruses, feline calicivirus and feline herpes virus.
Both viruses cause potentially serious disease, this is much more dangerous in very young and older cats.
Both viruses are effectively prevented by vaccination.
Feline enteritis
This is caused by the feline panleukopaenia virus.
It infects the white blood cells and intestinal cells. As a result the immune system is affected and profound diarrhoea is seen.
If the disease reaches the brain, affected cats may never regain balance or correct posture.
Cats with this disease usually require immediate intensive Veterinary care including intravenous fluid therapy or they will die.
The vaccine is similar to canine parvovirus and is very effective.
Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV)
FeLV is a retrovirus (similar to the human HIV virus). It is a particularly nasty disease which causes anaemia, tumours and immune suppression. Although a proportion of cats recover from the initial infection many succumb to FeLV related diseases. Once the cat shows signs of these disease survival times are usually very short.
In some cats this virus can "hide away" for many years becoming active at a later time.
Although treatment is possible using similar drugs to those used in HIV patients, it is rarely performed in this country. Vaccination is very effective.
The disease is spread by fighting, infected cats shedding the virus in their saliva. Feral or wild tom cats are a common source of infection.
Things you can do to prevent this heart breaking disease include regular vaccination and neutering to reduce wandering and fighting.
Feline Immunodeficiency virus - FIV
FIV is a retrovirus like FeLV and HIV. Like HIV, it often lies dormant for many years eventually destroying the immune system to cause an AIDS like syndrome. Ultimately infected cats die of a commonly recoverable disease such as the flu virus.
FIV is spread in the same manner as FeLV i.e. by fighting. The most important preventative measure you can take is neutering. Un-neutered cats, especially males, can wander for miles. This increases the risk of meeting an FIV positive cat markedly. In addition neutered cats are less likely to fight than entire cats.
In high risk areas (your vet can often advise where these are) keeping your pet in at night can reduce the risk of exposure.
There is no vaccine, but we can test the blood for the presence of FIV. Cats can lead a long life if kept indoors after diagnosis. |
