The Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial Pin, by renowned artisan Dorothy Bauer, is a beautiful tribute to pets who have crossed the 'Rainbow Bridge'. This Austrian Swarovski Crystal jewelry piece is constructed and soldered by hand.
Porcelein figurine of girl holding a cat. Made in Lladró Studios. Hand-crafted, approximately 8.25 inches high.
Diseases Cats Can Get- Page 3
Cats can acquire diseases specific to cats,
such as feline leukemia, but also non-contagious diseases or conditions that
humans can develop, such as asthma, diabetes, and kidney disease, to name a
few. Below is information and links to some diseases cats can come down with.
The Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a member of the Retroviridae family, and is somewhat related to the FIV virus, but is different in many ways. People often confuse the two. FeLV is sometimes called the "friendly cat disease" since, unlike FIV, FeLV can be spread by friendly contact. It is very contagious to cats, but humans cannot contract it. There is no cure for FeLV, but there is a vaccine to protect against it. The vaccine does not provide 100% protection, though, but has saved many, many cat lives.
FeLV is the most common cause of cancer in cats. It may cause various blood disorders, and it may lead to a state of immune deficiency that reduces the cat's ability to protect itself against other infections. The most common syndrome leading to death is a progressive anemia as the bone shuts down and loses its ability to produce red blood cells. Many infected cats die within 3 years of virus detection. About 70% of cats that are infected with FeLV develop immunity and are able to fight the virus before developing symptoms.
There are three main types of feline leukemia virus: FeLV-A, FeLV-B, and FeLV-C. FeLV-positive cats can be infected with one, two, or all three types. Type A is present in all cats with FeLV, and causes immune suppression. Type B is present in around half of all cats with FeLV, and causes tumors and other abnormal tissue growth. Type C occurs in about 1% of FeLV-infected cats and causes severe anemia.
The Leukemia virus is shed in high quantities in the saliva, nasal discharges, and in lower concentrations in urine and feces. It is also shed in the milk of an infected lactating cat. Cat-to-cat transfer of the virus can occur from a bite wound, but also during mutual grooming, and rarely through the shared use of litter boxes and feeding bowls. Nose to nose contact can spread it, as can the sneezing of the infected cat. Transmission can also take place from an infected mother cat to her kittens, either before they are born or while they are nursing.
Cats can be tested for FeLV in the vet's office with the results in minutes. All new cats brought into a home with existing cats need to be tested before they are allowed to mingle. Cats with FeLV should not mingle with cats who do not have it, since it can be easily spread.
FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) is similar to the virus that causes AIDS in humans. People cannot get FIV from cats. The effect of the FIV virus is a reduction in the cat’s immune system, making the cat more susceptible to infection and not well able to fight off infections. Therefore, a cat with FIV needs prompt vet attention at any signs of illness. Cats can be tested for FIV in the vet's office, with the results in minutes.
FIV is shed in the saliva of infected cats, and is most often spread by the infected cat biting non-infected cats during fights. On rare occasions, the offspring of an infected mother cat may become infected. The FIV virus cannot survive long outside the body, and is not spread by casual contact (this is opposite of the case with the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) that FIV is often confused with).
Even though the virus is present in the saliva of an infected cat, it must be passed through the skin of another cat, as from a bite, in order it to be spread. So an infected cat sharing food bowls with non-infected cats is not known to spread the disease. You can keep cats with FIV with non-infected cats if they get along very well and don't fight. There could be a concern if a non-infected cat has open sores and the infected cats licks them. So one would want to keep the cat with any open wounds or sores from being groomed by a cat with FIV.
While there is no cure, well cared for cats who receive vet care can live many years with FIV. Cats with FIV should not be allowed to free roam outdoors and should be kept away from sick cats. This will minimize the chance of the cats with FIV contracting illnesses that it's body cannot fight off well, or at all. Disallowing cats with FIV to roam outdoors will also protect other roaming cats from possibly contracting FIV from your cat, should a fight occur.
FIV Vaccine not recommended: There is a vaccine for FIV, but it is not recommended in many areas since it does not cover all the strains of FIV. There are five FIV subtypes: A, B, C, D, and E. The vaccine it is reported to be 82% effective against only 2 of the subtypes, A and D. Subtype D is not known to be present in the United States. Subtype A is reportedly present only in the western United States and Hawaii. Subtype B is the most common in the eastern United States, but is not represented in the vaccine.
The most troubling thing about the vaccine is that a cat inoculated with FIV vaccine will test positive to the tests used to detect FIV infection in a cat. When a cat is tested for FIV, it cannot accurately be known if the cat is truly infected, or has been vaccinated, or is both infected and vaccinated.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a serious, nearly always fatal viral disease caused by a coronavirus. A common, relatively benign form of feline intestinal coronavirus called FECV (feline enteric coronavirus) sometimes mutates into a disease-causing form, called FIPV (feline infectious peritonitis virus). If a cat’s immune system responds poorly, the mutant FECV may cause the systemic infection called FIP. The organs of the cat's body get infiltrated with inflammatory tissue, called “pyogranulomas.” The inflammation then leads to failure of the organs that were infiltrated. Symptoms will vary depending upon which organs were affected. In brief, what happens is that the cat's immune system over reacted to the virus.
Recent research has shown that mutant FECVs arise within an individual cat, possibly due to a hereditary predispostion. While cats don't "catch" FIP from other cats, they can acquire the FECV virus from the other cat or the environment shared with the infected cat. Then, some cats' bodies will mutate the harmless FECV virus into FIP, as happened to the first infected cat. The benign FECV is spread primarily by the fecal-oral route and, to a lesser degree, through saliva or respiratory droplets. The virus can remain in the environment and in dried feces on cat litter for 3 to 7 weeks, so scrupulous cleaning of litter boxes is important to reduce the amount of virus in the environment. Litter boxes should scooped at least daily and dumped and disinfected at least weekly. Tracked litter should be vacuumed or swept up promptly. Litter boxes should be kept away from food and water bowls.
There are two forms of FIP, the dry form and the wet form. The “wet” form of FIP, includes the accumulation of thick, yellow fluid in the chest or belly, causing distention of the belly. In the “dry” form, the cat often has vague clinical signs, such as a fever, lethary, not eating, losing weight, and a dull coat. Many cats with dry FIP become jaundiced. The inner eyelids may look yellow. If the cat has a pale nose, you may notice that that looks yellow. Many cats with dry FIP get signs in their eyes. Usually the iris (the coloured part of the eye around the pupil) changes color; parts of it may appear brown. Both forms are felt to have 100% mortality.
None of the current tests for FIP accurately differentiate the FIP mutant from the normal enteric coronavirus. The only certain diagnoses are made at the time of a necropsy exam (autopsy).
When testing is done and all other causes of the symptoms are ruled out, one might conclude that the cat likely has FIP. If tests indicate FIP and your cat has the fluid characteristic of the wet version, the diagnosis can be straightforward.
Once the FIP virus gains access to the cat's body it takes about 2 weeks for the virus to become widespread. After that, the length of time for clinical symptoms to appear varies, but rarely exceeds 2 months. Most cats with FIP will die within 2 to 11 months from the damage caused by the virus and secondary problems such as kidney or liver failure. There is no treatment that has been proven to work on a consistent basis for FIP. Aggressive treatment of the secondary problems and suppression of the immune system with corticosteroids or other medications may prolong the lifespan of infected cats.
There is a vaccine sold for FIP, but it is controversial. It has been found to be safe and approximately 50-75% effective. The vaccine is a modified-live temperature-sensitive viral mutant administered nasally.
The FIP virus itself lasts in the environment for up to 6 or 7 weeks. It is easily killed with disinfectants, so careful cleaning of a home may help prevent the spread of the disease in a household with more than one cat. If an only cat died from FIP, one should wait 6 or 7 weeks before bringing a new cat into the home.
Veterinarians are seeing an increase of health problems in cats, dogs, and horses — chronic diseases, immunological illnesses, cancer, and more. Conditions thought to affect only one breed are showing up in others. This illustrated book explores the causes and treatments.
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Includes flow charts of 200 of the most common feline symptoms
