Page 66 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

Infectious diseases

Your cat may catch infectious diseases from the environment or from
other cats. These diseases can be serious, especially in old cats or
kittens, but vaccination can help protect your pet.

Feline panleukopenia FHV and FCV Chlamydophila felis
This disease, caused by feline Feline herpes virus (FHV) and The bacterium Chlamydophila
parvovirus, is also called feline calicivirus (FCV) cause up felis mainly causes conjunctivitis
feline infectious enteritis or feline to 90 percent of upper respiratory (see p.48), with sore, inflamed
distemper. It easily spreads between infections, or “cat flu” (see p.58). inner eyelids, and excess tears.
cats or is picked up from the Infected cats may spread the virus It can also cause mild cat flu. It
environment. The virus attacks by sneezing, coughing, or licking is passed on by direct contact
the white blood cells, weakening objects or other cats. Even when and most often affects kittens
the immune system. It causes they have recovered from the or unvaccinated adults living
gastroenteritis, resulting in fever, flu, cats may still carry the virus in groups. Vets treat the infection
pain when drinking, vomiting or and pass it to others. They are with antibiotics. They may advise
diarrhea, dehydration, and possibly especially likely to share the vaccination for cats living in groups.
death. If kittens are infected just herpes virus when ill or stressed.
before or after birth they may die Vets routinely vaccinate cats ▽ Passing on infection
or suffer cerebellar hypoplasia, a against FHV and FCV. Vaccination Cats kept in large groups or close
contact can pick up infections from
form of brain damage. Vets routinely will not prevent the diseases, but mutual grooming, fighting, or sharing
vaccinate cats against this disease. it can make the signs less severe. objects such as food bowls.

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