Cat Health and Diseases

Question 1

Cats will attempt to ___ their illness

Answer 1

hide

Question 2

Signs of illness

Answer 2

• coughing, sneeze, vomit, lumps under skin, nasal discharge

**Nictitating membrane exposed!!!

Question 3

Normal temperature

Answer 3

~101.5ºF

Question 4

Nictitating membrane

Answer 4

• 3rd eyelid
• not often in healthy cats (not 100% always)

Question 5

Chronic

Answer 5

• long illness
• may see more general signs: dull coat, lacked appetite, dull eyes

Question 6

Acute illness

Answer 6

• more severe and fast
• end results are in a few days, often -> die or feel better soon

Question 7

Where would you find nictitating membrane?

Answer 7

on the eye

Question 8

T/F: It is okay to treat major problem yourself; vet is not always necessary

Answer 8

FALSE

Question 9

Disease prevention methods

Answer 9

• biosecurity, sanitation, nutrition, dental hygiene, vaccines, parasite control

Question 10

Methods of disease spread

Answer 10

• people, fomites, vectors

Question 11

fomite

Answer 11

inanimate objects that spread diseases
- clothes, shoes, …

Question 12

vectors

Answer 12

animate things that spread diseases
- insects, animals, …

Question 13

Sanitation

Answer 13

• can be part of biosecurity
• kitty litters, cleaning compounds

Question 14

Feed a complete ration

Answer 14

• AAFCO labeling
• formulated to meet cat’s status

Question 15

Ration must have adequate:

Answer 15

• Vit A
• Nicin
• Taurine

Question 16

Dental care

Answer 16

• dry food
• flossing toys (maybe)
• dental treats
• train to accept toothpaste/brush (easy to start with kittens)
• cat dentists (vet tooth cleaning)

Question 17

Principles of immunization/Vaccination

Answer 17

1. Give antigen
2. Body mounts response to antigen
   - antibody production
   - long-term protection

Question 18

Vaccination: form of ____ immunity

Answer 18

active

Question 19

Vaccination: different from ____ immunization from mother: _________

Answer 19

passive, colostrum

Question 20

Active immunity

Answer 20

• Cat actively makes those antibodies
• lasts longer -> memory

Question 21

Passive immunity

Answer 21

Cat gets the antibodies passed from mother

Short term

Usually from colostrum
- 24 hours
- lasts 1-2 months

Question 22

Parasite control

Answer 22

• Prevention before moving into a new
  apartment – esp. fleas
• Feed your cat cooked food
• Avoid allowing consumption of birds,
  rabbits and rodents
• Treatments/preventatives to control external parasites

Question 23

Cat diseases treated by what?

Answer 23

preventive medicine

Question 24

VIRA Cat diseases: Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

Answer 24

• Biology - a coronavirus & a problem in catteries,
  uncommon in home environment, high mortality (~ 95%)*
• Clinical signs: Enlarged abdomen caused by fluid buildup
  – Fever, weight loss, eye lesions, nasal discharge
• Prevention - vaccine introduced in 1991
  – Place drops in nose (two doses, 3 or 4 weeks apart)
• Treatments - No cure !!!!

Question 25

VIRAL Cat disease: Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

Answer 25

• Biology - a virus shed in saliva, urine and
  feces
  – 25 to 60 % of free roaming cats are infected
  (most common very young and very old)
  – If chronically infected rarely live longer than
  three years.
  – Impaired immune system – die of other
  diseases
• “Treatment” - Control secondary infections
• Prevention
  – Avoid contact with infected animals
  – Vaccinate - 9 weeks, 12 weeks, and annually
• No cure, but cats can live with it for a while

Question 26

VIRAL Cat disease: Feline Panleukopenia (FPL)

Answer 26

Cat distemper, fever, plague

• Biology - A contagious viral disease that
  affects all members of the cat family as well as raccoons, mink and ferrets

– It is an acute disease with either recovery or
death within a week.

Question 27

VIRAL Cat Disease: Feline Herpesvirus & Feline calicivirus

Answer 27

• AKA feline rhinotracheitis virus
• Most AKA feline URI (upper respiratory
  infection)
• Biology
  – Transmitted by cat-to-cat contact, clothing, food and litter boxes
  – Virus shed for a year after recovery
  – Species-specific
• Clinical Signs
  – Fever, sneezing, coughing, hypersalivation, nasal discharge,
  tearing, oral ulceration
  – Treatment - Supportive care antibiotics & fluids
• Prevention/control: vaccination!

Question 28

VIRAL Cat Disease: Rabies

Answer 28

• infects all mammals

Question 29

BACTERIAL Cat Disease: Feline Pneumonitis

Answer 29

• Biology
  – humans can be infected
• Clinical signs - chronic conjunctivitis for 45 days
  – Mild rhinitis
  – sneezing and nasal discharge
• Treatment - antibiotics

Question 30

BACTERIAL Cat Disease: Cat Scratch Fever

Answer 30

• Biology – Bartonella infection
  – Not a problem in cats but is zoonotic

Question 31

FUNGAL Cat Disease

Answer 31

Ringworm

Question 32

Protozoal -> Toxoplasmosis

Answer 32

Protozoal: Single-cell organisms

Toxoplasmosis:
- life cycle/transmission, oocysts
- special precautions

Question 33

Do parasites affect from inside or outside of cat?

Answer 33

affect inside and outside

Question 34

Feline Urinary Syndrom (FUS)

Answer 34

urolithiasis, FLUTD

Question 35

Other diseases

Answer 35

diabetes, allergies, hair balls, posins