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Cat:  Most frequent diseases.   Vet Dr. Tiger gives information and advice.

There are a great many diseases cats can get. Only the very       important ones will be described hereafter and possibilities       for vaccination cited.       Anyone who recognizes that his cat behaves abnormally,       rejects feed or even shows clear signs of an organic disease,       should urgently go to see the vet. The quicklier a diagnosis is       made and a specific therapy initiated, the quicklier the       recovery of the animal can take place. Kittens from the age of       8 weeks up should be inoculated against infectious feline       enteritis and snuffles, the basic immunization taking place       two times over. Afterwards yearly reinoculations are necessary. Most cat diseases are not dangerous for he human being, particularly those diseases which are categorized as serious and incurable. Caution must, however, be exercised with regard to transmissible parasites like mites, fleas, ascarids and tapeworms. A summary of the most frequently occuring cat diseases follows on the next table.

Disease	Causes	Symptoms	Visit veterinarian?
Infectious feline enteritis	Virus, highly contagious	Highly disturbed general health, vomiting, watery to bloody diarrhoea	Go to see the vet at all events
Snuffles	Virus, highly contagious	Sneezing, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, often feed refusal, may become chronic	Go to see the vet at all events
Feline leukosis (FeLV)	Virus, contagious, is regarded as incurable	Fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, changes in the eyes, possibly liver and kidney failure	Go to see the vet at all events; disease is regarded as incurable
Feline immunodeficiency disease (FIV)	Virus infection, contagious	Diverse symptoms, impairment of the immune system, neoplasia	Go to see the vet at all events; disease is regarded as incurable
Feline infectious peritonitis	Virus, contagious	Febrile attacks, lack of appetite, dullness. Two forms possible. Wet form: Inflammation of the belly or pleuritis (big belly!); dry form: Organic changes	Go to see the vet, incurable
Ear mites	Mites	Shaking of the ears and the head, possibly head tilting, scratching in the ear, typical brown-black material in the ear	Go to see the vet
Cat mange	Mites	Severe itching, hair loss, formation of scales and scabs starting on ears/head	Go to see the vet
Worm infestation	Esp. ascarids and tapeworms	Emaciation, diarrhoea, bloated belly, shaggy pelage	Regular dehelminthization
Diarrhoea, constipation	Diverse, e.g. infections, intestine parasites, hepatic disease	Withdraw feed in case of diarrhoea, conversion to chicken meat/rice in several small portions, youghourt natural taste, low-fat quark. In case of constipation linssed or mild swelling material	Go to see the vet, if no recovery is in sight
Flea infestation	Fleas	Itching and inflammations and infections (fleas as tapeworm carriers)	Go to see the vet, if severe
Injuries	Esp. as a consequence of rival fights and car accidents	Bleeding and scabbed sores, fractures	Go to see the vet, if the general health is bad

Self-Medication

Nursing assistance can in many cases be done by oneself, without veterinary aid: First of all taking the temperature. Introduce the fever thermometer in the anus of the cat and hold it tight for at least one minute. Before doing that, put some glycerin on it. The normal temperature lies between 38 and 39°. Then control the weight on the scales. After having done that, force-feeding has to be made and administering of medecine by means of a syringe. Or pills, e.g. when deworming. In the case of diarrhoea or constipation, the feed should be changed at once. Fleas can be controlled by oneself (cat collars, powder, pills). Sores have, on instructions of a vet, to be washed out carefully with an antispetic solution (e.g. Betadine) The delousing, which takes a lot of time, as well as the careful removing of ocular discharge and earwax (no cotton buds!) can, with some practice, also be executed without any problems at home. As time goes on, one will feel instinctively when it is time to go to see the vet and when a visit at the vet's is not necessary. You can feel the pulse on the flesh side of the hind leg (160-240 beats/min) or count the breathing rate.

Emergency situations

If a cat had an accident, it is absolutely necessary to bring him to the veterinary practice at once, even if nothing special can be discovered on the face of it. Transport must be undertaken with the utmost care, if the cat suffers from fractures. Conciousless cats must be brought to the veterinary practice on an improvised stretcher made out of a blanket or a coat. Grab uncooperative and frightened cats by the neck and wrap them completely up in a blanket. It is advisable to put on gloves in order to protect the hands. Attention: In case of fractures do not put in splints. This could only worsen the case.

When to consult the veterinarian?

First and foremost it is important to go to see the vet on a regular basis for inoculation and reinoculation against infectious feline enteritis and snuffles . Cats with run-out-yard from the age of 3 months up have also to be inoculated against feline leukosis (FeLV) and from the age of 16 weeks up against feline infectious peritonitis. These inoculations have to be repeated every year. By the way, the most classic case for the vet is the castration which represents a relatively small operation for tomcats and female cats. Always go to see the vet whenver you detect alarming symptoms.