There are many common cat diseases. We should not ignore their condition, as these sometimes can be fatal. As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. 

  2 ways to prevent cat disease:

1. Have your cat vaccinated. This is a very simple task that most cat owners neglect. Most vaccines last for a year. Check your vet for details. They should only be the ones doing this for your cats.

2. Keep your cats indoor. Cats are more prone to different cat diseases when they roam outside.

Some of the common cat diseases are:

1. Rabies. This is an inflammatory infection that affects your cat’s brain and central nervous system. A way the rabies virus is transmitted is via a bite from a disease carrier, so even humans can be infected. Cats infected with the rabies virus will undergo extreme behavioral changes. The virus could take up to 1 month to develop, but once the symptoms have begun, the virus progresses quickly.

2.  Upper Respiratory Infections (URIs). Yes, cats can get colds, too! This cat disease is commonly caused by a virus: Feline herpesvirus type-1, Feline calicivirus, feline retrovirus, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Chlamydophila felis. Usual symptoms are sneezing, coughing, clear to pus-like discharge from the eyes and/or nose.

3. Feline Panleukopenia. This is a highly contagious cat disease also known as feline distemper or cat distemper. It is is caused by a virus very similar to that which causes parvovirus dieases in dogs. Most cats are exposed to this in their first year of life. Common symptoms are vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and in worst cases, seizures. This virus is fatal to unvaccinated kittens.

4. Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). Feline leukemia virus is an infectious and often fatal virus which affects the cat’s immune system, causing various types of cancer and other associated illnesses. This cat disease is transmitted through the urine, saliva and feces of infected cats. Blood tests is usually used to diagnose feline leukemia virus (FeLV). The cat should be tested before being vaccinated.

5. Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). FIP is deadly virus to felines. This cat disease takes 2 forms, commonly referred to as wet, involving fluid in the abdomen, and dry. Feline infectious peritonitis symptoms include lethargy, fever, vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhea. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for FIP, so prevention is the cure.

6. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Similar to human acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Feline Immunodeficiency Virus attacks the immune system of cats resulting in a variety of symptoms. Common symptoms include non-responding and chronic infections; respiratory problems; loss of appetite; diarrhea and severe oral infections. FIV is passed through bites. There is currently no cure for this cat disease.

It is always best to get your cats vaccinated to prevent these different cat diseases. Also make sure that you know the common human food that are harmful to your cat. Go to your favorite veterinarian if you haven’t done so.