Health

All about your cat's health

Cat Health

Introduction

Your Cat's Health

You know your companion best so you’ll be the first to notice when something isn’t right. When your cat is sick, Dr. Google always gives you the worst case scenario. So here is our guild to some of the serious, but not common health conditions that potentially could affect your companion.

Note to readers: We are not veterinarians. Nor should this information be taken in lieu of veterinary advice. If you ever have a question about your companion’s health please consult your regular family veterinarian immediately.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

FIP

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats caused by certain strains of a virus called the feline coronavirus (FeCV). Please note that the feline coronavirus is actually a common viral infection in cats. The interaction between the body’s own immune system and the feline coronavirus is what is responsible for the development of FIP. Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal.

Is my cat at risk for developing FIP?

Any cat that carries FeCV is potentially at risk for developing FIP, but younger cats are at greater risk of developing FIP, with approximately 70% of cases diagnosed in cats less than 1 1/2 years of age and 50% of cases occurring in cats less than 7 months of age.

What are symptoms o FIV?

Cats that have been initially exposed to FeCV usually show no obvious symptoms. Some cats may show mild upper respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, and nasal discharge, while others may experience mild gastrointestinal signs such as diarrhea. In most cases, these mild signs are self-limiting. Only a small percentage of cats that are exposed to the FeCV develop FIP, and this can occur weeks, months, or even years after initial exposure to FeCV.

Can my cat be tested for FIP?

Unfortunately, there is currently no definitive test to diagnose FIP.

Can FIP be treated?

Until recently, FIP was considered to be a non-treatable disease. While there are still some uncertainties regarding the long-term effectiveness of recently-identified antiviral drugs to treat FIP.

Can I protect my cat from getting FIP?

The only way to definitively prevent FIP in cats is to prevent FeCV infection, which can be challenging given its ubiquitous nature. It is important to note that while FeCV is quite contagious, FIP is not.
There is only one licensed FIP vaccine available, but this vaccine has questionable effectiveness in preventing FIP, and it is not routinely recommended by the American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel.

Are there helpful supplements for my cat?

We have used an array of supplements over the years. We highly recommend Purina FortiFlora which is a powder digestive supplement for cats. Our cats love the taste, and it helps promote your companion’s digestive health as well as normalize intestinal microflora ( cats suffering from diarrhea). This product comes in individual packets and powder form to easily add a sprinkle on the top of any kind of food you use.

Another is pumpkin, yes pumpkin can provide an amazing source of fiber for your cats. We are now prepared with our homemade pumpkin cubes. When we open a can, we use silicone ice trays (mini) to make several pumpkin cubes and freeze to use as needed. We use Pumpkin when our cats have loose stools and / or diarrhea. You may find that it’s a love for them or you have to get clever and mix it in their regular cat food. Please be mindful of the canned pumpkin you are giving your cat as you should avoid canned pumpkin with added sugar or flavoring of any kind.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

HCM

Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition that causes the muscular walls of a cat’s heart to thicken, decreasing the heart’s efficiency and sometimes creating symptoms in other parts of the body. Although the cause of HCM has not been clearly identified, the fact that the condition is more prevalent in certain breeds (including Maine Coon, Ragdoll, British Shorthair, Sphynx, Chartreux and Persian cats) and that mutations of several cardiac (heart) genes have been identified in some cats with this disease suggests that genetics plays a role.

While the disease’s effects and prognosis (predicted outcome) may vary considerably, proper diagnosis and treatment can decrease the chance that a cat with HCM will experience certain symptoms and can improve his or her quality of life.

In a cat with HCM, the heart’s left ventricle (its primary “pump muscle”) is thickened, leading to a decrease in the volume of the heart chamber and to abnormal relaxation of the heart muscle. These changes can cause the heart to beat rapidly, resulting in increased oxygen usage and possibly to oxygen starvation of the heart muscle. This oxygen starvation may cause heart cells to die off, worsening heart function and leading to the development of arrhythmias (in which the heart beats too rapidly, too slowly, or with an irregular rhythm).

In addition to these difficulties, less efficient blood pumping may also lead to a backup of blood to the other chambers of the heart and to the lungs, which may contribute to the development of congestive heart failure or the formation of blood clots in the heart.

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Clinical Signs

Many cats with HCM do not appear to be ill. Others may show signs of congestive heart failure, including labored or rapid breathing, open-mouthed breathing, and lethargy. These symptoms occur when fluid accumulates in or around the lungs.

A serious and potentially life-threatening consequence of HCM is the formation of blood clots in the heart. These clots may travel through the bloodstream to obstruct flow in other parts of the body (thromboembolism). The effect of the clot depends on its location, although in cats with HCM, clots most commonly result in blockage of blood flow to the hind limbs, causing acute hind limb pain or, in extreme cases, hind limb paralysis. Diagnosing HCM and treating the condition properly can help decrease the severity of clinical signs and may decrease the likelihood of thromboembolism.

Although relatively rare, cats with HCM are at risk for sudden death.

Diagnosis

HCM is diagnosed by echocardiography, a technology that uses sound waves to create an image of the heart. In cats with HCM, these images reveal the thickened walls and constricted volume of the left ventricle of the heart. However, similar heart thickening is also caused by other common conditions, including high blood pressure and hyperthyroidism. These diseases must be ruled out prior to diagnosing HCM. Your veterinarian may also recommend other tests, including chest radiographs and electrocardiography, depending on the results of a physical examination and/or echocardiographic findings.

New genetic tests may also help identify whether your cat has an increased risk of HCM, but the results of these screening tests should be interpreted carefully with the guidance of a veterinary professional, since not all cats that have these mutations will develop the condition.

Treatment

Although HCM has no known cure, a specialized care plan can help manage clinical signs of the condition in your cat. Treatment goals include controlling the heart rate, alleviating lung congestion (congestive heart failure), and preventing the formation of blood clots that can lead to thromboembolism.

Medication can help manage HCM, and can be administered orally to stable patients or by injection in more serious situations. Other drugs, such as nitroglycerine, may be applied to the cat’s skin for absorption.

Unfortunately, no therapy has been shown to prevent the progression of HCM when started before clinical signs are observed.

Prognosis

The prognosis (predicted outcome) for cats with HCM is variable. Cats that do not display any clinical signs are often able to survive for years with only mildly compromised heart function.

HCM is most commonly a progressive disease, and findings that suggest a worse prognosis include congestive heart failure, thromboembolism, and hypothermia (low body temperature). However, in many cases, medical therapy can significantly improve your cat’s quality of life.

Our Role

Here at Pantheon Sphynx, we take measures to decrease the spread of HCM. Our cats are scanned yearly at Oakwood Veterinary Hospital in Bloomfield, MI. Our kittens get HCM DNA tested prior to leaving our home.

Gastro-intestinal issues & parasites

Parasites

What You Need To Know About Parasites In Cats

Here is a go-to guide for parasites in cats.

Types of Parasites in Cats

There are a couple different types of parasites that can infect your cat. These include:

Heartworm in cats

Heartworms are parasites that infect your cat’s heart, as the name suggests.
These worms live in your cat’s pulmonary artery and can potentially be fatal, since the parasites can end up blocking vessels that bring blood to his lungs.

Intestinal parasites in cats

There are several different intestinal parasites that can infect your cat, like:

These parasites affect your cat’s gastrointestinal tract and can sometimes cause digestive issues, like diarrhea.

External parasites in cats

External parasites can affect your cat’s skin, hair or other things outside his body. These include:

Fleas live on your cat’s skin, and ticks suck his blood, and both can be super irritating for him — physically and mentally.
Mites include things like:

Cat Parasite Symptoms

Since there are so many different types of parasites your cat could have, the symptoms of a parasitic infection will definitely vary.
Symptoms of intestinal parasites in cats might include things like:

Meanwhile, signs of external parasites in cats sometimes present as:

A lot of the time, your cat might show no symptoms at all from a parasitic infection. This is particularly true with heartworm in cats.

How to tell if your cat has fleas or ticks

Fleas and ticks are pretty annoying external parasites, and can even lead to other diseases — fleas can give him tapeworms, and ticks can carry Lyme disease, for example — so being able to tell if your cat’s dealing with these pests will help you get him treated ASAP.

Signs your cat might have fleas include:

And if he has a tick, you might notice things like:

If your cat winds up with a parasite, there are several treatment options that can be effective, depending on which parasite he’s dealing with. (Some treatment products can also be used to prevent parasitic infections as a bonus.)
When it comes to intestinal parasites in cats, the following treatments could clear up his infection:

But for heartworm disease, unfortunately, there really isn’t anything you can do in the way of treatment, which is why it’s so important for your cat to take regular heartworm preventative medication.
For external parasites, there are lots of great products on the market to fight fleas, ticks and mites. And toxoplasmosis can be cleared up using antibiotics and steroids.

Respiratory Infections & Viruses

Viruses

What are viruses?

A virus is an infectious particle that can only replicate inside a living cell. They can infect all life forms, from microorganisms to animals. A virus consists of the genetic material (DNA or RNA), a protein capsid and a lipid envelope.
Biologists sometimes describe them as “organisms at the edge of life”, as they closely resemble living organisms but they don’t have a cellular structure nor their own metabolism and they do not grow through cell division. They infect a host cell, integrate themselves in the cell and redirect the cell to produce their products and multiple copies of themselves.

How do vaccines protect against viruses?

Viral infections in animals cause immune responses. These immune responses can also be provoked by vaccines which help the animal acquire immunity to the specific virus. Some vaccinations are obligatory by the law and others are not. For some viruses, vaccinations have not been developed or perfected yet. The American Association of Feline Practitioners has grouped vaccines for cats into three general categories:
• Core: all cats should receive the vaccine regardless of circumstances,
• Non-core: recommendation based on risk for exposure to disease (i.e. location and lifestyle),
• Not generally recommended: not recommended due either lack of evidence of effectiveness or a high chance for adverse;

Most common viruses in cats

1. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a lentivirus affecting from 2.5% to 4.4% cats worldwide. FIV is taxonomically different from the other two feline retroviruses, feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline foamy virus (FFV) and is more closely related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

FIV is the only lentivirus causing a disease similar to AIDS in non-primates. FIV is not lethal for cats, and they can live relatively healthy as FIV carriers. Vaccines for this virus have been designed, but the vaccination against FIV is classified as “non-core”.

FIV is one of the most common viruses in cats, but the vaccination is classified as “non-core”

FIV can compromise the cat’s immune system and it infects many cells including T lymphocytes (specifically CD4+ and CD8+), B lymphocytes and macrophages. Cats can usually handle the disease caused by FIV quite well, and only in 5% of the cases their immune system debilitates and leads to the exhaustion of T-helper cells. In humans, this percentage is much higher and is estimated to be around 50%.

2. Feline Coronavirus (FCoV)

Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) is a positive-stranded RNA virus that causes a fatal, aberrant immune response called Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in cats. FCoV is a gastrointestinal virus and the infections are usually asymptomatic or coupled with diarrhea. There are two main forms of FIP: effusive (wet) and non-effusive (dry). While both types are fatal, the effusive form is more common (60–70% of all FIP cases) and progresses more rapidly than the non-effusive form.

The effusive FIP is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the cat’s abdomen or chest. This leads to breathing difficulties, lack of appetite, fever, diarrhea and weight loss. In non-effusive FIP, the cats show similar symptoms of infection but there are no fluid accumulations. Cats suffering from this type of FIP will often show ocular or neurological signs too. The vaccination against FIP does exist, but it is classified as “not generally recommended”.

FCOV is also one of the most common viruses in cats, but the vaccination is classified as “not generally recommended”

3. Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) affects only cats. It is transmitted via saliva or nasal secretion. If not defeated, it can cause a disease that can be lethal. It is categorized into four subgroups: A, B, C and T. Symptoms, prognosis and treatment depend on the subgroups.

The effects of the disease caused by this virus are diverse. The cat can either fight off the infection completely and become immune, it can also be a healthy, unaffected carrier or it can have a compromised immune system. The final stage of the disease is the development of lymphomas. The vaccination is possible and classified as “non-core”.

4. Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV)

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), also referred to as feline distemper, feline ataxia or cat plague is a viral infection caused by feline parvovirus. It affects both domestic and wild cats. Once contracted, it is highly contagious and can be fatal to the affected cats. The name panleukopenia comes from the low white blood cell count (leucocytes) exhibited by affected animals.

Panleukopenia can be spread via bodily fluids, feces or fleas. It primarily attacks the cells of the gastrointestinal tract lining which can further cause sloughing of the intestinal epithelium. This can further lead to diarrhea, dehydration, malnutrition, anemia and even death. The vaccination is classified as “core“ and is highly recommended for all cats.

FPV is one of the most common viruses in cats and the vaccinations are “core” and recommended to ALL cats

5. Feline Calicivirus (FCV)

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is one of the two important viruses causing respiratory infections in cats. FCV can be isolated from about 50% of cats with upper respiratory infections. This virus replicates in the oral and respiratory tissues and can be isolated from saliva, urine, respiratory secretions and feces.

The symptoms can occur chronically, acutely or not at all. Acute signs include fever, nasal discharge, sneezing, stomatitis and conjunctivitis. When coupled with bacterial infections, pneumonia can develop too. The FCV can’t be specifically treated, but antibiotics are often used to treat secondary bacterial infections and immune modulators that can sometimes couple the viral infection. The vaccination is classified as “core”.

6. Feline Herpesvirus

Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) is an upper respiratory infection caused by the feline herpesvirus. This virus is the second of the two important viruses causing respiratory infections in cats (FCV being the first one). FVR is very contagious and it can cause severe disease, such as lethal pneumonia in kittens.

Feline herpesvirus is transmitted directly and it replicates in the tonsils and nasal and nasopharyngeal tissues. The signs of the infections include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, lack of appetite and fever. The vaccination against the feline herpesvirus is also classified as “core”.

7. Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease caused by lyssaviruses and it is characterized by brain inflammation in humans, cats, dogs and other mammals. The signs can include fever, tingling, violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, aquaphobia, inability to move certain parts of the body, unconsciousness and confusion. If left untreated, this disease nearly always leads to death.

Rabies is one of the most common viruses in cats and it causes devastating and lethal disease. Pet vaccinations against it are legally obligate in some parts of the world, but not everywhere.

Most commonly, rabies is transmitted through a bite from an infected animal. It can also be transmitted if saliva of an infected animal comes in contact with an open wound or mucous membranes of another animal. Unvaccinated cats allowed to go outdoors are at the highest risk for rabies.
“Outdoor cats may, in the course of daily life, get into a fight with an infected wild animal or an infected stray dog or cat. And although widespread vaccination programs have helped to control rabies in dogs, feral cat populations remain a reservoir host for the rabies virus.” – explained WebMD.

The most accurate diagnostic test for rabies is the direct fluorescent antibody test. However, this can only be performed when the animal has already deceased. The accurate diagnosis in living animals is a lot more difficult. After incubation, the virus can remain in the cat’s body anywhere from one week to more than a year before it activates itself. Once activated, the signs occur very quickly.

The vaccination against rabies is somewhere classified as “core”, somewhere as “non-core”, but in some countries it is obligatory.

These were just 7 of the most common viruses diagnosed in cats, among many more that can afflict our pets. Viruses can be very dangerous and it is therefore highly important to regularly vaccinate our cats and protect them from viral infections.

Consult with a veterinarian professional about the vaccination program for your cat. They will advise the recommended vaccines according to your location and your cat’s lifestyle.

Reviews of our Sphynx Families

What Our Families Have To Say

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