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Feline Rabies
What is feline rabies?
Rabies is an incurable viral disease affecting infected individuals' central nervous system. The infectious viral particles are retained in a rabid animal's salivary glands, allowing them to spread the virus via saliva more efficiently. Rabies is most prevalent in wild animals, such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. This disease is severe and (in the vast majority of cases) fatal.
Is my Cat at risk?
Unless vaccinated against the virus, your cat is at risk. The more time your cat spends outside unsupervised, the higher your cat's risk of encountering and being bitten by an infected animal.
How do I protect my cat?
Vaccination is the cornerstone of rabies prevention. Vaccination promotes the production of antibodies but is only effective if given before the virus enters the nervous system. Modern rabies vaccines for cats and dogs are highly safe and effective.
Feline Leukemia Virus
What is feline leukemia virus?
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is the leading viral killer of cats. In addition to weakening the cat's immune system, this virus may also cause blood disorders and is the most common cause of cancer in cats. However, feline leukemia can also be sneaky. For example, your pet may show no signs of sickness in the early stages while its health deteriorates over time. Or, a FeLV-positive cat may have recurrent illness interspersed with periods of relative health. Owners should watch for symptoms such as progressive weight loss, lethargy, fever, persistent diarrhea, unusual breathing patterns, pale gums, or a yellow color around your cat's mouth and eyes.
Is my Cat at risk?
Typically, the virus is spread from cat to cat through close contact between infected and uninfected cats. Although most commonly transmitted via saliva, it is also possible for a disease-free individual to acquire Feline Leukemia through other methods. These include contact with an infected cat's nasal secretions, urine, feces, or milk. In addition, contraction of the virus can occur through mutual grooming, shared bowls, bites, or other forms of close contact. The virus can also be transmitted from a mother cat to her kitten during pregnancy or while nursing.
How do I protect my cat?
We recommend administering a FeLV/FIV test before vaccinating for FeLV for the first time. The vaccine will not protect your cat if they have been pre-exposed. We recommend the Feline Leukemia vaccine for cats that could come into contact with other cats that may be infected or cats whose vaccination status is unknown.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
What is feline immunodeficiency virus?
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is one of the most common and consequential infectious diseases affecting cats worldwide. FIV attacks the immune system in infected felines, leaving the cat vulnerable to many other infections. Although cats infected with FIV may appear normal for years, they eventually suffer from immune deficiency. This deficiency allows ordinarily harmless bacteria and viruses to cause severe illnesses that a healthy cat's immune system would have otherwise combated.
Though there is no cure for FIV, recent studies suggest that cats with FIV commonly live average life spans. Despite this, cats carrying the feline leukemia virus may face additional complications.
Though there is no cure for FIV, recent studies suggest that cats with FIV commonly live average life spans. Despite this, cats carrying the feline leukemia virus may face additional complications.
Is my Cat at risk?
The primary transmission mode for FIV is through bite wounds from an infected cat. As a result, cats in households with stable social structures where housemates do not fight are at little risk of acquiring FIV infections. Only on rare occasions an infected mother cat may transmit the infection to her kittens; however, if the mother becomes infected with FIV during pregnancy, the transmission risk to the kittens' increases.
How do I protect my cat?
There is currently no vaccine commercially available in North America to protect against FIV.
The best way to reduce risk is to limit contact with potentially infected cats by keeping cats indoors and testing all cats within the household. Keeping your cats indoors, away from potentially infected cats that might bite them, will markedly reduce their likelihood of contracting FIV. In addition, it is ideal to ensure that cats introduced to a home occupied by uninfected cats are infection-free to lessen the chance of indoor cats becoming infected.
The best way to reduce risk is to limit contact with potentially infected cats by keeping cats indoors and testing all cats within the household. Keeping your cats indoors, away from potentially infected cats that might bite them, will markedly reduce their likelihood of contracting FIV. In addition, it is ideal to ensure that cats introduced to a home occupied by uninfected cats are infection-free to lessen the chance of indoor cats becoming infected.
Feline Herpes Virus
What is feline herpes virus?
Feline Herpes Virus is commonly called feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR). FVR can cause symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, discharge from the eyes or nose, moderate fever, and additional symptoms.
Once infected, cats carry the infection for life and may experience recurring bouts of upper respiratory and eye disease. Flare-ups are often relatively mild and clear up on their own. However, in rare cases, infections can lead to more significant illness and even death in cats with coexisting health problems.
Once infected, cats carry the infection for life and may experience recurring bouts of upper respiratory and eye disease. Flare-ups are often relatively mild and clear up on their own. However, in rare cases, infections can lead to more significant illness and even death in cats with coexisting health problems.
Is my Cat at risk?
Young and adolescent cats are most susceptible to this common infection. Up to 97% of cats will be exposed to FVR. The virus causes a lifelong infection in up to 80% of exposed cats. Of these, up to 45% will periodically shed the virus, usually when stressed. Viral shedding is when the virus is shed out into the environment, where it will go on to infect other hosts.
How do I protect my cat?
We recommend vaccination against FVR for all cats. Although current vaccines do not prevent infection in all cases, they significantly decrease the severity of disease and virus shedding. In addition, vaccination benefits other susceptible cats, particularly those living with the vaccinated individual.
Feline Panleukopenia Virus
What is feline panleukopenia virus?
Feline Panleukopenia (FPV) is a highly contagious viral disease in cats. FPV may be called feline distemper or feline parvo. However, it should not be confused with canine distemper or canine parvo as different viruses cause them.
This virus infects and kills cells that are rapidly growing and dividing in the body: primarily those in the bone marrow, intestines, and the cells of a developing fetus. Because the blood cells are under attack, this virus can lead to an anemic condition and predispose the body to infections from other illnesses – viral or bacterial.
This virus infects and kills cells that are rapidly growing and dividing in the body: primarily those in the bone marrow, intestines, and the cells of a developing fetus. Because the blood cells are under attack, this virus can lead to an anemic condition and predispose the body to infections from other illnesses – viral or bacterial.
Is my Cat at risk?
Cats can shed the virus in their urine, stool, and nasal secretions; infection occurs when susceptible cats come in contact with these secretions or the fleas from infected cats. An infected cat sheds the virus for a relatively short period (1-2 days). Despite this, the virus can survive for up to a year in the environment, so cats may become infected without ever contacting an infected cat.
It is essential to isolate infected cats. Any materials used on or for infected cats should not be used or allowed to come in contact with other cats. In addition, people handling infected cats should practice proper hygiene to prevent the infection from spreading.
It is essential to isolate infected cats. Any materials used on or for infected cats should not be used or allowed to come in contact with other cats. In addition, people handling infected cats should practice proper hygiene to prevent the infection from spreading.
How do I protect my cat?
Vaccines offer the best protection from feline parvovirus infection. Vaccination is just as crucial for strictly indoor cats as for indoor/outdoor cats because the virus is everywhere in the environment.
Most young kittens receive their first vaccination between 6 and 8 weeks, with follow-up vaccines or boosters until the kitten is around 16 weeks of age. After that, adult vaccination schedules vary depending on the age and health of the cat.
Most young kittens receive their first vaccination between 6 and 8 weeks, with follow-up vaccines or boosters until the kitten is around 16 weeks of age. After that, adult vaccination schedules vary depending on the age and health of the cat.
Feline Calicivirus
What is feline calcivirus?
Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a highly contagious virus that causes mild to severe respiratory infection and oral disease in cats. Symptoms of FCV vary depending on the strain contracted but will involve the nose and throat and may look like a cold with sneezing, nasal congestion, fever, and sometimes drooling.
Most cats recover entirely after a calicivirus infection, but rare strains can be especially deadly. The virus poses no threat to humans.
Most cats recover entirely after a calicivirus infection, but rare strains can be especially deadly. The virus poses no threat to humans.
Is my Cat at risk?
Approximately 10% of cats housed in small groups are infected. In comparison, up to 90% of those housed in more crowded conditions, such as shelters and breeding colonies, may be infected.
Cats that become carriers will continue to shed the virus in the home, even after they recover from the infection. Therefore, owners may need to re-home carrier cats before disinfecting the home to protect the remaining animals from exposure.
Cats that become carriers will continue to shed the virus in the home, even after they recover from the infection. Therefore, owners may need to re-home carrier cats before disinfecting the home to protect the remaining animals from exposure.
How do I protect my cat?
We recommend vaccination against feline calicivirus for all healthy cats. Although the vaccine is not 100% protective, it can significantly reduce the likelihood of severe disease if your cat is exposed. However, vaccines do not prevent the shedding of this ever-present virus or cure cats that are already infected.
Whenever you bring a new cat into the home, it is wise to isolate the animal from other cats in the household for one to two weeks while you watch for signs of disease.
Whenever you bring a new cat into the home, it is wise to isolate the animal from other cats in the household for one to two weeks while you watch for signs of disease.
Feline Chlamydiosis
What is feline chlamydiosis?
Feline Chlamydiosis is caused by Chlamydia felis, a bacterium that cannot survive outside its host and requires close contact between cats for transmission. Transmission occurs through eye secretions.
Infected cats usually develop conjunctivitis with eye discharge that is initially clear but later contains mucous and has a yellowish, pus-like appearance. Rarely infected cats lose their appetite and become lethargic.
Infected cats usually develop conjunctivitis with eye discharge that is initially clear but later contains mucous and has a yellowish, pus-like appearance. Rarely infected cats lose their appetite and become lethargic.
Is my Cat at risk?
Infections occur most commonly in young cats and cats housed at high density in shelters and breeding catteries.
How do I protect my cat?
While vaccines are available, they do not prevent infection but minimize symptoms. Therefore, we recommend vaccination for cats in multi-cat housing situations and those who have previously been diagnosed with C. felis.
Feline heartworm Disease
What is feline heartworm disease?
Among the various disorders that can endanger a cat’s physical well-being and perhaps threaten its life, few are more insidious than feline heartworm disease. This potentially life-threatening condition occurs when a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis enters an animal’s system through a mosquito bite.
The most common clinical signs of heartworm infection include intermittent vomiting (sometimes of blood or food), diarrhea, rapid and difficult breathing, coughing, and gagging.
The most common clinical signs of heartworm infection include intermittent vomiting (sometimes of blood or food), diarrhea, rapid and difficult breathing, coughing, and gagging.
Is my Cat at risk?
Cats allowed outside for extended periods experience a higher risk of heartworm disease. However, mosquitoes can enter homes easily during warmer seasons, so even indoor cats may be at risk.
How do I protect my cat?
The key to providing year-round protection against feline heartworm disease is to have your cat tested regularly and follow a routine administration of a preventative such as Bravecto Plus.
Declawing & Scratching Behavior
What is declawing?
Declawing is an elective and highly controversial surgical procedure that is the topic of considerable debate among cat owners and veterinary professionals. Despite its name, declawing is an amputation of the bones at the tips of the paws. It is not a simple removal of the nails. Like any other surgical procedure, declawing carries the risk of anesthetic complications, infection, bleeding, and, in rare cases, more long-term problems.
Declawing will not curb your cat's desire to scratch, but it will prevent the damage resulting from the behavior. We recommend thoughtful consultation with your veterinarian if you are considering this procedure for your cat.
Declawed cats should never be allowed outside unsupervised, as they are less able to climb trees or defend themselves.
Declawing is an elective and highly controversial surgical procedure that is the topic of considerable debate among cat owners and veterinary professionals. Despite its name, declawing is an amputation of the bones at the tips of the paws. It is not a simple removal of the nails. Like any other surgical procedure, declawing carries the risk of anesthetic complications, infection, bleeding, and, in rare cases, more long-term problems.
Declawing will not curb your cat's desire to scratch, but it will prevent the damage resulting from the behavior. We recommend thoughtful consultation with your veterinarian if you are considering this procedure for your cat.
Declawed cats should never be allowed outside unsupervised, as they are less able to climb trees or defend themselves.
Why does my cat scratch?
Scratching is primarily a marking behavior that deposits scent from special glands on the cat’s paws into his territory and removes the translucent covering, or sheath, from the claws. Because scratching is an innate behavior like grooming or burying waste, it can be hard to stop. However, owners can teach cats to scratch on more appropriate objects like scratching posts.
Scratching is primarily a marking behavior that deposits scent from special glands on the cat’s paws into his territory and removes the translucent covering, or sheath, from the claws. Because scratching is an innate behavior like grooming or burying waste, it can be hard to stop. However, owners can teach cats to scratch on more appropriate objects like scratching posts.
Tactics to Redirect Scratching Behavior
You can also further minimize scratching damage by regularly trimming your cat’s nails.
- Identify scratching preferences
- Observe your cat and discover its preferences. Do they prefer carpets, drapes, woods, or another surface? Do they scratch vertically, with their paws stretched out above their head, or do they prefer horizontal surfaces?
- Provide items that match scratching preferences
- Once you have determined your cat’s preferred target materials and orientation, you can buy a scratching post that suits its needs. Scratching posts of all shapes, sizes, and textures are available at most pet stores.
- Make unacceptable targets unavailable or less attractive
- The only guaranteed way to stop your cat from scratching a given area or object is to restrict access. However, if this is not practical, there are booby traps you can set up to discourage scratching. Build a tower of plastic cups that topples over when bumped to startle your cat when it begins to scratch. Covering items with blankets, plastic sheets, or double-sided tape may also deter scratching.
- Because scratching has a scent-marking component, cats are more likely to re-scratch areas that already have their scent. To help break this cycle, try using an odor neutralizer to deodorize these areas.
You can also further minimize scratching damage by regularly trimming your cat’s nails.
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