Daily Cat Care VII

Serious Illness and Prevention

In the cat world there exists some of the more severe infections than can befall the feline species if not properly protected against. In this case, the cat flu is actually a common illness that can befall cats but is one of the most potential fatal conditions to deal with. A cat will often show clear symptoms that indicate possible infection. This includes repetitive sneezing with discharge, conjunctivitis and a number of other hampering conditions that affect the day to day functions of a cat. Cats at vulnerable stages of their lives will often suffer greatly, and may eventually result in death. The flu itself may not be the cause of the fatality but other infections that follow will lead to shutdown of vital functions.

Viral Rhinitis is the term used for cat flu and attacks the upper respiratory tract over time. This isn’t the only deadly virus however, there a number of problematic infections that can befall a cat body including chlamydia, leukaemia and even Rabies in some places. There are many more viruses that can affect a cat but these are just some of the most common and problematic diseases which have brought about disaster around household cats.

The way to approach this is prevention through planning and action. Taking action early is key in preventing these infections from manifesting in the first place. Use of correct vaccination treatments will help immunise a cat against these viruses and can even help treat leukaemia. If travelling with a cat, there is also a number of things to think of when taking it to a new country. The weather may be the least of worries if there is an outbreak of rabies in the area. Coming from a country that does not have rabies in the area, a vaccination treatment will be in order to prepare for the voyage. As always, only trusted and qualified professionals should provide consultation and administer treatment if required.

Cats in good health require a regular check-up no matter what an owner may feel about wasting a trip to the vet. This is a good way to catch any hard to detect ailments and also assess regular top up inoculations. Vets may refuse to administer shots to a cat that is sick as it can lead to further infection and a weakened immune system. As such, it’s important to plan ahead and keep on top of all health related areas.