Your Cat's Health

Like humans, cats are at risk for many diseases. Preventive healthcare, including a vaccination program and regular parasite prevention, will help protect your cat from disease and discomfort. In addition, proper nutrition, regular exercise and annual visits to the veterinarian will help maintain good health for your pet.

An annual physical examination is the best way to ensure continued good health for your cat. It provides your veterinarian with an important opportunity to detect and prevent potential health problems. During the annual physical exam, your veterinarian will assess the overall health of your cat. This evaluation may include laboratory testing and other diagnostic workups. Your veterinarian will speak with you about preventive healthcare measures for your cat, such as vaccinations, parasite control, proper nutrition and dental care.

Your veterinarian will examine your pet both visually and manually to assess its health and physical condition. Additional diagnostics, including blood, stool and urine samples and a skin examination may be necessary to determine whether disease is present or to differentiate between diseases.

Early diagnosis of disease may help your cat remain healthy. Ask your veterinarian for advice if you notice any of the following signs in your cat:

• abnormal behavior, including sudden viciousness or lethargy
• abnormal discharge from nose, eyes, or other body openings
• an increase or decrease in appetite that lasts more than a few days
• excessive head shaking, scratching, or licking
• swelling or abnormal lumps on the skin
• limping or difficulty in getting up or lying down
• foul breath or excessive tartar and deposits on teeth
• changes in urination or drinking habits
• persistent vomiting or diarrhea

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Potential Threats to Your Cat’s Health

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• Rabies is a fatal viral disease that can infect all warm-blooded animals, including cats and humans. A common early sign of rabies is a significant change in a cat’s behavior, including sudden restlessness, aggression or fear.
  • For more information on the threat of rabies, contact the nearest office of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or talk to your veterinarian.
• Feline panleukopenia, sometimes referred to as distemper, is caused by a highly contagious and potentially fatal virus. It is especially dangerous to kittens. Typical clinical signs are high fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), or feline herpesvirus, is one of the causes of chronic upper respiratory disease in cats. The signs of this disease include sneezing, runny nose, irritated eyes and coughing.
• Feline calicivirus causes chronic disease of the upper respiratory system. The severity of infection with this virus depends on several factors, including the presence of other viruses (such as FVR) and bacteria.
• Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is the most commonly diagnosed feline cancer and is the cause of about one-third of all cancer deaths among cats. In addition, the virus suppresses the cat’s immune system, leaving it susceptible to other infections. Ask your veterinarian if your cat should be vaccinated against FeLV.
• Chlamydophila felis is a bacteria responsible for chronic mild upper respiratory disease (pneumonitis). It can also exacerbate other diseases caused by viruses. Runny eyes are the primary symptom of this bacterial infection; other signs include sneezing and nasal discharge.
  

Hookworms are gastrointestinal parasites that may be transmitted when cats ingest infective larvae from the environment, or when larvae penetrate a cat’s skin directly. Hookworms feed on the tissue inside the intestines of an infected cat. Certain infections in young kittens may be fatal.

Roundworms are gastrointestinal parasites which can be transmitted to kittens by the queen’s milk, and then throughout life by eggs present in the environment or by the ingestion of rodents or birds. The worms feed on the food present in the cat’s intestines. Some cats present clinical signs associated with the resulting nutritional deficit, such as poor general condition, dull haircoat or abnormal stools. Furthermore, these worms can be transmitted to humans.

Tapeworms are gastrointestinal parasites transmitted by fleas and rodents. The adult worm consists of a very long chain of segments attached to one another and lives in the cat’s intestine. The last segments, which contain the eggs, detach themselves from the tapeworm’s body and can be seen in the animal’s stools or around its anus. They look like grains of cooked rice and can show contraction movements when they have been passed recently.

Fleas pose a real threat to the health of your pet and the well-being of your family. Adult fleas feed on warm-blooded animals and may cause severe irritation, allergic reactions and anemia. They can also transmit disease.

Ticks may attach to your cat and feed on blood until they are engorged. Some tick-borne diseases can affect people as well as pets.

Many of the viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases listed here can be avoided through a proactive, preventive health and wellness program for your cat. Your veterinarian can recommend safe, effective vaccines, internal parasite treatments and flea- and tick-control products that will help keep your pet healthy, happy and free of infectious or debilitating diseases.