Common Cat Diseases

If you have a feline, it's a good idea to identify and understand the most common cat diseases so that you can get the correct treatment for your pet as soon as possible if he or she becomes ill.

Feline Distemper

This highly contagious viral disease is more common among young cats and kittens. The medical name for this disease is panleukopenia and, unlike what the name suggests, has nothing to do with your cat's personality. It causes diarrhea, severe dehydration, vomiting and problems with the intestinal tract.

Its symptoms are similar to the canine parvovirus, but feline distemper is more lethal than the similar virus that afflicts dogs.

The virus is extremely strong and last up to a year at room temperature. It survives freezing, and disinfectants like iodine and alcohol do not kill it. Bleach is the only way to destroy the feline distemper virus on surfaces. Mix 1 part bleach with 32 parts water and soak infected surfaces for 10 minutes.

When the virus enters the body, it attacks the lymph nodes of the throat and within 2 to 7 days makes its way to the bone marrow and intestine. There it surpresses the production of white blood cells which fight infection making the cat vulnerable to all illnesses and other effects of the virus.

Treatment involves a stay in the hospital, numerous antibiotics and lots of fluid to control dehydration. It's a good idea to vaccinate your cat against feline distemper after the age of 12 weeks.

Lower Urinary Tract Disease (LUTD)

This common cat disease that broadly defines any problem that affects a feline's bladder and/or urethra. It makes urinating difficult for cats so they do so less frequently. Some may pee outside the litter box or in odd places. Often there's blood in the urine. Some cats may not be able to urinate at all because of a complete obstruction.

LUTD affects between 0.5 and 1 percent of cats and is not gender specific. It's more common in cats between 2 and 5 years old.

Treatment involves a trip to the vet where a catheter or mechanical manipulation or surgery to remove a blockage may be necessary. You can reduce the chance of your cat getting LUTD by adding wet food to its diet, maintaining your cat's weight and making sure your cat gets plenty of water.

Feline Diabetes

Like human diabetes, feline diabetes is caused by a cat's inability to naturally maintain his or her blood sugar levels. It's typically causes by an insufficient production of insulin and causes the cat to loose weight because of an inability to process food and sugars into energy. An untreated diabetic cat will starve to death even if he or she eats lots of food.

Signs of feline diabetes include excessive thirst, excessive urination and a sudden and dramatic loss in weight. Increased appetite and lethargy are also signs. Diagnosis is made by your vet with a blood and/or urine test.

Treatment involves regular insulin shots and a specialized diet for the rest of the cat's life. Feline diabetes cannot be prevented and tends to be genetic. Older male cats are more susceptible to this disease.