FIP – Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a viral disease. In its later stages, known as Clinical FIP, there are 2 forms: wet and dry.  Both are incurable and fatal, but the dry form takes much longer to progress, whereas the wet form deteriorates the cat’s health rapidly, and is generally identifiable by a bloated belly.  FIP in its early stages is very contagious between cats, and is spread through casual contact such as grooming and sharing food, water, and litter boxes.  In this early stage, the cat is almost always symptom-free. The best way to avoid the spread of FIP is to keep cats from different origins separated, and to fully sanitize between every cat you come in contact with.

 

​FeLV-Feline Leukemia Virus is a slow acting virus that impairs a cat’s immune system and causes certain types of cancer.  Symptoms range from non-existent to a broad range of signs, as it is generally the secondary infections that the cat is actually displaying symptoms of.  FeLV is spread through casual contact, such as grooming and sharing food, water, litter box, and toys.  Cats with FeLV should always be kept separated from other cats.  For people, changing clothing and fully sanitizing between every cat is necessary to prevent the spread of FeLV.

 

Feline Calicivirus – A respiratory disease which attacks the nasal passages and causes painful ulcers in the mouth and intestinal tract.  Most common symptoms include difficulty eating and breathing, fever, and mouth ulcers.  It’s highly contagious between cats, and is spread through casual contact as well as “fomites”.  Fomites are particles of virus shed by the cat which adhere to inanimate objects such as clothing.  Cats suspected of having Calicivirus should be kept separated, and those people having contact with them should not have contact with other cats until all clothing is changed and they have disinfected fully with soap and water.  Calicivirus is resistant to common sanitizing, but is generally preventable with the FVRCP vaccination.

 

Coccidia - An intestinal parasite which causes severe diarrhea, and left untreated can damage the intestinal tract and cause fever, weakness, and organ complications.  It is spread through fecal matter adhering to inanimate objects and shared litter boxes.  Cats run the risk of also becoming dehydrated easily.  Kittens are especially at risk for rapid health deterioration caused by Coccidia.  Medication to kill the parasite is effective if given in a timely fashion. Separation from other cats as well as changing clothes and fully sanitizing will generally prevent the spread.

 

Giardiasis – An intestinal parasite which causes severe diarrhea.  It’s spread through shared litter boxes, or contact with fecal matter adhering to inanimate objects (clothing, toys, blankets, floors).  Cats can become easily dehydrated, and kittens are especially at risk for rapid health deterioration.  Medication to kill the parasite is effective if given in a timely fashion.  Many vets also recommend repeat bathing to wash off all traces of infected fecal matter.  Separation from other cats as well as changing clothes and fully sanitizing will prevent the spread.  Humans are at risk for acquiring Giardiasis.

 

Feline Upper Respiratory Infection – This is the most common shelter illness in cats.  It can be caused by any one or combination of hundreds of virus and bacteria, but the most common are: feline herpes virus, Calicivirus, Bordatella Bronchiaseptica, and Chlamydiophila.  URI is highly contagious and is present in saliva and other drainage, as well as shed from the cat’s body onto inanimate objects like clothing. Seemingly recovered cats can still be carriers for the culprits behind URI, and can pass them to other cats.  Symptoms range from a watery eye to a few sneezes to the more severe lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, drooling, etc.  URI has an incubation, or symptom free, period of up to 10 days.  We treat URI with anti-viral medication, fluids, breathing treatments, and antibiotics.  In a stressful environment, the prognosis depends on the individual cat and his stress level and immune system.  To reduce the spread of URI, we must sanitize between every cat or cage we touch, and change our clothing in between every cat we hold.  The FVRCP vaccination covers the handful of more common virus and bacteria behind URI.