Having a kitten at home goes far beyond fun times and cuddling. Caring for a kitten also means knowing how to identify when there is something wrong with it. Among the most common - and serious - diseases that can affect a kitten are FIV, FeLV and feline FIP. In addition to these, toxoplasmosis (or cat disease), chlamydiosis and chronic kidney failure in cats also need to be treated.attention, as they can have serious consequences if left untreated or properly controlled. To help you recognize the symptoms, the Paws of the House has put together the key information on each of these diseases of domestic cats. More to come!

1) Toxoplasmosis, the "cat disease"

Feline toxoplasmosis - also known as the cat disease - is somewhat misnamed as such. Despite being the definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii, the protozoan that causes the disease, it cannot be said that this is one of the diseases transmitted by cats. Felines are actually only used as a reservoir for the protozoa to reproduce, but they do not transmit the disease.To become infected, cats need to eat raw or undercooked meat from an infected animal, and it takes about 15 days for Toxoplasma gondii to reproduce.

Toxoplasmosis has no clear symptoms at first and is sometimes asymptomatic, but in the more advanced stage it is possible to notice some clinical signs. These are:

• Cat vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Anorexia
• Cough
• Muscle pain

Prevention

In order to prevent toxoplasmosis, the most important care should be taken with the animal's diet. Cats should not be given raw or undercooked food. The ideal is to maintain a balanced and healthy diet, with good quality food and appropriate snacks for the pet's body. It is also important to prevent the cat's hunting instinct from speaking louder and trying to capture animals that may be in the wild.contaminated, such as rodents, birds and other critters.

2) Feline FIV

Feline FIV - known as AIDS in cats - is a very complicated disease. It is caused by the feline immunodeficiency virus and needs attention because it directly affects the immune system of the cat. The disease has three different phases, and with the exception of the second (which is asymptomatic), each has specific symptoms.

In the first phase, the sick cat presents:

• Fever
• Lymph node enlargement
• Anorexia

When feline FIV reaches the final stage, the risks of death are great and some symptoms of infection in cats can be observed, such as:

• Skin lesions
• Sepsis, which is a generalized infection
• Secondary diseases, which can affect the gums, mouth, digestive tract, urinary tract and skin

However, with proper care, it is possible to offer more quality of life to your four-legged friend and prevent him from reaching the chronic phase of feline FIV. For this, it is necessary to visit a veterinarian every 6 months to assess the health status of the kitten and the possible evolution of the cat disease.

Prevention

The most important thing to prevent feline FIV is to have your cat neutered. This prevents possible escape from home, and consequently contact with other street animals, as this is a disease transmitted by an infected cat. It is also important to put protective screens on windows, balconies and backyards.

3) Feline FeLV

FeLV is known as feline leukemia, and is very similar to the disease that affects humans. It is caused by a retrovirus and can trigger several problems in the animal's body. To be contaminated, the cat must have direct contact with another infected feline. This contact includes sharing pots, boxes, toys, saliva and even bites and scratches. In this disease ofcat, most common symptoms are:

• Anemia
• Fever
• Cat losing weight
• Gum dysfunction
• Behavioral changes (such as a despondent cat)

Prevention

As it is a highly contagious disease that has no cure, the best thing to do is to adopt some measures to prevent feline FeLV. There is a vaccine for cats against the disease, but it is necessary to do a quick test to ensure that the animal does not have the virus before vaccination. Other actions that can be taken are the castration of the cat and the preference for indoor breeding.

4) Feline FIP

Among infectious diseases, cats need special attention with feline FIP, or Feline Infectious Peritonitis. This is because, although it has no cure or specific treatment, the diagnosis made by a veterinarian can help - and a lot! - to control the clinical signs of the disease. Feline FIP is caused by a microorganism of the coronavirus family and can manifest itself in thedry or effusive forms.

It is transmitted through contact with contaminated objects, feces and environments, and can also develop when a mutation occurs in the enteric coronavirus (a virus that lives naturally in the feline intestine). This is one of the common diseases in cats that have compromised immunity, and the most recurrent symptoms are:

• Cat losing weight
• Enlargement of the abdomen
• Breathing difficulty
• Fever
• Soft and weak cat

Prevention

FIP in cats, like FIV and FeLV, occurs when there is direct contact with contaminated animals and environments. Therefore, in order not to risk having a sick cat you should prevent this contact from happening. The virus that causes feline FIP can be present in several cats that do not manifest the disease, which is why it is so difficult to know if the cat has had contact with an infected pet or not. Acastration and indoor breeding are the best options!

5) Feline chlamydiosis

Caused by a bacterium, feline chlamydiosis is an infection that affects the eyes of animals at first. However, unlike conjunctivitis, chlamydiosis also has other associated symptoms that may lead some guardians to think that the kitten has the flu, but it is chlamydiosis. Therefore, self-medication should be avoided and the recommendation is to take the animal to a consultationThe typical clinical signs of this cat disease are:

• Red and swollen cat's eye
• Respiratory infection
• Nasal discharge
• Sneezing
• Cough

Prevention

There is a vaccine for cats capable of protecting against feline chlamydiosis, which is the feline quadruple. It has the antigen for the condition and is one of the mandatory vaccines for kittens (even more so because this is one of the common diseases in unvaccinated kittens). Allied to this, a good way to avoid contamination is to limit your cat's contact to known and clean environments.

6) Renal failure in cats

Kidney failure in cats is another major problem that can disrupt the lives of kittens. The disease can affect the feline at any stage of life, although it is more common in elderly animals. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to any unusual signs that may indicate cat disease so that the diagnosis can be made and disease control initiated. Symptoms that usually indicate the cat'spathology are:

• Excessive urine production
• Thirst and excessive water intake
• Vomit
• Cat losing weight

Prevention

It is possible to prevent kidney failure in cats! Encouraging your feline to drink more water is a great way to prevent the disease. For this, a great tip is to purchase water fountains for the animals or even offer fruits for cats that contain a lot of liquid in their composition, such as watermelon. The sachets also contribute a lot to the hydration of pets, as they have a high concentration of water.water.

Symptoms common to different diseases in cats

"My cat has suddenly lost weight" and "What to do about a weak cat" are typical queries from a pet owner concerned about their pet's health, but they are usually accompanied by a huge list of illnesses. The pestilent cat - that is, the sick, weak cat - can have a number of symptoms that can indicate anything from a simple cat viral infection to something more serious, such as the diseases mentioned above.

If you notice your cat sulking, not being willing to do routine tasks or having more specific symptoms, such as a cat with weakness in the back legs, you should pay more attention to your pet and seek veterinary help. Here is a list of symptoms that may affect your pet:

Cat with leg weakness - This sign can often indicate a variety of conditions, such as ear infections, trauma and joint or spinal problems.

Paralyzed cat - In the case of a "declawed" cat that can no longer move its legs, the paralysis may be temporary or permanent. It will depend on the causes, which must be assessed by a specialist.

Sleepy cat - Cats sleep a lot naturally, but when this exceeds 15 hours a day, it is good to keep an eye on them. Excessive sleepiness can indicate pain, fever and the presence of various diseases, such as a cat virus.

Very thin and weak cat - Excessive weight loss, which can leave the cat feeling weak and anorexic, is a symptom associated with several conditions. Diabetes in cats, hyperthyroidism, kidney failure and even tumours are points of attention.

Cat with dizziness - What can be in these cases is that the lack of appetite (and consequently inadequate feeding) can make the animal dizzy and weak. When the cat does not want to eat for no apparent reason, it may be sick.