Cat Owners' Guide: Common Indoor Cat Illnesses

Cats are experts at hiding illness from their owners, so it's important to know what to look out for. Here are some of the most common illnesses that affect indoor cats:

- Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD): FLUTD refers to a group of conditions that affect a cat's bladder and urethra. Symptoms include straining to urinate, frequent urination, and urinating outside the litter box. FLUTD is often caused by stress, a multi-cat household, or a change in routine.

- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): FIV severely weakens a cat's immune system, making them susceptible to secondary infections. It is usually passed from cat to cat through bite wounds, so keeping your cat indoors can help protect them. Symptoms include inflammation of the eyes, mouth, or gums, wounds that won't heal, and eye or nose discharge.

- Upper Respiratory Infections: Viruses and bacteria can cause infections in a cat's upper respiratory tract, sinuses, nose, and throat. These infections are commonly seen in multi-cat households and shelters, where cats share food and water bowls. Symptoms include decreased appetite, congestion, and nasal discharge.

- Diabetes: Diabetes in cats is caused by a lack of insulin or an inadequate response to insulin, leading to increased blood sugar levels. Obesity is a contributing factor, and male cats are more prone to diabetes than females. Symptoms include increased or decreased appetite, urinating outside the litter box, and sweet-smelling breath.

- Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV): FeLV is a common cause of death in cats, weakening their immune systems and making them susceptible to kidney disease, lymphosarcoma, and anemia. It is spread through saliva, blood, feces, or urine, and can be transmitted from an infected mother cat to her kittens. Symptoms include upper respiratory infections, enlarged lymph nodes, and various eye conditions.

- Cancer: Cancer in cats can take many forms and have various symptoms, including persistent skin infections, abnormal discharge, and difficulty urinating or defecating. Early detection is key to successful treatment, and keeping your cat indoors can help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD)

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is an umbrella term for several conditions affecting a cat's lower urinary tract, including the urethra and bladder. FLUTD can occur in cats of any age but is most often seen in young to middle-aged adult cats. It can be challenging to identify the underlying cause of FLUTD, and the illness can vary in severity.

Symptoms of FLUTD

The most common symptoms of FLUTD include:

• Straining to urinate
• Urinating more frequently
• Urinating in unusual places
• Crying when urinating
• Licking the genital area
• Urinating small amounts
• Blood in the urine

If your cat is male and is exhibiting these symptoms, it may be a sign of the most severe form of FLUTD: urethral obstruction. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate veterinary attention.

Causes of FLUTD

There are several potential causes of FLUTD, including:

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• Bladder Stones (Urolithiasis)
• Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC)
• Cancer (Bladder or Urethra)
• Urethral Obstruction

Diagnosis and Treatment of FLUTD

Diagnosing FLUTD can be difficult and often involves a combination of physical examinations, test results, and patient history. Your veterinarian may perform a urinalysis, blood work, x-rays, abdominal ultrasound, and/or a urine culture to identify the cause of FLUTD.

Treatment for FLUTD depends on the specific cause and may include medications, diet changes, environmental modifications, and in some cases, surgery. It is important to work closely with your veterinarian to determine the best course of treatment for your cat.

Prevention of FLUTD

To help prevent FLUTD in your cat, you can:

• Provide clean, fresh water at all times
• Feed small meals frequently
• Manage your cat's weight
• Provide an adequate number of litter boxes
• Keep litter boxes in quiet, safe areas
• Minimise major changes in routine
• Reduce stress and anxiety

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

FIV is transmitted primarily through bite wounds from infected cats. The virus is carried to the lymph nodes, where it replicates in white blood cells, before spreading to other lymph nodes in the body. This results in temporary lymph node enlargement, often accompanied by fever, depression, and loss of appetite. Following this acute phase, cats enter an asymptomatic phase, which can last from several months to years, during which the virus replicates slowly and no outward signs of illness are observed. As the virus continues to spread, cats enter a progressive immunocompromised state, becoming susceptible to secondary infections.

Cats with FIV may not show symptoms for years after the initial infection. Once symptoms develop, they may progress continuously, or a cat may experience intermittent periods of sickness and health. Symptoms of FIV include enlarged lymph nodes, conjunctivitis, gingivitis, stomatitis, skin redness or hair loss, wounds that don't heal, discharge from the eyes or nose, and frequent or painful urination.

FIV is diagnosed through blood tests that detect antibodies to the virus. The most common screening test is the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test. While there is no cure for FIV, infected cats can live relatively normal lives if the condition is managed properly. Management includes keeping cats indoors, isolated from other cats, and providing a healthy diet with no raw food. Regular wellness visits to the veterinarian are also important for FIV-infected cats.

Upper Respiratory Infections

The symptoms of a URI can include:

• Clear or coloured discharge from the eyes or nose
• Swelling of the tissue around the eyes, known as conjunctivitis
• Fever, lethargy, and/or anorexia (loss of appetite)
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Red or runny eyes
• Sores on the tongue, lips, nose, or roof of the mouth
• Ulcers in the mouth
• Skin lesions
• Limping
• Corneal inflammation or ulceration

If you suspect your cat has a URI, you should seek advice from a veterinarian, who will be able to prescribe the best course of treatment. Treatment will depend on the severity of the infection and may include antibiotics, antiviral medications, or anti-inflammatory medications. In rare cases, URIs can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, so it is important to monitor your cat's condition and seek veterinary care if needed.

To prevent URIs in cats, it is recommended to keep your cat indoors and away from infected animals. Proper isolation of infected cats is also important to protect other pets in the household. Keeping your cat up to date on vaccines, as recommended by your veterinarian, can also help lessen the severity of the disease. Regular veterinary exams and preventative care can aid in early detection and treatment.

Diabetes

There are two main types of diabetes in cats: Type I and Type II. Type I diabetes, also known as insulin-deficient or insulin-dependent diabetes, is rare in cats. It occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce sufficient insulin. Type II diabetes, on the other hand, is the most common form seen in cats. It is characterised by relative insulin deficiency, meaning that even though the pancreas may produce adequate levels of insulin, the tissues are unable to utilise it effectively for glucose metabolism.

The signs of diabetes in cats are varied and can include:

• Increased thirst and frequent urination: This is often one of the first signs noticed by owners, as they find themselves filling up the water bowl more often and cleaning urine out of the litter box more frequently.
• Urinating outside the litter box: Due to the increased thirst and high blood sugar levels, cats with diabetes may have an urgency to urinate and may do so outside the litter box.
• Changes in appetite: Cats with diabetes may initially experience an increased appetite, followed by a decreased appetite. Up to 50% of diabetic cats show a reduced appetite at the time of diagnosis.
• Weight loss: Despite eating a nutritious diet and appearing to have a healthy appetite, a cat with diabetes may lose weight. This is because their body cannot perform normally, and glucose is not converted into energy.
• Lethargy or weakness: A cat with undiagnosed or unregulated diabetes may become lethargic and disinterested in play or exercise.
• Poor coat quality: A diabetic cat's coat may become oily, dull, and flaky, with the presence of dandruff.
• Behavioural changes: Cats with diabetes may exhibit irritability or uncharacteristic aggression due to fluctuating blood sugar levels. They may become withdrawn or less affectionate than usual.
• Plantigrade stance: In cases of uncontrolled diabetes, nerve damage in the hind limbs may cause the cat to walk with their whole foot touching the ground, rather than just the paw pads.
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): DKA is a medical emergency that occurs when a cat has high blood sugar levels for a prolonged period. It is fatal if left untreated.

It is important to note that several of these symptoms are not specific to diabetes and could indicate other health issues. Therefore, if you notice any of these signs in your cat, it is crucial to consult your veterinarian, who can perform full blood work and a urinalysis to determine the cause.

The exact cause of diabetes in cats is unknown, but certain factors are believed to contribute to its development. These include genetics, pancreatic disease, certain medications, and abnormal protein deposits in the pancreas. Obesity, gender (male cats are more commonly affected), and age are also significant risk factors.

While there is currently no cure for feline diabetes, it can be effectively managed through a combination of medical and lifestyle changes. Insulin injections are often necessary to help regulate blood sugar levels, and a diabetic-friendly diet, such as a wet food diet lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein, is usually recommended. Portion control and increased exercise are also important components of diabetes management in cats. With prompt and proper treatment, cats with diabetes can live long and healthy lives.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

FeLV is categorised into four subgroups: A, B, C, and T. An infected cat will have a combination of FeLV-A and one or more of the other subgroups. Symptoms, prognosis, and treatment are all influenced by the subgroup.

The signs and symptoms of FeLV infection vary. Infected cats may show no signs at all, or they could experience loss of appetite, poor coat condition, uneven pupils, infections of the skin, bladder, and respiratory tract, oral disease, seizures, swollen lymph nodes, skin lesions, fatigue, fever, weight loss, inflammation of the gums and mouth, diarrhoea, and jaundice.

FeLV-related disease is usually fatal, with 80-90% of infected cats dying within three to four years of diagnosis. The median survival time after diagnosis is 2.5 years, but this can be longer for cats with regressive infections.

There is currently no cure for FeLV, and no vaccine offers 100% protection from the virus. However, there are therapies that can decrease the amount of FeLV in an infected cat's bloodstream. Vaccination is recommended for high-risk cats, including those with access to the outdoors and those living with an infected cat.

The best way to prevent FeLV infection is to keep cats indoors and away from potentially infected cats. All cats should be tested for FeLV before being introduced to a household with other cats, and infected cats should be housed separately. Food and water bowls, as well as litter boxes, should not be shared between infected and non-infected cats.

Frequently asked questions