Cats are very adventurous animals and easily exposed to a variety of diseases. Despite major advances in veterinary medicine, many of these are still incurable: feline leukemia, feline AIDS, feline infectious peritonitis, rabies, and so on. Some other diseases can be fatal only to kittens or animals with weakened immune systems, while others can seriously affect your pet's health at any age.
Fortunately for your cat, there are a number of vaccines available to prevent many of the diseases that can strike indoor and/or outdoor cats. Prevention is still the most effective and economical way to prevent feline diseases. What's more, without up-to-date vaccination, your cat needlessly exposes family members to certain diseases it carries. Here's some information on diseases that can be prevented by vaccination.
How do vaccines work?
A vaccine contains modified viruses or bacteria. They can't give your pet the disease, but they will force your cat to fight these viruses or bacteria and form antibodies. If your cat comes into contact with the disease again, its antibodies will recognize it and destroy it. However, it's important to know that the protection offered by antibodies diminishes over time, so it's important to follow the vaccination and booster schedule suggested by your veterinarian. In recent years, major advances in vaccine research and composition have led to significant changes in vaccination. At AnimaPlus, we closely follow the discussions of the leading experts on the subject of vaccination, in order to maintain the safest protocols for you and your cat.
Feline Infectious Diseases
Feline Leukemia
Feline leukemia (FeLV) is a virus that affects a cat's immune system. This prevents them from fighting off other infections. In some cases, FeLV can also cause the development of cancer.
In rare cases, a cat may be able to get rid of a mild FeLV infection. However, in the vast majority of cases, the infection is permanent and eventually causes death. An animal that often appears ill or feverish may be suffering from leukemia. A simple blood test carried out by the AnimaPlus team can detect whether or not your cat has the disease. It's important to check whether your cat is a carrier of the disease before vaccination, as your cat's blood will then contain antibodies to leukemia, making it impossible to diagnose the disease. By checking for leukemia before vaccination, you can ensure that your cat is treated appropriately.
Feline AIDS (FIV)
Feline AIDS is also a virus. FIV is specific to cats: in other words, it cannot be transmitted to humans or other species (like the feline leukemia virus). FIV is transmitted through saliva, mainly when bitten by an infected animal. Once a cat is infected, the disease is unfortunately incurable. It does not necessarily cause symptoms immediately, but rather lies dormant for some time until the immune system fails.
As a result of the progressive destruction of the immune system in infected cats, complications become increasingly serious and difficult to treat, as the cat no longer offers resistance to the most common bacteria, viruses and fungi.
A simple blood test carried out by the AnimaPlus team can detect whether or not your cat has the disease. It's important to check whether your cat has the disease before vaccination, as your cat's blood will then contain antibodies to FIV, making it impossible to diagnose the disease.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is caused by a virus that causes inflammation of the peritoneum (the membrane lining the abdomen and viscera). Peritonitis is a serious infection that can lead to death if left untreated, as the peritoneal surface area is greater than the body surface area, so the local and general consequences are very rapid. Once the cat has developed signs of the disease, death is often inevitable. Symptoms of FIP may include swelling of the abdomen due to fluid accumulation, fever, marked weight loss and eye lesions.
Rabies
It's important to understand that all warm-blooded animals—those that regulate their body temperature regardless of the environment—can contract rabies. This disease is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans, and it is just as deadly for animals as it is for people. Vaccinating cats is especially crucial, as reported cases of rabies in cats are twice as common as in dogs.
Rabies is caused by a virus that attacks the animal's central nervous system. Once an animal is infected, the virus can evolve over a period ranging from 10 days to several months. An animal carrying the disease may tend to distance itself from you and other animals, or display unusual aggressiveness. Once an infected animal shows signs of the disease, the only possible outcome is death.
In North America, the disease is mainly found in skunks, raccoons, foxes and bats. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva and/or bite of an animal with the disease. A cat with wounds of unknown origin, or one that has been involved in a fight with a wild animal, should always be suspected and placed in quarantine. Rabies is a notifiable disease that automatically generates post-mortem laboratory analyses by the public health department.
A person who has been infected can receive curative treatment, provided it is given promptly after the bite. Considering the dangers associated with this infection, the AnimaPlus team recommends rabies vaccination for all animals, whether they go outdoors or not. We consider this a social responsibility for all pet owners. Cases of rabies have been reported in Montreal, Laval and on the South Shore.
Feline Panleukopenia
Feline panleukopenia is a disease that can be found in cats of all ages, but is most frequently seen in kittens. It is very difficult to prevent exposure to this disease, and for this reason ALL cats should be vaccinated.
The panleukopenia virus can cause symptoms such as loss of appetite, diarrhea (often with blood), vomiting, generalized weakness, tremors and can be fatal. The disease often progresses rapidly. Once infected, a cat can die within 7 days.
Respiratory Diseases
Respiratory diseases are among the most easily transmitted from one cat to another. Your cat can become infected through direct contact with an affected secretion, or with infected droplets from a coughing or sneezing cat. Symptoms of an infected animal include nasal and/or ocular secretions, fever, depression, loss of appetite, etc.
Respiratory diseases are often caused by one of two viruses: calicivirus or rhinotracheitis (herpes virus). Infectious feline rhinotracheitis is widespread in the feline population of Quebec. Infected cats remain so for the rest of their lives. This disease cannot be treated, only controlled. During episodes of stress, symptoms that were previously under control may reappear.
What vaccines should I give my cat?
First of all, it's important to know that your cat must be in perfect health in order to receive a vaccine. What's more, the law and the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec require that an animal be examined before vaccination. An animal with a weakened immune system would have great difficulty producing antibodies if vaccinated. It could also be dangerous to vaccinate a cat that has no symptoms but is carrying a disease. In some cases, your veterinarian will suggest certain diagnostic tests before vaccination.
Some diseases are infrequent, but these are also the most virulent and dangerous for your pet. To know exactly which vaccines would be most appropriate for your cat, you need to take into account several factors, including your pet's origin and, above all, whether or not it will be going outdoors. Talk to a member of the AnimaPlus team, and we'll help you make an informed decision.