1. Disease & Parasite ID: Cat

2. Diseases

3. Feline panleukopenia (Feline Distemper) Description: ▫Infectious disease caused by a parvovirus or DNA virus. This primarily affects young cats younger than sixteen weeks of age and has a 75% death rate. How is it contracted?: ▫It is spread by direct contact but also from infected food and water dishes, bedding, and litter boxes. Symptoms: ▫depression, loss of appetite, high fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Prevention: ▫FVRCP vaccine ▫Clean environment

4. Feline herpesvirus (FHV) Description: ▫An infectious respiratory virus infection caused by a DNA virus. Shed in the discharges from the nose, eyes and throat. Cats can become carriers. How is it contracted? ▫Direct contact with virus Symptoms: ▫depression, sneezing and coughing, severe eye and nasal discharges with an increase in temperature, and mouth ulcers Prevention: ▫Vaccine

5. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) Description: ▫An infectious disease caused by coronavirus that leads to organ failure. Coronavirus infections are more common in domestic cats, but few actually show signs of the disease. How is it contracted? ▫Cat-to-cat contact and exposure to feces. ▫Most common transmission of feline coronavirus occurs when infected female cats pass along the virus to their kittens Symptoms: ▫fever, refusal to eat, depression and weight loss Prevention: ▫Litter boxes should be kept clean and located away from food and water dishes ▫Prevent overcrowding ▫Keep cats current on vaccinations ▫Providing proper nutrition ▫FIP vaccine is not very effective and not recommended FIP infected kidney

6. Feline enteric coronavirus Description: ▫Infectious disease caused by ingestion of contaminated feces in kittens between four and twelve weeks of age. How is it contracted? ▫Spread by the ingestion of contaminated feces Symptoms: ▫low grade fever, vomiting, soft or watery diarrhea, blood in the feces and dehydration. Prevention: ▫Prevent overcrowding ▫Daily litter box cleaning ▫Weekly litter box disinfection ▫Clipping/cleaning fur from the hind end of long haired cats

7. Feline Urologic Syndrome (FUS)/Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) Description: ▫A non-infectious urinary tract disease. FUS may range from mild inflammation to blockage of the urethra, uremic poisoning, and death. VERY common in male cats. ▫Also known as “being blocked”. What causes it? ▫3 possible causes:  1 - Improper diet (where cats are fed high levels of magnesium and phosphorous)  2 - low water intake that causes concentrations of various salts in the urine  3 - Possibly a virus. Symptoms: ▫Urinating outside of litter box ▫Difficulty urinating ▫Painful urination (cat meows/cries) Prevention: ▫Control stress in cat’s life ▫Increase water consumption ▫Use of urinary diet foods

8. Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) Description: ▫A retrovirus that affects the white blood cells, leading to immune deficiency How is it contracted? ▫Infected mother to kitten though milk ▫Contac w/infected saliva and nasal secretions, but also in urine, feces, and milk from infected cats Symptoms: ▫Loss of appetite ▫Weight loss ▫Poor coat condition ▫Enlarged lymph nodes Prevention: ▫Keep cat indoors ▫FeLV Vaccination

9. Feline Viral Respiratory Disease (Upper Respiratory Infections - URIs) Description: ▫Highly contagious viral infection that affects the respiratory systems of cats How is it contracted? ▫Direct contact with infected discharge from the eyes, nose, mouth of cat; by contaminated litter boxes, water bowls, and human hands; and rarely, by airborne droplets. Symptoms: ▫Begins with severe bouts of sneezing ▫Then, conjunctivitis and watery discharge from the eyes and nose ▫Fever, apathy, and loss of appetite ▫Cat will breathe with their mouths open Prevention: ▫FVRCP Vaccination

10. Feline Gingivitis Description: ▫Considered the earliest stage of periodontal disease ▫Inflammation of the gingiva (gums) What causes it? ▫Plaque accumulation due to lack of dental care, old age, crowded teeth, soft food, diabetes etc. Symptoms: ▫Red or swollen gums, especially on the side of the gum facing the inner cheeks ▫Halitosis/bad breath ▫Variable amounts of plaque and calculus on the tooth surface Prevention: ▫Proper dental care & diet

11. Wet eye Description: ▫Excessive tear production or blockage of drainage canals that drain tears to the nasal cavity; causing the tears to overflow at the inner corner of the eyes How is it contracted? ▫Genetics ▫Nasolacrimal occlusion (the result of scarring from eyelid injuries from cat fights) ▫Chronic infection in the duct system and plugging of the ducts by thick secretions, dirt, or grass seeds Symptoms: ▫Watery or mucus-like discharge to overflow the eyelids and run down the sides of the face, staining the hair Prevention: ▫Keep cat indoors/away from other cats that can fight

12. Parasites

13. Toxoplasmosis Description: ▫Zoonotic disease produced by infection of Toxoplasma gondii protozoan How is it contracted?: ▫Spread through contaminated litter or cat feces Symptoms: ▫Particular concern for pregnant women, as it can cause miscarriage, premature delivery and blindness Prevention: ▫Wear rubber gloves to clean litter boxes, thoroughly wash hands afterwards

14. Ascarids/Roundworms Description: ▫Zoonotic, internal parasites that affects dogs and cats intestinal system How is it contracted? ▫Ingesting infected feces ▫Milk from infected queen (female cat) Symptoms/Complications: ▫Fever, headache, cough, poor appetite ▫Pot-bellied appearance or “unthrifty” look Prevention: ▫Deworm pets ▫Good sanitation

15. Hookworm Description: ▫Small, thin intestinal worms that attach to an anima’s small intestines How is it contracted? ▫Migration through the placenta in utero ▫Ingesting infected mother’s milk ▫Ingesting larvae in the soil ▫Direct penetration of the skin through pads of feet ▫Ingesting an intermediate host Symptoms/Complications: ▫Severe blood loss ▫Malnutrition ▫Bloody wine-dark or tar-dark diarrhea Prevention: ▫Deworm pets ▫Good sanitation

16. Tapeworm Description: ▫Internal worm that lives in the small intestine and can range from several inches to several feet How is it contracted? ▫Ingesting fleas or infected feces, animals or meat Symptoms/Complications: ▫May cause AHD (Alveolar Hydatid Disease) – can be fatal or produce parasitic tumors/cysts in the liver ▫White segments of worm moving on anus/rectal area of animal or on their feces ▫Anal itching Prevention: ▫Flea prevention ▫Avoid feeding uncooked meat, raw game or dead animals

17. Ticks – Hard & Soft Description: ▫external parasites that feed on the blood of host animals How is it contracted? ▫Dog picks up ticks in tall brush and grass Symptoms/Complications: ▫Blood loss ▫Anemia ▫Tick paralysis ▫Skin irritation and infection Prevention: ▫Tick preventative ▫Lyme vaccine ▫Avoid woody areas during tick season

18. Fleas Description ▫Brown, blood-sucking insects of small size that move rapidly over the skin. Typically found on back of neck in cats. How is it contracted? ▫Pick them up in the environment ▫Direct contact w/infected animal Symptoms: ▫Irritation and extreme itching ▫“Flea Dust” or black/brown specks in the fur (flea feces) ▫Tapeworms Prevention: ▫powders, dips, shampoos, collars, oral insecticides, foggers and sprays

19. Lice Description ▫Wingless insects ▫2 types: Chewing and Sucking that may bite or suck blood from the host. How is it contracted? ▫Pick up from environment or direct contact with infected animal Symptoms: ▫severe hair loss ▫scratching and rubbing Prevention: ▫Dips, dusts, or spray ▫Clean environment

20. Demodectic Mite Description: ▫Small biting insect that only causes problems when overpopulated/accumulated How is it contracted? ▫Naturally on skin, but can become overpopulated due to unclean environment/lack of grooming Symptoms: ▫Hair loss ▫Reddening of the skin ▫Crusty spots on the skin/entire body of animal  Known as “Demodecic Mange” Prevention: ▫Proper grooming & bathing

21. Sarcoptic Mite Description: ▫Mites that burrow within the outer layer of skin, are highly contagious, and result in mange or scabies which cause the animal intense irritation How is it contracted? ▫Direct contact with mite Symptoms: ▫Intense irritation and itching ▫Dog scratches & injures itself by chewing & rubbing the skin Prevention: ▫Flea preventative (fipronil/moxidectin/selamecti n)

22. Ear Mite Description: ▫Highly contagious mite found in the outer ear canal and other areas of dogs, cats, and rabbits. How is it contracted? ▫Direct contact with mite Symptoms: ▫Animal shakes their head and scratches at ears ▫Reddish-brown “dirt” or wax build-up in ears Prevention: ▫Proper ear cleaning ▫Flea preventative w/ear mite protection/preventative

23. Cheyletiella Description: ▫Contagious, non-burrowing mite that lives on the skin and feeds on the keratin layer of the epidermis ▫Also known as “hairclasping mite” How is it contracted? ▫Direct contact with mite or vector of mite (fleas, lice, flies) Symptoms: ▫“Walking dandruff” ▫Severe scaling on the back may occur, but itching is not as severe as with other mite infestations Prevention: ▫Topical moxidectin, selamectin, or fipronil (flea preventative) on a monthly basis.

24. Chiggers Description: ▫Orange-red larvae stages of Trombicula mites; remain on the skin for a short time and usually do not require treatment other than something to stop the itching. How is it contracted? ▫Picked up from underbrush Symptoms: ▫Itchy, red rash on belly, face, feet and legs Prevention: ▫Avoid woody areas and underbrush