Cats, like humans, are exposed to various microorganisms, viruses and bacteria. Because of this, they can also often get sick.

These are the three most dangerous infectious diseases in cats.

Sid

The causative agent of this disease is a lentivirus, which slowly attacks and destroys the cat's immunity. The main danger is not AIDS itself, but the secondary infections of the cat against which it cannot fight due to weakened immunity. Feline AIDS or FIV can be called a disease of "aggressive" cats, because the most common transmission is through blood and saliva, i.e. bite wounds. Although rare, transmission of the virus from mother to kittens during birth or through breastfeeding is possible.
FIV is diagnosed with a blood test, and only a few drops of blood are needed. Cats are often asymptomatic carriers of the virus, so they may show the first symptoms of the disease later in life. The most common clinical picture of the disease is poor coating quality and inflammation of the skin (dermatitis), loss of appetite, elevated body temperature, inflammation of the gums and oral cavity, chronic infections of various organ systems that are repeated, constant diarrhea, slow weight loss, etc.

Leukemia

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) also belongs to the category of infectious diseases in cats. It is a highly contagious retrovirus that causes immunosuppression, secondary infections of various organ systems, and numerous tumor and blood abnormalities. FeLV is a leading cause of death in cats, and the pathogen is transmitted through saliva and blood. Just as FIV is a disease of "aggressive" cats, FeLV is a disease of "benign" cats.
The infection is spread by socializing cats that groom each other, play and share food and water bowls. Kittens up to four months are at the greatest risk because they can be infected through the mother - even in the womb, during birth, through the milk, while the mother cleans them.

Viral peritonitis in cats

Feline viral peritonitis (FIP) is an incurable disease caused by the feline coronavirus. There are two types of this virus: the first, "intestinal" (FCoV), sometimes leads to mild inflammation of the intestines (enteritis) with transient diarrhea, and the second (FIPV) causes FIP. Differentiating them in the laboratory is a challenge in diagnosing FIP.
Infection with the coronavirus usually occurs through the feces of an infected cat, less often through saliva and urine. A cat can be a carrier of this virus for years without any symptoms. According to the latest research, the intestinal coronavirus (FCov) mutates into a virus (FIPV), which multiplies and spreads throughout the body and leads to viral peritonitis.
By maintaining the health and hygiene of your pets, you can significantly reduce the risk of transmitting infectious diseases to humans.

If you notice unusual symptoms in your pet, contact your veterinarian immediately. K.S.