Pet Forum

There are many infectious diseases that attack our cats with deadly consequences. I looked up a list of some of the most common, and deadliest, cat diseases that can be prevented with responsible care:

FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA (FELINE DISTEMPER) Feline distemper is a serious and deadly viral infection that can affect cats of all ages. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, depression and severe dehydration that lead to death of the cat. Treatment with IV fluids, massive antibiotic doses and intensive hospital care can save many cats so effected.

FELINE VIRAL RHINOTRACHEITIS (FVR) FVR is the most severe and widespread upper-respiratory viral infection of cats. Symptoms include fever, heavy discharges from the eyes, nose and mouth, difficulty breathing, coughing and salivation. Treatment is difficult but antibiotics, fluid therapy, force-feeding and intense supportive care can pull many cats through. Vaccination for prevention is most important.

FELINE CALICIVIRUS (FCV) FCV is a common viral upper-respiratory infection. It is widespread and can account for over 40% of all feline respiratory infections. Symptoms include fever, respiratory difficulty due to pneumonia and ulcers and blisters in the mouth and on the tongue. Treatment involves fluid and nutritional support and the use of antibiotics to prevent secondary infection. With good care most cats survive.


RABIES Rabies is a serious and fatal illness of most mammals with cats now being more commonly affected than are dogs. The infection is spread by the bite of another infected animal. Symptoms include unusual behavior and unprovoked attacks by the cat. Treatment is unavailable but a vaccine is.


FELINE CHLAMYDIOSIS (PNEUMONITIS) Pneumonitis is a very common upper-respiratory infection most common in young kittens. It is caused by a chlamydia, a unique type of infectious organism. Symptoms include thick discharges from the eyes and nose, sneezing coughing and salivation. Pneumonia will develop if the condition is left untreated. Treatment with antibiotics, eye ointments and nutritional support will allow most cats to recover. Our vaccines always include this disease.

FELINE LEUKEMIA (FELV) Feline leukemia is the most serious and common killer of pet cats. Many cats will harbor the virus and even spread it to other cats before they show symptoms of the disease making this even more serious a problem. Kittens can become infected even before they are born if a mother cat is infected. Many illnesses can arise and we refer you to our more-detailed pamphlet on this serious disease.

FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (FIV) is a relatively new and less common viral illness. There is a vaccine produced for this disease but its use is debatable. Many cats harbor the virus for months after being infected before disease develops. Symptoms include fever, enlarged lymph nodes, diarrhea, inflammation of the lips and gums, upper-respiratory infections that persist for long periods and behavioral changes. Treatment is usually not effective although AZT and a few experimental therapies are sometimes tried.


FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS (FIP) FIP is a serious an always fatal illness of cats that appears unpredictably in cats. The feline coronavirus causes the disease but the mode of transmission is poorly understood. Many cats with FIP also will have FELV. There is a vaccine that is moderately effective available. Symptoms include fever, weight loss, appetite loss, dehydration, depression, fluid accumulation in the abdomen and chest and other miscellaneous signs. Treatment is unavailable and most cats are euthanised.