Tension and Pressure: The Greatest Health Risks for Cats; Sharing Tips for Multi-Cat Families to Avoid Risks
Living with cats, will they also be prone to getting sick together? During special periods, it is more important to prevent diseases, especially in multi-cat families, how to prevent diseases needs to be highlighted. Today, Bai Na will share fromCommon diseases in multi-cat families and the symptoms and prevention methods of common diseasesI hope it can help you all to get through this period safely.
Common diseases in multi-cat families
1. Upper respiratory tract infection diseases: cat viral feline herpesvirus, cat calicivirus, feline coryza etc.
2. Contact infection diseases: microsporum, ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, ear mites etc.), cat panleukopenia virus, cat leukemia virus etc.
3. Fecal-oral transmission diseases: infectious feline peritonitis virus, ectoparasite diseases etc.
4. Mosquito-borne diseases: cat heartworm.
5. Stress-induced diseases: interstitial cystitis, anxiety, latent viral infection (such as feline herpesvirus), skin diseases.
In multi-cat families, compared to single-cat families, there are more opportunities for cats to infect each other through interaction.This becomes a breeding ground for disease spread. Without a comprehensive prevention concept, it may be difficult to resist the spread of infectious diseases.
Common disease one: feline viral herpesvirus
Feline viral herpesvirus infection is caused by feline herpesvirusIt is the most common type of upper respiratory tract infection in cats, characterized by high transmissibility. Feline herpesvirus cannot be eradicated, most infected cats will become permanent carriers, the dormant virus is easily reactivated when the cat's physical or psychological state is not good
- Symptoms: sneezing, conjunctivitis, fever, anorexia, nasal congestion, eye ulceration, death risk
- Kittens: easily develop pneumonia, young cats have a high mortality rate
- Female cats:Female cats have a high risk of infecting kittensEasily causing weakness in young kittens
Cats and humans are different, saliva range will not be far away transmissionBut healthy cats may be infected by contacting residual virus secretions in the environment or by direct contact with infected catsIn multi-cat families, once a cat is infected with feline herpesvirus, it should be isolated, disinfected and cleaned
Guidance for treating feline viral herpesvirus
1. Wash hands first upon returning home
2. Be cautious when introducing new cats: do not bring new cats home easily, after coming home, conduct isolation
3. Vaccinate on time: vaccination is very important
4. Reduce stress sources: care for the cat's mental health
Common disease two: mold
Mold is a common skin disease, it infects by contact with mold sporesWhen cats live in a complex environment of multiple cats and feel anxious and stressed, the opportunity of contact infection will be greatly increased. In multi-cat families, it is particularly difficult to treat and has a high recurrence rate
- Symptoms: hair loss, localized hair loss (usually circular), scales, uneven skin
Routes of contact infection: microspore may be brought back by the owner to go out, or it may breed in damp and dirty environments at home
Guidance for treating mold
1. Change clothes when the owner returns home
2. Home cleaning
3. Control the humidity at home
4. Mood affects immunity
5. Isolate sick cats
6. Patient treatment
Common disease three: parasites
Parasites are unwelcome guests in the home. In multi-cat families, cats interact frequently with each other, sharing litter boxes, sleeping together or grooming each other, which is not a transmission route for single-cat families. These transmission routes need to be prevented!
1. Fleas
Fleas are almost everywhere, they can be transmitted to cats through contact or shared litter boxes and sleeping areasFleas will bite cats, causing anemia, or can cause allergic dermatitis, eating fleas can also infect tapeworms
- Symptoms: itching behavior, hair loss, allergic dermatitis
2. Heartworm
Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes. Once cats are infected with heartworm, the symptoms and disease course are difficult to predict, and there is a risk of sudden death without warningSymptoms: cough, vomiting, chest or abdominal fluid accumulation, difficulty breathing, shock death
- 3. RoundwormsRoundworms are ectoparasites transmitted through fecal-oral transmission, and may also infect humans
Sharing cat litter boxes also increases the risk of infection in multi-cat familiesSymptoms: loose stools, vomiting, emaciation
- Common parasite prevention guide
1. Keep the home clean
2. Be cautious when bringing new cats home
3. Use a flea comb to comb the cat's hair
4. Use a monthly flea and tick repellent
Stress and anxiety are often overlooked causes
Cats are very sensitive and delicate animals. Small changes and stimuli may not be recognized by humans, but they can be like volcanic eruptions in the cat's world, becoming sources of stress and anxiety
What are the potential stress sources in multi-cat families? Pet doctors remind: When friction and conflict are constant, it is likely that there are not enough resources or lack of proper allocation in the home. For example
Cats eating togetherPoor escape routesLack of hidden places to restToo few litter boxesOrLack of owner's attentionetc. These are all likely to increase the cat's stress, which can then lead to resource competition and mutual bullying or single cats having behavioral problems.Cats may become seriously ill due to overthinkingPet owners must not ignore it!Key points
When cats are overly stressed, it can also stimulate the release of specific hormones from the adrenal glands, which can trigger inflammatory substances in the body, and make the disease worse if the cat is already sick.
Bai Na's advice
If the cat shows abnormal behavior, it is recommended that pet owners see a doctor for examination first to rule out physiological problems. As we raise cats at home, we must understand the cat's nature and habits and meet its needs. Only when we do this will cats be healthy and happy.
