Just like people, cats can also get infections caused by viruses. These pathogens are very simple and small beings, but they can cause a series of diseases in cats, from influenza to leukemia. They are obligate cellular parasites, that is, they are completely dependent on another cell to reproduce. Its basic structure is simply made up of some kind of nucleic acid (genetic material) and an envelope made of proteins (capsid). Some viruses, especially those that infect animals, also have an outer envelope of phospholipids (fats).
Viruses are extremely small microscopic organisms and therefore most of the time they can only be seen with an electron microscope. They are well known for the diseases they cause in animals, which can cause various symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, runny nose and eyes, lethargy or lack of appetite, among others. To help you identify them, in this article on our site we'll cover the main types of viruses in cats and the diseases they cause
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a systemic disease caused by a feline enteric coronavirus. This pathology can be classified into two forms of presentation: wet and dry. The first is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the chest and/or abdominal cavity due to poor blood circulation. The second form has nonspecific clinical signs such as lethargy, lack of appetite, fever, and weight loss.
The disease is spread through contact with the feces of the carrier cat and the virus is rarely shed through saliva or other body fluids. After ingestion, the virus infects the cells of the intestinal epithelium and spreads to the rest of the body, causing the symptoms of the disease.
Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no cure for FIP , so treatment is focused on treating the symptoms produced. Therefore, it may be necessary to adapt the cat's diet, administer antibiotics or other drugs, fluid therapy or drainage of pleural effusions. In case of suspicion of this viral disease, it is necessary to go to the veterinary center.
Feline respiratory complex
The cat flu, also known as feline respiratory complex, has several causative agents: viruses (herpesviruses, caliciviruses, reoviruses) and bacteria (Chlamydia psittaci, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma felis, Bordetella bronchiseptica). These pathogens affect the cat's eyes and upper respiratory tract (nose, pharynx, larynx, and trachea) and can reach the bronchi. The most common symptoms are:
- Runny nose and eyes.
- Sneezing.
- Fever.
- Lack of appetite.
- Dehydration.
Younger kittens can be infected by direct contact with the mother, other sick cats or he althy carriers. Puppies are more susceptible because they are not yet vaccinated, as well as because they have a developing immune system. Outdoor cats are more likely to contract the disease.
Treatment
The treatment of this viral disease in cats depends on the causal agent, so antibiotics, fluid therapy, antivirals and even eye drops can be used. Again, it will be the veterinarian who decides what treatment to establish.
Feline infectious panleukopenia
Another of the most common viruses in cats is the one that develops this pathology. The cause of feline infectious panleukopenia is the feline parvovirus, which causes several symptoms in the animal, such as fever, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. It is an infectious disease that usually manifests itself in groups of cats, such as cattery, animal exhibitions or colonies of stray cats. Yes! This virus also affects feral cats.
Transmission is carried out, in general, by inhalation of droplets of infected secretions suspended in the environment itself and by ingestion of the virus. Inflammatory lesions that usually lead to ulceration can be seen on the tongue of diseased animals, especially on the edges of the tongue. The mucous membranes, such as the ocular and oral conjunctiva, are anemic (pale). Dehydration can lead to death if not treated properly.
Treatment
There is still no treatment capable of combating the virus that causes this disease in cats, so it focuses on helping the animal to overcome it by itself. For this reason, the measures that are established focus on improving the immune system Fluid therapy, plasma or blood transfusions, changing the diet and administering drugs such as antibiotics, antiemetics or immunomodulators.
Feline leukemia (FelV)
Feline leukemia is an infectious disease that is transmitted directly through bodily fluids, vertically (from mother to child) and possibly iatrogenically (produced by humans) through contaminated needles or surgical instruments and blood transfusions. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a oncogenic and immunosuppressive retrovirus with worldwide distribution, which can affect both domestic and wild cats. Without a doubt, it is one of the most serious viral diseases in cats.
Feline leukemia virus infection depends on factors related to the animal, such as its immunity, concomitant diseases, environmental conditions and age. Cats older than one year are less likely to become infected with FeLV due to lifelong acquired immunity.
Not all infected cats show symptoms, but the disease often causes a variety of neoplastic and degenerative disorders, including lymphomas, sarcomas, immunodeficiency and hematopoietic diseasesThe manifestations of feline viral leukemia are attributed to the oncogenic and immunosuppressive effects of the retrovirus, including nonspecific clinical signs such as fever, lethargy, lymphadenopathy, anemia, glomerulonephritis, and thymic atrophy, with the consequent high mortality rate. This virus can develop in cats lymph node or bone marrow neoplasms and non-specific gastrointestinal signs such as weight loss, diarrhea and vomiting.
Treatment
As in previous cases, there is no cure for feline leukemia However, it is possible for the cat to enjoy good quality of life for years if the disease is detected early and the treatment stipulated by the veterinarian is followed. This treatment may require the administration of antivirals and immunomodulators, modifications in the diet, minimizing stress and other care that guarantees the well-being of the sick animal. Of course, it will also be necessary to control the cat to prevent it from infecting others.
Feline immunodeficiency (FIV)
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) belongs to the same genus as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, FIV is extremely species-specific and only replicates in feline cells, so there is no risk of sick cats infecting people or other animals.
The main mode of transmission is by inoculation of the virus through saliva or blood, through bites or wounds secondary to territorial disputes or females in heat. Cats shed large amounts of viral particles through their saliva, so a simple bite can be enough to spread the virus from one cat to another. Infection through the collective use of food bowls and mutual licking are unlikely forms of transmission, as the virus is relatively unstable in the environment and cats would be exposed to very low levels of the virus.
After infection, cats develop immunodeficiency, enhancing the action of opportunistic infections. They can present with nonspecific signs such as fever, lethargy, gastrointestinal dysfunction, stomatitis (mouth sores), gingivitis, dermatitis, conjunctivitis, and respiratory diseases. In the final stages, it is common to find mouth and teeth diseases, such as ulcers and necrosis, neoplasms such as lymphoma, kidney failure, neurological disease and general weakness, similar to human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Treatment
Feline AIDS has no cure either, but this does not mean that the animal cannot have a good life for years. In this case, the treatment is based on controlling the symptoms and preventing the cat from suffering from secondary infections. Likewise, the administration of anti-inflammatories and the modification of the diet to strengthen the immune system are common.
Feline Rhinotracheitis
Feline rhinotracheitis is another of the most serious viral diseases in cats with the highest mortality rate. It is a pathology caused by a herpesvirus, a calicivirus or even both It is a contagious disease that affects the upper respiratory tract, being much more common in cats infants or in immunocompromised adults.
Feline rhinotracheitis causes respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and sneezing, as well as difficulty swallowing, runny nose and eyes It is common for secondary infections to appear, especially bacterial ones. If caused by the calicivirus, oral wounds are also common.
Treatment
Rhinotracheitis is potentially fatal, so it is essential to go to the veterinary center as soon as possible. There is a cure and treatment is usually based on fluid therapy, administration of antibiotics,analgesics and eye drops , as well as treating possible secondary infections that may have developed.
How to treat viruses in cats?
As we have seen, the treatment of viruses in cats is based on supportive therapy, where the animal must receive medication according to its symptoms. The use of antivirals is performed in cats positive for FelV and with clinical signs of the disease (AZT is the most used), in addition to immunomodulatory drugs.
Cats affected by viruses should receive hydration, constant feeding, antiemetics (in case of vomiting) andantibiotics (in case of secondary infection), according to veterinary medical prescription.
Prevention remains the best way to avoid these diseases. Unfortunately, there are no vaccines for feline infectious peritonitis in all countries, but there are for all the other viruses mentioned in this article, which are the feline quadruple and quintuple vaccinesCats should be vaccinated from sixty days of age, requiring a booster twenty-one days after the first dose and annual boosters thereafter. Don't miss this post about the Cat Vaccine Schedule.
Are there home remedies for viruses in cats?
No, there are no home remedies for the viruses described here. The most important thing is to offer sick felines a safe place to rest, hydrate and eat a balanced diet, as we have already mentioned.
Now that you know the main viral diseases in cats and the viruses that cause them, we recommend the following video in which we explain how to know if something hurts a cat, since it is not always easy:
