Feline immunodeficiency

The causative virus of this disease destroy the lymphocyte T-responsible for the immunity- of the infected cat, diminishing in an important way their capacity to answer before other diseases. It(she) is similar to AIDS in humans and affects mostly males. It usually manifests after six years of age.

Transmission: the main way is by saliva; the virus is also contagious by wounds-normally caused in territorial fights- and intercourse with infected cats.

Clinical signs: recurring infections almost all the time, weight loss, fever, lymphatic nodules tumors and affections of the nervous system.

Diagnose: this is done by a blood exam.

Treatment: there is no cure. There are different therapies that can be done to prolong their life but they are usually very expensive.

Feline infectious peritonitis
It is a gastrointestinal infection that brings as consequence a peritonitis. The signs are very similar to the parvovirus of a dog.

Transmission: the causative virus of this disease is in the saliva, snot, dregs and urine of the infected cat, and is transmitted when a healthy cat inhales it or eats it. This disease is most commonly in cats that are often outside the house, but even cats that don't go out can get infected by receiving visits from any infected animal, for example when a male is taken to mate with the female.

Clinical signs: not painful expansion of the abdomen, with accumulation of liquid. Also an edema can happen- accumulation of liquid- in the scrotum, same as vomit and diarrhea. Also there can be difficulties to breathe, fever, pleurisy or kidney damage, jaundice, increase of the spleen and liver.

in females it can provoke abortions and embryonic reabsortion, same as infertility in both sexes. A pregnant cat that has this disease when giving birth , will have kittens with malformations and weak, therefore, fewer opportunities to survive.

Treatment: there is no known cure. The humanitarian sacrifice is indicated in sick cats, to avoid any infections.