Disease

Cats are less commonly infected by heartworms than dogs, and approximately 80 percent of infected cats clear the infection without signs of disease, but studies have shown the incidence of infection to be greater than previously thought. One study found that between 2 and 5 percent of shelter cats were harboring heartworms. Other statistics show that the prevalence of heartworm disease in cats likely approaches 5 percent, and that it can even occur in cats living indoors.

We adopted the cutest little kitten from our local shelter last month. Bob apparently was exposed to feline distemper virus and, as a result, he wobbles and shakes when he walks, and falls over when he plays. He gets the most adorable determined look on his face when he wants to do something - and although it may take him longer to accomplish a task, we cant help but admire his persistent, sunny nature. Can you tell me about this condition he has and will he show any signs of improvement as he ages?

Researchers at the University College of London School of Pharmacy and neurologist Dr. Mark Lowrie at Davies Veterinary Specialists in Hertfordshire in the U.K. previously identified an epilepsy syndrome in geriatric cats. They named it Feline Audiogenic Reflex Seizures (FARS), a condition triggered by high-pitched sounds such as crinkling tin foil and clanging metal spoons.

Feline pancreatitis has always been difficult to detect and treat. At least one study, now nearly a decade old, found that the potentially deadly disease might affect more than 60 percent of cats, yet only a small percentage are ever diagnosed. The reasons lie in the widely varying characteristics and unknown elements of the disease, in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. Some cats will display only mild signs such as lack of appetite and lethargy, while growing evidence suggests that many cats with chronic pancreatitis show no symptoms at all.

These are among key 25 signs of pain in cats identified in research at the University of Lincoln in the U.K. Dr. Isabella Merola and Daniel Mills, Professor of Veterinary Behavioral Medicine, surveyed international academics and practitioners with specialties in internal medicine, anesthesiology, oncology, dentistry, behavior, dermatology, ophthalmology and neurology. They say in PLOS One that the resulting list could lead to faster diagnoses and ultimately reduce suffering.

Hrudey was in trouble. The 7-year-old cat had been diagnosed with both kidney disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common form of heart disease in cats. The double whammy made it difficult to manage his health because of the need to balance the fluids necessary for kidney health with the diuretics that helped control his heart disease. On top of that, of course, his feline nature meant that he wasnt fond of taking medication.

Some cats develop cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), similar to Alzheimers disease in humans. One-third of cats 11 to 14 years old have CDS, with the incidence rising to 50 percent for those 15 years and older.

Researchers at the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in the U.K. have, for the first time, identified the bacteria associated with feline periodontitis. This condition, characterized by inflammation of the gums and other tissues, is estimated to affect two-thirds of cats over 3 years of age, causing pain, difficulty eating and tooth loss.

All cats face the risk of heart disease, from domestic shorthairs to prized rare breeds, but the signs can remain undetected for years before resulting in diminished or total loss of cardiac function. The challenge for owners is to be alert to subtle changes in their cats.

Come spring and fall, animal shelters across the country are flooded with newborn kittens often in need of round-the-clock care to help them survive, thrive and eventually be adopted. As adorable as shelter kittens may appear, how can you tell if theyre healthy?

Two different disorders in cats - inflammatory bowel disease and a cancer of the gastrointestinal tract called alimentary lymphoma - have similar signs, including lack of appetite, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhea.

At the end of a long workday, you look forward to uninterrupted slumber, but your cat has other plans. In two hours, he jars you awake by leaping on the bed - knocking the air out of you. An hour later, he swats a book off your nightstand. And 30 minutes before your alarm sounds, he begins loud, demanding meows.