Cat Disease & Trouble Encyclopedia — Symptoms, Treatments & Prevention

Cats tend to hide signs of illness, so daily observation by the owner is crucial. Here are seven common feline diseases with their symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention strategies.

Common Diseases & Health Issues

Feline Calicivirus Infection (FCV) - **Symptoms**: Sneezing, nasal discharge, eye discharge, fever, oral ulcers (on the tongue and gums). The virulent systemic form (VS-FCV) has a high fatality rate - **Cause**: Feline calicivirus infection. Spread via respiratory droplets from sneezes, nasal discharge, and saliva. Recovered cats often remain carriers - **Treatment**: No antiviral drugs available; supportive care (fluids, antibiotics, interferon) is the mainstay. Switch to soft food if oral ulcers are severe - **Prevention**: **Regular 3-way combination vaccination** is the most effective measure. In multi-cat households, quarantine new arrivals thoroughly

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) - **Symptoms**: Wet form (abdominal/pleural effusion) and dry form (granulomas on organs). Fever, appetite loss, weight loss, jaundice - **Cause**: Feline enteric coronavirus (FCoV) mutates within the body to become FIPV. Multi-cat environments and stress increase mutation risk - **Treatment**: Traditionally considered incurable, but recent research on **antiviral drugs (GS-441524, etc.)** shows promise. Discuss the latest treatment options with your veterinarian - **Prevention**: Maintain litter box hygiene and reduce stress in multi-cat households to decrease FCoV transmission

Urinary Stones (Urolithiasis) - **Symptoms**: Frequent urination, blood in urine, straining, urinating outside the litter box. **Urethral obstruction is a life-threatening emergency** - **Cause**: Struvite stones (form in alkaline urine) or calcium oxalate stones (form in acidic urine). Insufficient water intake, diet, and genetics are contributing factors - **Treatment**: Struvite stones can be dissolved with prescription diets. Calcium oxalate may require surgery. **Urethral obstruction can be fatal within 24 hours — seek emergency care immediately** - **Prevention**: Ensure adequate water intake (use wet food, water fountains), manage urinary pH with prescription diets

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) - **Symptoms**: Increased thirst and urination, decreased appetite, weight loss, vomiting, poor coat condition, bad breath. Advanced stages may include anemia and seizures - **Cause**: Age-related decline in kidney function is the most common cause. Affects approximately 30% of cats over 15 years old - **Treatment**: Prescription renal diet (low phosphorus, low sodium), subcutaneous fluids, phosphate binders, antihypertensives. Not curable, but progression can be slowed - **Prevention**: **Annual or biannual blood and urine tests** for early detection. Regular kidney value monitoring is recommended from age 7 onward

Cat Flu (Feline Herpesvirus Infection) - **Symptoms**: Severe sneezing, nasal discharge, watery eyes, conjunctivitis, fever, loss of appetite. May progress to corneal ulcers if severe - **Cause**: Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1). Once infected, the virus remains latent and can reactivate during stress or immune suppression - **Treatment**: Antiviral drugs (famciclovir), antibiotics (for secondary infections), eye drops. If nasal congestion prevents eating, warm the food to enhance its aroma - **Prevention**: 3-way combination vaccination. Maintain a low-stress environment. See our [Cat Vaccination Guide](/column/cat-vaccination-guide)

Dermatophytosis (Ringworm) - **Symptoms**: Circular patches of hair loss, flaking, scabs. Itching is often minimal. **Transmissible to humans (zoonotic disease)** - **Cause**: Dermatophyte fungi such as Microsporum canis. More common in kittens and immunocompromised cats. Spreads easily in multi-cat environments - **Treatment**: Long-term antifungal medication (oral and topical) for 6–8 weeks. Thorough environmental disinfection (diluted bleach) - **Prevention**: Quarantine and Wood's lamp examination for new cats. Avoid sharing grooming tools and bedding with infected cats

Hyperthyroidism - **Symptoms**: Weight loss despite increased appetite, excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, poor coat, elevated heart rate - **Cause**: Benign thyroid tumor (adenomatous hyperplasia) causing hormone overproduction. Common in cats over 10 years old - **Treatment**: Anti-thyroid medication (methimazole), iodine-restricted diet, surgical thyroidectomy, or radioactive iodine therapy - **Prevention**: No definitive prevention, but **biannual blood tests checking T4 levels from age 10** enable early detection

Daily Health Check Routine

Monitor these signs daily to catch problems early:

• Appetite & water intake: Sudden loss of appetite or excessive drinking
• Elimination: Litter box frequency, urine volume and color, stool consistency
• Weight: Weigh monthly. Rapid changes of 500g or more warrant attention
• Coat: Deterioration, excessive grooming, or hair loss
• Behavior: Hiding, sudden activity changes, nighttime vocalization
• Mouth: Bad breath, drooling, changes in eating behavior

Find Healthy Cats on Bri-Choku

Bri-Choku connects you with breeders who maintain rigorous health management. The cat category features breeders who share vaccination records, parent health information, and genetic test results. Find your healthy kitten on Bri-Choku.