Feline Panleukopenia Virus (also known as Feline Enteritis or Feline Parvovirus)

This is a very contagious disease and unfortunately the death rate is high, especially for young cats under 12 months of age. Pregnant cats may lose their babies or give birth to kittens with severe abnormalities including heart or brain damage. Symptoms of feline panleukopenia include depression, loss of appetite, uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhoea, often with blood and severe abdominal pain.

The virus spreads so easily that heavily contaminated areas may need cleaning with a special disinfectant. Cats that do recover may continue to carry the virus for some time and infect other cats.

Cats must be vaccinated against this disease as kittens, and annually. 

Feline Respiratory Disease (‘Cat Flu’)

Around 90% of ‘cat flu’ cases are caused by feline herpesvirus (also known as feline rhinotracheitis) and/or feline calicivirus.

Feline respiratory disease affects cats of all ages and breeds, especially young kittens. It is highly contagious and causes sneezing, coughing, runny eyes, nasal discharge, loss of appetite and tongue ulcers.

Fortunately, the death rate is low except in very young kittens, or in severe cases, but the disease is distressing and clinical signs may persist for several weeks. Recovered cats can continue to carry and spread the infection for long periods, even for life, and can show signs of the disease again if they become stressed.

Cats must be vaccinated against this disease as kittens, and annually. 

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) attacks a cat’s immune system, similar to HIV in humans. The cat's natural defence against other diseases may be seriously affected, much in the same way as human AIDS.

This disease is not transmissible to humans.

FIV is almost always transmitted by bites from infected cats, since the virus that causes the disease is present in saliva.

While some infected cats show no sign of disease, others may display initial symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, lethargy and swollen lymph nodes.

As the disease progresses, symptoms may occur such as weight loss, sores in and around the mouth, eye lesions, poor coat and other chronic infections.

Eventually, the immune system becomes too weak to fight off other infections and diseases. As a result, the cat may die from one of these subsequent infections.

Unfortunately in Australia, a lot of cats with some form of outdoor access are infected with this virus, so it is highly recommended to have your kitten and adult cat fully vaccinated against FIV.

Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV)

Feline Leukaemia is a serious disease of cats caused by the feline leukaemia virus.

This virus attacks the immune system and may be associated with a lack of appetite, weight loss and apathy, pale or yellow gums, vomiting, diarrhoea, reproductive problems, increased susceptibility to other infections, leukaemia and tumours. Many cats may be infected and show no signs at all.

About one third of cats with FeLV remain chronically infected and may shed the virus in their saliva, tears, nasal secretions and urine. The disease is then spread to uninfected cats by mutual grooming, fighting, sneezing or even through flea bites.

Vaccination against FeLV is not routinely performed in most Australian veterinary clinics. However, if you are interested in having this vaccine for your cat, please chat to your vet. 

Chlamydophila felis

Chlamydophila felis is a bacterial disease responsible for up to 30% of conjunctivitis in cats, causing severe and persistent signs.

Kittens are more severely affected by Chlamydophila felis when also infected with the various viruses that cause “Cat Flu”, and Chlamydophila felis can be shed for many months. Whilst it is not possibel to vaccinate cats against C felis itself, kitten and annual vaccination against cat flu helps protect cats against secondary infection caused by this bacteria.