Cat Health Problems

What kinds of health problems do cats have in Central Oregon?

From severe weather to wildlife to parasites, there are a lot of threats to your cat’s health. Here are the most common health problems we see in our region.

Threats to Cats

Trauma or Abscesses from Cat Fights

Territorial disputes and breeding conflicts can result in cat-fights and sometimes very serious injury. Cats claws and teeth are very sharp and small enough to cause a puncture wound that seals over quickly, seeding bacteria under the skin. The initial bite or claw puncture is initially painful, but the pain resolves in a couple of days only to return in seven to ten days as the abscess develops. In some areas of the body, an abscess will come to a head, open and drain on its own. In other areas, the abscess will spread slowly under the skin until a vast area is involved before it breaks out, if at all. Around the tailhead, abscesses can dissect into the abdominal cavity to cause peritonitis.

During abscess formation, cats usually seek solitude, develop a high fever and poor appetite, and the affected area feels painful to the touch.

Treatment involves letting the abscess “ripen” so that it can be drained and flushed with antiseptic. Antibiotics are initially given by injection, followed by oral antibiotics, but only after the abscess is opened and drained. Premature antibiotic treatment can result in the abscess smoldering, spreading, and reoccurring once antibiotics are discontinued. Occasionally, if we know a cat has been in a fight so recently that abscess formation is not possible, we can try a vigorous course of antibiotics to prevent abscess formation altogether.

TIP: If your cat loses interest in food and/or suddenly becomes hypersensitive to your touch, schedule a visit with your vet immediately.

Frostbite/Hypothermia

Winter temperatures get low enough in Central Oregon to put cats at risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Toes, ears, nostrils and lips can be affected by frostbite when the temperature drops into single digits, particularly if wind chill is present and drops the temperature sub-zero. Hypothermia is also a threat to cats that cannot find shelter that insulates and protects them from wind and moisture. Young kittens, under-nourished cats, and old cats are particularly at risk for frostbite and hypothermia.

TIP: If your cat spends a significant amount of time outdoors, winterize! Provide some form of shelter that can stay dry and block the wind. Ensure that outdoor drinking water sources don’t freeze up.

Fanbelt/Engine Compartment Trauma

Outdoor cats seek warm places to sleep during cold nights and, unfortunately, warm engine compartments are all too inviting. It only takes a split second for a cat to be struck by moving engine parts or get caught in rotating belts, resulting in very serious injuries.

TIP: Before you start your vehicle on cold mornings, open the hood.

Cheatgrass

Cats can get cheatgrass awns stuck in their fur, in their ears, and under their eyelids. The awns can cause mats, painful irritation, penetrating wounds, and infection. Once mats occur, the awns will not be visible until the mat is removed.

TIP: Any swelling, closure or discharge from the eyelids should be rapidly and thoroughly evaluated to avoid serious damage to the eye.

Sunburn

Cats with white fur and pink skin are particularly prone to sunburn of the nose, ears, lips, and face, which then puts them at risk for sunburn-related skin cancers.  The easiest way to prevent sunburn is to limit exposure to intense sunlight for prolonged time periods. Luckily, cats are usually less active during hot weather and seek shade to sleep.

TIP: If you have a cat with white fur and pink skin, keep them indoors when the sun is most intense (between 10 am and 4 pm in the summer).

Predators

Coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and large birds of prey, (eagles, Great Horned Owls) are serious hazards for domestic cats in Central Oregon. This is not just a concern for rural pet owners. Predators are also present within city limits. Young cats are especially vulnerable, as they are often oblivious to danger.

TIP: Keep cats indoors, particularly at night. Provide a safe haven where your cat can hide during the day.

Parasites

Roundworms

Roundworms are seen mostly in kittens as a result of nursing infected queens.  Routine kitten worming protocols are very effective in eliminating the problem.  Adult cats that show poor condition and GI signs (diarrhea) should be tested.  Transmission is cat to cat.

Fleas

Cats that roam outside and get into rodent dens or deer beds can be found with fleas in Central Oregon, but otherwise, fleas are rare here.  Control with topical medication can be used if needed.

Ticks

As with fleas, ticks are rare and are generally found on cats that spend time in areas frequented by wildlife.  Control is as for fleas with the same topical med.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms are seen in cats that are active hunters who consume rodents.  In other areas, fleas can also transmit tapeworms to cats.  Tapeworm segments (proglottids) are seen in live or dried form attached to the hair around the cat’s backside or directly on fresh feces.  They appear as small grains of rice (dried) or small flatworms (live) that are actually egg packets that must be consumed by a mouse or flea to complete the cycle.  No cat to cat, cat to dog or cat to human is possible.

Cuterebra larvae

The larval “cattle grub” will sometimes find cats as an abnormal host and be found as a mass under the skin with a small hole at one end. Careful surgical removal is advised. This parasite also affects dogs.

Cheyletiella mites

This nearly microscopic “walking dandruff” mite is the cause of severe itchiness and focal skin lesions of cats. They are detected by microscopic examination of skin scrapes of lesions.  Occasionally these mites cause similar lesions on humans who acquire the infestation from an affected cat.  They are effectively treated with oral medication.  Cats can sometimes be asymptomatic carriers but still transmit the disease to other cats or people. 

TIP: Mites are nearly impossible to see, so if your cat is extremely itchy, schedule an appointment.

Ear mites

This common ear parasite is seen frequently in Central Oregon cats and rarely in dogs.  They are very contagious from cat to cat, less so cat to dog, and can survive in the environment for transmission.  Cats with ear mites will scratch at their ears, causing lesions at the base of the ear, and the ear will contain a dark “coffee-ground” appearing accumulation of debris.  Once mites have been identified they are most effectively treated with two or three doses of oral medication administered at two week intervals.  It is very important to treat all of the cats in the household at the same time to prevent ongoing re-infection.  

TIP: If your cat is scratching the base of their ears, check the inside of the ear for dark debris, the tell-tale sign of mites.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a very common fungal skin infection of cats and dogs that is also transmissible to people. Infection is most common in young animals and is generally seen as a round hairless, scaly lesion on the head, neck or back that may or may not be itchy.  Cats can be asymptomatic carriers and transmit the infection to people despite the lack of skin lesions.  The disease is most severe in cats that have weak immune systems, and is generally self-limiting in healthy cats, resolving without treatment in six to eight weeks.  Many times, though, we treat cases topically, orally or both to prevent spread to other members of the household.

TIP: If you or your cat get a round hairless rash, get it checked.

Infectious Diseases

Feline Leukemia

FeLV is prevalent in Central Oregon and affects both urban and rural cat populations. The disease is manifested in many forms: abortion and stillbirths in infected pregnant queens, fading kittens, immunodeficiency, opportunistic secondary infections, and cancer. The disease is spread by saliva (grooming, playing, fighting, sharing water bowls), contact with infected blood (fighting), and through the placenta during pregnancy. The disease is readily prevented with vaccination and avoiding contact.

TIP: Before introducing a new cat to your household, test for FeLV.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

FIV is prevalent to a similar extent as FeLV in both urban and rural cats in Central Oregon. The disease is most often associated with free-roaming intact male cats that are active in breeding and fighting. Clinical signs are those of secondary opportunistic infections that occur due to immunodeficiency as the name implies. There is no vaccine at this time, so neutering and keeping companion cats from contact with free-roaming carriers are our best prevention methods. Reduce feral cat populations can also help reduce FIV.

TIP: Keep your cat inside at night, and don’t leave food outside to attract feral cats. Before you introduce a new cat to your household, test for FIV.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis

FIP is prevalent in both urban and rural populations in Central Oregon cats and is often an opportunistic secondary disease that is seen in FeLV and/or FIV-infected cats.  It has many presentations and can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages.  The disease is ultimately fatal, but may be present in apparently healthy carriers for quite some time. Young cats, 6 months to 2 years, are most susceptible, particularly Asian breeds in multi-cat situations such as catteries and shelters.  The biology of the disease is very complex and developing clinical signs of disease is dependent upon mutation of an otherwise innocuous Feline Coronavirus within the host and the ability of the immune system of the host to fight it off. Vaccination is available but prevents accurate detection of the disease, so is recommended in very limited situations. Accurately diagnosing  FIP is clinically difficult in its early stages, and even sometimes with overt disease. This is one disease that we have seen spread on multiple occasions from cats adopted from animal shelter/rescue organizations to cats already in a household, so pre-introduction isolation, evaluation and testing is advised.

TIP: Isolate, evaluate and test a newly-adopted cat first, before you introduce it to your other pets.