Kitten and junior Cats, despite their apparent robustness and overflowing energy, can be vulnerable to various diseases. As an attentive owner, it is essential to recognize warning signs and act quickly. Discover the 11 most common diseases in kittens, their causes, symptoms, and treatments to effectively protect your little companion.
Causes :
Coryza, often called cat flu, is a highly contagious disease mainly caused by two viruses: feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. Transmission occurs through direct contact between cats or via contaminated objects.
Symptoms :
Treatment :
Prevention :
Vaccination is the best means of protection. A kitten carrying the virus will remain contagious for life, with risks of recurrence.
Causes :
Typhus is caused by a very resistant parvovirus in the environment. This extremely contagious disease primarily affects unvaccinated kittens.
Symptoms :
Treatment :
Prevention :
Vaccination is 100% effective and remains essential, even for indoor cats.
Causes :
Leukemia is caused by the feline leukemia virus (FeLV), transmitted through saliva, blood, and maternal milk.
Symptoms :
Treatment :
No treatment can completely eliminate the virus. Management aims to:
Prevention :
A very effective vaccine exists and should be administered from 2 months old.
Causes :
Feline AIDS is caused by a feline-specific retrovirus, transmitted primarily through bites during fights.
Symptoms :
Treatment :
As with FeLV, there is no curative treatment. Management consists of:
Prevention :
Limit outings or create a secure space to avoid contacts with stray cats.
Causes :
Viral infection due to feline calicivirus, highly contagious and primarily affecting the respiratory tract.
Symptoms :
Treatment :
Prevention :
The calicivirus vaccination is included in the basic protocol for kittens.
Causes :
Bacterial disease caused by Chlamydophila felis, transmitted by direct contact between cats.
Symptoms :
Treatment :
Prevention :
A vaccine exists and may be recommended for kittens living in groups.
Causes :
Disease due to a mutation of feline coronavirus, primarily affecting young cats living in groups.
Symptoms :
Treatment :
Until recently considered incurable, experimental treatments with antivirals (GS-441524) show promising results.
Prevention :
Limit stress factors and maintain good hygiene in multi-cat environments.
Causes :
Fungal skin infection mainly caused by the fungi Microsporum canis or Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
Symptoms :
Treatment :
Prevention :
Avoid contact with infected animals and maintain good hygiene.
Causes :
Intestinal parasitic infection caused by Giardia, a protozoan transmitted by ingesting contaminated water or food.
Symptoms :
Treatment :
Prevention :
Maintain good hygiene, especially of the litter box, and avoid stagnant water.
Causes :
Inflammation of the pancreas whose origin often remains unknown, but may be related to viral or bacterial infections.
Symptoms :
Treatment :
Prevention :
Avoid obesity and sudden dietary changes.
Causes :
Disease transmitted by ticks infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
Symptoms :
Treatment :
Prevention :
Prevention remains the best weapon against these diseases. Here are some essential tips:
Certain signs should alert you and require a quick veterinary consultation:
Don't wait for your kitten's condition to worsen! The sooner a disease is managed, the better the chances of recovery. Your veterinarian remains your best ally to ensure the health and well-being of your little companion. By following these tips and staying attentive to warning signs, you will offer your kitten the best chances to grow up healthy and become a happy cat.
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