Your cat is part of your family.  She provides you with love and companionship, and in return you give her a safe comfortable home, and lots of affection.  What do you need to know to keep her healthy?

Your cat should see a veterinarian regularly for inoculations and to check for any health problems.  Early detection is as important for pets as it is for humans.  This is what your vet will so to ensure your cat’s continued good health, as well as what you should look for.

Your veterinarian will advise vaccines for some common feline illnesses.  Rabies, feline leukemia and feline distemper can all be avoided through early inoculation.  

Rabies is a fatal illness that can attack animals and humans alike.  It is caused by a virus, and so can be caught from other cats as well as other animals.  Even indoor cats should be vaccinated against rabies, as it is easily transmitted.  If a human is bitten by a pet and contracts rabies, the pet’s owner has to provide proof of vaccination against the disease.

Feline distemper or panleukopenia is another viral disease, which is extremely contagious.  While it is often transmitted when one animal bites another, it can stay active on food, clothing, bedding and toys.  Distemper causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

A virus also causes feline leukemia.  Humans do not contract this disease.  Cats can become infected through contact with the saliva or feces of a carrier, and is fatal to your pet. Your veterinarian can diagnose this leukemia through a blood test.  Unfortunately, there is no cure, so vaccination is necessary to keep your cat safe from this killer.

Feline immunodeficiency virus has been referred to as kitty AIDS.  It is similar to human AIDS, as it attacks the immune system and leaves your pet vulnerable to infection and other illness.  This virus cannot be transmitted from cats to humans.  The vaccine for FIV is somewhat controversial.   Some veterinarians advise that all cats be given the inoculation; others do not think it is entirely effective.  You should talk to your cat’s health care team to decide whether or not you want to use this potential protection.  FIV is usually transmitted from one cat to another through bites.

Feline infectious peritonitis is also fatal to cats.  New vaccines protect against this disease, which is currently untreatable.  A blood teat is used to diagnose infection.

All of these illnesses are serious concerns to cat owners.  The good news is that they are preventable.  Early vaccination can keep your cat healthy and happy.  Of course the best way to keep your cat safe from disease is to keep him indoors.  Most feline illnesses are transmitted from sick cats to healthy ones through various forms of contact.  Cats who are kept inside are far less likely to contract potentially life-threatening viruses.  Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about which vaccines your pet should get, and at what age.