CATTERY FELIS LIMOUSI
HEALTH
Below you can find additional information about some frequently occurring health problems in cats.
HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
HCM is an incurable hereditary heart condition in which the heart muscle thickens. This thickening prevents the heart from properly performing its pumping function. Initially, there is usually little to see in your cat. Sometimes a murmur or an irregular heart rhythm can be detected by your vet during heart auscultation. But this is not always present. The following symptoms may occur at a later stage: lethargy, poor grooming of the coat, decreased appetite, faster and more difficult breathing, blood clot formation resulting in paralysis of the hind legs, sudden death.
Currently, echocardiography (heart scan) is the only way to confirm or rule out HCM in British Shorthairs. Responsible breeders will have their breeding animals tested for this condition and will only breed with animals that are free of HCM. The disease can remain masked for a long time, so it is important to repeat the echocardiography every year.
PKD (polycystic kidney disease)
PKD is an incurable hereditary condition in which multiple fluid-filled cavities (cysts) are formed in the kidneys. The cysts become increasingly larger and take the place of healthy kidney tissue. As a result, kidney function will increasingly deteriorate. Reduced kidney function is accompanied by symptoms of drinking more, urinating more, frequent vomiting, reduced appetite, weight loss, etc.
There is a reliable DNA test for the British Shorthair that can rule out the disease. An ultrasound of the kidneys can also be used for exclusion. Responsible breeders will screen their animals for this condition and only breed with animals that are free of PKD.
FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus)
FELV (feline leukemia virus)
FIV is also called cat aids. The virus is mainly transmitted through fight and bite wounds, but transmission can also occur during pregnancy or via lactation. The virus attacks the immune system. Initially, there will be no or only vague symptoms. On average 3-5 years after infection, symptoms such as chronic gum disease, recurring fever, persistent colds, etc. will occur. The cat's immune system is then so weakened that the body becomes much more susceptible to other viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi. As a result, a trivial infection can be fatal to the body. There is currently no treatment to cure FIV, but support can be given to FIV-positive cats so that they can more easily overcome secondary infections. There is still no vaccine available to prevent the disease. The only way to prevent infection is to ensure that there is no possible contact with infected cats. Cats that roam freely outside are therefore at higher risk.
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FELV is also called leukosis. The virus is mainly transmitted through prolonged social contact such as sharing the litter box and food and water bowls or by washing each other. To a lesser extent, the virus can be transmitted through bite wounds, during pregnancy or via lactation. The virus causes anemia, tumors and reduced immunity. Symptoms occur from a few months to 2 to 3 years after infection. There is no treatment for this disease, although, as with FIV, supportive measures are possible. Fortunately, there is a vaccine for this disease to largely prevent infection.
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The diagnosis of these diseases is made by a combined blood test where both diseases can be tested together. Breeding animals are best tested annually or semi-annually for FIV and FELV.
FIP (feline infectious peritonitis)
FIP is caused by a mutation of FCoV (feline corona virus). FCoV is a harmless virus that causes temporary symptoms of diarrhea. It is widespread in the entire cat population. About 80-90% of cats will become infected with this virus at some point. In about 10% of infected cats, the harmless FCoV will mutate to FIP, within this group about 0.7-1.4% of cats will become ill. The reason why the virus sometimes mutates and causes disease is not yet fully known. Risk factors include stress, reduced immunity, cats that live together in large groups and there is also said to be a hereditary component. FIP is mainly seen in cats younger than 2 years. This disease can cause very different symptoms and is therefore divided into 4 different forms: the dry form, the wet form, the ocular form and the neurological form. The different forms can also occur together. The most common symptoms are lethargy, decreased appetite, growth retardation, (recurring) fever, eye infections, fluid retention in the abdominal cavity and/or chest cavity, jaundice, neurological symptoms such as staggering, falling over, epilepsy, etc. The diagnosis is not easy to make and is usually a probable diagnosis. For this, the clinical symptoms, the blood count and additional tests are all examined. Until recently, FIP was unfortunately always a death sentence. Fortunately, there is now a treatment with an antiviral agent. In this case, treatment is given for 12 weeks with subcutaneous injections or capsules. This is followed by an observation period of 12 weeks to see if there is no relapse. The treatment has a high success rate. Approximately 90% of cats will overcome the disease if they survive the first week of treatment.
HEALTH
HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
HCM is an incurable hereditary heart condition in which the heart muscle thickens. This thickening prevents the heart from properly performing its pumping function. Initially, there is usually little to see in your cat. Sometimes a murmur or an irregular heart rhythm can be detected by your vet during heart auscultation. But this is not always present. The following symptoms may occur at a later stage: lethargy, poor grooming of the coat, decreased appetite, faster and more difficult breathing, blood clot formation resulting in paralysis of the hind legs, sudden death.
Currently, echocardiography (heart scan) is the only way to confirm or rule out HCM in British Shorthairs. Responsible breeders will have their breeding animals tested for this condition and will only breed with animals that are free of HCM. The disease can remain masked for a long time, so it is important to repeat the echocardiography every year.
PKD (polycystic kidney disease)
PKD is an incurable hereditary condition in which multiple fluid-filled cavities (cysts) are formed in the kidneys. The cysts become increasingly larger and take the place of healthy kidney tissue. As a result, kidney function will increasingly deteriorate. Reduced kidney function is accompanied by symptoms of drinking more, urinating more, frequent vomiting, reduced appetite, weight loss, etc.
There is a reliable DNA test for the British Shorthair that can rule out the disease. An ultrasound of the kidneys can also be used for exclusion. Responsible breeders will screen their animals for this condition and only breed with animals that are free of PKD.
FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus)
FELV (feline leukemia virus)
FIV is also called cat aids. The virus is mainly transmitted through fight and bite wounds, but transmission can also occur during pregnancy or via lactation. The virus attacks the immune system. Initially, there will be no or only vague symptoms. On average 3-5 years after infection, symptoms such as chronic gum disease, recurring fever, persistent colds, etc. will occur. The cat's immune system is then so weakened that the body becomes much more susceptible to other viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi. As a result, a trivial infection can be fatal to the body. There is currently no treatment to cure FIV, but support can be given to FIV-positive cats so that they can more easily overcome secondary infections. There is still no vaccine available to prevent the disease. The only way to prevent infection is to ensure that there is no possible contact with infected cats. Cats that roam freely outside are therefore at higher risk.
​
FELV is also called leukosis. The virus is mainly transmitted through prolonged social contact such as sharing the litter box and food and water bowls or by washing each other. To a lesser extent, the virus can be transmitted through bite wounds, during pregnancy or via lactation. The virus causes anemia, tumors and reduced immunity. Symptoms occur from a few months to 2 to 3 years after infection. There is no treatment for this disease, although, as with FIV, supportive measures are possible. Fortunately, there is a vaccine for this disease to largely prevent infection.
​
The diagnosis of these diseases is made by a combined blood test where both diseases can be tested together. Breeding animals are best tested annually or semi-annually for FIV and FELV.
FIP (feline infectious peritonitis)
FIP is caused by a mutation of FCoV (feline corona virus). FCoV is a harmless virus that causes temporary symptoms of diarrhea. It is widespread in the entire cat population. About 80-90% of cats will become infected with this virus at some point. In about 10% of infected cats, the harmless FCoV will mutate to FIP, within this group about 0.7-1.4% of cats will become ill. The reason why the virus sometimes mutates and causes disease is not yet fully known. Risk factors include stress, reduced immunity, cats that live together in large groups and there is also said to be a hereditary component. FIP is mainly seen in cats younger than 2 years. This disease can cause very different symptoms and is therefore divided into 4 different forms: the dry form, the wet form, the ocular form and the neurological form. The different forms can also occur together. The most common symptoms are lethargy, decreased appetite, growth retardation, (recurring) fever, eye infections, fluid retention in the abdominal cavity and/or chest cavity, jaundice, neurological symptoms such as staggering, falling over, epilepsy, etc. The diagnosis is not easy to make and is usually a probable diagnosis. For this, the clinical symptoms, the blood count and additional tests are all examined. Until recently, FIP was unfortunately always a death sentence. Fortunately, there is now a treatment with an antiviral agent. In this case, treatment is given for 12 weeks with subcutaneous injections or capsules. This is followed by an observation period of 12 weeks to see if there is no relapse. The treatment has a high success rate. Approximately 90% of cats will overcome the disease if they survive the first week of treatment.