What are the most common cat diseases in Uganda?

Do cats fall sick?

Most cat parents believe that cats do not fall sick; ‘’ they have nine lives’’ though a bit hardy cats fall sick like other animals.

However, most illnesses go unnoticed by owners since cats are good at hiding pain and signs of discomfort. Get to know the 30 signs of a sick cat.

As a vet doctor, I list the common diseases I diagnose among cats in Uganda in this blog post.

Feline panleukopenia:

Is caused by feline parvovirus. It affects cats of all ages, but the majority are kittens under the age of six months.

The vaccine is available on the market and is administered at eight weeks, three months, and then boosted annually. It’s in combination with other vaccines to form a cat cocktail vaccine.

Feline panleukopenia symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, anemia, diarrhea, etc. Its treatment is supportive and symptomatic; prevention is better than cure.

Feline infectious peritonitis:

Is caused by feline coronavirus. Common among cats younger than two years.

Presents in two forms; these include:

Dry form: it’s difficult to diagnose based on clinical signs; the common symptoms are weight loss, fever, malaise, and organ failure.

Wet form: is the most diagnosed form; its symptoms are a swollen tummy, labored breathing, anorexia, weight loss, and a stomach filled with fluids.

The vaccine is available on the market and administered at 16 weeks of age, but it is difficult to get on the Ugandan market.

Treatment is supportive and symptomatic; therefore, vaccination is the safest option.

Worms:

Cats are affected by tapeworms and roundworms. Deworm your cat regularly to prevent worm infestations.

Deworming schedule for cats

Deworming schedule	Age of the cat
1^st	2 weeks
2^nd	One month
3^rd	1 month and 2 weeks
4^th	2 months
5^th	3 months
6^th	4 months
7^th	5 months
8^th	6 months

Cats older than six months are dewormed every two to three months.

Use a dewormer that kills both tapeworms and roundworms.

Cat flu is caused by:

Viral infections include feline influenza, feline rhinotracheitis, and feline calicivirus.

Bacterial infections include bordetelliosis, chlamydiosis, etc.

Fungal infections

But most of the causes of cat flu are viral infections. The good news is that vaccines are available on the market, administered at three months of age, and boosted annually. Consult your local veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Fleas

are small, laterally flattened, reddish-brown ectoparasites that infest cats. Common among neglected, stray, and unhygienic cats.

Fleas suck blood and transmit tapeworms to cats.

Treatments for fleas in cats are:

Pour-on

Washing with medicated shampoo

Anti-flea body spray

Consult your vet for the treatment option suitable for your cat.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs in cats):

These are common among indoor cats whose litter is not changed regularly.

Signs of UTI in cats

Difficult or painful peeing

Peeing blood

Swollen urinary bladder

Urinating pus, etc.

How to prevent UTI among cats

Change cat litter at least two times a day.

Use litter that has chemicals that kill germs.

One cat per litter box

Always have an extra litter box for your cat.

Hairballs:

Cats spend more than 2 hours a day cleaning themselves using their tongues, and they end up swallowing fur. The swallowed fur can be passed out, but if it’s too much, it piles up in the intestines and interferes with digestion.