Dec 12, Cat Distemper : All cats are at risk from feline distemper.

Cat Distemper is also known as, feline distemper, panleucopenia, feline parvovirus, feline infectious enteritis, feline infectious gastroenteritis, cat plague, cat fever, these are but some of the names that the disease has been given.
Your veterinarian however, will probably refer to the condition as Panleukopenia.
The first noticeable symptoms of feline distemper may be that your cat is lethargic and depressed, has a marked decrease in appetite, is running a fever, is vomiting.
As the disease develops, and it can develop rapidly, dry heaving is possible and the cat may show signs of being in pain.
Severe dehydration is likely, (a severely dehydrated cat may sit with its head over the water dish but not be able to drink.) The vomiting becomes persistent and the cat may develop diarrhea which may, or may not, be bloody.
As with many feline illnesses, a cat with panleukopenia may display the 'third eyelid', a haw that shows at the inner corner of the eye. Grooming is likely to be neglected.
Not all of the above symptoms may be present and there may be other complications, such as hypothermia due to dehydration. It is vitally important therefore that any sick cat must be seen by a veterinarian for diagnosis. Cat distemper symptoms appear swiftly and often give the impression that the cat has been poisoned.
Feline parvovirus is spread by direct contact with contaminated feces, urine, vomit, mucus, blood, and saliva. Fleas can also transmit the virus from cat to cat.
Kittens affected by cat distemper unfortunately do not have a high survival rate.
A cat is also susceptible to indirect contact to feline distemper from food and water dishes, grooming items, litter trays, cat toys, cat beds and bedding, rugs, carpeting and other household items. The parvovirus remains infectious even after the body secretion has been removed or faded away.
Is my indoor cat safe from catching cat distemper?
Cats that are kept indoors are at less risk of cat distemper, than are cats that are allowed to roam, but not absolutely free from risk. The virus can be brought into the home by a human who has been in contact with parvovirus, on their hands, on their shoes, on their clothing etc. Also indoor cats do have a habit of escaping the house.
The panleukopenia virus is a very enduring and persistent virus. It can survive in the environment for a long time and is resistant to ordinary domestic cleaning products. After an occurrence of distemper in a multi-cat household, the entire house needs to be thoroughly cleaned with a solution of bleach and water and any shared bedding, food bowls etc. need to be thrown away. New cats need to be isolated until they have been tested and vaccinated.
All cats are at risk from this highly contagious disease. Kittens and un-vaccinated cats that roam are the most vulnerable of all, older cats may develop an immunity to the virus.
Feline distemper is known in all parts of the world, in both developed and undeveloped nations, and in both rural and urban areas. The warmer the climate the more chance of an outbreak in urban areas. Colonies of feral cats are highly susceptible to an outbreak of the virus.
Cat distemper has no relationship to canine (dog) distemper, the two are different diseases, it is however similar to canine parvovirus.
Kittens affected by cat distemper unfortunately do not have a high survival rate. Strong adult cats that endure the first five days have a much better chance of surviving (provided veterinary attention is sought as soon as symptoms develop.)
It is quite common for a cat with distemper to contract other infections because its immune system has been weakened.
A surviving cat will require plenty of nursing after it is well enough to be taken home, and full recovery will take some time, a recovering cat should be isolated from all other cats.When fully recovered a cat will likely have no lasting impairment and will then be immune to reinfection.
What if a pregnant cat has distemper?
A pregnant cat infected by the parvovirus can transmit the virus to her developing litter. The resulting kittens are likely to be born with cerebellar hypoplasia, a disorder of the brain, and therefore be uncoordinated in their movement and suffer from head tremors. The kittens will in all probability survive, but the disorder is permanent. Feline distemper sometimes causes a pregnant queen to abort her litter.
The course of feline distemper can be very short indeed, just four to five days, and if the disease reaches the advance stages untreated then death can occur within a short time, however many cats can survive if they receive speedy attention, there is no cure, treatment consists of intensive supportive care and preventing secondary infection.

Prevention of Cat Distemper is far better than treatment, and the most effective way to prevent the disease is by suitable vaccination. Do not leave the health of your cat to chance - - consult your veterinarian about feline distemper vaccination.

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Dec 15, Cat Ringworm Treatment of Feline Ringworm.

Ringworm is not a worm at all, it is a fungal skin infection.

On humans, the infection often (but not always) appears as a raised, inflamed red ring with a clear center, the infection is often itchy.

People thought that the infection looks like a curled worm just under the surface of the skin, and so it was misnamed ringworm.

On cats and other pets, the fungal infection is less likely to be a red ring, more often it shows as dry scaly patches that are usually not itchy. Ringworm in cats is often accompanied by hair loss.

Ringworm is more correctly known as Dermatophytes or as Tinea.

Basically there is no difference between Cat Ringworm and any other. The infection is zoonotic, it can pass from animals to humans and vice versa. Ringworm is highly contagious.

A cat can become infected with ringworm through any sort of contact with an infected animal or human.

The contact does not have to be direct, transmission also takes place from an environment containing fungal spores. Carpeting, bedding, furniture, litter trays, grooming tools, food dishes can all harbor spores. The fungal spores transmit ringworm from infected cats to non infected cats.

Ringworm spores are very robust, they can exist in the environment for well over a year, especially in warm, humid conditions. A cat can be a carrier of ringworm but show no signs of the infection.
A six month old longhair with a touch of cat ringworm.
Image credit to Purrs & Paws of A.R.A.S. @ flickr.

All cats are prone to infection, but young kittens, elderly cats, longhaired breeds and cats with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk.

With humans, adults usually have a degree of resistance to the infection unless there is a cut or break in the skin. Young children and adults with weak immune systems are at risk.

It is estimated that around 20% of domestic felines are asymptomatic carriers, meaning that they carry the ringworm fungus without exhibiting any sign of it.

If you suspect that your cat has ringworm you need to make an appointment with your veterinarian. Left untreated, the infection can spread all over your pet's body causing great discomfort and your cat could lose hair. There is also the potential for the infection to transmit to other occupants of you home, both animal and human. You may be advised by your veterinarian to quarantine your cat until she or he can be examined.

Your vet will not rely on visible signs alone when examining your feline. Some other cat skin problems show similar visible symptoms to cat ringworm.

Your veterinarian may use an ultraviolet Woods Lamp (sometimes called a black light,) to examine samples of your cat's hair, skin or claw. A sample that is infected will glow under the lamp. The drawback is only Microsporum canis (M. Canis) infection will be detected. Microsporum canis is by far the most common form of feline ringworm but other forms would be missed if a Woods Lamp alone was used for diagnosis.

The most accurate method to determine if the infection is cat ringworm is a fungal culture. A sample of the cat's hair taken from an infected area, or a scraping, is deposited on a culture media gel. The gel is regularly inspected to see if the fungus is growing, the gel itself will also change color as the fungus grows.

A positive result will usually show in around two weeks but in some cases a little longer. Occasionally the only way to get a definite diagnosis is by performing a biopsy.

In many cats that are otherwise healthy, an infection of ringworm will clear up spontaneously without treatment. This can take up to four months or more.

All cases of cat ringworm should be treated however. This is because:

a) Your cat may be one that cannot combat the infection without treatment.

b) In the months that it takes for ringworm to spontaneously resolve, the humans and other pets in your home will be at risk of infection.
Ringworm on a human. The infection is zoonotic, it can pass from cats to humans.
Image c.c. Wikimedia.

The course of treatment that your veterinarian recommends will be determined by how sever the infection is, the age and general condition of your cat, and whether there are other pets or children in your home.

Treatment may be by way of an antifungal shampoo, spray or dip.

Oral medications work well in most cases, there can be side effects however so your veterinarian will likely explain what you need to watch out for.

Whatever the recommended treatment, it will likely need to be given over several months as cat ringworm fungus can prove to be hardy and resistant. Your cat will need to be retested periodically, and perhaps more fungal cultures taken, until it is certain that the infection has cleared.

It would be of little use to clear your cat's ringworm only for her to become re infested because the spores remain in your home. Also, other pets will be at risk, if they are not already infected, and so will humans occupants.

Your vacuum cleaner and lots of household bleach are going to be your weapons in your battle to decontaminate your home.

Vacuum your home ? daily if you can manage it! Vacuum everything not just floors and carpeting. Dispose of the bag each time, preferably by incinerating it.

Using a solution of one part bleach to ten parts water, thoroughly scrub or wash everything that can be scrubbed or washed. Do this frequently.

Do not forget things like cat condos, food and water dishes, cat toys, bedding and baskets. If there is something that you can't use the bleach solution on, then it is best to dispose of it.

Always wash your hands after handling an infected cat.

Examine your cat regularly for signs of cat ringworm.

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