Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are very common in kittens, especially in kittens living in high-density populations in animal shelters, community cat colonies or breeding catteries.
URIs may be caused by infections that are: viral, such as calicivirus or herpesvirus; bacterial, such as chlamydia or bordetella; and even fungal. Infections can be mild or severe and […]
It’s finally summer. Fun-in-the-sun time.
Not so fast. Even if hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, tornados and other natural disasters aren’t common where you live, you could experience chemical spills or even a house fire. Before you let your hair down, it’s important to have an emergency plan for you and your feline family members. NEVER […]
This is part 3 of this 3-part series on FIV. Part 1 covers transmission and testing, and part 2 covers prevention and support.
Unfortunately, no treatment exists that will clear the virus from a cat’s system.
Antiviral therapy is sometimes considered in FIV-positive cats, but often with minimal benefit and serious side effects.
A confirmed FIV-positive cat […]
This is part 2 of this 3-part series on FIV. Part 1 covers transmission and testing, and part 3 covers prevention and support.
The three phases of infection with FIV are acute, asymptomatic and progressive.
This is part 1 of this 3-part series on FIV. Part 2 covers phases and symptoms, and part 3 covers prevention and support.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is among the most common infectious diseases affecting cats around the world. In North America, about 3-5% of cats tested for FIV are positive.
The virus was discovered in […]
Fading Kitten Syndrome (FKS), also known as failure to thrive, is generally associated with kittens between birth and weaning. Kittens, especially newborns, must be monitored closely because FKS may cause them to die suddenly or fade within a few days.
FKS is not a single disease but includes symptoms that are seen in a variety […]
Any time of year is a good time to adopt, but during spring and summer, known as kitten season, brick-and-mortar animal shelters, home-based rescue organizations and Trap-Neuter-Return groups are flooded with kittens born to outdoor cats. That’s because cats as young as 4 months of age can go into heat when the days get […]
Feline cerebellar hypoplasia, also known as CH or wobbly kitten syndrome, is a neurologic condition that affects kittens and cats. It’s most often caused when a pregnant cat is exposed to feline parvovirus, the virus that causes Feline Panleukopenia, whether from a natural infection or from a vaccination. Kittens exposed to this virus while […]
Confining foster kittens in a room that’s easy to clean and disinfect is important. It’s especially important during the first two-week quarantine period if you have pet cats. Confinement, cleaning and disinfecting will help prevent the spread of germs if the kittens get sick.
Before bringing new kittens into a home where other kittens have […]
In parts 1, 2 and 3 of this series on Critical Care for Kittens, we discussed the dangers of hypothermia, hypoglycemia and dehydration. Here in part 4 of this series, we’ll discuss anemia. This condition occurs when a kitten’s body does not have enough healthy red blood cells.
Anemia can be deadly if untreated, especially […]
