Common cat diseases.

Common cat diseases.
Cancer is a class of diseases in which cells grow uncontrollably, invade surrounding tissues, and can spread to other areas of the body. As with people, cats can have several types of cancer. The disease can be localized (confined to one area, such as a tumor) or generalized (spread throughout the body).
Diabetes in cats is a complex disease caused by a lack of the hormone insulin or an inadequate response to insulin. After a cat eats, its digestive system breaks down food into various components, including glucose - which is transported to the cells by insulin. When a cat doesn't produce insulin or can't use it normally, its blood sugar levels rise. The result is hyperglycemia, which, if left untreated, can cause many complicated health problems for a cat.
Cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) may not show symptoms until years after the initial infection has occurred. Although the virus is slow-acting, a cat's immune system is severely weakened once the disease sets in. This makes the cat susceptible to various secondary infections. Infected cats that receive supportive medical care and are kept in a stress-free indoor environment can live relatively comfortable lives for months to years before the disease reaches its chronic stages.
First discovered in the 1960s, feline leukemia virus is a transmissible RNA retrovirus that can severely inhibit a cat's immune system. It is one of the most commonly diagnosed causes of illness and death in domestic cats. Because the virus does not always manifest symptoms immediately, any new cat entering a home - and any sick cat - should be tested for FeLV.
Spread by infected mosquitoes, dirofilariasis is increasingly being recognized as an underlying cause of health problems in domestic cats. Cats are an atypical host for dirofilariasis. Despite its name, dirofilariasis primarily causes lung disease in cats. It is a major concern for any cat owner living in areas densely populated by mosquitoes, and prevention should be discussed with a veterinarian.
Many pet parents eagerly open their windows to enjoy the weather during the summer months. Unfortunately, windows without screens pose a real danger to cats, who fall so frequently that the veterinary profession has a name for the complaint - Skyscraper Syndrome. Falls can result in broken jaws, punctured lungs, broken limbs and pelvises - and even death.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including cats, dogs, and humans. This preventable disease has been reported in every state except Hawaii. There is a good reason why the very word "rabies" evokes fear in people - once symptoms appear, rabies is almost 100% fatal.
Although the name suggests otherwise, ringworm is not caused by a worm, but by a fungus that can infect the skin, hair, and nails. Not uncommon in cats, this highly contagious disease can lead to irregular, circular areas of hair loss with central red rings. Also known as dermatophytosis, mycosis often spreads to other pets in the household - and to humans as well.
Cats can acquire a variety of intestinal parasites, including some that are commonly referred to as "worms." Intestinal worm infestations can cause a variety of symptoms. Sometimes cats show few or no outward signs of infection, and the infestation may go unnoticed, despite being a potentially serious health problem. Some feline parasitic worms are also dangerous to human health.
Outdoor cats and those that are routinely exposed to soil where other animals defecate are prone to worms. Kittens and cats that do not receive regular preventive health care are at greater risk of developing complications associated with internal parasites.