Oriental Shorthair Cat

　　The clinical signs include high fever, lethargy, anorexia, with vomiting being the most prominent symptom; diarrhea occurs less frequently but may appear in the late stages. Dehydration and secondary bacterial infections often cause sudden death. Other complications include oral ulcers, bloody diarrhea, jaundice, and disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. Additionally, cytological examination reveals a significant decrease in white blood cell count, dropping to 50-3000 cells/ml 4-6 days after infection; aplastic anemia is another important hematologic abnormality. If the disease course exceeds 5-7 days without fatal complications, recovery is usually possible; white blood cell count typically returns to normal within 24-48 hours after tolerance to the disease course.

　　Treatment mainly involves non-oral fluid therapy to replenish electrolytes and nutrition and correct dehydration, improving vomiting symptoms and administering broad-spectrum antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections. In cases of severe anemia, whole blood or plasma transfusion should be considered.

　　Of course, prevention is always better than cure, so vaccinating your beloved cat in advance is the best method.

　　Feline Infectious Peritonitis

　　This disease is caused by infection with feline coronavirus and is highly contagious. Although the transmission route is not completely clear, it is generally thought to be oral-nasal infection. Virus-carrying cats shed through feces, infecting cohabiting cats; fewer cases transmit through clothing, feeding utensils, bedding, humans, or insects via mechanical means.

　　This disease commonly affects young adult cats under four years old, especially those kept in groups. The disease course may be acute (more common in kittens) or slow and persistent, lasting several weeks.

　　Early symptoms are mild and may include reduced appetite, lethargy, weight loss, and persistent fever (39.5–40.6°C, higher at dusk and gradually decreasing overnight). Later symptoms clearly divide into wet and dry forms:

　　Wet form: Infected cats usually die within two months of onset. There is a high-protein exudate in the chest and abdominal cavities. Depending on the amount of pleural fluid, symptoms range from asymptomatic to wheezing or respiratory distress. There is progressive painless abdominal swelling, and male cats may have scrotal swelling.

　　Vomiting or diarrhea may occur. Moderate to severe anemia.

　　Dry form: Symptoms include cloudy eyes, purulent anterior chamber, miosis, and vision impairment. Some cases show multiple progressive neurological symptoms, including hind limb paralysis, spasms, tremors, nystagmus, and personality changes.

　　Nodular lesions appear in the liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, omentum, and lymph nodes; palpable mesenteric lymph node nodules in the abdomen. Anemia and jaundice.

　　Clinically, this disease has a 95% fatality rate in affected cats. However, some cats in better condition (such as good appetite, no malignant anemia, no concurrent leukemia infection, or early dry form) may improve with drug assistance. Reassessment is needed within one month, and medications should be gradually tapered after three months.

　　Drug treatments include the following:

　　Immunosuppression and anti-inflammatory: high-dose steroids, cytotoxic drugs.

　　Prevention of secondary bacterial infections: broad-spectrum antibiotics, antiviral drugs.

　　Supportive therapy: forced feeding (via esophageal or gastric tube), fluid therapy to correct dehydration, thoracentesis to relieve respiratory symptoms.

　　As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure; besides vaccination, managing the living environment and regular serum antibody testing are also important preventive measures. Vaccines are administered nasally to cats over 16 weeks old, with two doses at intervals of 3–4 weeks.

　　No more than 8–10 cats should live in one area, maintaining groups of 3–4 cats or fewer; keep them indoors as much as possible, and clean litter boxes and environment daily. (Source：PetsZone)