Category — cat health library

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• Cat Scratch Disease in Cats
  Bartonellosis in Cats   Bartonellosis is an infectious bacterial disease, caused by the gram-negative bacteria Bartonella henselae. It is also commonly known as cat scratch disease (CSD), or “cat scratch fever.”   This is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be transmitted between animals and humans. In cats, the disease is generally transmitted through contact with flea feces. The bacterium is excreted through the flea and into its feces, which it leaves on the cat's skin. The cat, through grooming itself, ingests the bacteria, thereby becoming infected w ...
• Discolored Teeth in Cats
  Stained Tooth and Teeth in Cats   Any variation from normal tooth color is considered discoloration. However, the normal color of teeth varies, dependent on the shade, thickness, and translucency of the enamel covering the tooth.   Symptoms and Types   Intrinsic discoloration is characterized by secondary factors that are happening inside the tooth, discoloring the underlying dentin. Extrinsic discoloration, meanwhile, occurs when exogenous pigment accumulates on the surface of teeth. That is, the cause of the discoloration is from an external source, rather than from a p ...
• Heart Attack in Cats
  Myocardial Infarction in Cats   Much like in humans, a blockage of blood flow to the myocardium (the heart's muscular wall), is medically referred to as a heart attack, or myocardial infarction. This is generally due to the formation of a blood clot (or thrombus) within the blood vessels or heart, causing the premature death of a portion of the myocardium.   Heart attacks are rare in both cats and dogs.   Symptoms and Types   Weakness Lethar ...
• "Mad Itch" Pseudorabies Virus Infection in Cats
  Suid Herpesvirus   The pseudorabies virus infection (or Aujeszky's disease) is an uncommon but highly fatal disease found in cats, especially those that come into contact with swine. Unfortunately, many cats infected with this virus die suddenly, often without characteristic signs.   When symptoms do occur, they include excessive salivation, intense itching, and neurologic behavioral changes. Because of the extreme itching it causes, pseudorabies is sometimes referred to as “mad itch.”   The virus infects both dogs and cats -- primarily those living on farms -- ...
• Abdominal Cavity Inflammation in Cats
  Peritonitis in Cats   The abdominal cavity is lined with a thin, watery membrane, called the peritoneum. When the cat's abdominal cavity, also called the peritoneal cavity, is injured, the peritoneum becomes inflamed. The severity of the inflammation depends on the type of injury the peritoneal cavity has undergone. Peritonitis is frequently a painful condition, and the cat will respond when it is touched on its abdomen.   Peritonitis can affect both dogs and cats. To learn more about how it affects dogs, please visit
• Abnormal Diaphragm Opening in Cats
  Diaphragmatic Hernia in Cats   Diaphragmatic hernias occur when an abdominal organ (such as the stomach, liver, intestine, etc.) moves into an abnormal opening in the cat's diaphragm, the sheet of muscle separating the abdomen from the rib cage area. This can occur because of an acquired injury from a forceful blow, such as a car accident, or because of a defect at birth (congenital).   The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects dogs please visit
• Abnormal Eyelid in Cats
  Entropion   Entropion is a genetic condition in which a portion of the eyelid is inverted or folded inward against the eyeball. This results in irritation and scratches to the cornea -- the front surface of the eye -- leading to corneal ulceration, or corneal perforation. It can also leave dark-colored scar tissue to build up over the wound (pigmentary keratitis). These factors may cause a loss or decrease in vision.   Generally, only brachycephalic breeds of cats, such as Persians, are at risk. Entropion is almost always diagnosed around the time a cat reaches its second year ...
• Abnormal Growths in the Lower Intestines of Cats
  Rectoanal Polyps in Cats   The growth of flap-like protrusions in the cat's anal and rectal walls is a condition referred to as rectoanal polyps. These polyps may be directly attached to the intestinal walls (sessile), or attached through a stalk-like cylindrical connection.   Most rectoanal polyps are non-cancerous, and are merely extensions of the innermost tissue lining of the intestinal walls. And while most cases of polyps are usually isolated, there are occasions cats suffer from multiple polyps.   The condition described in this medical article can affect both dogs ...
• Abnormal Heart Rhythm in Cats
  Sinus Bradycardia in Cats   A slower-than-normal rate of impulses in the sinus node is medically referred to as sinus bradycardia (SB). Also called the sinoatrial node (SAN), the sinus node initiates the electrical impulses within the heart, triggering the heart to beat or contract. In most instances, slow sinus electrical impulses is benign and may even be beneficial; however, it can also cause loss of consciousness if it is brought about by an underlying disease that disrupts the cardiac autonomic nerves, which act as the heart's control system.   SB is less common in cats as c ...
• Abnormal Passageway Between the Mouth and Nasal Cavity in Cats
  Oronasal Fistula in Cats   A fistula is characterized as an abnormal passageway between two openings, hollow organs, or cavities. They occur as a result of injury, infection, or disease. A communicating, vertical passageway between the mouth and nasal cavity is called an oronasal fistula. Oronasal fistulas are rare in cats, but they do occur.   These types of fistulas are caused by the diseased condition of any tooth in the upper jaw. The most common location for an oronasal fistula is where the root of the fourth premolar on the upper jaw enters the palate. This condition will ...