3 Surprising Ways Cats Get Sick

The Last Thing You Expect Your Vet to Say

Cats are known for their stoicism in the face of illness, so it’s not unusual for felines to be in a fairly advanced stage of disease by the time they make it in to the veterinarian’s office. We vets have our usual list of suspects when it comes to common diseases in cats, such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes, but we also need to be thinking about some of the more unusual diagnoses we come across in our feline patients. Here are five of the more unusual—or at least, unexpected—diagnoses I have made in my practice. 

Baylisascaris

Commonly referred to as “raccoon disease,”Baylisascaris procyonis is a roundworm that infects many animals, including birds, rodents, dogs, cats, and people. It is quite abundant in the raccoon population; infected raccoons shed eggs through their feces into the environment. Cats are infected either by ingesting the tissue of an infected animal, or by coming into contact with eggs that are out in the dirt where cats are walking and scratching.

After ingesting Baylisascaris eggs, the roundworm larvae migrate through the body, causing damage along the way. These larval migrans can wind up in the GI tract, the eyes, or the nervous system, causing a variety of symptoms, from GI upset to seizures. The parasite can be treated once diagnosed, though the damage to the body may persist. Because the parasite is also infectious to humans, prompt treatment is essential.

Idiopathic Cystitis

Many cat owners are familiar with feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) as it is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions in cats.

FLUTD isn’t a specific illness in and of itself, but rather a collection of bladder symptoms, such as painful urination, increased frequency of urination, blood in the urine, and licking the genital area. What many people don’t realize, however, is that contrary to popular belief, the most common cause isn’t due to crystals in the urine or infection. It’s actually a poorly understood condition called idiopathic cystitis, which bears many similarities to interstitial cystitis in people.

Cats suffering from idiopathic cystitis show many signs of bladder pain but do not have crystals or bacteria in the urine. While they don’t have bladder stones, they may still experience blockage of the urethra due to plugs of mucous and blood cells. The symptoms often resolve spontaneously within a couple of weeks, though they do tend to recur. It is theorized that stressful events can precipitate a symptom flare, so pain relief as well as environmental modification to reduce stress is considered an essential part of treatment.

Taurine Deficiency

My first taurine deficiency patient was a cat whose owner, thinking that she was treating her cat to an extra-luxurious life, fed her cans of tuna fish and nothing else. She was unaware that this unbalanced diet was causing serious harm to her cherished pet.

 Taurine is an essential amino acid, playing an important role in heart and eye health, but cats are unable to synthesize taurine on their own. They must obtain taurine through their diet.

When cats are deprived of taurine, they can experience severe symptoms such as blindness and dilated cardiomyopathy, a form of heart failure. If caught early enough, getting back on track with a balanced diet can reverse the symptoms of illness. For this reason, I caution any owners who are interested in a home cooked diet to do so under the guidance of a veterinary nutritionist who can ensure the food you are preparing is completely balanced.