Cat health

Friday, May 26, 2006

Feline infectious enteritis

FIE is an extremely dangerous disease to cats and lots of cats used to die of it. However, now that an effective vaccine is available, there are far fewer outbreaks.
In the most severe form, the cat will become ill and die in less than a day, sometimes before any warning signs appear. This is more likely to happen to kittens of six months or less. Alternatively, the illness in its severe form will run for 3-7 days and might still be fatal. There will be profuse diarrhea and vomiting. The cat will refuse to eat but will hover over his water bowl without drinking. He will seem profoundly depressed and will adopt a hunched position caused by acute abdominal pain. However, some adult cats exposed to the virus will not develop these signs as their natural defenses prevent the disease from taking hold.

DON'T take the risk - get your pet vaccinated!