Outdoor Cat Diseases

Letting your cat roam outdoors may be tempting, but keeping her inside will make her safer and healthier. The University of Maine gives two to five years as the life expectancy for an outdoor cat, while indoor cats may live 17 years or longer. In addition to cars, cruel humans and attacks from other animals, outdoor cats are susceptible to many diseases, most of them fatal.

  1. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

    • Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a serious disease that prevents a cat's immune system from protecting against infections. According to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, FIV is spread mostly through bite wounds. The university further states that outdoor, aggressive cats are more likely to become infected.

      Some common signs of FIV include diarrhea, weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, eye problems, a coat that's in poor condition and changes in behavior.

      The only way to prevent FIV is to keep your cat from coming into contact with the virus--in other words, to keep them indoors.

    Feline Leukemia Virus

    • Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) infects two to three percent of cats in the United States, according to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. The virus is spread by cat-to-cat contact such as biting or grooming. Cornell adds that outdoor cats have the greatest chance of becoming infected, since they are often unsupervised and may be bitten by an infected cat. FeLV can lead to problems with a cat's immune system and is the leading cause of feline cancer. Loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, pale gums, changes in behavior, poor coat and enlarged lymph nodes are some of FeLV's common symptoms.

      Most cats infected with feline leukemia virus die within three years.

    Rabies

    • Cats who go outside are exposed to the rabies virus. Wild animals like raccoons and skunks carry the virus and pass it to other animals through biting. A cat who has the rabies virus can infect her owner, since people can get rabies too. The U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health warn pet owners to have their cats vaccinated and to prevent them from roaming.

      The first signs of rabies in outdoor cats is a change in behavior. According to the Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, affectionate cats can become aggressive and reticent cats may become affectionate. Cats with rabies become withdrawn and will avoid light. Rabies is always fatal.

    Feline Panleukopenia

    • Feline panleukopenia, also called feline distemper, is a contagious disease that can be contracted through contact with infected animals and their bodily secretions. Raccoons and feral cats are a primary source of contagion. The disease reduces a cat's white blood cell count and causes fever, loss of appetite, vomiting and abdominal pain. Death can occur rapidly. To prevent feline panleukopenia, have your cat vaccinated and consider keeping her inside.