The diseases of the Somali cat, the most common pathologies in this cat breed of Australian origin. Let’s find out together which ones can hit him.
Choosing to adopt a cat may seem like a rather simple thing to do and ultimately it is if you prepare well for its arrival.
Welcoming him, knowing even before he arrives, what he needs and what are the probable pathologies that can affect him is the first step for a good and long-lived coexistence.
In the next paragraphs you will find everything you need to know about Somali cat diseases, the most common diseases of this cat breed.
Diseases of the Somali cat
Knowing in advance what are the problems to go against and the various pathologies that can affect the kitten is essential.
The Somali cat is a medium-long haired variant of the Abyssinian, has a slender build of medium size with a weight of about 5 kg for the male.
Its characteristic is the showy tail rich in hair, often with dark streaks on the back that start from the shoulders and end at the tip of this particular tail.
Despite its robust build, the Somali cat is subject to some specific diseases, namely:
Pyruvate kinase deficiency: this pathology generates severe anemia in the animal. It is a hereditary disease that determines a rather low life expectancy (death occurs within a year) or in a few cases, depending on the evolution of the disease, higher (generally, about ten years). To understand if the cat in question is a carrier of one of the two alleles that develop pyruvate kinase deficiency, it is possible to do a DNA test.
Progressive retinal atrophy : an inherited disease that leads to blindness. This disease can manifest itself in the adult age of the cat but also at a young age, with the difference that an adult and mature cat is better able to adapt to its new life as a blind person, while the kitten has little time to progressively prepare for its new life as a blind person. .
Neonatal isoerythrolysis (FNI) : the Somali is predisposed to certain diseases, including FNI, in the case of a combination of the 3 blood groups A, B and AB, incompatibility occurs between the blood groups of the mother and the kittens. The cause is to be found in the previous mating between a male of blood group A and a female with blood B.
It is also not immune to common diseases in domestic cats, such as oral diseases, such as:
periodontitis : this is an infection that reaches the teeth, generating pus that comes out of the gums and that could be ingested by the feline. This substance will in fact affect various internal organs, such as the kidneys, liver and even the heart.
dental resorption: this condition prevents the cat from eating properly and drooling frequently, because the part that covers the tooth is completely worn out. In these cases the veterinarian could prescribe some antibiotics or resolve with dental extraction;
absorption of the enamel: the enamel tends to detach and the cat to swallow it. The teeth will look different than usual, with a tendency to have red spots on the tissues.
carcinoma: is the tumor of the mucous membranes of the mouth. It presents with growths, ulcers and peeling of the tissues. A rather serious conduction where it is possible to try with radiotherapy;
gingivitis : an inflammation of the cat’s gums caused by tartar. The obvious symptoms will be: bleeding, itching, redness and inflammation of the part. The animal must absolutely be treated, generally with antibiotics;
feline stomatitis : inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth due to the presence of bacteria. Symptoms are: redness, excessive salivation and tissue irritation;
tartar : Bacteria that attach to food debris and more, form dental plaque, which can worsen and become tartar. Correct oral hygiene and the use of specific objects and snacks for the teeth will suffice to avoid the problem.
Other diseases common in all breeds
Of course, like other felines, it can suffer from common diseases in cats which can be:
FeLV: known as feline leukemia, it affects the bone marrow and is caused by a virus of the Retrovirus family, among which there is also the one responsible for FIV itself;
FIV: is a feline immunodeficiency syndrome similar to human HIV, transmissible through saliva and blood. It is not curable and there is no vaccine but, if intercepted in time, it can sometimes allow a considerable survival;
Otitis: is the inflammation of the epithelium that covers the ear canal and the auricle. It often occurs when the cat has low defences;
Allergies : the cat can suffer from allergies that can have very different origins;
Conjunctivitis in cats : inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eye;
Cold : it is a light respiratory disease but which in any case must be treated to avoid complications and also be attacked by secondary diseases of the respiratory tract;
Mange: It is caused by a mite of which there are several species and subspecies that behave in different ways. It is transmissible to other animals and to humans, there are several types and has symptoms similar to eczema: itching, scabs, patchy hair loss. This disease is also called scabies;
Toxoplasmosis: an infectious disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which finds its final host in the feline where it can reproduce.
