cat illness and injections

Question
I have recently taken in a cat that has been left behind after a family have moved away. She seems pretty healthy, but what would be the main symptoms if she is ill and should she need any injections? Thank you very much for your help.

Answer
Hi Julie.  Thanks for stepping in to help this poor little girl!

Yes, you should have her to the vet for a couple of vaccinations.  She will need to be vaccinated against rabies.  Also, you will want to have her vaccinated against feline distemper, calici and rhinotracheitis - all potentially serious, incurable viral illnesses.  Ideally, she will become an indoor kitty, but if not, she should also be vaccinated against the feline leukemia virus.  This incurable and terminal illness is passed through mutual grooming and bite wounds and is a leading cause of death in cats who go outside.  The vaccination itself carries the potential for some serious side effects, including cancer, so indoor cats should not be vaccinated.  But a cat who goes outdoors is at a high risk for infection.

You should have her tested for feline leukemia and the feline AIDS virus.  If she is positive for either, she will need to stay indoors to protect her from germs and prevent her from spreading the diseases around the neighborhood.  If you can get a stool sample, the vet can check this for protozoan germs and parasitic worms that cats often have.

These diseases I have mentioned can be present without any symptoms, which is why testing is important.  They are contagious and can cause symptoms later on.

Signs that she could be ill would include eye discharge, cloudy eyes, thick black ear discharge, sneezing or nasal discharge, cough, poor muscle tone, and greasy fur that separates into clumps.  Most illnesses that cause these symptoms are bacterial or parasitic, though, and can be treated with the proper antibiotic/pesticide.