What would give a kitten anemia?

Question

I have a kitten who recently died despite visits to the vet etc. He said hewas anemic and was going to give him a blood test for hereditary illnesses perhaps passed on by the mother. He said his anemia may have led to heart failure but I still want to know what may have caused this so, if I get another kitten, I can look for the symptoms or get him tested for certain diseases. Thanks

Answer 1

Although this might not have been the case with your kitten, the most common cause is a bad flea infestation, which is very sad :=(.
Sorry to hear about your loss. Bless you both.

Answer 2

Use an excellent-toothed flea comb on the kittens and the mummy cat. Drown any fleas in a jar of soapy water. Wash the cat's bedding and vacuum generally. make particular to take the vacuum bag to the outdoors trash as quickly as you're carried out - the fleas can pass slowly staggering lower back out. call the vet for preparation in case you are able to no longer do away with the fleas or if the kittens look ill.

Answer 3

If you spend time with your kitten every day, you will quickly get to know their personality, behaviour and feeding routine and elimination habits. Changes in these usually indicate that something may be wrong with your kitten.

Any of the following may be symptoms of illness:
Excessive thirst.
Sudden weight loss or gain.
Changes in colour or condition of skin.
Diarrhoea.
Difficulty in breathing.
Difficulty in urination or blood in urine.
Dull or patchy coat.
Fever.
Lack or loss of appetite.
Sluggishness or odd behaviour.
Red or watery eyes, nasal discharge.
Vomiting.

Signs of Chronic Illnesses:
A daily or weekly health check provides the opportunity for a head to tail examination - a good time to do this is during a grooming session.

Lumps and bumps should be checked by your Veterinary Surgeon. If detected early enough, many tumours can be successfully removed.
A lack-lustre coat could mean your cat has or is heading for a variety of problems and any change is worth reporting to your Veterinary Surgeon immediately.
Loss of appetite is normal with elderly cats, but a true reluctance to eat is a different matter and should be taken up with your Veterinary Surgeon.
Drinking more than normal could mean the onset of diabetes or one of a variety of chronic disorders - see your Veterinary Surgeon for advice.
Fat cats are not necessarily happy cats. Middle Age Spread could spell problems, a sudden weight loss is equally concerning.
A general down in the mouth expression and lethargic behaviour are worth taking seriously. Tell your Veterinary Surgeon and have your cat checked out.

Vaccination


When a cat is vaccinated, the vaccine stimulates a response in certain cells, which produce antibodies to a specific disease. Should the cat then come into contact with that disease at a later date, the antibodies neutralize the bacteria or virus causing the disease and prevent the infection taking hold.

Vaccination, therefore, sets up a protective screen against disease. How efficiently this is achieved largely depends on the individual animals ability to respond to the vaccine.

Animals can vary in their capacity to respond to vaccination. It is not possible, therefore, to certify that a cat has been protected against a specific disease - only that it has been vaccinated. Nevertheless, the vast majority of cats will be protected once they have had time to develop the antibodies and, provided they receive booster vaccinations at the recommended time intervals, will maintain that protection for many years. Your Veterinary Surgeon will advise you on all these points.

Routine Vaccination

Your Veterinary Surgeon will advise on the timing of routine vaccination against Feline Enteritis, Chlamydiosis and Cat Flu. In vaccination programmes started at 6-9 weeks old, with the second dose 3-4 weeks later, protection is not complete until 10-14 days after the second dose and an annual booster is required.
Injectable vaccines may prevent these diseases and there is also a Cat Flu vaccine that is given as nasal drops. This vaccine, like all Cat Flu vaccines, needs boosting annually, but it does provide the fastest protection of all the vaccines currently available.
You will be issued with a vaccination record card, which should be put in a safe place, as it will be needed for updating following each annual booster and for proof to the cattery that your animal is fully vaccinated.
There are other important cat diseases against which vaccines are being developed. While this country (United Kingdom) remains free of rabies, vaccination against this disease is prohibited, except under special licence from the Ministry of Agriculture for those cats going to a country where they must be vaccinated before entry.

Roundworms
Kittens invariably have roundworms and should be wormed at regular intervals, as advised by your Veterinary Surgeon.

Tapeworm
needs an intermediate host in the life cycle, which means that, unlike roundworms, tapeworms cannot be passed direct from one cat to another. One common tapeworm of the cat has the flea or louse as its intermediate host, although if your cat enjoys hunting small rodents, another variety of tapeworm can be acquired.
If your cat has fleas, look out for tapeworm segments in the cat's motions or for dried up segments stuck to the fur, looking like grains of rice. If you see them, ask your local Veterinary Surgeon for the most effective treatment. Pet shop remedies are not as good.

Additionally if you see tapeworm segments, have a good look for fleas, as there is little point in giving tapeworm tablets unless you eliminate the source of the infestation.

Fleas
Because of central heating and fitted carpets, fleas may now be a problem at any time of the year and the home has become a potent source of reinfestation.
Fleas are difficult to find unless they are in large numbers. They are not a sign of a dirty or neglected pet, but just bad luck. You have the best chance of finding the flea droppings when grooming - black specks which, if put onto damp white paper, will produce a reddish brown stain and can thus be differentiated from soil particles.
There are now very safe, long acting insecticides available through your Veterinary Surgeon. So, if you find fleas, ask for a suitable product and they will advise you how it should be used.

WARNING: NEVER spray your cat with any treatment from a pressurized can near any type of heat such as a cooker, open fire etc. This can have tragic consequences for your pet. Always spray your cat outdoors in a well aired open area or indoors away from any type of heat, even a closed oven that is being used can cause a cat's fur to set alight. Nowadays it is not necessary to use pressurized cans for Flea treatment, an injection given by your Veterinary Surgeon will do the job much more efficiently and last a lot longer.

Lice
may be a problem in the occasional kitten but are not all that common.

Ticks
are usually found around the head and neck during the summer months and need not give much cause for concern, as when they have had their fill of blood they will drop off of their own accord. The main danger arises from the owner trying to remove them, as the mouthparts may be left in the skin with a risk that the wound will become infected. Your Veterinary Surgeon will assist you if you are concerned.

Ear Mites
These are a common parasite and are found in the ear canal of both cats and dogs. Infestations can be complicated by secondary bacterial or fungal infections and, without thorough examination, one cannot be certain that an infection is not present. It is therefore essential to seek Veterinary advice.

Answer 4

,fleas can give a kitten anemia,internal bleeding .and blood diseases,like feline aids and leukemia

Answer 5

any disease that would decrease the blood cells. cancer, hepatitis, kidney disease, autoimmune hepatitis.parasites. worms.
poor baby....

most kittens are healthy....just make sure they are de-wormed-that can be the cause of anemia as well.

Answer 6

Try this addy, lots of info on "anemic in cat"

http://www.petplace.com/cats/hemolytic-anemia-in-cats/page2.aspx

Answer 7

Fleas can can cause this complaint... they feed on the animals blood

Answer 8

He might have eaten a mouse who ate rat poisoning.

Answer 9

SORRY, but don't know
but can I have some for my wife's cats.