How To Strengthen The Immune System Of Cats?
Cats are animals that get stressed easily, and can develop some problems as a result. Even illnesses that they already carry manifest themselves due to stress. This stress directly affects the cat’s immune system.
The immune system consists of a set of organs such as the thymus, lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen and liver. They generate or store immune cells such as white blood cells, antibodies and other substances that slow down the proliferation of bacteria and viruses. They also retain and eliminate toxic substances.
Therefore, having a strong immune system is essential to keeping a cat healthy. When immunity fails or becomes depressed, as with some viral illnesses, the cat becomes ill and can die.
Diseases that affect a cat’s immune system
Some feline pathologies cause direct damage to the immune system, while others are aggravated when the cat’s immunity is reduced for other reasons.
Feline immunodeficiency virus
Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, is a disease caused by a virus of the retrovirus family. It is not known how the virus affects the immune system; it is only known that the proportion of two types of lymphocytes, CD4+ and CD8+, varies.
After infection, there is a phase when the cat shows common symptoms of any viral infection, such as fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. After this period, the cat can remain a carrier without showing symptoms for up to four years.
After this period, symptoms very similar to those of AIDS in human beings begin to appear . If the animal survives, it will suffer secondary infections in various organs until death.
Feline Leukemia Virus
The feline leukemia virus, or FeLV, causes tumors and neoplasms to appear or suppresses the activity of the bone marrow and the immune system in general.
This greatly diminishes the cat’s immune defense capability. The symptoms of this disease are extremely varied, but all patients develop cancers of different types.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Feline infectious peritonitis is caused by a feline coronavirus (CoVF). This virus is housed and mainly affects the intestine, causing diarrhea and other related symptoms.
However, for some as-yet-unknown reason, the virus appears to mutate and enter some cells of the immune system, such as macrophages and monocytes. These spread the virus throughout the body and create a systemic disease that ends the cat’s life in less than a month, but in some cases can kill in just 24 hours.
Tips for Strengthening Cats’ Immune System
Despite the pathologies that directly affect the cat’s immune system, there are some factors we can control to prevent our cats’ immunity from falling.
Offer high-quality, low-processed food
Ideally, feed the cat raw meat or homemade food. We know that sometimes the price of this diet and the time needed to prepare it do not make the task easier. Therefore, you can also feed your cat good quality, well-processed canned food.
To do this, make sure the ingredients are known and choose options that do not contain additives or preservatives. Remember that the appearance of the food doesn’t matter, as the industry can create an ultra-processed piece shaped like a piece of meat without actually being it.
On the other hand, you should also look at the food components if it has a good percentage of antioxidants, amino acids and omega 3.
Food supplements for the cat’s immune system
If your cat is already suffering from an illness or is older, it may be a good idea to provide food supplements. On the market, there are many of these supplements according to the needs of each animal. Also, at certain times of the year, such as winter, its use can be very positive.
Vaccination
If your cat is not out of the house and has no contact with other animals, vaccination may not be necessary , although this should be determined by a veterinarian.
On many occasions, cats develop tumors in the area where the vaccine was injected. However, even if you don’t get him vaccinated, it’s important that you take him to the vet at least once a year.
prevent obesity
Just as in humans, the obesity can wreak havoc on health and the immune system of cats. Create a rich and stimulating environment in which he can play and stay active. You might even consider having more than one cat. Don’t overfeed him and keep a strict control of his body weight.
Reduce stress and situations that can cause it
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, stress is the cat’s worst companion. Cats are extremely sensitive animals that, although it doesn’t seem like it, spend most of the day on alert.
Changes in the house, excessive handling of the animal, loud noises, absence of the owner, among other factors, can cause stress to the cat. This state will worsen the animal’s health and may lead it to develop diseases that were “inactive” in its body.
