You & Your Pet by Dr. Wise

Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association 11 South Angell Street #347 · Providence, RI 02906 (877) 521-0103 (866) 277-0238 Toll-Free ·Fax

Frosty is a beautiful kitten, about six months old, who sat by our door during the cold weather until we adopted her.  Lately she has been sick, so we took her to our veterinarian.  She said Frosty has feline infectious anemia and started treating her.  Can you tell us a little about this condition? 

Feline infectious anemia is the name for a disease caused by a blood parasite, Hemobartonella felis.  This parasite actually infects the cat's red blood cells, which causes those cells to be identified by the body as "alien" invaders.  The cat's own immune system then springs into action and destroys the altered red blood cells, resulting in an anemia that can be quite severe.  

The most common way cats get this parasite is when they are bitten by fleas - fleas feed on blood and may carry the infectious agent from one cat to another.  The parasites can be passed along anytime blood is transmitted.   So, it is possible for pregnant cats to infect their babies in the uterus, and for cats who fight to be more at risk.

Luckily for us, the disease can be treated with antibiotics, typically tetracyclines.  Sometimes cortisone is also used to control the patient's hyper reactive immune system.  What really is important is to try and prevent potential infections by keeping cats inside and, if they must go outside, using good flea control.  Feline infectious anemia can be quite lethal if untreated, with up to 35% of infected cats succumbing to the infection, so it was very good that you took Frosty to your veterinarian for diagnostics and treatment.

An interesting point about this particular parasite is that there is no true "cure."  Infections will improve with therapy, but the parasite itself can remain in the cat.  These cats become what are known as "healthy carriers."  They can potentially infect other cats, and also may risk getting actively ill again, particularly if their system is stressed by another infection.

This information, prepared as a public service by the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association, answers problems Rhode Island veterinarians currently are seeing in their practices, as well as new developments in animal care.