Feline Immune Deficiency - What it Is, What Causes It, and What You Can Do to Prevent It

Feline immune deficiency is a problem which affects a large number of cats these days. Still, a lot of cat owners are not aware of the seriousness of this problem and they do not know what they can do to prevent it. So, in this article, I am going to share some important information about immune deficiency in cats which will help you understand what it is, what causes it, and what you can do to prevent it.

The problem

Feline immune deficiency, as the name suggests, is a state in which the immune system of a cat loses its ability to fight against diseases. The immune system of domesticated cats becomes weak due to various reasons. When it does, the cat becomes fragile and vulnerable to a number of health problems. In fact, a lot of pet health experts say that a compromised immune system is the most important cause of a majority of health problems in pets.

Causes

Feline immune health gets affected due to four important reasons.

1. Poor diet - If a cat isn't receiving the nutrition necessary to support their physiology, then the immune system could become weakened. There are approximately 40 nutrients that a cat needs. Most cat foods available such adequately meet a cat's nutritional requirements.

2. Lack of physical exercise - Your cat needs physical exercise as much as you do to stay healthy. Unfortunately, most cat owners do not realize this fact. Cats which stay inactive all the time not only become physically weak, but get depressed as well. This could have an adverse effect on their immune system.

3. Lack of natural health supplements - Cats in the wild often eat herbs and other medicinal plants to cleanse their system and improve their health. Domesticated cats, needless to say, do not have access to such plants. As a result, they are not able to get rid of the toxins from their system. While most commercial foods that are AAFCO certified should meet a cats requirements, some may require extra support.

4. Excessive use of antibiotics - For bacterial infections and other such problems in cats, vets usually suggest antibiotics. Antibiotics, though effective, could have the tendency to weaken the immune system when taken often. Without realizing this, a lot of cat owners tend to give antibiotic drugs to their cats even for health problems which could be treated with milder, safer medications.

Feline immune deficiency is usually the result of any or all of the four factors mentioned above. Now that you know what this problem is all about and what causes it, let us take a look at the things you need to do to prevent this problem.

Tips to prevent immune deficiency in cats

1. Healthy diet - Make sure that the food you purchase is AAFCO certified and that specifically states that it is "complete and balanced."

2. Physical exercise - Get your cat some interactive toys to play with. Even better, get another cat and let both cats play with each other. You might want to consider a "kong" toy where a treat is hidden inside the toy. It exercises the body and the mind as your cat figures out how to get to the treat.

3. Natural health supplements - Give your cat a regular dose of natural health supplements which contain herbs like mistletoe, Indian ginseng, milk thistle, Huang Qi, and cat's claw. These herbs are very effective and can improve feline immune health to a great extent.

4. Limited use of antibiotics and medications - Use medications sparingly and as needed.

As a cat owner, you need to remember that the odds of a feline immune deficiency problem can be reduced through the way you care for your cat.

Jeff Grill is an editor of the Cat Health Guide and has written on many feline health problems. See this site for more information on natural approaches to help with feline immune deficiency.