Feline ascites is mainly divided into ascites caused by infectious peritonitis and non-infectious ascites. Infectious peritonitis is a viral disease and is contagious, so it can be transmitted to other cats, but non-infectious ascites may be caused by peritoneal leakage. Ascites or other causes are not contagious.

The difference between feline ascites and feline abdominal distension

Cat ascites is mainly a symptom. It is peritoneal effusion. Its cause may be cat-transmitted abdominal fluid or abdominal fluid leakage. It is not necessarily contagious; however, cat-transmitted abdominal fluid is an infectious disease, which can cause cats to ascites.

Feline ascites: refers to the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, indicating an underlying disease process.

Feline intraperitoneal transmission (FIP): is a major disease caused by the virulent form (biotype) of FCoV (feline coronavirus). As an additional reminder, the non-virulent biotype of FCoV (feline coronavirus) is feline enteric coronavirus, which is common in healthy cat populations around the world.

Causes of ascites in cats

Most of the causes of ascites in cats are secondary to diseases, and a small number of them are non-pathological causes.

1. Abdominal tumors: Cancer spread, abdominal organ cancer or adenocarcinoma are one of the most common causes of ascites in adult cats.

2. Congestive heart failure: dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (heredity is more common), congenital heart anomalies, pericardial effusion, etc.

3. Bleeding: Ascites caused by anticoagulant poisoning, trauma, and surgery.

4. Peritonitis: infectious peritonitis (high incidence), chyloperitonitis, bacterial peritonitis.

5. Hypoalbuminemia: chronic liver disease, glomerulonephritis, etc.

6. Malnutrition: parasitic malnutrition (infection with parasitic diseases, large amounts of nutrients absorbed by parasites, common in kittens under 4 months old) or dietary malnutrition (three-no cat food, expired cat food , cat food becomes moldy, etc.).