Autoimmune diseases in cats, such as autoimmune skin conditions and lupus, often present with varied or even vague symptoms, which can make them difficult to diagnose. Fortunately, autoimmune diseases in cats are rare overall.
What are autoimmune diseases?
An autoimmune disorder results when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs. Common autoimmune diseases in humans include rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, lupus, celiac disease, and multiple sclerosis.
What causes autoimmune disease?
Medical researchers speculate that genetics, diet, infections, and exposure to chemicals might trigger autoimmune disorders—but the cause of these diseases is largely unknown.
Which autoimmune diseases occur in cats?
While autoimmune diseases in cats are rare, they may also be underdiagnosed. Of these, cats will most commonly be diagnosed with autoimmune skin diseases or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), also known as lupus in cats.
Autoimmune skin diseases in cats
Some of the more common autoimmune skin diseases in cats are categorized under the Pemphigus complex. These diseases typically present as blisters in the mouth and skin lesions in areas such as the eyelids, lips, nostrils, and anus.
- Pemphigus foliaceus is the most common autoimmune skin disease among cats: presents as crusts and ulcers around the eyes, ears, footpads, groin, bridge of the nose, and toenail beds.
- Pemphigus vulgaris is more common in humans: presents as fluid-filled blisters around the mouth, eyelids, lips, nostrils, and groin.
- Pemphigus erythematosus presents as redness, crusting, scales, and hair loss on the nose; exposure to ultraviolet light worsens this.
- Panepidermal pustular pemphigus has not been documented in cats.
- Paraneoplastic pemphigus is the least common and most severe type of pemphigus, occurring secondary to severe tumors.
Lupus in cats
Systemic lupus in cats results from abnormal regulation of the immune system. In this instance, the cat’s immune system forms antibodies against tissues in the body and attacks the body’s own cells. Fortunately, lupus in cats is rare.
Is lupus contagious?
Fortunately, autoimmune diseases like lupus and autoimmune cat skin conditions are not contagious. However, these diseases may be hereditary, as Siamese, Persian, and Persian crosses are more often diagnosed.
Signs of autoimmune disease in cats
As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of autoimmune diseases in cats can be misleading and easy to misdiagnose. Regarding lupus in cats, Catherine Barnette, DVM, explains that approximately 60% of affected cats have skin lesions, such as ulcers, sores, scabs, or simply redness. These will most commonly appear on the face, ears, or paws, but can appear elsewhere on the body.
In addition to skin lesions, cats with autoimmune diseases may show the following signs:
- Lethargy
- Decreased appetite
- Fever (especially if resistant to antibiotics)
- Shifting-leg lameness
- Swollen or painful joints
- Stiffness
- Hair loss
Diagnosis
A veterinarian will need to perform a variety of tests to diagnose an autoimmune disease in your cat, including:
- Complete physical examination
- Skin biopsies where symptoms present
- Complete blood count (CBC) to check cell counts and organ function
- Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test to assess the presence of antibodies
Medical treatment
Should your veterinarian determine that your cat has lupus or another autoimmune disease, treatment will likely include the following:
- Immunosuppression with corticosteroid drugs like prednisolone
- Prescription diet, depending on your cat’s affected bodily systems
- Additional medications as needed
At-home treatment
Here are guidelines to follow at home if your cat is diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.
- Rest: Ensure your cat gets lots of rest.
- Minimal stress: Provide a low-stress environment.
- Keep your cat indoors and out of direct sunlight: Ultraviolet rays can worsen skin lesion symptoms.
Long-term, talk to your vet about whether your cat should continue with standard vaccinations.
Prognosis
If treated early, autoimmune diseases such as lupus in cats can often be controlled short-term. Unfortunately, relapse is common and conditions may deteriorate rather suddenly. Lifelong immunosuppressive treatment will likely be required, which can also have wearing side effects on a cat. You will need to monitor your cat’s symptoms closely and have consistent contact with your veterinarian.
Can you prevent autoimmune diseases in cats?
The unfortunate answer is most likely, no. Because autoimmune diseases in cats, including lupus in cats, may have a hereditary component, be sure to spay and neuter—even if your cat isn’t an “at-risk” breed.
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