{"id":5428,"date":"2025-02-22T10:53:22","date_gmt":"2025-02-22T10:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/?p=5428"},"modified":"2025-11-01T04:51:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T04:51:30","slug":"mycoplasma-in-cats-cause-signs-and-treatment-of-feline-infectious-anaemia-in-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/pet-health\/mycoplasma-in-cats-cause-signs-and-treatment-of-feline-infectious-anaemia-in-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Mycoplasma in Cats: Cause, Signs and Treatment of Feline Infectious Anaemia in Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Mycoplasma in Cats?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mycoplasma is a bacteria which causes infectious anaemia in cats. Mycoplasmosis is also known as feline haemotropic mycoplasmosis (FHM). It is a microscopic bacterial \u201cparasite\u201d that infects the cat\u2019s red blood cells (RBCs). Mycoplasma in cats causes mycoplasmosis. Earlier, mycoplasmosis was known as feline infectious anaemia (FIA).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Does Mycoplasma Affect Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Mycoplasma<\/p>\n

Mycoplasma haemofelis<\/span><\/i> is a special type of bacteria that doesn\u2019t have a cell wall. They can enter the red blood cells (RBCs) and continue to multiply. The cat\u2019s RBCs become covered with mycoplasma and its immune system begins <\/span>attacking and breaking the RBCs<\/span><\/a> since they have foreign bodies (bateria) on them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It causes a rapid destruction of the RBCs and their removal from the cat\u2019s system. The coated RBCs are removed via the action of the spleen. So, even though the infected RBCs are destroyed along with the mycoplasma within them, the infected cat soon becomes weak, pale, anaemic and even jaundiced.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The rate of the destruction of the RBCs is much higher than the production of mature RBCs. That is the main cause of anaemia or Feline Infectious Anaemia (FIA) in the infected cats.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Causes Mycoplasma in Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Mycoplasma in cats is transmitted via infected flea bites. The mycoplasma invades the RBCs of the cat and the cat\u2019s immune system detects the RBCs as foreign. Once the cat\u2019s immune system marks the RBCs they are rapidly destroyed along with the mycoplasma in them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In simpler words, mycoplasma in cats is caused by the bite of an infected flea!<\/span><\/p>\n

Signs and Symptoms of Mycoplasmosis in Cats<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cats with mycoplasma are often sick, weak and pale. They are anaemic and show <\/span>signs like eating dirt<\/span><\/a>. Mycoplasmosis in cats may cause a fever. Not all cats with feline infectious anaemia (FIA) have a fever.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what are the signs of mycoplasmosis in cats?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Symptoms<\/p>\n

Anemia-related signs of mycoplasma in cats<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n