Introduction

Feline meningitis is a pathological condition of inflammation of the tissue layers which cover and protect the spinal cord and brain. Often, it is caused by bacterial or viral organisms, although anything that activates the inflammatory cascade can be a cause of meningitis. A conclusive diagnosis of meningitis cannot always be based on the cat’s clinical signs alone. Additional tests frequently are necessary to rule out other causes and reach a definitive meningitis diagnosis.

Diagnosing Meningitis

Many cases of meningitis are diagnosed by sampling and culturing the cerebrospinal fluid to identify causative organisms. Blood and urine tests are usually performed as well to rule out systemic causes of the cat’s clinical signs. If these results are negative, the veterinarian may prescribe a course of drug therapy symptomatically; if this treatment is successful, a diagnosis of meningitis will be presumed. In some cases, the veterinarian, or client, wishes to have a conclusive meningitis diagnosis before any medical treatment is begun. At this stage, the only realistic tests for a definitive diagnosis of meningitis are a spinal tap, an MRI and/or a CT scan. These tests are expensive, and they are not widely available especially in rural areas.

Meningitis is potentially life-threatening. Early diagnosis is essential for proper treatment and recovery.