Cat flu initially sounds like a harmless cold. However, the disease is very serious as it can be fatal if left untreated. Here you can find out everything about the symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention of cat flu.
SOS: First Aid Tips for Cat Colds – What Helps With Cat Colds?
- See a veterinarian.
- Make sure that your cat rests, drinks, and eats enough.
- No contact with other cats to avoid infecting other animals.
- Clean your cat’s crusted eyes, nose, and nostrils three times a day.
- Eye ointments from the vet or inhaling saline solutions can relieve symptoms.
- Provide your cat with suitable care products and medication.
- If your cat refuses to eat, you can use paste-form food that you gently squirt into the mouth.
- Feed them low-carbohydrate food – preferably fresh meat food.
- If your cat suffers from a reluctance to eat, it can be because it can hardly smell anything because of the blocked nose. Warming up the wet food can intensify the smell and encourage the cat to eat.
- Puree the food if your cat has trouble swallowing.
- You can add the protein-building block lysine to your cat’s food. This fights the feline herpes virus, the main pathogen of cat flu.
What is Cat Flu?
Cat flu is a viral infection that affects the cat’s upper respiratory tract. It involves viruses and bacteria such as:
- Feline calicivirus;
- Feline herpes virus;
- Chlamydophila felis (Chlamydia);
- Bordetella bronchiseptica, which causes kennel cough in dogs.
These pathogens each lead to different symptoms: while herpes viruses cause, for example, inflammation of the eyes, caliciviruses cause ulcers in the mouth and tongue area. However, they can also spread systemically throughout the body and in this way cause joint inflammation. The cat can also be attacked by several pathogens at the same time because they favor each other.
Cat Flu: Causes – Why is My Cat Sneezing?
Cat flu is a very contagious disease. In most cases, it is transmitted through direct contact from cat to cat. Transmission often occurs when a cat sneezes or coughs, transferring saliva or secretions to another cat. However, the transmission does not necessarily have to take place through direct contact. Transmission can also take place indirectly at a common feeding place or drinking bowl. Sometimes a fight can also lead to infection. These scenarios are far more common in a free-roaming cat than in a purely indoor cat. Accordingly, outdoor cats and velvet paws in multi-cat households have a higher risk of contracting cat flu. However, it cannot be completely ruled out that the owner may bring a pathogen home with him or her on shoes or clothing.
Cat flu: Symptoms – How is Cat Flu Noticeable?
Cat flu is similar in symptoms to a common cold in humans. However, the symptoms of cat colds are usually more severe than those of a human cold. Typical symptoms of cat flu are:
- sneeze;
- profuse discharge from nose and eyes;
- conjunctivitis;
- corneal ulcers;
- apathy;
- increased salivation;
- sticky, suppurated, and watery eyes;
- eye ulcers;
- rattling noises when breathing;
- mouth ulcers;
- lung infection;
- fatigue;
- loss of appetite;
- weight loss;
- difficulties swallowing;
- fever.
If cat flu is left untreated, the disease can be fatal in the worst case.
Cat flu: Diagnosis – How Can Cat Flu Be Detected?
If you suspect cat flu, you should always consult a veterinarian. He will first ask you about the living conditions of the cat. The so-called anamnesis, i.e. the report on vaccination status, origin and current living situation, is followed by the general clinical examination. If there are first indications of a cat cold, a swab is taken from the nose and/or the eye as part of the further diagnostics. The samples are then examined in the laboratory for specific pathogens. As soon as it is clear which pathogens are involved, the targeted therapy begins.
Cat Flu: History – How Dangerous is Cat Flu?
If cat flu is treated, it can usually be cured easily. If there are no complications, adult velvet paws recover from the cat cold after 10 to 20 days and are then symptom-free. However, the disease is more dangerous for kittens. If the disease becomes severe in the first four weeks of life, the infection can be fatal. Older cats often experience recurring conjunctivitis. Overall, however, severe courses are very rare and mostly not due to the cat cold itself, but to infection with various bacteria as a result of the weakening of the immune system. A severe course of the disease can be recognized in affected cats by means of exhaustion, loss of appetite, fever, pneumonia, severe shortness of breath, and emaciation. However, the mortality rate from cat flu is very low.
However, if left untreated, cat flu can become chronic, causing persistent eye infections, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, and sinus infections. Once cat flu becomes chronic, it can be difficult to treat. A veterinary examination should therefore be carried out at the first sign of illness.
Cat Flu: Treatment – Is Cat Flu Curable?
How can the vet help my cat?
Medication
Antibiotics, for example with the active ingredients amoxicillin or tetracycline, are usually used for cat colds. The antibiotics are designed to kill the bacteria and are given as tablets or in the form of eye drops. To boost the cat’s immune system and fight the virus, the vet may also give you immunoglobulins or feline interferon.
How can I help my cat? – These home remedies help with cat flu
There are a few things you can do to treat cat flu with a few tricks and home remedies:
- Regularly wipe your cat’s face with a damp, lukewarm cloth to clear mucus from her nose and eyes.
- Eye ointments from the vet or inhaling saline solutions can relieve symptoms. There are special inhalation aids for cats for this purpose.
- If your cat suffers from a reluctance to eat, it can be because it can hardly smell anything because of the blocked nose. Warming up the wet food can intensify the smell and encourage the cat to eat.
- If the cat has trouble swallowing, pureeing its food can help.
- You can add the protein-building block lysine to your cat’s food. This fights one of the main pathogens of cat flu – the feline herpes virus.
- Food that is rich in carbohydrates puts stress on the stomach and does not help cat flu. Fresh meat food that is served at room temperature retains the vitamins it contains usually does not contain any harmful carbohydrates and does not contain too much starch.
- However, home remedies are no substitute for the veterinarian when it comes to cat flu.
Homeopathy for Cat Flu
There are a number of globules that can help with cat flu.
Aconitum globules are to be administered in the first stage of the disease when there is only slight discharge from the eyes and nose, restlessness, and fever. After that, belladonna globules are often given. At this point, the fever is still high, and the discharge from the nose is already mucous or already purulent. The eyes are dry and sensitive to light, the pupils dilated. The cats are alternately nervous and sleepy.
If the symptoms of cat flu are only mild overall, Ferrum phosphoricum globules can help. Animals with a mild infection are still lively but tire quickly. The remedy should be used if vomiting or diarrhea also occurs.
In severe cases, Lachesis Globuli can be used as a homeopathic remedy. The mucous membranes are bluish in color and the cervical lymph nodes are enlarged. The cats are very weak and in the morning there is a clear worsening of the symptoms.
Veterinary Costs for Cat Colds: What Do You Have to Pay for Yourself?
The veterinary costs for cat flu vary depending on the severity of the illness. In any case, the veterinarian carries out a general examination and takes one or more swab samples. If the cat is in poor general condition, blood or X-ray tests, for example, can be added. The veterinarian bills for these services in accordance with the applicable scale of fees for veterinarians plus laboratory costs. Add to that the cost of the medication. If your cat’s health is very poor, they may need to be hospitalized, which in turn will add to the cost.
Cat Flu: How to Prevent Cat Flu?
The best way to prevent cat flu is the cat flu vaccination. The first vaccination and basic immunization should take place at the age of 8 to 12 weeks. After a year, the vaccination must be boosted to ensure full protection. The following then applies: outdoor cats should be vaccinated again every year and indoor cats every two years.
After vaccination, the cat can no longer become infected with herpes and caliciviruses against which it was immunized. Nevertheless, she can still catch a “common” cold, because the vaccination does not protect 100% against all existing bacteria and viruses. In any case, an infection is not as dangerous as a real cat cold.
Other measures to prevent cat flu:
- hygiene in the household;
- Avoid staying in boarding kennels;
- Keep cat stress to a minimum;
- No hectic environment;
- Avoid travel, exhibitions, and new caregivers;
- High quality, nutritious feed;
- If possible, no long-term use of cortisone.
Prevent diseases such as parasitic infestations, infections, allergies, and chronic diseases.
FAQs About Cat Flu
Can cat flu also be transmitted to humans?
As a rule, the transmission of cat flu from cats to humans is unlikely, but still possible. The pathogen Bordetella bronchiseptica primarily affects immunocompromised people and children who live in very close contact with infected cats.
Can you treat cat flu yourself?
If cats show the symptoms of cat flu or a cold, you should definitely visit a veterinarian. This is the only way to quickly treat and heal cat flu. Cat flu cannot be cured without appropriate medication and treatment by a veterinarian.
How can cat flu be transmitted?
Cat flu is transmitted by droplet infection or direct contact between cats. A sick cat can spread the pathogens when sneezing or coughing. Infection occurs through contact with nasal secretions, tears, or saliva. However, transmission through indirect contact is also possible. For example, when several cats use a feeding bowl or a drinking bowl. Pathogens can even get into the house through people’s shoes or clothing.