Mary Allen
Cat flu is a disease that manifests itself through symptoms such as inflammation of the respiratory tract and eyes. Cat flu is particularly dangerous for young cats and animals with a weakened immune system. How to recognize and treat the disease.
Cat flu is an infectious disease against which most cats are vaccinated as a precaution. If it breaks out anyway, the disease, which is highly contagious for cats, affects the respiratory tract, oral mucosa, and conjunctiva of the animals and should be treated immediately by a veterinarian. Cat flu, on the other hand, cannot be transmitted to humans.
Pet owners should not equate the harmless-sounding disease with the common cold in humans – a cat’s cold is much more dangerous and can even cost a kitty its life in the worst case. Fortunately, with the right therapy, the chances of recovery are very good. If your cat sneezes frequently, you should therefore look closely to see if the mucus is coming out of its nose.
What are Possible Cat Flu Triggers?
As in humans, a cat cold can be triggered by infections. Viruses such as feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV) are most commonly involved. But other pathogens from the group of the cat flu complex can also cause the disease. Both viruses and bacteria are possible here. Apart from that, dry air, asthma, or allergic causes can also trigger cat flu.
Cat Flu Caused by Infection or Asthma
When infected, mucus will visibly come out of both of your cat’s nostrils. Even a vaccination does not provide 100% protection against cat flu. However, the course of the disease is not as severe in vaccinated animals. A real cold is a reason to take the cat to the vet immediately.
Another cause of sniffles in cats can be asthma. There is what is known as feline asthma. This manifests itself mainly through coughing. It is typical of asthma that the cough looks similar to gagging, in which the cat squeezes out the air in a crouching position with its head stretched out. If your cat has these symptoms in addition to the cold, you should also take her to the vet as a matter of urgency.
Other Causes: Heating Air or Foreign Bodies
A cold in your kitten can also have completely harmless causes. In winter, the heating ensures that the air is particularly dry. This irritates the nasal mucous membranes, which secrete more secretions to keep the mucous membranes moist. This is a harmless sniffle.
Another reason for a cold can be a foreign object in the nostril. An indication of this is when only one side of the nose is affected. Then, under certain circumstances, a piece of cat grass can be stuck in there, for example, or benign polyps or a small tumor can block a nostril. Have the vet look up your nose and remove any foreign object.
Cat Flu Signs: Recognize the Symptoms
After the cat has been infected with cat flu, it takes two to five days for the first symptoms to appear. Attention: Even during this time your velvet paw is contagious for other cats! It passes on the triggering virus via saliva, tears, nasal secretions, urine, and feces. Does your cat show signs of cat flu and do you have several furry friends in your household? Then you should definitely have them examined by a veterinarian or at least consult with the veterinarian.
At first, the cat sneezes a lot, its eyes water, and its nose runs. The velvet paw seems battered, can get a fever, sleeps a lot, and eats less than usual. The cat’s tears and nasal discharge become purulent to mucous and crust over the course of the cat’s illness, the cat’s eyes usually stick together.
The disease usually spreads to the upper respiratory tract, the cat sniffs and gets much worse air. Difficulty swallowing and coughing are also typical symptoms of cat flu. The mucous membrane of the mouth often becomes inflamed; in severe cases, ulcers develop under the tongue or around the eyes. A severe cat cold can also result in bone loss in the turbinate.
Cat Flu is Dangerous
After the illness has been overcome, the causative agent of cat flu often remains in the organism. But even if it is “sleeping” and there are no longer any symptoms, the affected cat can still infect other conspecifics. Regular vaccination of the animals is therefore particularly important. Cat flu can cause long-term damage, such as blindness or chronic nasal inflammation. In the worst case, the velvet paw can even die.
Medication: Treatment of Cat Flu
As with all cat diseases, the sooner the vet catches it, the better. In order to avoid dramatic consequential damage such as chronic eye problems, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible if you suspect a cat cold. It will treat the sick cat with antibiotics in tablet or eye drop form. However, they only make sense if a bacterial infection has accompanied the viral infection, or if the cat cold is due to a bacterial infection since antibiotics do not work against viruses.
In addition, the vet can prescribe nutritional supplements and medications that boost the immune system and help it fight off the pathogen. If your cat is already too weak from the infection to eat and drink, she will need IV fluids. In this case, your veterinarian can advise you on how to proceed with this treatment.
Home Remedies for Cat Flu
At home, the kitten with a cold needs loving care, lots of warmth, and rest. She should first be separated from other cats so that she does not infect them. Also, under no circumstances should you let your sick kitty outside, even if she is otherwise an outdoor cat.
A warm spot by the heater, a lot of stroking, and careful cleaning of the nose and eye area are the best home remedies and, together with the medication, ensure that your furry friend will soon feel better.
In consultation with your veterinarian, you can also have the velvet paw inhaled with saline solution. There are special inhalation aids for cats for this purpose. Homeopathic remedies can also have a supportive effect. Also, ask your veterinarian which preparation is suitable for your cat.
If Necessary, Feed the Cat with a Pipette
In addition, cat owners should make sure that their protégé drinks enough. If the velvet paw does not want to eat, you should consult the veterinarian again. They can show you how to feed the animal with a pipette until it gets better or until it eats cat food on its own again. The veterinarian will also tell you which food you can feed in this case and support you with further tips.
Duration: How Long Does a Cat Flu Last?
Provided a cat is given the necessary medication and care, a cat cold usually subsides in around seven to 10 days in young and fit cats. In older animals or cats with a weakened immune system, however, the disease can last three to four weeks.
Prevent Cat Flu: Vaccination is Important
Cat flu is caused by a variety of pathogens that are not only transmitted from cat to cat. People also often unknowingly carry the triggers for cat flu into their homes on their clothing or shoes.
Regular vaccination against cat flu is therefore extremely important. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about this, he also knows the right vaccine. It is best to have kittens properly vaccinated. You should have your cat immunized in the eighth, twelfth, and 16th weeks and once a year thereafter. This renders the main pathogens such as herpesviruses or the calicivirus harmless.
Do you have several cats in your household and are some of them unable to be vaccinated themselves due to a weakened immune system? Then it is even more important that you have all other animals immunized. This creates what is known as herd immunity – the vaccinated animals remain healthy and cannot infect their roommates so that they also remain free of cat flu.
Balanced, wholesome cat food, always fresh drinking water, draft-free lying places, species-appropriate husbandry, and a warm retreat for outdoor cats contribute to a healthy immune system and reduce the risk of becoming ill.