If you are a cat owner you may be wondering, can cats get colds? The answer is yes, cats can get colds. Although it is not the exact same common cold as what a human can get, they can get cat flu which is known as upper respiratory disease. Some upper respiratory diseases are also more serious than others.
So how do you know if you cat has a cold? what are the symptoms? and how can it be treated? In this post on can cats get colds we will reveal all of the important information you need to know.
How do cats get cat flu?
Flu is caused by by different types of viruses or bacteria and cats can be carriers of flu without showing any symptoms. These cats can shed virus particles and spread it to other cats. These particles can survive in the environment for up to a week. It gets transmitted via eye discharge, saliva droplets, and sneezing.
Both kittens and older cats are more susceptible to getting flu. You will especially need to keep an eye on older cats as they may have pre-existing health issues such as lung or heart disease.
Signs Of A Cold In A Cat?
If you cat is showing any of the following signs then it’s best to book in with your veterinarian.
- Excessive sneezing
- Excessive coughing
- Excessive lip licking
- Discharge from nose or eyes
- Painful ulcers on the eyes, nose, or in the mouth
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Congestion with open-mouth breathing
- Lethargy
- Runny eyes and/or nose
- Trouble breathing
How Is the Cold Diagnosed and Treated?
Your veterinarian may take cultures from a cats throat, nose, or mouth if ulcers are present. Feline upper respiratory infections are usually treated with anti-bacterial medications. this is to avoid any further complications such as a secondary bacteria due to your cat having a weakened immune system.
Other medications such as eye ointments and oral medications will help to stimulate your cats immune system. Your cat can also get a vaccine that helps to fight upper respiratory infections. This has been added to the basic distemper injectable vaccine to combine as one injection.
How to Care for Your Sick Cat
The bad news is the virus never truly leaves a cats system. Don’t worry a this is not a major concern, it just means your cat may suffer from the virus again in the future. If your cat does have the flu, here are some tips you can follow to provide a speedy recovery.
- Remove discharge from their nose and eyes on a regular basis using a damp towel.
- Make sure they are eating all of their meals to provide enough nutrition.
- Clean fresh water is essential to a cats recovery if they have flu. Our article on How to Force a Cat to Drink Water When They Refuse to Drink should help you out.
- Keep your cat dry and warm. Especially on cold wet days, no matter how bad your cat begs to be let out, always keep them inside.
- The time to consult a vet is if your cat refuses to eat after a couple of days.
Can cat flu be prevented?
Just as with human flu, there are a variety of different strains of the virus and a vaccine is not effective against all of them. Initially, two doses of vaccine are needed which are followed by regular boosters. The important thing to remember is that vaccinated cats can still be carriers and show no symptoms.
This means they can still infect other cats without even being near them. This happens due to particles in the air and being passed on through things such as food bowls and toys. Kittens can get some immunity from their mother.This fades as they get older which means they can become more susceptible to the infection.
Keep in mind that it can take two weeks for signs of flu to appear. This means that if your cat already has the flu at the time of the vaccine, it will not prevent the symptoms from occurring.
When To Seek Veterinary Care
Cat colds in general are harmless and will usually just go away within 1-2 weeks. After around 4 days, if there are no signs of improvement, it’s best to make an appointment with a veterinarian. It’s best to be on the safe side because a cat can develop pneumonia if a cold does not get treated.
Should A Cat With Flu Be Kept Away From Other Felines?
I’ts always best to keep your cat away from other cats as cat flu is very contagious. If you have just bought a new cat into your home, it’s best to quarantine them for around 7-10 days. Especially if you do not know if they have received all of their vaccinations.
Can We Get Each Other Sick?
If you have a cold or the flu then you shouldn’t be too concerned about passing it on to your cat. There are some recorded cases of people transferring their virus to their pet, but this is very rare. When you think of how large the population is and how many pet owners there are, the chances are slim to none so it’s best not to worry too much.
#Conclusion
Hope you enjoyed this post on can cats get colds, and that you now have a better understanding on what signs to look out for and what you can actually do if your cat does get cat flu. If you have any questions on this subject then drop your questions below.
