Symptoms and Treatment of Cat Flu

Cat flu – many cat owners react with great concern whenever they hear this term.Are you worried about your cat catching a cold and wondering how you can protect your cat from this condition??Or maybe you want to find out if cat flu is really as dangerous as some people say?Be sure to check out our guide—it contains all the information you need.

Cat flu – symptoms

The most common symptoms of feline rhinitis include those typical of the common cold:

• frequent sneezing,
• runny nose,
• watery eyes,
• general weakness,
• feeling under the weather,
• loss of appetite,
• drowsiness,
• fever.

If any of these symptoms appear, you should see a veterinarian as soon as possible.It may turn out that the cat has simply caught a cold or is feeling a little under the weather.However, if it turns out to be a cat cold or something more serious, the vet will be able to start the appropriate treatment right away.

Sources of infection

Are you wondering how your cat can catch feline rhinitis—and, consequently, how you can protect it from it??Infection usually occurs when a healthy cat comes into contact with a sick cat.However, it also happens that a healthy cat catches a cold when it is in a place where an infected cat was present earlier.Cat flu is characterized by the fact that it is highly contagious among cats.

Cats with an active infection often start sneezing, which—as you might expect—spreads the virus throughout the environment.If there are several cats in the house and one of them comes down with a cold, the other cats should not use the same bowl, litter box, or toys.You should also not feed both healthy and sick animals cat food from from the same bowl.It is recommended to isolate the sick cat, as the viruses are present in all nasal and throat secretions.Note: Viruses can also be found on the owner's hands, clothes, or shoes.

Treating a cat's cold

Cat flu is not a particularly dangerous illness, although in some cases—especially in very young kittens—it can be fatal.As a rule, however, it is usually enough to follow the appropriate treatment prescribed by a veterinarian for the symptoms to begin to subside after a few days.The most common treatment for feline rhinitis is symptomatic treatment.Antibiotics are not used in this case, as cat flu is caused by viruses.To help your cat get back on its feet more quickly, it’s important to keep things clean, including its food bowls and litter box.It’s also a good idea to increase the humidity in the air—inhalers or humidifiers work best for this purpose.

Take care of your cat's immune system!

It’s also a good idea to boost your cat’s immunity—especially during times when there are many cases of feline upper respiratory infections in the area.In that case, it is not recommended to let the cat outside.How to Boost Your Dog's Immune System?In this case, it’s a good idea to consult your veterinarian—specialized cat food that boosts the immune system, as well as veterinary-recommended cat food, may be the best choice .You can also use vitamin supplements for cats.Note: You should not use these products without consulting a veterinarian.

Feline Rhinitis – Vaccination

Is it worth vaccinating your cat against feline rhinitis??Special preventive vaccinations (against herpesvirus and calicivirus) are administered according to veterinary recommendations, most commonly in kittens.The vaccination is usually repeated every 12 or 24 months.It’s definitely worth getting this vaccine because—even if it doesn’t prevent your cat from getting infected—it will certainly help reduce the symptoms.

Summary

In most cases, cat flu is not a serious illness—symptomatic treatment prescribed by a veterinarian is usually enough for the cat to recover quickly.If your cat does get sick, however, it’s important to provide it with the right care, as the symptoms can be exhausting and uncomfortable for it.Hygiene and air humidification are also important.The best way to protect your cat from getting sick is to have it vaccinated against feline rhinitis.

CAT BEHAVIOR EXPERT
Małgorzata Biegańska-Hendryk