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Cold, damp weather, mud and constant temperature fluctuations can also challenge a cat’s immune system. However, if your cat shows symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose, it’s essential to distinguish between a simple cold and the dreaded cat flu. Find out everything you need to know about infection, symptoms and treatment of cat flu here.
Although cat flu sounds harmless, it isn’t comparable to a common cold in humans. Of course, it can be mild, but depending on how it progresses, affected cats may show a whole range of severe symptoms. In the worst-case scenario, cat flu can even be fatal.
Symptoms: What Are the Signs of Cat Flu?
Depending on which pathogens are involved in each case, different symptoms can occur in cats with cat flu. At first, these complaints resemble those of a classic cold in cats.
The typical symptoms of cat flu include:
Sneezing and a runny nose (which can even lead to breathing difficulties)
Inflammatory ulcers in the mouth (mainly caused by feline calicivirus)
How Does a Cat with Cat Flu Behave?
Your cat’s general wellbeing depends on how severe the illness is. While some cats behave normally, others are noticeably different in their behaviour due to cat flu. If they have a reduced appetite, they may leave their food untouched. In addition, unwell cats no longer want to play as much and tend to sleep more.
In the early stages of cat flu, the symptoms are usually mild. As the illness progresses, the condition can worsen significantly, even reaching the final stage of cat flu. Cat flu can be particularly dangerous for kittens and may even be fatal.
When Should I See a Vet?
In healthy cats, the illness is usually fairly mild and doesn’t require intensive treatment. However, if the symptoms persist, worsen or if your cat’s overall condition is severely affected, you should consult a vet.
Fever and lethargy are typical symptoms of cat flu.
Infection: How Do Cats Catch Cat Flu?
The pathogens that cause cat flu are transmitted through contact with contaminated eye or nasal discharge.
Can an Indoor Cat Get Cat Flu?
Even though indoor cats have a lower risk of infection, they can still catch cat flu. This is because infection doesn’t only occur through direct contact, but also via indirect contact with contaminated objects (e.g. shoes).
Can Cat Flu Be Transmitted to Humans?
Although humans rarely become infected with the pathogens involved, transmission of Bordetella bronchiseptica is generally possible.
Diagnosis: How Is Cat Flu Diagnosed?
First, your vet will ask about your cat’s living conditions – vaccination status, origin and current environment can provide initial clues to a possible cat flu infection. This medical history (anamnesis) is followed by a general clinical examination.
If cat flu is suspected, further diagnostic measures are taken. For example, the vet can take a nasal and eye swab. These samples are then analysed in a laboratory for the typical pathogens. Once the vet receives the results, targeted treatment can begin.
Treatment: How Can Cat Flu Be Treated?
The exact treatment for cat flu depends on which viruses or bacteria your cat has been infected with. In addition, the vet will always treat the symptoms to quickly improve your cat’s overall wellbeing.
Which Remedies Help with Cat Flu?
The various measures used to treat cat flu include:
If your cat is ill, you should always consult your vet. If you don’t, the illness could worsen. Never give your cat medication intended for humans without veterinary advice. Also prevent your cat from having close contact with other cats, as the risk of infection is extremely high.
What Home Remedies Are There for Cat Flu?
Certain home remedies can help to relieve your cat’s symptoms of cat flu. For example, you can gently clean eye discharge with a cloth soaked in saline solution.
Important: Avoid using essential oils (e.g. eucalyptus oil), as these can irritate your cat’s mucous membranes. In any case, it’s crucial that you do not treat your cat independently and exclusively with home remedies, but seek veterinary advice if they are unwell.
What Happens if Cat Flu is Left Untreated?
If your cat with cat flu is not treated properly, the symptoms may worsen. You also risk other cats becoming infected with the causative pathogens and falling ill.
Causes: What Triggers the Cat Flu Complex?
Cat flu is caused by a whole complex of various bacterial and viral pathogens. The cat flu complex can develop following infection with the following viruses or bacteria:
Feline Herpesvirus
The feline herpesvirus (FeHV-1) causes feline viral rhinotracheitis. This virus, which also affects big cats, is transmitted through direct exchange of nasal or eye discharge. Once infected, a cat carries the virus in its body for life. Whether the cat becomes ill depends on its immune status. Young and weakened cats are more likely to fall ill.
Feline Calicivirus
In contrast to herpesvirus, cats become infected with feline calicivirus (FCV) not only through direct but also via indirect contact. Therefore, contaminated objects and clothing play an important role in spreading the virus.
Involved Bacteria
The bacterium Chlamydia felis often accompanies the viral pathogens of the cat flu complex. Typically, chlamydia in cats causes sometimes purulent conjunctivitis as well as inflammation of the bronchi (bronchitis).
The bacteria Mycoplasma felis and Bordetella bronchispeptica are also adapted to the respiratory tract of cats and lead to typical cold-like symptoms.
Prognosis: Is Cat Flu Curable?
If it is merely a harmless cold, the symptoms usually disappear as quickly as they appeared. However, if infections recur repeatedly or the symptoms never fully resolve, you shouldn’t take this lightly. Depending on which pathogens are involved in the cat flu, there is a risk of a chronic course. If your cat’s immune system is compromised, cat flu may flare up again and again.
How Long Can a Cat Live with Cat Flu?
Without complications, cat flu is usually harmless. The majority of cats recover from the illness without any long-term effects and can lead a normal life. However, immunocompromised cats and kittens have a higher risk of complications. Untreated infections in particular can be fatal.
How Long Does it Take for Cat Flu to Go Away?
In mild cases and with early treatment, cats usually recover from the cat flu complex within two to three weeks .
Prevention: How Can I Protect My Cat from Cat Flu?
In addition to general protective measures, such as regular cleaning of feeding areas and the litter tray, you should of course avoid contact with sick cats.
Is there a vaccination against cat flu?
Vaccines are available against some of the pathogens in the cat flu complex. The vet vaccinates the cat according to the following schedule:
At eight weeks
At twelve weeks
At 16 weeks
At 15 months
Depending on the vaccine, the cat flu vaccination is then boosted annually or every three years.
Cat Flu Despite Vaccination – Is it Possible?
Although vaccination against cat flu pathogens only partially prevents infection, it does lessen the severity and symptoms.
Important Note: The content provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's health, please always consult a licensed veterinarian.
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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