Cats And Colds

Just like humans - cats can catch colds - and they do so fairly frequently. However - colds are not passed between humans and cats since the viruses that cause colds are species-specific. But we do have a cold advantage over cats: while we can treat our colds with medicine - our pets cannot. This means that a cold can become a serious ailment for a cat - especially if you have more than one cat in your home.

Cat cold symptoms are nearly identical to human colds: wheezing - sneezing - watery eyes - coughing - mucous seepage. You may also observe what look like cold sores around your cat’s mouth or respiratory problems.

Cat colds are most common during the summer - and they are highly contagious. Your cat can pick one up at the groomer - the vet - the kennel - or from any cat it meets on the street.

Usually - a cat cold will run its course in seven to ten days - about the same length as the human cold. The cat’s immune system will take care of it - so don’t try to administer human cold medication as a remedy. The only time a cat cold becomes serious is if the virus spreads - causing a respiratory infection or a secondary infection in the sinuses.

If you think your cat has caught a cold - call your veterinarian. Getting medical involvement at the outset can be important if the cold advances into something worse. Once your cat develops a respiratory infection - it can come back over and over again. You want to avoid this at all costs.

One of the first signs of a cat cold is a stuffy nose. Observing your cat when he eats is an important way to tell if he is suffering from a stuffy nose - since he will not be able to smell his food {normal cat behavior}. Usually - a cat that cannot smell his food won’t even eat or drink. Therefore - if you notice that your cat isn’t eating normally - call your veterinarian right away.

Keeping your cat up to date with all the recommended vaccinations is a great way to guard against the two viruses that cause cat colds: feline herpesvirus {FHV} and feline calicivirus {FCV}. If possible - the best method of prevention is to keep your cat indoors.