There Is One Caveat Here
Although it is not considered a cold, it should be noted that the novel coronavirus that first appeared in late 2019 and quickly spread throughout the world has been shown to pass from humans to cats.
As of the date of this posting, there has been no evidence to suggest that cats can transmit COVID-19 to humans. Additionally, in one study of cats living in Wuhan, China, none of the cats that contracted COVID-19 had any serious symptoms of disease.
However, the studys lead researcher, Meilin Jin, states that measures should be considered to maintain a suitable distance between COVID-19 patients and companion animals such as cats and dogs. If you or someone in your household is diagnosed with COVID-19 talk to your veterinarian about any measures you should take to protect the pets in the home.
With plenty of rest and possibly medication from your vet, most cats will recover from a cold in a week or two.
When To Seek Veterinary Care
In most cases, cat colds are harmless and will go away within 1-2 weeks. You do need to monitor their health however, and if there is no sign of improvement by the fourth day, you should make an appointment with your vet as a persisting cold that does not get treated properly may develop into pneumonia.
As with humans, it’s important to be careful with older cats, kittens, and cats with other conditions that may make them more susceptible to the effects of a cold. This is especially true of cats that are nursing, or that haven’t been vaccinated. If your cat falls into one of these categories, make an appointment immediately.
In any case, if your cat begins coughing, has difficulty breathing, or stops eating, they need to see a vet as soon as possible.
If you are concerned about your cat’s cold, please;contact our Bartlett veterinary clinic;today to book an appointment.
How Do Cats Get Upper Respiratory Infections
80% to 90% of the contagious upper respiratory issues from ; are mostly found in:
- Shelters
These viruses can be transmitted from cat to cat through:
- Sneezing
- Grooming
- Sharing food and water bowls
As much as I would love to protect my precious feline from everything harmful in this wild world, the truth of the matter is that illness will, most likely, happen at one point or another.
Just as humans are likely to catch a cold at some point, cats are, too.
So how does it happen?
In the world of felines, what we consider the common cold is actually an infection.
It can be classified as either a:
- Viral infection
- Bacterial infection
Both types appear with similar symptomatic reactions in cats.
So unless youre a qualified veterinarian, its pretty difficult to distinguish between them based on symptoms.
There are two most common infections that can be considered the culprits for feline colds.
- Feline herpes virus
- Feline calicivirus
They make up for 95% of feline infections.
Research studies have shown that both of these viruses affect cats regardless of their breed or sex.
This means that male and female cats are at an equal risk of becoming infected, as are cats of any breed.
You might think that feral cats are more likely to get sick because of their unpredictable environment.
However, both feral and domestic felines are at risk of getting URIs.
Even cats that spend all their time indoors in the safety of home can get sick.
Viruses can be passed between felines.
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Q: Should A Cat With Flu Be Kept Away From Other Felines
A: Cat flu is very contagious and unvaccinated cats are at risk of picking up the infection, so its best to keep your pet inside and away from other cats if she seems unwell and has any of the flu-like symptoms mentioned above. If you have a new cat coming into your home, and youre unsure whether shes received all her vaccinations, its important to quarantine her by keeping her isolated from other cats for seven to 10 days.
How Long Does A Cat Cold Last
Most cats fully recover from a cold in about a week or two, although some cat colds may take up to three weeks to go away completely. If your cats cold doesnt seem to be getting any better or is getting worse after 5-7 days, call your veterinarian.
If your cat keeps getting colds this could indicate issues with their immune function. You should talk to your vet about options to reduce stress, manage any other illness, and support your cats immune system to help prevent these colds.
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How To Prevent Cat Flu
Since upper respiratory infections are highly contagious, its hard to prevent them from spreading. It is best to keep a new cat away from other cats in your house for two weeks to reduce spread of diseases. If one of your cats develops cat flu, keep them quarantined until the symptoms clear.
Although not always 100% effective, there are vaccines available that protect against feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus. Talk to your vet about the options available for your cat.
Most cats recover from cat flu fully if they are treated early on before the condition worsens. If you suspect your cat may have cat flu, take them to the vet right away.
1Does My Cat Have Cat Flu? Blue Cross.
2What Is Cat Flu And How Is It Managed? RSPCA Knowledge Base. .
3Treating Upper Respiratory Infections in Cats. PetMD. .
4Treating Upper Respiratory Infections in Cats. PetMD. .
5What Is Cat Flu And How Is It Managed? RSPCA Knowledge Base. .
6Cat Flu Upper Respiratory Infection. International Cat Care. .
Keep Them Fed And Hydrated
Cats can easily become dehydrated when they have cat flu because they lose their sense of smell and taste. This leads to them eating and drinking less.
To keep them hydrated and fed its best to mix in foods to their usual meals that are easy to eat and have strong smells. We suggest warm foods like:
- sardines
- roast chicken
- tuna
As well as keeping them hydrated, encouraging your cat to drink also helps to loosen catarrh .
Cats that cannot eat may need to be hospitalised for treatment.
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Cure And Remedies For Cats Colds
Colds in cats, similar to colds in humans, do not have a cure; normally, it runs out after a while. A vaccine is useful before contracting a cold and not during. A cold in cats can last for 1 or 2 weeks. Sometimes a cat can continue sneezing for longer, but they run out on their own.
Some things can help a cat get rid of the cold and get through it more comfortably. Here is what you can do to help your cat through a cold:
If you see that your cat doesnt drink or eat after 1 or 2 days, it is necessary to seek veterinary attention.
What If My Cat Keeps Sneezing
It depends on the cause. If it is an isolated episode of cat sneezing, the issue is likely to go away and not return.
If your cat starts sneezing suddenly and it lasts several days, there is a possibility that the issue will resolve, but treatment will likely be needed.
If your cat suffers from chronic sneezing, however, they will likely be sneezing intermittently for the rest of their life. Persistence of sneezing to a chronic state substantially raises the odds that an underlying disease process is at play.
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How Is An Upper Respiratory Infection Diagnosed
In most cases, diagnosis of an upper respiratory infection is based on the characteristic clinical signs. Specific identification of the causative agent is not always necessary, but will be recommended for breeding animals or if an individual cat has an infection that is poorly responsive to treatment.
If the disease is caused by a virus, the specific causative virus can usually be identified by collecting samples of cells and discharges from the nose, eyes or back of the throat.;C. felis;organisms may be identified via conjunctival scrapings. If the infection has spread to the lungs, samples may be collected for examination by a procedure called a;transtracheal wash.
If a cat has chronic symptoms of respiratory disease, additional diagnostic testing is warranted. This additional testing will usually include chest or skull x-rays, blood tests, and culture and sensitivity testing of abnormal discharges.
How To Know: Did Your Dog Catch Your Cats Cold
As Ive mentioned in previous posts, we are creatures of habit. If we start acting different or omitting typical things we live for, I dont knowlike eating, then you should probably take note.
This is always a red flag and an indication that something isnt quite clicking on all cylinders for us.
Varying other symptoms can accompany behavior that is out of the ordinary. Examples are as follows:
- Lethargy
- Coughing
- Persistent Sneezing
Ill tell you right now. If Im displaying any of the above bulleted items, scoop me up and swaddle me like a baby. I get a bad case of the human man colds. I need loves, snugs, and lots of kisses.
Dont get me wrong, this doesnt happen often. As a matter of fact, I can count these instances on just 3 paw pads. Only 3 notable times in my 4 years of life have I needed my mom to carry me around in her hoodie. Other times I just want her to.
If the symptoms persist, take your dog to their vet. You dont want the infection to worsen. Best to take care of this as soon as you catch it.
Unless my mom is reading this, and in that case, Im perfectly fine. Dont take me to the vet. He looks in my ears with his metal brain probe and tries to touch my feet. Im not going back there.
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Who Can Catch What Lets Set The Record Straight
I could count on zero toe pads the amount of times Ive been around a cat sneezing its head off and pooping all over the carpet.
You see, most humans are acting under the presumption that colds cant be spread across species. While, in most cases this is in fact true, it is not the case when it comes to feline respiratory infections.
So who can catch what and which way does this infectious creek flow?
No virus or infection of any kind has been transmitted from human to cat or dog. This goes back the other way too. No cat or dog cold or virus has been shown to be transmissible in any way to humans.
Cats are more susceptible to catching a cold, while the dog flu is less common. I feel like this is a valuable opportunity to insert a and this is another reason dogs are cooler than cats plug, but Ill leave it alone.
You all are smart enough to draw your own conclusions.
When To Take Your Cat To The Vet For An Eye Examination
If your cat’s eyes continue to water for more than a day or two, or if your cat is showing signs of pain or symptoms of infection, it’s time to head to the vet. Your vet will be able to examine your cat’s eyes and recommend appropriate treatments to help relieve any discomfort your cat may be experiencing.
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Feline Upper Respiratory Infection Prevention
- Keep your cat indoors to lower the risk of exposure to infected animals.
- Properly isolate infected cats to protect other pets living in the same environment.
- Minimize stress.
- Keep your cat up to date on vaccines as recommended by your vet. Vaccines for upper respiratory disease in cats may not prevent infection, but they can make one less severe.
- Regular veterinary exams and preventive care can help catch and treat problems early. A cats best defense against upper respiratory infection is a healthy immune system.
- Wash your hands thoroughly when handling multiple cats.
How Do Vets Determine The Cause Of Cat Sneezing
Although treatment for sneezing cats is typically not costly, achieving a diagnosis certainly can be expensive.
You would think that testing for bacteria or a virus would determine the cause. However, because the nasal cavity is not a sterile location, a culture that is positive for certain bacteria does not prove that the bacteria are the primary cause of the sneeze, or even that they are causing disease .
Nor does testing positive for viruses confirm this as the underlying cause, since even asymptomatic cats will often test positive for either herpesvirus or calicivirus.
Here are some ways your vet can determine the cause of cat sneezing:
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How Does Your Nose Work To Protect Your Body
Your breathing process starts in your nose. Air gets into your lungs through your nose. It helps filter, humidify, warm or cool the air that comes through it so that the air that gets to your lungs is clean.
A special lining of mucosa, or a moist tissue, covers the area inside your nose and consists of many mucus-producing glands. As bacteria, allergens, dust or other harmful particles come into the nose, the mucus traps them. Mucus contains antibodies, or enzymes, which kill unwanted bacteria and viruses.
The mucosa lining also includes cilia, tiny hair-like structures. The cilia are continually in motion and move the collected harmful particles and the mucus that they are trapped in through your nose into the back of your throat. Its then swallowed and destroyed by the acid in your stomach. Mucus and particles can also be coughed up or sneezed out.
When outdoor temperatures turn cold, the pace of this process slows down. Many times, the mucus stays in your nose and then drips or dribbles out.
When Does A Runny Nose Need To Be Treated By A Healthcare Provider
Again, your runny nose should go away on its own. However, if the symptoms are severe, they last more than 10 days, or if youre taking care of a child whose drainage only comes from one side, gets green or blood or foul-smelling, then you should see a healthcare provider.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Who hasnt had a runny nose? Getting a dripping or runny nose in the cold or when you have a cold, the flu or allergies is common. It usually doesnt mean theres an infection or something serious. Remember to use good hygiene practices to prevent a runny nose or similar issues. See a healthcare provider if your or your childs runny nose seems unusual.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/19/2021.
References
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Why Is My Cat Sneezing So Much All Of A Sudden
If you notice a sudden pattern of sneezing in your cat, it may be a medical condition. Upper respiratory infections are the most common cause of excessive sneezing and wheezing in cats. Similar to colds in humans, these infections are common in young cats and kittens, especially cats that have to spend time in a shelter.
Though less common, repetitive sneezing may also be attributed to several infections, including:
- Feline Leukemia
- Mycoplasma
- Chlamydia
Many of these infections can be prevented with timely and complete vaccinations. If your cat has any of these infections, it may develop other issues that exacerbate the sneezing or wheezing.
Can You Treat Cat Flu At Home
How is it treated? Although antibiotics can help with certain complications, there is currently no single cat flu treatment. Instead, keeping your cat comfortable and nursing them at home is the best way to get them better. Keep their fluids up: encourage them to drink, as water can help to loosen catarrhal secretions.
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Can Cats Get Colds From Humans
No, cats cannot get colds from humans. The vast majority of viruses are highly species-specific and will not survive in a different host. Some bacterial infections can be transmitted to and from humans and cats, but this is rare.
Cats can get COVID-19 from humans and may show mild symptoms, but this is extremely rare. Cats are in much more danger from feline coronavirus, which can cause the usually fatal disease feline infectious peritonitis .
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Why Is My Cat Sneezing A Lot
Everyone loves to hear a cute cat sneeze the sound can bring an instant smile to your face. But if your cats sneezing is suddenly constant, it could be a sign of a larger problem with your feline friend.
If youre wondering, Why do cats sneeze?, there are a number of reasons why cats get the sniffles. Some are less problematic than others. But if you are worried about a rise in sneezing, it is important to monitor;your pets condition and overall health;and determine if the sneezing issues are serious enough to bring the cat in to your local veterinary provider.
Use this informational guide to help you determine if your cats sneezing fits are normal or worth examining further.
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Clean The Nose And Eyes
Your cat needs all the help you can provide to fight the infection from inside out. Her chances will significantly improve with an extra immune boost from Vitamin C. Vitamin C is useful for fighting off bacterial and viral colds, and Fluffy will recover faster from the cold when you add Vitamin C to her diet.