Cat flu is an infectious disease that occurs frequently in cats and the course of which can be very different. Although the symptoms are often largely harmless, in some cases a cat flu infection can cause permanent damage.
It is therefore important that you identify and treat possible symptoms promptly. You can find out below how you can do this and what options there are for preventing cat flu.
Key facts at a glance:
- Cat flu is a collective term for various
- Infectious diseases of the respiratory tract in cats.
- Infection occurs primarily through direct contact with an infected conspecific.
- Cat flu can be triggered by various viruses and bacteria, which is why the course of the disease cannot be predicted.
- Since permanent damage is possible in the worst case, treatment should always be carried out by a veterinarian.
- To minimize the risk of infection, we recommend that you have your cat vaccinated against cat flu.
What is cat flu?
The term cat flu is a collective term for a number of diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory tract that cats can suffer from. Since various pathogens are possible in the event of an infection, one also speaks of the so-called cat flu complex.
The pathogens that cause cat colds are usually bacteria such as chlamydia and bordeaux or viruses such as herpes viruses and caliciviruses. An infection is often triggered not just by one but by several pathogens together.
The course of the disease can therefore be very different. In some cases, the symptoms subside after a few days, while in other cases the cat cold proves to be extremely stubborn and poses a serious risk to the animal concerned.
Causes of cat flu infection
Cat flu is very contagious and is usually transmitted directly from animal to animal. In addition, however, an indirect infection via the saliva of a sick conspecific in the shared feeding bowl is also possible.
Cat flu spreads particularly quickly when several animals live together in a small space, as is often the case in animal shelters, for example. In addition, a weak immune system favors an infection with cat colds, which is why young and decrepit animals in particular become ill very often. Although the risk of infection is higher in outdoor cats due to regular contact with other cats, it cannot be ruled out that cats who only live indoors will suffer from cat colds.
Recognize cat flu
The symptoms that cat flu causes in affected animals vary depending on the severity of the disease. It is therefore quite possible that your cat only suffers from a part of the possible symptoms.
The following symptoms can indicate that your four-legged friend has cat flu:
- Mucous or watery discharge from nose and eyes
- Crusting on the eyes and nose
- cough and sneeze
- Fever
- breathing problems
- Difficulty swallowing
- exhaustion
- lack of appetite
Left untreated, cat flu can also lead to turbinate bone loss, blindness, mucosal ulcers, or even develop into a chronic problem.
Cat flu: Diagnosis and treatment by the veterinarian
If there is a suspicion that your cat has contracted cat flu, you should definitely contact a vet as soon as possible. After all, the possible consequences for your cat are much more serious than those of a common cold in us humans.
In order to check your suspicion, the veterinarian will first carry out a general examination of the four-legged friend. Listening to the lungs provides information about the severity of the disease and shows whether your cat’s lungs have already been affected. In addition, a swab of the mucous membranes is required for the exact determination of the pathogen.
Antibiotics are usually used to treat cat flu. In addition, the administration of a preparation to strengthen the immune system can be useful. In addition, the veterinarian will carefully remove any crusting from your cat’s nose and eyes and, if necessary, administer an IV fluid to compensate for any dehydration.
What owners can do about cat flu
As the owner, there are a number of things you can do to support the veterinary treatment of cat flu. Basically, your cat follows the same rules of behavior that you would follow if you were ill yourself.
To support your sick cat’s recovery:
- Make sure that your four-legged friend is nice and warm, rests and drinks enough.
- Regularly remove discharge and crusting from your cat’s nose and eyes.
- Avoid stress that can arise, for example, from a change of feed or a move.
- Outdoor access is temporarily taboo for animals with cat flu.
- Due to the risk of infection, direct contact should be avoided
with other cats living in the household should be avoided.
Cure chances for animals with cat flu
Despite its seemingly harmless name, cat flu is a serious disease that can have serious consequences for affected animals. If there is no timely treatment, permanent damage is not uncommon.
In the worst case, animals with a weakened immune system can even die from cat flu. However, if it is detected and treated early, there is usually a good chance of recovery, so your cat should be able to survive the infection without major problems.
Cat Flu Vaccination
In view of the possible consequences of an infection, vaccination against cat flu is strongly recommended. Although this does not provide 100% protection due to the different pathogens, it does help to significantly reduce the risk of infection.
The basic immunization against cat flu can start as early as the eighth week of life. Thereafter, an annual booster is necessary in order to permanently maintain the vaccination protection.
More ways to prevent cat flu
The stronger your cat’s immune system is, the lower the risk that it will contract cat flu. In order not to unnecessarily burden your four-legged friend’s immune system, you should avoid excessive stress and value good-quality food.
Also, pay enough attention to the issue of hygiene and clean the litter box and your cat’s feeding bowl regularly and thoroughly.
Cat Flu and Man
Depending on the pathogen, cat flu can also be contagious for humans. If it is a virus, you usually have nothing to worry about. With some bacteria, however, this can look different.
If your cat suffers from cat flu, you should temporarily limit direct physical contact with it and keep any children away from it as much as possible. If you also take appropriate hygiene measures, the risk for you and your family should be limited.