Cat's Upper Respiratory Infection

by Melissa
(Canada)

Reader Question: Does My Cat Have An Upper Respiratory Infection?

Hello.

We just adopted a 1yr old female Norwegian forest cat from street cats rescue on Wednesday night. Yesterday she seemed to be sneezing a lot, and today she seems to be constantly sneezing, and she seems stuffed up. Her eyes are watery as well. Is this a common cat cold? And should we take her to see our vet? Thank you for your time,

Sincerely

Melissa

Vet Responds To Reader's Inquiry Regarding Sick Cat

Hi Melissa,

Based on your cat’s history and your description of her clinical signs, a “kitty cold” is quite likely. A variety of infections can be responsible for upper respiratory infections in cats, including viruses like herpes virus and calicivirus, and bacteria like Chlamydophyla, Mycoplasma and Bordetella. Many cats can clear these infections on their own, so it is reasonable to focus on nursing care for a few days and see what happens.

Keep your cat’s eyes and nose free of buildup by regularly wiping them with a wet, warm cloth, and encourage her to keep eating, drinking, resting, and relaxing. If at any point her symptoms get worse rather than better, she begins to cough, or she stops eating, make an appointment with your veterinarian. Some owners have had luck with homeopathic remedies for the treatment of feline upper respiratory infections as well.

Best of luck,

Jennifer Coates, DVM