My Cat Has A Cold

Just like people, cats can get a number of respiratory infections and diseases. Some are very serious and some aren't. You should know that the type of colds cats get are different than the kinds of colds people get - my cat can't catch a cold from me, and I can't catch one from her!

Signs That My Cat Has A Cold

Signs that a cat has a cold includes coughing (a cat cough sounds a bit like a cat with a hairball), sneezing, runny nose and eyes, lack of appetite, and sleeping more than usual. Her breathing may be labored or congested. She may also have a fever.

One of the reasons cats with colds don't eat is because they can't smell their food. You can encourage a sick cat to eat by serving moist food instead of dry kibble. It's smellier. Plus, the moisture helps prevent dehydration.

Diagnosing That My Cat Has A Cold

Very young cats and elderly cats should see a vet if they have cold symptoms. Otherwise, as long as symptoms aren't too severe, cats can be treated at home.

Your veterinarian will perform a thorough examination and possibly do some blood work. He or she will check to make sure your cat is current on her vaccines because there are a couple of respiratory illnesses that cats can get (calcivirus and rhinotracheitis) that can be very serious if your cat was not vaccinated each year. The vet will do chest x-rays to check for pneumonia if your cat's breathing sounds particularly congested.

Treatment When My Cat Has A Cold

When a cat has a cold she has to stay indoors until she gets well. She needs to keep warm and stay dry. This is especially important in cold weather, because the cold air will cause her bronchial passages to constrict, making it hard to breathe.

A veterinarian might prescribe an antibiotic just in case my cat has a bacterial infection instead of a virus. The antibiotic will also help prevent any secondary bacterial infections from setting in while her immune system is compromised.

Eye drops might also be prescribed, if her eyes are particularly runny and infected.

In some cases, cold medicine for people can be used to treat cats.

If your cat frequently gets colds you might want to consider a dietary supplement designed to support the health of the respiratory system. PetAlive's Respo-K is a proven herbal cat respiratory condition solution made for this purpose. Check with your veterinarian who can help track the effectiveness of this approach.

Sources:

Animal Health Channel

Vet Info 4 Cats

Feline Upper Respiratory Disease Complex
Nash, Holly DVM

 

From My Cat Has A Cold to more on Cat Cold

To Cat Health Guide Home