In most cases, cats catch colds just like people do — through exposure to a virus. According to one veterinary account, almost 90% of cat colds are caused by viruses. However, some bacteria can also cause URIs. Once a cat is infected, it can pass the virus on to other cats, often through sneezing or coughing.
Reasons for a cat being sick include hair balls, eating too much or too quickly, eating new or unusual food, an allergic reaction to food and parasites. Other causes include gastrointestinal conditions, pancreatitis, heat stroke and ingesting poisonous substances.
Indoor cats are not disease-free. Just like in humans, cats can get sick for a number of reasons. Infectious diseases are dramatically reduced if you keep your pet inside but not eliminated completely. As your pet ages, diseases can appear that are not influenced by exposure to the outside world.
How do cats get cat flu? Cat flu is generally spread by direct contact between cats (e.g., via saliva, tears, discharge from the eyes and/or nose). It can also be spread indirectly (e.g., via contaminated food bowls, bedding, litter trays or human hands).
While living an indoor lifestyle is certainly safer overall than living outdoors, and indoor living contributes to a longer life expectancy, important infectious diseases can find indoor cats. Feline rhinotracheitis virus, feline calici virus, and feline panleukopenia virus make up the feline distemper complex.
Cats living indoors in family homes are not protected from catching colds, however. Your cat can still be exposed to viruses and bacteria from cats who hang out outside your home, or even if you pet a sick cat elsewhere and then come home and interact with your cat.
It can cause a runny nose and eyes, and a sore throat. Other symptoms include aches and pains in the muscles and joints, mouth ulcers, dribbling, sneezing, loss of voice and fever. Cat flu is not usually serious in adult cats, however, all cats with symptoms of cat flu should see the vet.
Veterinarians recommend that all indoor cats should be given core vaccinations to keep them protected from a large range of extremely contagious diseases, so they are safe from illnesses if they escape from your house, go for a grooming or if they have to stay at a boarding facility, etc.
Can a vaccinated cat get cat flu? Vaccinated cats can still develop symptoms of cat flu if they are exposed to lots of virus in the environment but their symptoms will be less severe compared to unvaccinated cats. Good hygiene can reduce viral particles in the environment.
It's abnormal for a cat to vomit daily or even several times a month. If your cat is vomiting frequently, it could be from a simple issue such as hairballs. It could indicate your cat has eaten a toxic substance or has a serious illness. Whatever reason you suspect, see your vet as soon as possible.
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.
Signs Of Obvious Distress
Cats are typically very stoic animals, so if your cat suddenly seems to be in distress, it is a cause for concern. Howling, crying, hiding, and otherwise acting in a way that is out of character for your pet should alert you that something may be seriously wrong.
Cats can develop a number of illnesses if they don't have their shots, but feline leukemia is one of the worst. This illness is a top cause of feline death with a fatality rate of nearly 90%. Feline immunodeficiency virus, also known as cat AIDS, is a serious, lifelong illness transmitted by unvaccinated cats.
Immunizations are started at 6-8 weeks of age and are repeated every 3-4 weeks until the kitten is 4 months old. The routine or core vaccinations will protect your kitten from the most common diseases: feline distemper (panleukopenia), feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpes virus 1), calicivirus, and rabies.
It's never too late to start a vaccination programme.
If you have an older cat, it is not too late to start a vaccination programme and your vet will be able to advise you on this. Older cats often have a weaker immune system so it is especially important to give them a helping hand and keep their boosters up to date.
Cat flu recovery time is around 5 to 10 days for mild cases, and up to 6 weeks in more severe cases. The duration of the condition is often related to the type of virus or bacterial infection causing the symptoms. Cats who have picked up feline herpesvirus will carry it for life.
Sick cats usually become withdrawn and may hide, although this does depend on the personality of the individual cat. Some cats become more clingy or demanding of attention, while others just become cranky. As a general rule, cats that are sick will have lower energy levels.
In most cases, cats catch colds just like people do — through exposure to a virus. According to one veterinary account, almost 90% of cat colds are caused by viruses. However, some bacteria can also cause URIs. Once a cat is infected, it can pass the virus on to other cats, often through sneezing or coughing.
Another tip is to add wet food to their diet to ensure they remain hydrated. Additionally, coconut oil has been found to be an effective way to soothe an upset tummy. Lastly, try out some steam therapy by placing your cat in a warm and humid bathroom for about 15 minutes.
Can Indoor Cats Get Feline Leukemia? It's important to remember that indoor cats can be infected with FeLV; they're just less likely due to the reduced chances of being exposed to another cat who is already infected with FeLV.