Cat Flu - A Common Cat Disease.

If you have never seen a cat with cat flu then count yourself lucky. Most of our cats have always been vaccinated and have never caught the flu, but because Little Mo was a rescue cat, we did not know her previous history and she caught the flu soon after we re-homed her. It really was sad to see, she didn’t eat or drink for days. She could hardly walk and it was pitiful to hear her croaky almost silent mew. Cat Flu is the common name given to a group of viruses, which affect the upper respiratory tract in cats. Healthy cats are normally able to cope with the illness and it is not usually fatal, but it can be much nastier and dangerous to kittens and cats with a weaken immune system. Anyway we all know how unpleasant the flu can be in ourselves, so it is something that we should try and protect our pets from catching it in the first place.

What is cat flu and how is it spread?

The illness itself is normally caused by the Feline Herpes Virus – 1 (FHV-1) or Feline Calicivirus (FCV). The disease affects the eyes, nose, mouth and windpipe. In severe cases it may even spread to the lungs and bronchi.

The viruses are spread much in the same way as human colds. Via sneezing and contact with the discharges. It can also be spread via cat food bowls, grooming brushes and bedding. In fact because some of the viruses can live for a short while outside of the cats body in the environment, it is a good idea to thoroughly clean the home environment. The use of household bleach mixed with water is advisable on washable items. Cats infected with the flu should be kept separate from other animals to prevent spreading the disease and although humans cannot catch the disease from them, we may help spread it from one animal via our hands. It is important that we do not handle the sick cat often and always thoroughly wash our hands when we do.

The symptoms

If you notice your cat displaying any of the following symptoms, you should take them to the vets immediately to have the illness diagnosed professionally and treated quickly.

Sneezing
Red swollen eyes
Discharge from the eyes or nose
Loss of appetite due to loss of smell
Depression and general lack lustre in behaviour
Mouth ulcers
Drooling
Joint pain, your cat finds it difficult to move around

The symptoms of cat flu can last between 7 and 14 days depending on the strain of virus.

The Treatment

Viral infections cannot be cured but the symptoms can be managed. Depending on the symptoms your cat is showing your vet may prescribe, eye drops and or antibiotics. In severe cases where the cat cannot eat or drink due to mouth ulcers, your vet may want to keep your cat at the clinic so that they can be fed intravenously.

As a caring cat owner the best thing to do is to try and keep your cat as comfortable as possible.

Make sure they have a warm and comfortable place to sleep
Swab eye and nose discharges with salt water (one teaspoon of salt to one pint of water)
Try to keep the room well ventilated and not stuffy (you may even want to place a bowl of steamy water near them to try and help them breath, but never leave your cat alone with hot water)
Make sure there is plenty of clean fresh water available and try to encourage them to drink often.
Food, water and the litter try may have to be placed closer to the cat if they are suffering from joint pain. (When Little Mo had the flu, she could hardly walk for two days).
Provide very smelly foods like pilchards because they may have a reduced sense of smell, and cut them up into small pieces
A little cream or ice cream may also tempt them to eat, as it may sooth sore throats.
Keep the environment quiet and stress free

Prevent cat Flu in the first place

Once a cat has cat flu they may become a carrier of the disease which may either make them sick again in the future even if they have not come in to contact with another sick cat, or they may infect other cats. This is one of the main reasons for having your healthy cat vaccinated against the disease, as you can never be sure which cats they come into contact with, you may even inadvertently spread the disease yourself by stroking a seemingly healthy cat who may be carrying the illness. sick cat sugar pond flickr.com

The vaccine for cat flu can be given either separately or as a combined vaccine for other infectious diseases. Your vet will discuss this with you at your visit. See our page regarding cat vaccinations in general for more information.

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