Health and diet

Cat cold

Cats can take a cold a lot harder than we do. For them it's a relatively serious and very contagious viral disease. A cat cold is a combination of diseases, whose symptoms include a cold.

If your cat doesn't just watch summer storms from a heated window sill but rather enjoys the pleasures and woes of life outdoors, it is likely to get a runny nose. It doesn't just have to get a cold from bad weather, it is highly contagious and may come from several sources. In most cases, it is caused by the herpesvirus and calicivirus.

Both viruses spread through the air through droplet transmission to a distance of up to several meters. The cats don't even need to come into direct contact with each other. However, your pet can also get infected through contact with contaminated objects such as bowls, pet beds and other things (the calicivirus can survive for up to 4 weeks in the external environment). In addition, most cats that have been infected will remain a carrier for life. With calicivirosis even faeces and urine are infectious.

The first symptoms can be noticed in 2-4 days with calcivirosis, and in approximately 7 days with the herpesvirus. Symptoms include loss of appetite, high temperature, conjunctivitis and a runny nose. In layman's terms - the cat has a runny nose and eyes. Dry crusts begin to from in the corners of their eyes and nose, and their nose may even begin to bleed. If the cat is not treated, its eyes may become infected. These infections are particularly dangerous in pregnant cats, as they can also cause miscarriage. If the viral infection is accompanied by a bacterial infection, there is a risk that the disease will turn into pneumonia.

Blisters and ulcers also appear in the mouth with calicivirosis. This makes eating very painful for the cat, and they may even refuse to eat. Infection in the oral cavity is often accompanied by excessive salivation. If blisters and ulcers also appear between its toes, the sick cat may refuse to move, especially if the infection affects its joints.

However, a cat cold only has complications or is fatal in weakened cats. This concerns malnourished cats, injured cats, cats in convalescence or affected by other infections. Kittens and old cats are also more endangered. In contrast, healthy adult cats often overcome the infection without major complications. They often just sneeze and have a runny nose.

Treatment of the cold mainly consists in alleviating symptoms and supporting their immune system. If the cold is accompanied by a bacterial infection, antibiotics should be used. Your job will be removing the dried discharge and possibly also flushing their sinuses, so it is better to keep the sick cat at home for a while. Warmth and rest also help speed up recovery.

It's better to be sick with a full tummy, so it's important to motivate the cat to eat. Ideally, you should use a high-quality food pouch or can. Good food will also not unnecessarily burden the cat's body with hard-to-digest substances. It won't hurt to dilute the food with water to keep the cat sufficiently hydrated.

Prevention is better than treatment, and it's pretty simple - vaccination. Both viruses are included in the regular combined vaccination. In places with a higher concentration of cats, such as shelters, cat hotels, kennels, etc., additional effective prevention includes hygiene, regular disinfection and quarantine of new arrivals.

So if your pet wanders outside, don't forget to vaccinate it to keep the nasty cat cold away.

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