Cat flu mirrors the familiar symptoms of human influenza, encompassing sniffles and muscle soreness. Nurturing care is paramount for feline recuperation. Explore the indicators of cat flu and effective treatment approaches to ensure your furry friend's well-being.
Cat Flu Symptoms
Cat flu symptoms are a lot like what people feel with the flu. The main signs are:
- Sneezing
- Drooling or dribbling
- Loss of voice
- Loss of appetite
- Coughing (a gagging noise)
- Fever
- Low energy
- Runny nose or discharge
- Mouth ulcers
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye) or eye discharge
After catching cat flu, it might take around two weeks for your cat to notice any symptoms. Kittens often get ulcers in their eyes, which can hurt them if not treated. Kittens and older cats have weaker immune systems than healthy adult cats. This means they might have more severe symptoms or develop other problems because of cat flu. For instance, they could get pneumonia or another respiratory infection, become dehydrated, or not eat enough.
Is Cat Flu Contagious?
Cat flu spreads easily, much like human flu. When infected cats sneeze, they can spread the virus several meters away, so another cat doesn't need direct contact to catch it. To lower the risk, clean your cat's bedding, bowls, and litter box often.
The virus hides in surprising spots and can pass from person to person. Cats can carry the virus without showing any signs of illness.
To stop the spread, regularly clean your cat's things and keep sick pets away from others.
Cat Flu In Kittens
Regrettably, young cats can catch the flu too. Kittens are still growing immune systems, so getting the flu can be challenging. They might have worse symptoms like:
- Trouble breathing
- Eye sores
- Lung infections
That's why it's vital to call your vet when you see your kitten's first signs of flu.
The vet might suggest giving your kitten lots of water, a cozy bed, and ensuring they eat regularly. In severe cases, they might need medicine. Follow your vet's advice to beat the virus and get your kitten back to playing soon.
To keep your kitten safe from the flu, get them vaccinated. Kittens can usually get their shot when they're eight weeks old, but ask your vet for the best timing.
Treatment Of Cat Flu
Although antibiotics can sometimes help with complications, there isn't one specific treatment for cat flu. The best way to help your cat get better is to keep it cozy and take care of it at home.
Ensure they stay hydrated: Try to get them to drink water, which can help with mucus. If they're up for it, you can bring them into the bathroom while you take a hot bath—the steam might help, too!
Keep their eyes and nose clean: use soft cotton pads with salt water to gently wipe away any gunk.
If they're not eating much, try to tempt them with easy-to-swallow foods. They might not be able to smell well, so go for foods with strong scents.
Keep them warm, dry, and comfy with all their favorite things nearby! If you have other cats, keep your sick cat in a separate area to prevent spreading the flu. Ensure they have their litter box, bed, and plenty of food and water in their space.
Prevention Of Cat Flu
To keep your cat safe from cat flu, vaccinate them against the viruses that cause it. Your cat will need two flu shots and then booster shots regularly. While vaccines can't guarantee your cat won't ever get the flu, they can prevent severe symptoms.
If one of your cats is sick and you have more than one, keep the sick one away from the others as much as possible to stop the flu from spreading. Clean shared things like bowls and litter boxes well after each use to eliminate any virus left behind.
