Can Cats Get Colds?
Has your kitty been a little sneezy lately? Have you noticed that they’ve lost a little pep in their step? Part of pet ownership is being aware of their general health and well-being but, unfortunately, cats can’t tell us what’s bothering them.
Knowing a few important facts about feline health, like if they can get colds and how to treat them if they do, is one of the nicest things you can do for yourself as a pet owner.
When you know more about them, you’ll feel a lot more confident handling all of the twists and turns that owning a cat can throw at you.
I Have a Cold… Can My Cat Get It?
If you’ve been feeling under the weather, there is nothing that is more comforting than curling up on the couch with a warm blanket and your cat on your lap. When you have a cold, there is very little that you can do other than just waiting it out. Antibiotics don’t work on viruses, so the only thing that you can really do is to treat your symptoms and let your immune system do its job.
But can you pass that to your kitty?
The good news is, the virus that causes the human cold is not considered “zoonotic.” That means it can not be passed from one species to another, in this case, from human to feline. While your cat may be empathetic to the fact that you’re not feeling good, you don’t have to worry about giving them your cold.
So, Cats Can’t Get Colds, Then?
Unfortunately, although we wish that were true, cats can indeed get colds.
Generally, what we would consider a “cold” is referred to as an upper respiratory infection (or URI) in our feline friends. While the human cold is caused exclusively by viruses that are untreatable with antibiotics, the feline cold can be caused by either a virus or a bacteria.
The bad part about the feline cold is that it is just as contagious to other cats as the human cold is to other humans. Think about how quickly a cold can go around your office or your home. The same is true for feline upper respiratory infections. If one cat manages to catch one, the rest of the cats will almost certainly catch it.
If your cat develops an upper respiratory infection, it’s best to isolate the ill cat from the rest of the feline household as much as possible. These “cat colds” really can spread like wildfire, and can create some pretty expensive vet bills.
What Are the Signs of a Feline Upper Respiratory Infection?
Now that you know your cat can catch a cold, the next step is knowing how to identify them so that you can treat them quickly.
Upper respiratory infections in cats usually affect mostly the nose and the throat. That means the most common symptoms are very similar to how we experience colds — nasal congestion, sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose (can be clear, green, or yellow), and conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye membranes).
There are also a few other less commonly seen symptoms, like a loss of appetite, large lymph nodes, and squinting.
If you notice any of those symptoms, act fast. The sooner you can start treatment, the less likely they are to develop more serious symptoms or spread it to other cats in the house.
Be aware that cats have a tendency to hide when they’re not feeling great, so it may not be immediately obvious when they are sick. Knowing your pet, and being able to identify even those small signs and symptoms, can really make a big difference.
How Can the Vet Help My Cat’s Cold?
While it is definitely scary when your cat feels under the weather, especially if you are a first time pet owner, the good news is that you don’t need to panic. Most upper respiratory infections clear themselves in anywhere from a few days to a week, but you may want to help treat their symptoms to help them start feeling better, sooner.
One of the medications that a veterinarian may use to treat your cat is an eye ointment or drops. If your cat has developed conjunctivitis or eye discharge, they are likely to need prescription medication to help kick it quicker.
In some cases, especially in kittens and cats with known immune system issues, your vet may also prescribe a general, broad-spectrum antibiotic to help make sure that they don’t develop what is known as a “secondary” infection. Although the antibiotic won’t do anything about the virus that is likely causing the actual URI, it can fight off worse complications. That’s a decision that will ultimately be up to your vet, which is why you should definitely take your cat in if this is something new for them.
Also, if it has been too long and your cat seems to not be showing any interest in food, you should definitely take them in to see your vet. They may need fluids to help get them through being ill, because a cat that goes more than a day or two without eating or drinking can get seriously sick.
What Can I Do For My Cat When They’re Under The Weather?
After taking a trip to the vet to get any needed antibiotics (and for the much needed peace of mind), you’re probably wondering what you can do to help your little fluff ball feel better. Unfortunately, you can’t just make them up a sick couch and feed them chicken noodle soup until they’re on the mend (although they would probably love that a lot).
For many cats with URIs, one of the best things that you can do is to purchase an in-home humidifier. This is especially helpful for cats that are going through any airway or nasal congestion, much like how it helps us when we feel the same thing. If buying one is out of the questions, you can even try taking your kitty into a bathroom with the hot shower running for 10 to 15 minutes, a few times a day. Just be careful, as the sound of running water can panic some cats.
Another thing that you can do for your precious baby when they’re fighting off a cold is to help encourage them to eat. Just like humans, colds and other upper respiratory infections tend to dull the sense of smell. With cats, being able to smell something is a large part of what inspires them to actually eat. When they can’t smell, they often lose a lot of their appetite. Because it takes a lot of calories to help support the immune system while it kicks the infection, getting them to keep eating is absolutely essential.
A good way to do this is by introducing foods that they wouldn’t normally get, especially extra aromatic ones that will really be able to entice them. Many people turn to meat-based baby foods, or even canned food, if their cat doesn’t seem to want to eat. There are also prescription foods that you can get for this specific reason. Avoid feeding them any “human” foods, though, as some of them can be harmful or cause a worse problem known as pancreatitis.
Is There a Way To Stop My Cat From Getting a Cold?
Just like humans, cats get sick with communicable diseases sometimes. The problem is, while we know how to practice basic hygiene and wash our hands, cats can’t practice the same habits (although that would be awfully adorable).
One way that you can help avoid a few different bacterial and viral infections, even without handwashing, is by making sure that your cat is up to date on all of their vaccines. Specifically, there is a vaccine that is known as FVRCP, which stands for feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. This can not only help prevent those specific diseases, but may also be able to lower the severity of many other upper respiratory infections if your cat is unlucky enough to come down with one.
Overall, making sure to keep your cat as happy and healthy as possible is the best prevention. This includes making sure to feed them healthy, nutritious food that is appropriate to their age and lifestyle, getting them regular checkups and vaccines, and making sure that they get regular exercise. So basically, the same things that humans should be doing to keep ourselves healthy!
In Summary…
Yes, your sweet fur baby can get a cold… just not the same type that we get. Upper respiratory infections are usually pretty mild and go away on their own for our feline friends, but they do have the potential to worsen and need veterinary support in some cases.
Being able to recognize the symptoms of URIs, and what you can do to help your kitty get through it, is the key to being a prepared, loving pet owner.
Sources:
Feline Pancreatitis: Serious (vet.cornell.edu)
Feline Upper Respiratory Infection | (VCAHospitals.com)
Zoonotic Diseases | One Health (cdc.gov)
