Cold Symptoms in Kittens

Recognizing kitten cold symptoms is easy, and is the first step to getting help. Viruses can be spread through wet sneezes on infected or carrier cats. The cold can last from seven to 10 days. The symptoms in kittens are actually very similar to human symptoms. The medical term for a kitten cold is feline upper respiratory infection tract disease. There are several symptoms that indicate a cold.

  1. Fever

    • The normal temperature in kittens is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees F. A temperature over 103 is considered a fever. Fevers are the body's natural defense against infections. Infections cannot thrive in hot environments, so increasing the temperature of the kitten's body helps destroy infection. This is also a good indication that your kitten has a cold.

    Sneezing

    • Sometimes sneezing can be caused by an irritation or an object inside the nose. If the kitten only sneezes for a small while then stops, this is no need to be concerned. If you notice sneezing and sniffling for an entire day, your kitten probably has an infection.

    Discharge

    • Discharge can occur from the nose, eyes and mouth. When discharge has been coming from the kitten's nose, eyes or mouth for several hours, it may be the time for a trip to the vet. Watery discharge may be caused by an irritation or an allergy. Mucus could be from a respiratory disease or infection. If the discharge is thick, and yellow, your kitten definitely has a bacterial infection. Discharge from the eyes can be from the infection spreading from the front nasal cavity to their sinus.

    Appetite

    • Loss of appetite is a major symptom of a cold. Your kittens hunger is triggered by smelling it's food. With a runny nose and discharge coming out, it is hard for the kitten to pick up the food's scent.

    Causes

    • The nose is lined with sensitive membrane that helps to block bacteria that could cause an infection. Dehydration or exposure to cold weather can cause the membrane to become dry, which allows bacteria to pass into their respiratory system. Your kitten uses it's nose to smell food, this causes them to become hungry. If the nose is blocked, the kitten cannot smell and this causes appetite loss. Kittens tend to be prone to infection because of their immune systems not being completely developed yet.