About Cat Flu

While cat flu is common in cats of all ages, it tends to affect kittens and young adult cats more frequently. Cat flu symptoms are similar to human cold of flu symptoms, and usually go away on their own. However, depending on the cause of the disease, the cat may require medication or even hospitalization.

  1. Types

    • Cat flu comes in many forms, depending on the cause. Mar Vista Animal Medical Center lists the most common causes of cat flu as feline herpesvirus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV) and the bacterial infection bordetella bronchiseptica. Both illnesses spread between sick cats, and are common in places with many cats living together, such as breeding homes, feral cat colonies, catteries and animal shelters.

    Identification

    • According to the Feline Advisory Bureau, cat flu is identified by a number of symptoms, including appetite loss, coughing, fever, labored breathing, discharge from the eyes and nose and ulcers in the mouth. The mixture of symptoms a cat gets depends on the strain of flu. Death is rare but possible.

    Considerations

    • Although cat flu is commonly spread between sick cats, the Feline Advisory Bureau states that is it possible for the disease to be transmitted via objects such as owners' hands, clothing and food bowls. Therefore, if an owner has more than one cat, handling the sick cat last and disinfecting bowls and hands could prevent the spread of the illness between cats living together.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Since cat flu is a virus there is no medical cure. According to Vet Info, secondary infections might occur, and these infections respond to antibiotics. A cat with severe flu symptoms may require hospitalization, especially if the cat is dehydrated. The Feline Advisory Bureau states that both FHV and FCV are preventable through annual vaccinations.

    Warning

    • According to Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, hemorrhagic calici, a strain of FCV, often causes death in affected cats. While the strain is rare, it is serious and extremely contagious. Vaccinations against the strain are available and Mar Vista recommends that owners vaccinate their cat even though the strain is uncommon.