Feline flu treatment

When a cat develops a viral infection in their upper respiratory tract, it is referred to as feline flu or cat flu. Most cases of feline flu are due to the feline herpes virus-1 or the feline calicivirus. Fortunately, feline flu is not necessarily fatal, especially in adult cats, and treatment is easy.

  1. Symptoms

    • Cats suffering from the feline flu may show symptoms such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), nasal discharge, sneezing, dehydration, ulcers in the mouth or on the cornea of the eye, fever, loss of appetite, and depression.

    Diagnosis

    • To confirm a case of feline flu, the veterinarian will make note of clinical signs and symptoms. The veterinarian will also take a sample for testing, to confirm the presence of a viral infection.

    Hospitalization

    • In severe cases, dehydration and loss of appetite will cause the cat to require hospitalization. During this period, the cat will be force-fed and rehydrated using intravenous (IV drip) fluids.

    Medication

    • Cats with the flu often develop secondary bacterial infections, such as pink eye. When this occurs, antibiotics are prescribed to treat these infections.

    Home Care

    • Although the cat will need to see a veterinarian, you can keep it as comfortable as possible at home by keeping it warm and treating the symptoms. If your cat's eyes or nose has discharge, the eyes and nose should be bathed frequently with warm salt water. If it is not eating, it may be because it has lost its sense of smell. You can try to get your cat to eat by giving it strong-smelling food, like sardines.

    Warning

    • Feline flu is contagious, so any cat with a confirmed case of the flu should be kept away from other cats and household pets until he is well again.