You're worried your feline has contracted a kitty cold. You aren't sure if you should take her to the vet, though, because the cold does not seem to be very serious. But if it's clear she's in discomfort, there are things you can do from home to make her more comfortable while she rides out the cold.
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Symptoms
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Cat cold symptoms usually appear if your cat has contracted a viral infection in her sinuses. Cold weather or dehydration increases your cat's likelihood of contracting a cat cold. If your cat only sneezes occasionally, she probably does not have a cold. If she sneezes continually throughout the day, this usually indicates an upper respiratory infection. If your cat has a clear discharge when she sneezes, this is also an indication of a viral infection. Discharge can also appear around her eyes, and she may have a cough, blood in her mucus or a high temperature. Colds can last anywhere from a week to ten days. Loss of appetite can also occur with cat colds. Don't worry---you cannot contract a cold from your cat, and your cat cannot contract one from you.
Treatments
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If your cat's symptoms do not lessen within a week, or if a thick, yellowish discharge begins to appear around her nose or eyes, this is a sign that the infection is not viral, but bacterial. In this case, you should consult a veterinarian, because your cat will probably need an antibiotic. If you are sure your cat only has a cold and not any other bacterial infection (for example, if your cat refuses to eat for two days or more, this could indicate a more serious illness which will require antibiotic treatment from your vet), you can safely treat her from home. Vitamin C works just as well on kitty colds as it does on human ones. Feed your cat a quarter of a vitamin C tablet a day for the first four days of her cold, or until her symptoms lessen or disappear. Licorice and other antiviral herbal remedies such as elderberry are also effective in treating cat cold symptoms.
How to Use Treatments
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The best method to get your cat to take her treatment if it is in pill form is to place the pill as far back on her tongue as possible. Then press your forefinger lightly to her throat and run your finger up and down until she swallows. If you'd like, you can also dissolve any treatment like the quartered vitamin C tablet in a spoonful or two of water, and use a syringe to squirt the treatment down the back of her throat. To hold your cat's mouth open while you to this, place your thumb on one side of her jaw and your middle or forefinger on the other, and squeeze gently until she opens her mouth. Most likely she will try to fight you, but be forceful. Your cat will appreciate the effects of the treatment, even if she doesn't appreciate how you force it on her. And remember: cats should only take one quarter of the dose recommended for a human or small child.
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