Respiratory illness is very common in cats and sometimes leads to pneumonia. Cats can also get pneumonia from accidentally inhaling foreign material into the lungs, but this is not as common a cause as infectious diseases. Symptoms of pneumonia in cats are similar to symptoms of pneumonia in humans.
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Symptoms
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According to Race Foster DVM, one primary symptom is breathing difficulty.
Additional Symptoms
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Due to difficulty breathing, the cat may not be getting enough oxygen--this may result in pale gray mucus membranes, according to KittenCare.com.
Causes
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James W. Day, DVM includes the following causes for pneumonia in cats: bacterial, viral or fungal infections. In addition, pneumonia can be caused by cats accidentally inhaling fluid into their lungs (aspiration pneumonia).
Prevention/Solution
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Vaccinating your cat against common feline diseases may help prevent pneumonia caused by infectious agents.
Treatment
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Oral medicine or injections of antibiotics may be prescribed, but what medicine is used depends on the cause.
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