When everyone you know seems to be carrying pockets full of tissues because the common cold is making its rounds, you may worry about your furry friend when they have the sniffles. Fortunately for pets and their owners, colds are generally species-specific, meaning they don’t jump from people to cats and dogs and vice versa. Instead, pets have their own respiratory illnesses. 

Cats in particular commonly develop respiratory infections that are generally self-limiting but can cause serious illness that requires veterinary intervention. Read on for answers to common questions about feline respiratory infections, so you can better protect your cat from illness.

Question: What causes feline respiratory infections?

Answer: In about 90% of cases, feline respiratory infections are caused by one of two viruses—feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) or feline calicivirus (FCV). Other causes include bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, with Bordetella bronchiseptica and Chlamydia felis inducing most of the remaining 10% of infections. Bacterial infections caused by B. bronchiseptica and C. felis are most commonly found in cats in crowded housing, such as animal shelters and catteries.

Question: How can my cat get a respiratory infection?

Answer: Respiratory infections are spread easily from cat to cat through exposure to nasal and oral secretions. When an infected cat sneezes, aerosolized pathogens pollute the air and are  inhaled by any cat nearby. 

Infection can also occur through indirect contact—for example, when a cat is exposed to pathogens that linger on surfaces and items such as food and water bowls, bedding, and carriers. You can also serve as an infection source if you carry viral or bacterial organisms on your clothes or hands after handling an infected cat.

Question: What are respiratory infection signs in cats?

Answer: The severity of signs caused by respiratory infections can vary greatly. Affected cats can develop:

  • Lethargy
  • Clear or colored discharge from the eyes or nose
  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Oral ulcers 
  • Anorexia

In some cases, cats have difficulty breathing, especially if they have thick, crusted nasal discharge.

Question: What is a carrier state in a cat?

Answer: Cats who contract viral respiratory infections generally become lifelong virus carriers. When they recover from illness, they stay in a carrier state and can experience flare-ups during times of stress or immunosuppression. During these recurrences, they can shed the virus again and infect other cats.

Question: How are respiratory infections diagnosed in cats?

Answer: Most diagnoses are made based on clinical signs and the cat’s response to supportive nursing care. However, if an ill cat does not improve with supportive measures and time, diagnostic testing is often necessary to determine the most effective treatment. Blood samples or swabs taken from the mouth or eyelids can be tested for viral genetic material that confirms an FVR or FCV diagnosis or identifies a bacterial or fungal cause. Once the exact pathogen(s) has been identified, the correct treatment course can be implemented.

Question: How are respiratory infections treated in cats?

Answer: Since the majority of respiratory infections are viral, supportive care is the most effective treatment, with systemic antibiotics prescribed to prevent secondary bacterial infections, plus nasal decongestants and eye ointments. Overall, maintaining hydration and nutrition, which may require placement of an intravenous (IV) catheter and feeding tube, is key to recovery.

Question: How can I help my cat recover from a respiratory infection?

Answer: Supportive nursing care is key to helping your cat recover from a respiratory infection. The same way you fight off your cold with homemade chicken noodle soup and plenty of fluids and rest, your ill cat  will need adequate nutrition, water, and comfortable rest that, along with avoiding stress, will help support their immune system. 

To help ease their nasal congestion, take your cat into a steamy bathroom for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day, and gently wipe away ocular and nasal discharge to keep their eyes and nose clear. Since cats often refuse to eat if they can’t smell their food, heat their canned food to produce more aroma, and hand feed your cat if necessary. Keeping their nose clean will also help encourage your cat to eat.

Question: Can I keep my cat from getting a respiratory infection?

Answer: FVR and FCV vaccination is the best way to protect your cat from respiratory illnesses. While these vaccines are not 100% effective—no vaccine is—they prevent infection in the majority of cases and lessen infection severity if contracted. Vaccination also decreases virus shedding, which is beneficial for cats housed nearby or living with the sick cat.

Other precautionary measures include good hygiene practices, such as washing your hands and changing your clothing after caring for a sick cat before handling a healthy cat. A two-week quarantine period is also recommended for ill cats, so they are no longer virus shedding when they are reintroduced to the rest of the household.

Respiratory infections cause serious illness in your cat and may have lifelong effects. Protect your cat through regular vaccination against respiratory viruses by scheduling an appointment with our Heartland Veterinary Hospital team.