Apparently, it’s like a cold in humans: continuous runny nose, some tearing, sore throat. And although it is usually not particularly serious in adult cats, it can be lethal for kittens or elderly cats. At Ownat, we explain everything so you know how to identify it and treat it.
The first and most important question: do you know what feline flu is? It is a fairly common disease among cats and can sometimes become chronic. It can be caused by one or both feline flu viruses: feline herpesvirus (acute symptoms that can sometimes be fatal. Recovery usually takes several weeks, and most cats overcome it without problems) and feline calicivirus (milder symptoms, such as mouth ulcers or nasal discharge).
Now let’s move on to the second vital question: how do we identify it? There are a number of symptoms that are easy to spot (especially when they occur together): sneezing, nasal discharge, watery eyes, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, loss of appetite, lethargy, fever, limping (some strains may cause this in young cats). As you can see, it’s not much different from a cold in humans, but dealing with it is not always so simple.
What treatment does it have? Unfortunately, there is no specific medication that treats and kills the virus. The vast majority of available treatments are supportive and consist of antibiotics to help treat secondary infections. This ensures that the cats are as comfortable as possible, that pain is relieved, and that they gradually start eating and drinking again.
What you can do is vaccinate them as a preventive measure and give booster doses periodically—this helps avoid potential problems in the future!
Once you’ve identified the flu, it is very important that if you have more than one cat at home, you separate the sick cat from the others to prevent the disease from spreading. And act quickly, because it tends to spread very fast!
Another important aspect to consider is that most kittens that suffer from feline flu remain latent carriers, which means the virus is “hidden” in their bodies. So, if their immune system weakens (stress, nursing, pregnancy, surgery…), it is likely that they will become sick again.
So, what should you do if your cat has the flu? The first and most important step is to take your cat to a trusted veterinarian to help manage all the symptoms. You will need to monitor secondary infections according to the vet’s instructions, provide supportive care, help strengthen their immune system, and try to avoid any situations that could cause additional stress.
