Cats suffer from a runny nose for many reasons (or what is called a cat’s cold), because the cat’s nose is very sensitive and may become irritated, and cats begin to sneeze for the simplest reasons.
Therefore, you may sometimes notice some symptoms of sneezing or runny nose on your cat, which disappear quickly and do not need any treatment
But if you start to notice that your adult cat or kittens suffer from cold and runny nose continuously, you must find out the reason and make sure that they are not sick.
There are many symptoms of a cold in cats, or what is called cat flu, so if you notice some additional symptoms associated with a cold and a runny nose, you should pay attention, as these symptoms may tell you that you have cat flu.
The types of viruses that cause colds or flu and influenza for humans are viruses that infect humans only, so it is very rare for these viruses to infect cats, and therefore human influenza is not contagious to cats.
Cats get some bacterial infections that cause cold symptoms in cats, which are very similar to cold symptoms in humans
Upper respiratory infection (cold, cold, or flu) can affect adult cats, but it appears more often in young cats. It also appears in adult cats that are neglected to be vaccinated
Cold symptoms in cats and their treatment
There are some common cold symptoms in cats that indicate infection with feline influenza
If you notice any or all of the following symptoms:
Nose obstruction due to the common cold in cats
- The presence of secretions in the eyes or nose (runny nose in cats may be light or heavy and thick with a white, yellow, green or transparent color)
Frequent swallowing due to the presence of secretions inside the mouth and throat
coughing or sneezing
Lethargy and introversion
Anorexia
Fever and hyperthermia
Drought
If one of these symptoms appears with cat sneezing, then this may indicate that your cat has a bacterial or viral infection and needs medical treatment after being examined by the veterinarian.
What are the causes of cold in cats
A cold in both young and old cats is caused by a viral infection from certain types of viruses
Feline herpesvirus and calicivirus are the two most common types of viruses that cause cold symptoms in cats
Sometimes it may develop into a secondary bacterial infection that may lead to pneumonia in cats
Cold treatment for all types of cats at home
As soon as you notice some cold symptoms in cats, you must take certain steps in order to ensure that the infection does not worsen or the cat’s condition develops and deteriorates, these steps are as follows
Clean the eyes and nose of any secretions by using paper tissues moistened with warm water
Offer your cat some warm food, for example a small plate of chicken or meat soup with mashed or minced chicken pieces that are easy to digest.
Place a clean water dish in front of your cat and change it every two hours
In some cases, cats will improve and you will notice this and will not need any additional treatment. But some cases are developing rapidly
Some advise giving some medicines that contain the active substance cephalexin, which is a treatment for bacterial infections, but we never recommend giving any medicines without examination by a specialized veterinarian.
If the cat becomes unwilling to eat completely, or if the condition deteriorates, a veterinarian should be consulted
The vet will physically examine the cat, and will often be able to find out the cause of the disease and infection in the upper respiratory tract without any problem. He will also prescribe the appropriate treatment for you based on the severity of the condition
If your cat does not respond and recover from the flu, the veterinarian may perform additional tests, such as a blood test or CT scan, to determine the cause of your cat's symptoms.
How is the treatment of cold and flu in cats
If the infection in your cat is diagnosed as a bacterial infection, the vet will give you some antibiotics to help overcome the disease.
In the event that the infection was viral, the veterinarian will give medications that raise the cat's immunity and resistance to disease
Your vet will also recommend some nutritional supplements if your cat is not eating or is dehydrated. He may also prescribe some solutions that help the cat live
The period of convalescence from illness
During treatment, always make sure to keep your cat's nose and eyes clean, clean any secretions in the eyes or nose as this will help speed recovery
Use a paper towel dampened with warm water for this purpose
Warm water vapor can also be used to aid nasal breathing and clear the breathing pathways
You must make sure that your cat is eating Food Naturally, in the event that the cat loses its appetite, it must get some intravenous solutions to compensate for the lack of food
Cats that don't eat Food For several days, you may develop serious liver complications, so you should pay close attention
To prevent cats from catching a cold or the flu, you must take care to protect them from viruses that may cause upper respiratory infections
Virus prevention occurs when cats are vaccinated annually.
Quadruple vaccination for cats helps protect the cat for a full year from viruses that cause colds in cats, which are deadly viruses such as calicivirus or herpes virus.
