Has your cat been sneezing in your face all week? Maybe looking a little less playful and a little more doleful with a runny nose she keeps licking? Chances are you think she’s caught a cold—and you’re right.
Cats can catch colds (better known clinically as feline upper respiratory infection or URI) from contracting viruses with airborne pathogens. Their symptoms may impact their mood and levels of activity, but they are likely to go away on their own in 7-14 days. Severe symptoms may warrant a visit to the vet for a more advanced treatment regimen.
Find out more about what cat colds are and how cats catch them by reading the rest of this article! We’ll also give you a rundown of the most common signs and symptoms of cat colds and how to treat them, as well as offer advice on when to see a veterinarian.
What Are Cat Colds or Cat Flu?
Feline upper respiratory infections, or cat colds, are similar to colds in humans: they’re both characterized by symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose.
Most of the time, cat colds are caused by viral infections from two kinds of viruses: the feline herpesvirus and the feline calicivirus.
The feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) infection is a contagious viral infection that solely affects cats and causes eye and upper respiratory infections. It’s commonly found in cats that are housed together, such as in catteries, rescue shelters, or multi-cat households.
Direct contact with infected particles is the main cause of transmission between cats, and cats infected with this virus will become carriers of it all throughout their lives. There is a vaccine available that decreases the severity of the symptoms of feline herpesvirus infection and helps chronic carriers shed less of the virus.
The feline calicivirus (FCV) is also a contagious virus that causes oral disease and upper respiratory infections in cats, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Much like the feline herpesvirus, it occurs in cats who share living spaces and spreads through direct contact with certain bodily fluids of infected felines.
There are several strains of FCV, with the most severe of them being the Feline Calicivirus Virulent Systemic Disease (FCV-VSD). While available vaccines may not protect from all strains of FCV, they can mitigate the symptoms of the infection in affected cats.
While less common, bacterial infections can also cause upper respiratory infections in cats. Bordetella bronchiseptica and Chlamydophila felis are among the types of bacteria that can cause cat colds.
Combination vaccines against feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus, and Chlamydophila felis are part of the recommended core vaccines for cats.
How Do Cats Catch Colds?
A cat infected with a cold-causing virus or bacteria can pass it on to other cats, even if she isn’t exhibiting any symptoms. Sneezing or coughing releases infectious droplets into the air, allowing them to infect other cats within their vicinity. These droplets stay airborne for hours, which is why respiratory infections are so contagious.
Cats who groom each other can also pass colds between each other. A mother cat who carries the feline herpesvirus can pass it to her kittens by grooming them. A cat who licks off the eye discharge from an infected cat can similarly contract the cold-causing virus.
Direct or indirect contact with contaminated objects such as food or water bowls, towels, or sheets is another way for cats to contract viruses that cause colds.
While cat colds are more commonly passed between multi-cat homes or shelters, an indoor cat with no other feline companions is still not spared from the possibility of catching a cold.
If your cat spends some time out of your house daily, she can contract the virus from an outdoor cat. She can also get it from you if you pet an infected outdoor cat and later pet her without washing your hands. Even opening your window can cause airborne particles from infected outdoor cats to travel inside your home.
Cats with weaker immune systems, such as kittens, senior cats, unvaccinated cats, or cats with chronic illnesses, are at higher risk for developing colds.
If your cat has recurring colds, it’s likely that she’s a carrier of the feline herpesvirus. While the virus can remain dormant for years inside a carrier’s body, stress and certain environmental factors can trigger a flare-up.
Can Cats Catch Colds from Humans and Vice Versa?
If you have a cold and your cat gets one, don’t worry: you’re likely not to blame for it. While cats can contract viruses that cause colds or flu from humans, these instances are incredibly rare. 90% of cat colds are caused by the viruses mentioned above, and other cases are usually caused by bacterial infections.
To be safe, however, make sure to wash your hands before you pet or feed your cat if you have a cold.
Now, on the flip side, it’s impossible for cats to pass on their colds to humans. The viruses that cause respiratory infections in cats are species-specific, which means they cannot affect or cause illnesses in people.
Symptoms of Cat Colds
Most cats exhibit only mild symptoms when they catch colds, and the duration of these symptoms typically lasts one to two weeks.
Common symptoms of cat colds include:
- Sneezing
- Sniffling
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Occasional or repeated coughing
- Mild fever
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
More severe symptoms of cat colds include:
- Difficulty breathing
- High fever
- Thick, pus-like discharge from eyes and nose
- Total loss of appetite
If your cat is experiencing severe or persistent symptoms, take her to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Keep in mind as well that kittens and senior, pregnant, or immunocompromised cats will need to see the veterinarian even in mild cases of cat colds.
Treatment of Cat Colds
The severity of your cat’s symptoms will determine the type of treatment she’ll need. In severe cases, your veterinarian will have your cat undergo certain diagnostic tests to determine the specific cause of the infection, including a complete blood count (CBC).
From there, they may prescribe certain medications based on their findings and your cat’s primary symptoms. These may include:
- Antibiotics
- Antiviral medications
- Anti-inflammatory medications for nausea or fever
- Eye drops for eye discharge
- Subcutaneous fluids for dehydration
- Appetite stimulants for loss of appetite
Severe upper respiratory infections or infections that develop into pneumonia may require hospitalization.
Home Remedies for Cat Colds
While most cat colds go away on their own, your cat may experience discomfort or some difficulties while she has a cold. It’s best to follow a few home care measures to ensure she stays comfortable and gets some relief from her symptoms.
Here are some of the most effective home remedies for cat colds:
Keep your cat in a warm, comfortable spot
Cold temperatures can make your cat’s nose stuffier—plus, cats generally dislike the cold and crave warmth. To ensure your sick cat stays nice and comfy, keep her in a warm spot with clean bedding.
A heated cat bed can do wonders in improving your cat’s mood and level of comfort.
Clean your cat’s eyes and nose with a damp cloth
Excess discharge and snot can build up on your cat’s eyes and nose, making her feel worse and keeping her from properly breathing or smelling her food.
Make sure to clear away any gunk or discharge from her eyes and nose as soon as it appears with a warm, damp cloth. You can also use cotton balls to do this.
Use steam to help ease congestion
Warm steam can help loosen up the mucus in your cat’s airways and clear up her stuffy nose. The humidity can also provide soothing relief and keep her nasal passages moist enough to reduce congestion.
To do this, you can either use your humidifier or run hot water in your bathroom and let your cat soak up the steam.
Give your cat warm food
A sick cat may reject cold food or dry kibble, especially since she likely can’t smell or taste it properly. Serving her warm wet food may stimulate her appetite and appeal to her senses, allowing her to eat more and get hydrated at the same time.
Prevention Measures Against Cat Colds
It’s impossible to completely shield your cat from getting colds, but there are a few ways to prevent her from getting it too frequently or experiencing severe, life-threatening symptoms.
Here are a few preventative measures you can take to help protect your cat against colds:
Stay up-to-date on your cat’s vaccines
If you’ve recently acquired a new kitten, make sure she gets the core vaccines she needs right away. It’s also important to get the recommended yearly vaccines for your cat to reduce the severity of her symptoms if or when she does get infected with a cold-causing virus.
Isolate infected cats
If you have multiple cats at home and one of them has a cold, it’s best to isolate her as soon as possible. Upper respiratory infections are highly contagious and can spread like wildfire in multi-cat households.
Avoid sharing your infected cat’s belongings with other cats as well. Keep their food and water bowls, linens, toys, and towels separate from each other. Be sure to clean any item your infected cat uses once a day.
Keep your cat indoors
Keeping your cat inside your home can help prevent exposure to viruses that outdoor cats may carry. If this is unattainable, make sure to limit the amount of time your cat spends outside.
Boost your cat’s immunity
A healthy, well-balanced diet that’s high in protein and essential nutrients goes a long way in boosting your cat’s immunity. Keeping your cat fit with daily exercise and giving her supplements can also help strengthen her immune system and ward off viral or bacterial infections.
In Closing
Like humans, cats can catch colds—which can make them feel sick and even miserable for a few days or weeks. These are typically caused by viral or bacterial infections passed between cats.
Cat colds usually go away on their own, but it’s vital to make sure your cat eats well and stays warm while she’s sick. If her symptoms worsen, take her to the veterinarian right away to keep the illness from progressing any further.