What is the cause of frequent sneezing and runny nose in cats?
Cats get a runny nose for many reasons (or what is called a cat’s cold), because the cat’s nose is very sensitive and it can become irritated and cats start sneezing 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 are suffering 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 the so-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 inform you of infection with cat influenza, which are as follows:
1. The presence of secretions from the eyes or nose
2. Loss of appetite or unwillingness to eat
3. Behavioral changes such as extreme lethargy
4. The presence of ulcers inside the mouth or on the tongue
5. Simple or severe vomiting
If these symptoms appear accompanying the cold, you should contact your veterinarian or make a visit to the veterinary clinic to find out the cause of the problem and treat it, especially if you notice an increase in symptoms and a deterioration in the cat's condition.
Is cat flu contagious to humans? Is human influenza contagious to cats?
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.
So if you are wondering if cat flu is contagious to humans, the answer is generally no, except in very rare cases.
Cats are infected with their own viruses, such as the herpes virus in cats or calicivirus, and they also develop 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.
Cat flu: symptoms of a cold in cats and their treatment:
There are some common cold symptoms in cats that indicate infection with feline influenza. If you notice one or all of the following symptoms:
1. Nose obstruction due to the common cold in cats
2. 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)
3. Excessive swallowing due to the presence of secretions inside the mouth and throat
4. Coughing or coughing
5. Lethargy and introversion
6. Loss of appetite
7. Fever and hyperthermia
8. Dehydration
Therefore, if one of these symptoms appears along with a cat's sneezing, 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 young and old 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 Persian cats and 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:
1- Clean the eyes and nose of any secretions by using paper tissues moistened with warm water.
2- 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.
3- Place a clean water dish in front of your cat and change it every two hours.
4- In some cases, cats will improve and you will notice that and will not need any additional treatment. But some cases are developing rapidly.
5- 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.
6- If the cat becomes unwilling to eat completely, or if the condition deteriorates, the veterinarian should be consulted.
How does a vet diagnose a cold in cats?
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 recovery period from the disease
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 should also make sure that your cat eats food normally. In the event that the cat loses its appetite, you must get some intravenous solutions to compensate for the lack of food.
Cats that do not eat for several days may develop serious liver complications, so you should pay close attention.
How can a cold or cat flu be prevented?
To prevent cat infection b
Cold or flu, you should take care to protect it from viruses that may cause upper respiratory infection.
Virus prevention occurs when cats are vaccinated annually. The quadruple vaccination of 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.
