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The infection known as “cat flu” or “Feline Upper Respiratory Disease” is a very common disease that is not usually life threatening in healthy adult cats. However it can be a very serious condition in kittens, and can lead to severe dehydration, debilitation and occasionally in severe cases, cat flu can result in life threatening pneumonia.

Cat flu can be caused by a number of different pathogens including viruses, bacteria and mycoplasmas. Most cases of cat flu are caused by infection with the Feline Calicivirus (FCV) and/or the Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1). Other less common infections can be due to bacteria such as Chlamydophila felis, Bordetella bronchiseptica or Mycoplasmas.

These infectious agents are easily spread through direct contact between cats, through contaminated food bowls, on bedding or a person’s hands and by inhaling infected air. The clinical signs appear from 1 to 10 days after exposure and the disease usually persists for around 1 to 3 weeks, but in some cats this can be longer.

Symptoms of cat flu

This disease is very common, and cats with this disease tend to exhibit some or all of the following signs:

• Sneezing and/or coughing
• Nasal discharge and/or a snuffly nose
• Discharge from eyes
• Decreased appetite
• Lethargy
• Ulcers on the tongue, mouth and nose, drooling
• Corneal ulcers, these are generally quite painful and will make your cat squint and keep their eyes closed
• Loss or change of voice
• Fever

Risk factors for cat flu

Cat flu is an extremely common disease with a number of cats becoming carriers after recovering from their initial infection. These carrier cats may intermittently or continuously shed infectious virus into the environment. Increased risk factors for cat flu include:

• Unvaccinated cats
• Kittens
• Elderly or immunosuppressed cats e.g. FIV positive cat, cat undergoing chemotherapy
• Cat kept in large groups or colonies e.g. breeders or rescue shelters

Diagnosis

A presumptive diagnosis may initially be made on observation of typical clinical signs however in cases that do not respond to standard treatment it is recommended to proceed with diagnostic investigations to rule out other causes of respiratory disease. This may include blood tests, serology, eye and throat swabs, PCR testing, x-rays, advanced imaging and scoping the nose and throat under a general anaesthetic.

Treatment

Treatment for cat flu is mostly supportive and symptomatic. All cases will require antibiotic treatment as they invariably develop secondary bacterial infections. Other treatments will depend on the cat’s symptoms and may include eye ointments, analgesics, mucolytics and intravenous fluids.

Severely dehydrated cats may need to be admitted into hospital as an inpatient to receive intravenous fluid therapy and pain relief. Cats that refuse to eat due to a poor appetite may need placement of a feeding tube to provide assisted nutrition. For those cats that are suspected to have a herpes viral infection, there is an anti-herpes anti-viral drug famcyclovir that is available and has been found to be safe to use in cats.

Other than the potentially long list of drugs we will prescribe for your cat, excellent nursing at home is the single most important other part in their treatment. The following are some things to try to make your cat feel more comfortable.

• Keep your cat inside in a warm place and isolate from other cats in household
• Frequently wipe away any eye or nasal discharges with damp cotton wool
• Plenty of TLC (Tender Loving Care!)
• Groom your cat. Often an unwell cat will not groom itself and consequently feels uncomfortable.
• Feed strong smelling foods such as tinned fish, cats that can’t smell often won’t eat. A lot of encouragement may be necessary but getting your cat to eat is VITAL. Dabs of Vegemite on food may encourage eating.
• Fluid intake is also vital. Try anything: water, water and glucose, milk, Vegemite dissolved in water, broth.

To help clear your cat’s blocked nose try:

• Using a child’s electric steam vapouriser in the room with your cat.
• Friars Balsam in boiling water: put your cat in a well ventilated container such as a plastic laundry basket upside down. Place beside the basket a bowl of boiling water and the Friars Balsam. Cover the bowl and the container with a large sheet of plastic, or a blanket or thick towel for 5 minutes. Repeat this procedure three times daily. Do not let your cat have contact with undiluted Friars Balsam or boiling water as this may can cause skin burns on your cat.
• Sit your cat in the bathroom whilst you have a shower. The steam will help loosen the mucous.
• Paediatric Saline nasal drops can also help and are available from your local chemist. Ensure that there is no decongestants added to the drops and that it just contains saline.

Time and effort on your part will greatly assist your cat to the most rapid recovery possible. Most cats respond very well to treatment for cat flu as long they are not elderly or suffering from another illness. If your cat appears to be recovering very slowly, your vet may recommend to run some blood testing to screen for viruses that affect the immune system such as Feline Leukaemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.

A proportion of cats can become carriers of the virus after they have appeared to have cleared the infection. These cats may go on to suffer recurrences during times of stress and can be infectious to other cats.

Prevention

Vaccination is recommended as the best way to try and prevent your cat becoming infected with cat flu. As with the human Flu, it is important to remember that there are many different agents that can cause cat flu so a vaccinated cat can still get cat flu. We recommend vaccination for cat flu for ALL cats, whether they live exclusively indoors or have access outdoors.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided on this page does not replace the advice of your veterinarian. If you are concerned about your cat’s health in any way, we strongly recommend you seek veterinary advice. 

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