Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats

Upper respiratory infections are not something you should wait out. If your cat has an upper respiratory infection, chances are, it will worsen over a period of hours. Thus, it is essential that you know the facts about this disease.

Upper respiratory infections are caused by a virus, commonly the feline herpes virus. For more information about herpes virus, please visit my article Feline Herpes Virus on Associated Content.

The disease is most often found in catteries, cat shelters, and homes and neighborhoods containing many cats. This is because the disease is species specific, meaning it can only be transmitted from one cat to another. It can be transmitted through the air when an infected cat sneezes, breathes, coughs, or has contact with shared cat toys, food bowls, and cages. It can also be transmitted on human clothes or hands when an individual handles an unaffected cat after contact with an infected one. Finally, cats that have had an upper respiratory infection previously are silent carriers, meaning these cats can shed the infection, even if he or she does not possess active symptoms.

Symptoms of upper respiratory infection are numerous. The period between the time in which the infection enters a cat’s body and the onset of symptoms is two and seventeen days. Fever, sneezing, nasal discharge, breathing through an open mouth, red or watery eyes, lack of appetite or thirst, inactivity, and/or ulcers on the lips, tongue, gums, roof of the mouth, or nose are all symptoms of upper respiratory infections.

Symptoms may initially appear mild, but they generally worsen over time. It is recommended you seek immediate attention for your cat if he or she has a fever over 102 degrees, becomes inactive, his or her eyes are closed, or if your cat stops eating or drinking. Otherwise, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian in order for your cat to receive the proper treatment for its upper respiratory infection.

For instance, when my cat, Carmine, had an upper respiratory infection, he required immediate attention. He had a 102.2 grade fever, his eye would not open, and he slept much more than usual. He also had nasal congestion and weepy eyes.

Although there is no medication to kill an upper respiratory infection, antibiotics are often prescribed to infected cats in order to ward off any secondary viral infections. Good nutrition, vitamins, and an agent known as L-Lysine are also utilized in order to strengthen the cat’s immune system, allowing it more power to fight off the infection. Upper respiratory infections may take from one to four weeks to clear up.

You may be able to prevent upper respiratory infections in your cats with vaccines. Ask your veterinarian for more information regarding available vaccinations. Keeping an infected cat in a separate room from any other cats you may have might also prevent the spread of the infection among your cats.