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Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats:

Upper respiratory infection in cats is a very common occurrence and is usually caused by either a feline rhinotracheitis virus or a feline calici virus.

When fighting off this infection, the cats weakened immune system is usually unable to guard the animal against any other likely illnesses at the same time – resulting in the highly possible presence of a secondary bacterial infection. Cats with upper respiratory infections will usually contract the condition in areas associated with overcrowding and poor sanitary standards.

URI in cats are highly contagious and can be passed on from one feline to another simply through way of direct contact. The condition can also be passed on by coming in contact with infected objects, food and water dishes as well as blankets.

After a cat has recovered from an upper respiratory infection, it will become a carrier of the virus and pass the virus on to other cats while showing no real signs of the illness in itself.

Cat upper respiratory infection symptoms include nasal discharge, red and watery eyes, dehydration, sneezing, loss of appetite and an increased amount of drooling or salivation. Upper respiratory infections in cats are also likely to result in the development of corneal ulcers, abortion or even the death of young kittens. The virus will usually have an incubation period of about 2 to 5 days before you start to notice any symptoms. In most cases, the condition will resolve itself within a period of about 10 to 14 days but the cat needs to be significantly looked after during this period.

Cat upper respiratory infection treatment is more focused on feeding your pet the right kind of food and beneficial fluids. Since most of the upper respiratory infections in cats are of the viral nature and there is no medication to kill these viruses, most veterinarians will look to treat the symptoms and maintain the overall health of the cat by boosting its immune system – thereby also speeding up the recovery. Consistently make sure that you keep the eyes and nose of the cat clear of any discharge and also making sure the pet consumes enough fluids so as to avoid any degree of dehydration. As always, prevention is better than cure and having your cat vaccinated before hand will go a long way into ensuring a healthier life for the animal.

Submitted on December 9, 2009