Send This Site to a Friend

Colds in Cats and Kittens

Is it a runny nose and cold, or respiratory infection?

Cats get colds, just like you and me, however cats have their 
own virus that is unique to their species. This means we can't "catch"
colds from cats, and neither can they "catch" colds from us.


Cats experience much the same symptoms as we do when we 
have a cold. They get snotty runny noses, runny eyes, sneezing, 
temperature etc. And like humans they also are susceptible 
to the sinus and chest infections that are sometimes the result 
with a humans cold. 

These infections are called secondary infections. It is important 
that when your kitten gets a cold that that they receive the 
proper treatment. Follow your vet's recommendations.
 

Your cat cannot blow it's nose, so you need to keep the
mucous and discharge clean by wiping the nose as needed
with a damp, warm rag or tissue. Be gentle!

Just like in humans, a cat cold will last from 7 to 10 days.

Many cats will also refuse to eat when having a cold.
One reason for this is that cats like to smell their food first,
and with a runny nose, it's rather hard to pick up the scent.


Be very careful about dehydration! If your kitty is not eating
and is becoming dehydrated, buy some canned cat food.
It is 75 to 80% moisture and has a hearty smell to it.

When kittens have runny eyes and noses, there is a good chance
that they have a respiratory infection. 

Unfortunately, many of these respiratory infections never go 
away completely. They may seem to disappear, and return 
whenever the cat is stressed, or they may just never go away.


Cat Flu (Feline Infectious Respiratory Disease) is still an
extremely common problem in cats. It rarely causes death in
healthy adult cats but it can be fatal in kittens, old cats and
cats which are already ill. 


Upper Respiratory Infections can be caused by a complex of
infectious agents including Feline Pneumonitis, Rhinotracheitis, and
Calcivirus. Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Infections in cats
are similar to a head cold in humans and can include sneezing,
nasal discharge, runny eyes, cough, oral or nasal ulcers,
hoarse voice, sniffles, fever or any combination of the above.


Cats that recover from cat flu may become carriers of the virus
and can transmit the disease to other cats for many years. If
this 'carrier' cat is stressed, this can be by moving house or
other activities which are out of the ordinary, it may show
signs of cat flu, this being a runny nose and most commonly
by sneezing. 


Feline Herpesvirus and Feline Calicivirus:

Feline herpesvirus (the cause of feline viral rhinotracheitis) and
feline calicivirus are estimated to be responsible for 80-90% of
infectious feline upper respiratory tract diseases.

Although usually not serious in adult cats, disease caused by
these viruses may be severe–and sometimes fatal–in kittens.
Sneezing, runny eyes, runny nose, and fever are the most
typical signs of infection. 

In addition to upper respiratory tract disease, lameness and
chronic oral inflammatory disease have been linked to calicivirus
infection. Both viruses are shed in secretions from the nose,
eyes, and mouth of infected cats. Cats become infected by
direct exposure to infected individuals, either from sneezed
droplets, or from contaminated objects such as food and water dishes.

Most cats are exposed to either or both of these viruses at
some time during their lives, usually as a kitten. Once infected,
many cats never completely rid themselves of viruses. These
carrier cats shed viruses either continuously or intermittently
for long periods of time–perhaps for life–and serve as a major
source of infection to other cats.

Protection induced by the currently available vaccines minimizes
the severity of disease, but does not prevent disease in all cats.


Feline chlamydia is one infectious disease that is spread via the
respiratory system, it causes symptoms similar to cat flu. Kittens
may also develop some respiratory signs as well as having the

discharge from the eye which is associated with chlamydia.

The signs of this disease start in one eye and quickly spread to the

other eye. Without treatment these signs can last for months, even years.
The symptoms are red eyes with a thick discharge, reluctance
to open eyes fully, may have a mild nasal discharge and the
occasional sneeze. Their temperature is usually normal and they
will probably continue to eat as normal. Cats which show these
signs must be kept isolated from other cats. Chlamydia can also
infect the genital tracts of cats, which can result in reproductive
failure in female cats.


Feline Coronavirus (Feline Infectious Peritonitis)

This is mainly thought to be a respiratory shed virus. It can cause
disease that can either cause fluid buildup in the abdomen or
the lungs, or another form of the disease that can cause organ failure
by causing inflammation in the brain eyes, liver or kidneys





Alfred Recommends:

The bodies of kittens are in the developing stages. The cells are forming at a rapid pace, and the DNA and RNA within these cells are being
"programmed" so they will know the blueprint for how to build a cell
that will eventually replace that first one.

In order for cells to build DNA & RNA, certain proteins, minerals, and
enzymes are necessary to be present, along with pure water and oxygen.

If these are not available to the cell in the right amounts, and Quality,
a cell will be formed that is a bit malformed or defective.

When the fetus was in the mother's womb, the cells were fed from the
mother's blood. Now, the cells must be formed from the ingredients in the
food the kitten eats.

If the food does not contain the right ingredients the kitten needs, then
obviously the cells will not have the proper nutrients to build the
strongest and healthiest cell possible.

Millions of cells make up what we call organs. If these cells are
malformed or defective, then we have an organ with a tissue structure
that is weak and unable to perform to capacity or is susceptible to disease.

Does this make sense to you?

If so, then we would like to suggest that a kitten needs an excellent
quality food with a very wide range of nutrients in it.


You know that cats are carnivores, meaning they are meat eaters. They
don't have the ability to manufacture proteins in their liver as dogs and
humans do, thus they have to get their proteins from food.

Complete proteins come from meat sources. Incomplete proteins come
from grains. Incomplete proteins do not have all the amino acids present
required to form what we call a complete protein.

Also you will want to consider the presence of harsh chemical preservatives
that are in some foods, such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin. All have been
proven to play a role in various degenerative diseases such as kidney
and liver disease, and cancer.


Now, what do you believe would be better for your little kitten, a food
that has a cancer causing agent, or a food that has all natural
preservatives?


Our suggestion then is to look for a kitten food that has at least
2 to 3 meat sources of proteins to every one grain source.

And to look for a food that has all natural preservatives instead
of toxic chemicals.

Our recommended food for kittens is:
Life's Abundance Premium Health Food For Cats

It is a 100% complete and balanced formula that is safe for your
kitten, and will supply your kitten with the nutrients it needs.


Start your kitten off the right way.....

     Check out Alfred's Favorite Feline Cuisine Here

"I ordered this great food for my cats after your last e-letter, and they
LOVE it. And I’ve been giving samples to all my cat-loving friends and
telling them they have to try it too. I (and my trio) think it’s the
greatest thing going. Thanks for telling us about it."
Carol T.


See Also:

Back to All Cat Care & Kitty Fun Stuff

Search Our Site