Monday 9 July 2012

Cat Flu

If your cat has flu like symptoms, runny nose and eyes, problems with breathing accompanied by bouts of sneezing then they may have cat flu. Like humans when we have flu, your cat will be sick and miserable, aching all over- they will want to be quiet and warm and just don't feel like eating anything.

Try not to be alarmed- cat flu is not caused by the Influenza virus and therefore you can't catch it whilst nursing her. Real cat flu, not just the odd sniffle needs looking after; it can be fatal in elderly cats or very young kittens.

The virus is caused by FHV1 which is called Feline Herpes of FCV FeLine Calici Virus. If you are worried about your cat's condition then it is best to take her to the  veterinary surgeon- it may be that a course of antibiotics is needed. There are many products on the market for the relief of symptoms that may be suitable for your cat so have a look on line or pop into your local pet store.

The one thing that I have to stress is cleanliness. An infected cat passes the infection on through secretions- those runny noses and eyes and dribbling mouth. If you have other cats within your family you will need to keep them apart. Make sure that any bedding is washed or destroyed when the cat is feeling better and ensure that feeding and drinking bowls are not shared as this will spread the virus.

Again if at any time you are not sure of your cat or kittens condition then visit your veterinary surgeon.