Cat Upper Respiratory Infections: How to Heal Your Feline Friend

Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are common in cats and can cause discomfort and distress. Recognizing the symptoms and knowing how to treat them is crucial for the well - being of your feline friend.

Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in Cats

• Coughing

Cats may show signs of coughing, which is caused by irritation or inflammation of the respiratory tract.

• Sneezing

Sneezing is one of the common symptoms of upper respiratory infections in cats and is usually caused by irritation of the nose or throat.

• Runny nose

Cats may experience a runny nose, the color and texture of which may vary depending on the type and severity of the infection.

• Runny eyes

Upper respiratory infections may cause your cat's eyes to produce excessive tears and appear to water.

• Conjunctivitis

A cat's eyes may show signs of inflammation such as conjunctival congestion, redness and swelling.

• Fever

The infection may cause the cat's body temperature to rise and show signs of fever.

• Mental depression

Cats may exhibit symptoms such as depression and loss of appetite.

• Difficulty in breathing

In severe cases, upper respiratory infections may cause your cat to have difficulty breathing, especially if the infection affects the lungs.

• Mouth ulcers

Certain types of upper respiratory infections, such as feline cupripovirus infections, may lead to mouth ulcers, especially on the tongue and hard palate.

• Lameness

In some cases, upper respiratory infections may cause your cat to show signs of lameness, which may be due to synovitis caused by a viral infection.

If your cat is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is advisable to take him to the veterinarian promptly so that he can be properly diagnosed and treated.

What are the Common Causes of Respiratory Tract Infections in Cats?

①Viral infections

• Feline Herpesvirus (FHV)

Double-stranded DNA virus, upper respiratory disease incidence of 85 - 90%, kittens infected with a mortality rate of up to 50%. The incubation period is 2 - 6 days, infected cats will begin to detoxify the virus after 24 hours, and the detoxification will last for 1 - 3 weeks, almost all infected cats will become lifelong carriers of the virus. The clinical picture is usually characterized by acute upper respiratory tract infections and ocular disease, which in young cats is characterized by vesicles and ulcers on the mucosal surfaces, rhinitis and conjunctivitis, and occasionally corneal-specific dendritic ulcerative foci.

• Feline Cupripovirus (FCV)

A single-stranded positive-stranded RNA virus without a capsid, with a highly variable genomic structure that is prone to mutation. The virus that causes the disease in cats is present in the tonsils and oropharyngeal region of the cat. The incubation period is typically 3 - 4 days and transient viremia may occur. During recovery, many cats will continue to excrete the virus, with 50% of cats still excreting the virus 75 days after infection, and a few cats continuing to excrete the virus for years or even a lifetime. Typical signs are oral ulcers that usually heal in 2 - 3 weeks. In addition to oral and upper respiratory symptoms, pneumonia, lameness syndrome, foot-and-mouth disease, feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS), and malignant systemic disease may be demonstrated.

②Bacterial infections

Mycoplasma: the smallest and simplest prokaryotic microorganism, lacking cell wall structure. Mycoplasma is a conditionally pathogenic bacterium, often showing mild or no obvious symptoms when infected alone, and causing disease when mixed with bacteria and viruses. Symptoms are mainly in the eyes, upper and lower respiratory tract. Doxycycline is a good drug of choice as it is well tolerated by cats and the recommended dose is 5mg/kg orally every 12 hours or 10mg/kg orally every 24 hours.

Chlamydia: Chlamydia is an intracellular parasitic gram-negative pathogen, intermediate between viruses and bacteria, with basic biological properties of both bacteria and viruses. It has an incubation period of 3 - 5 days, a detoxification period of up to 60 days, and the pathogen can still be isolated up to the 215th day after artificial infection.Cats under 1 year of age are susceptible, and mixed infections with other pathogens often occur. Symptoms are mainly in the eyes, capable of causing acute to chronic conjunctivitis, and may include temporary fever, loss of appetite and weight loss, and in some cases, a runny nose and sneezing. The preferred treatment is tetracycline antibiotics, oral doxycycline 5 - 10mg/kg every 12h (q12h) for 3 - 4 weeks.

Bordetella canis: also known as Bordetella bronchiseptica, is an aerobic gram-negative bacillus. It tends to be disseminated or endemic, with wide spread and persistent infections. The incubation period is 2 - 10 days and may continue to intermittently detoxify for at least a month and sometimes months. It causes mainly respiratory symptoms and bronchopneumonia in young cats. Doxycycline is the treatment of choice.

③Other Factors

Genetic factors: certain cat breeds such as Persian cats and Himalayan cats are genetically susceptible to upper respiratory diseases, which may be related to their nasal structure, resulting in restricted breathing and susceptibility to diseases such as rhinitis.

Environmental factors: the living environment of cats will also have a certain impact on the incidence of their respiratory diseases. For example, poor air quality and humid environments will increase the risk of cats contracting respiratory diseases; cats are also susceptible to respiratory diseases if they live in a multi-cat household or in an environment with poor sanitary conditions.

Stress: when the pet owner has a new kitten or when the season changes, the environment in which the cat is located changes and stress, leading to a decline in immunity, and the diseases it carries may break out; viruses (such as feline herpes virus) latently infected by cats in a state of stress can be reactivated at any time.

Age: Young and old cats have relatively weaker immunity and are more susceptible to respiratory diseases.

Vaccination status: unvaccinated cats are more susceptible to severe respiratory diseases; even vaccinated cats may contract respiratory diseases because there may be a situation where the vaccine immunity is generally effective or the cat already carries the virus in its body before vaccination.

How to Treat a Cat's Upper Respiratory Infection?

Treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in cats includes the following.

①Antiviral treatment

Famciclovir: 50mg/kg twice a day, specifically targeting the herpes virus.

Interferon: injections for 5 days, once a day, dosage according to the instructions, according to the cat's weight, to stimulate the cat's body immunity.

②Antibiotic treatment

Doxycycline: 5mg/kg twice daily for prevention of secondary bacterial infections.

Doxycycline Hydrochloride Tablets: for upper respiratory tract infections in cats caused by Mycoplasma, Chlamydia and Bordetella.

③Eye care

Eye drops:no branch, 2 drops 3-5 times a day.

Eye Drops for Dog Allergies and Cats Conjunctivitis

Puainta's eye drops for dogs and cats conjunctivitis is specially formulated for pets, ensuring it is safe and gentle on their sensitive eyes.

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Koru, Boledryl eye drops: for eye anti-inflammation.

Cough and asthma relief

Dingping Oral Liquid: 2 times a day, 10ml each time, halved for young cats.

④Nebulization treatment

Nebulized drugs: e.g. gentamicin, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, ribavirin, saline, etc. The formulations are selected according to different diseases, and the frequency of nebulization is recommended to be twice a day for 15-30 minutes each time.

⑤Auxiliary treatment

Isolation: isolate sick cats from healthy cats to avoid virus transmission.

Nutritional support: Provide easily digestible and nutritious wet food, encourage cats to drink more water to maintain body moisture, which helps dilute secretions and maintain a moist respiratory tract.

Environmental management: keep the environment clean to reduce stress and avoid cross-infection when multiple cats live in groups.

Increase environmental humidity: Use a humidifier or place a water bowl in the room to help cats breathe better.

⑥Precautions

The treatment cycle usually takes 7~10 days, but may last longer, parents need to be patient and use the medication according to the measurement.

If the cat's symptoms continue to deteriorate or other serious symptoms appear, it is recommended to consult a veterinary hospital for viral or bacterial testing and appropriate medication based on the test results.

For cats that have not developed the disease, timely vaccination with feline Triple vaccine (containing feline herpesvirus component) is recommended to prevent viral infection.

Also Related: Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

FAQs

Conclusion

Treating a cat’s upper respiratory infection involves supportive care, proper hydration, and a clean environment. While mild cases can be managed at home, severe infections require veterinary intervention. Prevention through vaccination and good hygiene is the best way to keep your cat healthy and avoid future URIs.