How to Treat the Flu in Cats

The "cat flu" is actually caused by two different viruses that can infect a cat's upper respiratory tract--feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpesvirus. Both of these viruses are highly contagious, and spread easily through direct cat-to-cat interaction, or via exposed food, litter or bedding. Symptoms of the cat flu may include sneezing (with or without nasal discharge), excessive mucus around the eyes, hoarse meows, fever, ulcers on the nose and loss of appetite. Most cases of cat flu can be treated at home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Keep your cat in a warm, well-ventilated room--it may be helpful to limit your sick cat to one or two rooms in your house to help keep an eye on him--and prepare a corner of the room for sleeping (sick cats prefer to sleep in spots where they cannot be "snuck up" on).

2. Use a humidifier to help relieve stuffiness in her upper airways. The steam from a hot shower will do if you do not have a humidifier.

3. Keep your cat well-hydrated. Make fresh water available to him, and if you usually feed him dry food, switch to wet foods for the duration of his illness. Wet food contains more moisture and has a stronger smell--which may make the food more appetizing to him, since he has a stuffed nose.

4. Keep the cat's eye and nose as clear of discharge as possible. Some pet owners use a bulb (much like is used on infants) to remove nasal mucus.

5. Clean up and dispose of any mucus or fluid discharge from your sick cat to avoid reinfection.

6. Offer extra care, reassurance, and affection, if she'll take it. Some cats love attention when they are unwell, while others prefer solitude. Let your cat's personality be your guide.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have more than one cat, separate those that have been infected from those that are still healthy.
• Only a veterinarian can diagnose the cat flu. He may prescribe medications to prevent secondary infections and to make the cat more comfortable. If your cat doesn't significantly improve in 48 hours, contact your veterinarian. Cat flu can sometimes become pneumonia, which requires special treatment.

Resources

• Feline Upper Respiratory Infections
• Feline Calicivirus Symptoms and Treatments

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