Cat flu symptoms

Cat flu symptoms may be confused with other sicknesses and viruses that can cause your cats sneezing.

Cat flu is a viral illness of cats causing respiratory problems, nose discharges and a sneezing cat. It is a common condition that is rarely fatal, except in very young kittens.

The cat illness can cause considerable problems for infected felines, as the virus tends to persist in the system even after recovering.

Your cats symptoms can then re-occur throughout its life, especially during times of stress. Example going to a kennel or a regular visit to the vet. Cats that carry the cat flu can also be infectious to other cats.

Severely congested cats may refuse to eat, as they are totally unable to smell their food, and then are in danger of becoming dehydrated and malnourished.

Another symptom of the cat flu is your cats breathing may become noisy with copious amounts of nasal discharges that could also be diagnosed as sinusitis.

Cat behaviour symptoms

Cats that are infected with the cat flu are frequently miserable and show a lack of energy. Your cat may not participate in normal activities such as playing and investigating their surroundings.

Cats can have a very sensitive mental state. When your cat is showing symptoms of any illness, they will more than likely withdraw and even feel sorry for them selves.

Providing additional comfort and letting them know that you understand what they're going through will help ease this condition.

Typical symptoms of the cat flu are not an urgent problem unless the cat has refused food and water for several days and has become dehydrated.

In normal circumstances, a routine appointment should be made for a thorough examination and make your vet aware of the specific cat flu symptoms you have noticed.

Also check the vaccination record card to see when the last booster vaccination for the illness was received.

Cat vaccination questions and answers

Your cat should have an up-to-date vaccination record made out in their name and detailing the diseases that they have been protected against. The most common vaccinations are for the cat flu, feline enteritis and feline leukemia.

Your cat's vaccination card should be stamped or signed and dated by the veterinary clinic outlining the exact dates of each vaccination.

If you acquire a cat, and he or she does not have a vaccination record you should not assume that the vaccination has been carried out.

Perhaps a vaccine was never given are only done so years ago. Although blood tests can be done to check immunity levels, they are expensive, and most people are guided by their vets and decide to have a vaccination course repeated to ensure that vaccination protection is adequate.

If you have an indoor cat that never goes out or comes into contact with other cats, you could discuss the possibilities of less frequent vaccinations with your veterinarian.

However keep in mind that your cat may have to enter a kennel or travel abroad and an up-to-date vaccine history will be required for these activities.

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