Cat Flu, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Cat flu in cats and kittens is a viral and therefore contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat). The cat flu virus is transmitted by direct contact with mucous membranes, saliva or eye fluids or through the air (by sneezing) where many cats are close together (such as a boarding house or cattery). We often see whole litters being infected by their mother. The Rhinotracheitis virus is a herpes virus (just like the cold sore in humans) which means that infected cats can always excrete the virus again in stressful situations (illness, delivery).

What are the symptoms of cat flu?  

There are several causes of cat flu, and therefore the symptoms can vary: Sneezing (varying from once in a while to continuously), coughing, tightness of the chest, fever, not eating/drinking, eye discharge (varying from clear to puss), nose discharge (varying from clear to puss), blisters on the tongue, drooling, serious eye damage.

Especially young and unvaccinated cats can become very ill. If a treatment is started too late, we unfortunately often see permanent or recurring problems, which is often referred to as chronic sneezing disease. 

The treatment of cat flu in cats.

To cure your cat, the treatment should consist of two aspects:
Fighting the virus and strengthening the immune system. Cats that have had sneezing disease will carry this virus for life. The moment the natural resistance diminishes, the disease can flare up again in your cat. To prevent this, the immune system has to be strengthened continuously. This happens slowly.