Is it possible for a cat to catch a cold?
Simply put, yes: cats can catch a cold. The strains which cats are usually affected by are actually more closely related to flu than the common cold, and referred to as feline viral upper respiratory disease or, more simply, ‘cat flu’.
How long does a cat cold usually last?
Cat colds typically last from one to four weeks depending on how quickly they’re diagnosed and treated. When your cat is sneezing a lot and suffering from a runny nose, you can’t give her a spoonful of cold medicine and send her to bed like you’d do for a human.
Why does my cat sneeze when I have a cold?
When your cat has a cold, sneezing helps to remove trapped pathogens. Generally speaking, sneezing is the most prominent symptom of cat colds. The cold virus can irritate the nasal lining inside your cat’s nose, causing it to produce extra mucus in an effort to protect them.
What causes an upper respiratory infection in cats?
As is the case with humans, the culprits to blame for these nasty colds are bacteria or viruses, sometimes both. The bacteria and viruses that most commonly cause upper respiratory infections (URIs) in cats are: Feline herpesvirus type-1 (FHV-1); also known as feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) Feline calicivirus (FVC)
What causes a cat to have a cold?
While there are many conditions that can cause colds or cold type symptoms in cats, such as seasonal allergies, asthma, environmental irritants, foreign matter in the nasal passages, chronic infections and cancerous or benign tumors, the most common causes of cold-like symptoms in cats are Feline Herpesvirus and Feline Calicivirus.
Cat colds typically last from one to four weeks depending on how quickly they’re diagnosed and treated. When your cat is sneezing a lot and suffering from a runny nose, you can’t give her a spoonful of cold medicine and send her to bed like you’d do for a human.
Can You cuddle a cat with a cold?
Although people come down with colds and cats come down with colds, the viruses and bacteria that cause them are different. Whether you are sick with a human cold or your cat is sick with a feline cold, feel confident that you can cuddle your cat and not pass the colds between you.
Can a sick cat pass a cold to another cat?
Sick cats can pass colds to other cats if they share a water or food bowl or groom each other. Cats may transmit the common cold viruses for several weeks to months after recovering.
