cat colds, contagion

[provobis]

I have several cats which are sheltered out of the weather, nevertheless most of them caught colds with symptoms of congestion, runny eyes, sneezing, coughing, etc. I isolated one kitten in a box inside the house with food and water and he seems to have responded well but still has some congestive breathing sounds. What sickness does this sound like, is he likely to recover and if so in how much time, can he be contagious to humans or other animals, and would chickens (and their eggs) be liable to be affected since all the cats often shelter inside the chicken koop?

[palehorse]

Originally Posted by provobis

I have several cats which are sheltered out of the weather, nevertheless most of them caught colds with symptoms of congestion, runny eyes, sneezing, coughing, etc. I isolated one kitten in a box inside the house with food and water and he seems to have responded well but still has some congestive breathing sounds. What sickness does this sound like, is he likely to recover and if so in how much time, can he be contagious to humans or other animals, and would chickens (and their eggs) be liable to be affected since all the cats often shelter inside the chicken koop?

Hello!

Welcome to pet health forums! First off, you should consult a Veterinarian for direct, definitive diagnosis. That being said, to me this sounds like the common cold or flu. This is an airborn virus.

Cats can get upper respiratory infections or what we call the common cold or flu. However you can not pass a human cold on to your cat and vice versa. The cat 'cold' is a completely different cup of tea. If your cat has any of the below symptoms for more than a day or two he/she probably has an upper respiratory infection.

Upper respiratory infections are extremely contagious (infection can be passed through an airborne contagion or through casual contact) and it is very common for all cats within a household to become infected quickly. Although most of the agents that cause URI do not survive very long (from a few hours to a few weeks) in the environment, they can last a very long time in the cat's respiratory tract in a latent or potent form. Many cats actually will carry the agent in their body for the duration of life. In such a case your cat may suffer from occasional flare-ups when stressed or when the immune system is weak. Such a cat may also pass the agent on to other cats (even if that cat isn't actively sick). Cats can get URI's for a variety of reasons just as people do.

These reasons can range from:
· a bacteria or virus (Chlamydia, Feline Calicivirus, Feline Herpes virus also known as Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus) a majority of UTI's are caused by a virus
· a parasitic worm infection
· an allergic reaction

Symptoms to look for:
· Sneezing
· Runny nose
· Coughing
· Wheezing
· Discharge from the nose or mouth
· Respiratory problems
· Oral ulcers
· Conjunctivits (discharge from the eye)

Treatment:
If you suspect any sort of "cold" take your cat to the Veterinarian immediately for an examination. Although URI's are not terribly serious, your cat can get secondary infections during this time period which could be more serious and can lead to chronic illnesses. Many cats with a cold will also have their appetites suppressed. Cats who do not eat for even just a day or two can be at risk for hepatic lipidosis, which can be a very serious illness.

The bottom line is that although a cold in and of itself is not terribly serious, that left untreated, it can turn into a serious illness.

Most cases of URI are taken care of with a course of drug therapy (antibiotics, decongestants, antivirals), rest, lots of food and liquids. Humidification of the nasal passages may also help your cat, you can do this by purchasing a humidifier for the room or bringing your kitty in with you for a nice steaming in the bathroom. However, do not allow your cat to catch a 'chill' if you do get him/her wet.

If you do have a cat that has been on therapy for a few weeks and is still not feeling better, or if your pet has finished his/her course of medication and is still ill your Veterinarian may have him/her in for another visit to do some more tests. These may include X-rays of the skull which allow you to see the nasal cavity and frontal sinuses. This can help you determine what, if any damage the infection has done to the nasal passages. A nasal flush can also be performed to collect matter from the nasal cavity. This matter can then be analyzed to better determine what is causing your cat to be ill.

Precautionary measures:
Keep your cat indoors and away from other sick animals. Keep your pet in a clean environment which includes clean food and water bowls and a clean home. Keep your home above 70 degrees and if your cat gets wet either dry him off or make sure he stays warm while he dries off. You can also talk to your Veterinarian about yearly vaccinations to ward off such infections.



To treat the cats, I recommend also, Aloe Vera This method is proven to be effective at relieving cold and flu symptoms in cats. Grind up some aloe vera leaves and moisten a cloth with it. Clean mucus deposits around the eyes and nose with this. Just the contact with the eyes and nose in the cleaning process should be enough of a dose, don't try to get them to eat it. You can also use a saline solution as nasal drops to keep the phlem loose and the nose cavity moist.

I hope this helps you, if anyone else has some tips, please post them. Again, welcome to PetHealthForums.com

[provobis]

Thank you for your response. Hopefully the cat does not have URI which would be contagious to humans, and never really be cured in-so-much as cats would be a permanent carrier. However, although I realize my question in full may be out of the forum's area, it is after all a pet forum and therefore might include related animal issues in general, such as my reference to chickens and their eggs.

Can the a chicken become infected and if so can their eggs be "contaminated". We have a chicken koop where all of our cats often shelter, therefore being in close proximity to the chickens.

[palehorse]

Originally Posted by provobis

Thank you for your response. Hopefully the cat does not have URI which would be contagious to humans, and never really be cured in-so-much as cats would be a permanent carrier. However, although I realize my question in full may be out of the forum's area, it is after all a pet forum and therefore might include related animal issues in general, such as my reference to chickens and their eggs.

Can the a chicken become infected and if so can their eggs be "contaminated". We have a chicken koop where all of our cats often shelter, therefore being in close proximity to the chickens.

I think so, it is possible. In fact, the dogs might have caught them from the chickens. Also, be aware AVIAN FLU might be the cause.

I cannot emphasis how STRONGLY I feel you should involve a Veterinarian!

Best of luck to you.

[cdr445roc@aol.com]

I have a cat that i took to the Veterinarian and he said it was sinus infections gave antibodies and eye drops still no improvement and some of the other cats are not eating are acting rite can you please tell me whats up

[provobis]

Originally Posted by cdr445roc@aol.com

I have a cat that i took to the Veterinarian and he said it was sinus infections gave antibodies and eye drops still no improvement and some of the other cats are not eating are acting rite can you please tell me whats up

Hello cdr445roc,

Sounds pretty much like what my cats are (or have been) going through. I'm not a Veterinarian and can't give you medical advice, and I can't tell you any more than what's already been posted here and in different pet forum pages about such things as URI in cats, but I can tell you some of my cats have caught each others "colds" and have symptoms like you describe among others. URI and side effects of URI which may or may not respond to Veterinarian treatments are evidently highly contagious and you can expect all your cats to be vulnerable. The weather has a lot to do with their sicknesses and if cats get caught out in the rain for example, or other inclement weather they will probably get sick. So a good available warm shelter, food and water are obviously needed. I have isolated one particular kitten inside the house where it's always warm, and made sure it always has food and water in its "catbox". I don't think a Veterinarian will do much good because once the cat has URI it stays a carrier for life and is liable to flare up under strained conditions, (Drafts, cold, wet, etc., sounds pretty much like human vulnerability). Not to mention you can look forward to an enormous Veterinarian bill if you have more than one or two cats. In my opinion there's not much you can do except to maintain a comfortable and clean environment for the cats. Isolate sick ones as much as possible until they are reasonably back to normal.

My kitten is responding well... the watery eyes, etc, are slowly getting better.

For what it's worth I have given my kitten a warm bath (to clean it off for health reasons) using baby shampoo taking care keep it extra warm after towel drying. Adult cats are another story, no cat likes a bath and you will probably get a big fight and at least a few scratches.

Good luck.

[latergatorj]

It sounds as though your cats have herpes- not the people version, the cat version. It is fairly common in cats.

http://www.maybeckvet.com/herpes.html

Read the above article.

[LeeAnn Aubin]

I found my cat when he was about 3 months old, (I am guessing). He was a wild kitten, and wandered into my barn, and ended up getting accidently locked in for two days, before we knew he was there. That was back in August '07. We took him in, and 'domesticated' him. About 3 months later, he started making a nasal sound when he breathed. (It sounds just like the noise that it makes when your sucking, through a straw, the last few drops left in the bottom of your cup.) I just assumed he caught a cold, due to the weather change. That was in November '07. Now its Feb. '08, and he still has it.
He has absolutly no other signs of being sick. No runny nose, no watery eyes... nothing! He eats and drinks very well, and, if anything, he could probably stand to lose a couple of pounds. He plays hard with my Boxer dogs, and runs around without any physical strain. He never acts as though he cant breath... although at times, he sounds like my husband snoring! Yet, I notice that, sometimes, he breaths normally... with no sound at all.
I know I need to get him to the Veterinarian, but I am just curious if anyone else has seen this, and if so... what can they tell me about it? I named him "Seismic" when we found him... because it was around the same time that the miners were trapped in the mines in Pa.... and with him being trapped in my barn, I couldnt resist.... However, lately, I notice I call him "Slurpy" more often!
Thanks!!