I recently read an article announcing that a Wisconsin cat was diagnosed and tested positive for H1N1, commonly known as "swine flu."  Although this is not the first case of a household pet contracting swine flu, instances are few and far between.  

However, cats are susceptible to certain viruses with symptoms similar to the human common cold and flu.  Viruses such as feline herpesvirus (FHV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) can degenerate into much more serious upper respiratory disease and pneumonia, eventually causing death.  Here are some of the common signs and symptoms and preventative methods to boost your cat's immunity to a serious cat cold!

Symptoms

Similar to a human cold, the first visible symptoms of “cat flu” are coughing and sneezing followed by runny eyes and nose.  These symptoms can run for four to seven days without further incident, or devolve into a more serious condition.  Loss of appetite, labored breathing and inflammation in and around the eyes are signs of a more serious problem.

Another common symptom of serious infection is "corneal ulceration" leading to a loss of the outer corneal layer of the eye.  In appearance, the eye appears cloudy and opaque.

The best course of action is always to book an appointment with your veterinarian at the first sign of an infection, especially in the case of multi-cat households.  Waiting to see if symptoms disappear or worsen will only put the life of your cat in jeopardy.  Your cat could also develop a chronic or asymptomatic condition that might affect other cats in the future.

Prevention

A large part of prevention includes all the steps we take each winter to prevent ourselves from being sick! Keep your cats up to date on their FHV and FCV vaccines--although they do not guarantee immunity, they can help reduce the severity of an infection.

Cleanliness is also important.  FCV tends to be hardier than FHV but neither can stand up to a strong solution of bleach, some household detergent and a good scrub.  Be aware that both are contagious, especially FCV, so if you plan on socializing your kitties ensure that newly introduced cats are up to date on their own vaccines and not previously diagnosed FHV or FCV positive.

Most importantly, give your cat the benefit of a healthy immune system by opting for a top quality diet.  A healthy immune system is intrinsically tied to a healthy body--one that receives a balanced diet replete with the nutritional vitamins and minerals your cat needs.  More and more pet owners are switching to premium pet foods with human-grade natural, organic and even raw ingredients with added vitamins, probiotics, and prebiotics.

Although it may seem like an expensive decision, a premium pet food diet for a healthy immune system will not only help reduce veterinary expenses, but improves the quality and life of your beloved cat!

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