Colds in cats and kittens: prevention, symptoms and treatment

24 May 2024

📌 HOME FOOD Blog: Common Cold in Cats and Kittens: Prevention, Symptoms, and Treatment

Common Cold in Cats and Kittens: Prevention, Symptoms, and Treatment

With the onset of cold weather, not only people start getting sick more often. Similar problems can occur in cats as well: fever, runny nose, or even coughing — typical companions of a cold. The most vulnerable during the cold period remain young, still fragile kittens and elderly animals, as their immunity responds more weakly to sudden weather changes.

Causes of colds in cats

A cold in cats usually develops due to a combination of several factors. Most often, this is hypothermia or exposure to drafts, which weakens the body, as well as contact with sick animals, through which viruses are easily transmitted.

In addition, susceptibility to colds increases with weakened immunity, which arises due to stress, improper nutrition, chronic diseases, or previous infections. As a result, the cat’s body resists viruses less effectively, and the illness develops faster.

Feeding pets food that lacks vitamins, with a deficiency of proteins and minerals leads to reduced resistance of the cat’s body and the occurrence of infectious diseases. Therefore, it is recommended to support the animal’s body with beneficial supplements and vitamin complexes, and to feed only verified high-quality food that meets all the pet’s nutritional needs.

How a cold manifests in cats

Symptoms of a cold in cats can vary and differ in severity. The most common signs are sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, and eye discharge. A sick animal may have a fever, loss of appetite, weakness and lethargy; some cats even develop coughing or labored breathing. In kittens and elderly animals, colds often progress more severely and are sometimes accompanied by complications such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

How to treat a sick cat

Treatment of a cat during a cold should always begin with a consultation with a veterinarian — you cannot prescribe medications on your own, as improper treatment can worsen the animal’s condition. At home, it is important to create comfortable conditions: provide a warm, dry place to rest, avoid drafts, and if possible, isolate the sick cat from healthy animals to prevent the spread of infection. The veterinarian may prescribe medications to support immunity, relieve inflammation, treat bacterial complications, or symptomatic therapy such as eye or nose drops, cough preparations, and also recommend procedures to improve breathing and restore appetite. Following these recommendations helps the cat recover faster and avoid complications.

Preventive measures

Preventing colds in cats is much easier than treating them, so first and foremost it is important to take care of timely routine vaccinations, which help protect the animal from infectious diseases. In addition, it is necessary to provide balanced high-quality nutrition, access to fresh water, and maintain warm and dry living conditions. Comfort, peace, and minimization of stressful situations are also important, as they contribute to strengthening immunity and reducing the risk of illness. To protect against stress, natural adaptogens or calming agents can be used when needed.