Why Is My Orange Cat Spreading A Sickness To The Rest Of My Cats? (Vet Answered)
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Small Animal Veterinarian
Dr. Karyn is a small animal veterinarian originally from Australia, now based in the UK. She holds degrees in Veterinary Science (2010) and Zoology. When not helping pets, she tends to her 5 cats and garden!
The Question
What could be possiblity wrong with my girls I had 3 get sick and as they were clearing up another in another section of this small house caught it , then the oldest is showing signs
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📹 Vet's Video Reply (scroll down to see text answer)
Hi Linda,
Thank you so much for writing in. I'm sorry to hear that your clowder is feeling poorly.
With the signs you're describing and the fact that it seems to have spread throughout the household, my number one suspicion is that we're dealing with cat flu, which is usually caused by one of two viruses: Feline Calicivirus (FCV) and Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1), also known as Feline Rhinotracheitis. Both viruses can be spread through direct transmission between cats; however, viral particles can also spread through the air and be carried on contaminated objects such as clothing, furniture, and food & water bowls, and even indoor cats can be infected.
In the majority of cases, cats with cat flu show mild-to-moderate clinical signs similar to those seen in a human respiratory virus, such as:
watery eyes
sneezing +/- coughing
sore throat
nasal discharge and congestion
fever
reduced appetite
They are often lethargic and withdrawn because the fever makes them feel a bit miserable, and this also contributes to their inappetence. When it comes to food, cats rely almost entirely on their sense of smell, so nasal congestion will also affect their appetite - a double whammy.
Being a viral infection, there is no specific treatment for cats with uncomplicated cat flu. However, you can help them feel better and speed their recovery by increasing their fluid intake (eg. adding water to wet food, offering cat soup/broth/liquid meals, gently warming food to increase the aroma), ensuring there is good circulation of fresh air (but avoid cold drafts), and being extra vigilant about cleaning bowls and bedding.
Some cats, particularly the very old, very young, or immunocompromised, can develop more serious complications of cat flu, such as secondary bacterial infections, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, or ulceration of the mouth and/or eyes. Cats with more severe clinical signs, such as eye irritation, dark or discolored discharge from the eyes or nose, or those that aren't showing improvement after a few days, should be examined by a vet.
Another reason that cat flu is so common is that many cats that recover from the initial infection become lifelong carriers of the virus. This means that they may intermittently shed viral particles that can infect other cats, and in periods of physiological stress, may experience a flare-up of symptoms themselves. Because immunity to these viruses wanes over time, cats that have previously been infected with cat flu can still be infected again in the future. Supplementing the diet with the amino acid lysine has been found to help boost the immunity of cats with chronic or recurrent herpesvirus.
Several other conditions could also cause these signs in your cats, such as allergies or other respiratory infections, so if things aren't improving, you should book a consultation with your vet. Be sure to advise them when making the appointment that your cats may be contagious so they can plan accordingly - as you can imagine, we wouldn't want to have a waiting room full of kittens exposed to cat flu!
One of the core feline vaccines is the FVRCP vaccine, sometimes called the F3 or Flu & Enteritis vaccine, which gives protection against feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. Because of the nature of viral mutation and the variation in individual immune response, even cats that have been vaccinated against cat flu can still become infected by the virus, but in those cases, the clinical signs tend to be less severe. This is also why we recommend that cats receive a booster vaccination every 3 years to help their immune system fight off viral attack, even cats that live indoors and those who have been infected with cat flu in the past.
Another virus that is worth being aware of is Feline Leukemia (FeLV). If your cats haven't been vaccinated against FeLV, it would be a good idea to have them tested, then vaccinated. Though not as easily transmitted as cat flu, FeLV is found in around 10% of cats and is easily spread between cats in the same household. Apart from being the most common cause of cancer in cats, it also cripples the immune system, making them more susceptible to illness and infection.
I hope this helps, and don't hesitate to contact your vet for further advice.
Take care,
Dr Karyn