Feline Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)

Recommendations from Boots-

Medical Series

Hello, I’m Boots. I am a resident here at Nine Lives, I wanted to share a little bit about the common Feline Upper Respiratory Infections. My goal is to help new adopters & other Cat lovers out there!
Enjoy,

Boots

FACTS ABOUT FELINE URI-

Feline URI is similar to the common cold in humans. It’s caused by a virus, and stressful environments and situations factor in as well. With supportive care and rest in a quiet, calm place like a loving home, most cases resolve in 7-14 days.

SIGNS OF URI:

·         Sneezing

·         Runny nose or nasal congestion

·         Red, swollen or runny eyes or squinting

·         Coughing or hard swallowing

·         Sores (ulcers) on the tongue, lips, nose or roof of mouth

·         Fever, lack of appetite, hiding and/or decreased energy.

URI TREATMENT PLAN:

Just like with humans, viral infections aren’t cured by antibiotics, even though they might be used for bacterial infections. A cat with URI should be separated from other cats in the household and put in a quiet space where he can recover in a low-stress setting. The cat can gradually be introduced to people and other animals in the household once he’s recovered.

IN-HOME CARE FOR URI:

·         A low-stress room is necessary for the cat to rest, acclimate and recover.

·         Make sure the cat is eating (when cats get stuffy noses, they can’t smell their food well) so offer canned food, warmed gently in the microwave to stimulate appetite.

·         Gently clean discharge from nose and eyes with a warm moist cloth at least once daily.

·         Administer any prescribed medications as directed by your veterinarian.

NOTE: ALWAYS wash your hands with soap and water after handling sick cats.

WHEN TO CALL A VETERINARIAN:

Contact your Veterinarian Immediately if your cat has any of the following signs:

·         Not eating for more than 24 hours.

·         Green or yellow discharge from the nose/eyes.

·         Difficulty breathing, especially panting or breathing through an open mouth.

·         Depressed or unresponsive.

·         Vomiting or diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours.

·         Little or no improvement after a week of home care.

Adapted from material originally developed by County of Los Angeles Animal Care and Control. Provided By: ASPCA, ASPCA.ORG. Some Information Provided by Dr. Stacy Cannon, Nashville Metro Animal Care and Control.