Can Cats Get Colds? - PureWow

Yep, cats can get colds. However, vets typically refer to them as upper respiratory tract infections. Viruses, bacteria and fungus can all be the culprits. While viruses cannot be treated with medication (see below for ways to help your kitty heal if this is the case), bacteria and fungus can be killed with antibiotics and antifungal medications, respectively.

Our VCA vet told us cats can also develop illnesses like feline flu, feline calicivirus (FCV), pneumonia and feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR). Kittens typically receive an FVRCP vaccination when they're young to protect them from airborne illnesses including feline flu, FCV, FVR and feline panleukopenia virus (which looks less like a cold and more like the flu). This vaccination is super important because it not only protects your cat, but also it protects all the cats your cat meets. Sure, you may not have playdates with other kitties often, but if a friend has a cat with FVR and comes over to hang out with your cat, the virus could cling to her stuff and spread to your home.

When a cat is infected with FCV or FVR, they become carriers of that virus. This means periods of stress could cause the virus to flare up, just like a cold sore, making your cat sick. During this time, your cat will be contagious to other cats. FCV is unique in that it causes ulcers in a cat's mouth or around it's nose. FVR is caused by feline herpesvirus type-1 and is primarily characterized by inflamed eyes and discharge in and around the eye area. 

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