Colds
True enough, animals have higher pain tolerance but that does not exempt them from contracting diseases-whether mild or severe- as humans do. Cats are susceptible to the two of the most common health problems we acquire. They are fever and colds.
Calicivirus and herpes virus cause cat health colds.
Calicivirus can be easily transmitted to other cats by simply sneezing, thus, infecting other cats. After exposure to the virus, the cat health colds may last for a maximum of ten days unless treated right away. So how do you know that the virus infects your cat? Notice the secretions from the nose, mouth and eyes. Not only that, the mouth and gums is often inflamed.
Herpes, also known as feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) is different from the herpes that we get. Herpes sounds frightening especially for humans but there is nothing to worry because the herpes cats get cannot be transferred to us. However, it can be easily transferred to other cats and can be deadline if left untreated for a long time. For it the virus to be passed to other cats, there should be direct contact like when the mother cat nurses her kittens.
Once the virus is contracted, cats can never get rid of it even after treatment. The virus becomes inactive and dwells in one of the nerves in the cat’s nerves. It will be activated if the cat is under stress.
The primary symptom of the cat’s infection is sneezing to be followed by fever, depression, and discharge from the nose and eyelid inflammation. If the infection is severe, the cat may even stop eating upon smelling the food it is supposed to eat or it may use its mouth to breathe instead of its nose.
It’s disheartening to see a beautiful creature suffering and knowing that it may infect other cats. We sometimes ignore simple colds, but when you are dealing with cat health cold; go to a vet for the necessary cat treatment.