Kitty Colds

A feline upper respiratory infection (URI) by any other name is a kitty cold. These colds are one of the largest challenges when it comes to group care of cats. The URI is spread by what we call fomites. A new word to show off to friends, a fomite is anything that has come in contact with the germ and could now carry and spread it.

Factors such as overcrowding, poor air quality, poor sanitation, stress, concurrent illness, parasitism, poor nutrition, and other causes of immunosuppression predispose to disease, and many of these factors are difficult or impossible to completely eliminate in a typical shelter, cattery or rescue home.

The two biggest contributors are overcrowding and stress. This can cause severe breakouts in the population. Sadly overcrowding is a typical issue in a shelter environment due to the amount of people who are turning in pets, the small areas they have to live in and the ideal that the US should work towards becoming a no kill nation.

Tragically, such efforts may not only fail to improve the number of animals adopted, they may actually lead to increased disease and death. Even in a boarding facility or vet clinic, it is important to anticipate times of peak population, recognize that these will be periods of increased risk for respiratory disease outbreaks, and plan sufficient additional staff that husbandry is not compromised.

There are many signs to be on the lookout for a URI. As soon as one is suspected the cat should be removed from the environment. However, the other cats should also be watched as it is rare to only get one cat with a URI in a group setting. Look for the following:
Discharge from the nose that can be clear of colored
Sneezing and coughing
Eyes or the white around the eye that is swollen or red
Sores or ulcers on the lips or inside the mouth
Loss of appetite or a fever

Dawn works with New Cat Condos to develop cat trees that your kitty can depend on. Be sure to visit their cat condo site where you can find the perfect cat condo for your kitty.