Other causes may include Chlamydia, Mycoplasma and Bordatella.
The ‘Cat Flu’ tends to affect the nasal and sinus passages, mouth, upper airways and the eyes. Signs depend on which virus (and secondary bacteria) is causing the infection as well as the age of the cat and strength of its immune system. Common symptoms include nasal discharge and congestion, sneezing, conjunctivitis - sometimes with corneal ulcers, drooling, mouth ulcerations and gum inflammation, loss of appetite, fever, pneumonia and sometimes joint and muscle pain.
Infection usually occurs through contact with an infected cat (via eye and nasal discharges) but can also be spread through contaminated food, bowls, bedding, hands etc
As there is no specific cure or antidote, the ‘Cat Flu’ is treated with supportive therapy. This involves keeping up water and food intake, controlling secondary bacterial infections with antibiotics and treating conjunctivitis and eye ulcerations. In severe cases IV fluids and supplemental oxygen are sometimes required.
Many cats that recover from the ‘Flu’ will become chronic carriers - this means that they appear to be healthy until stressed (boarding, moving house, becoming sick with another illness) when they will start to shed large amounts of virus in secretions from their mouth and nose. Some cats never fully recover and show signs of chronic snuffling.
Vaccination is the most important way of protecting against this disease. Kittens need a series of usually 3 but sometimes 2 vaccines (depending on age when first vaccinated) and adult cats require a vaccine each year to keep up immunity.
Vaccination is unfortunately not 100% effective but does dramatically decrease the risk of infection and severity of signs.
Panleukopaenia (Feline Enteritis)
This is a very contagious viral disease of cats and kittens, similar to the one that causes parvovirus in dogs. It usually causes diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite, low white blood cell counts and sometimes seizures. In young cats (3 - 5mths old) this disease can be fatal. Pregnant cats may have stillborn kittens or kittens born with tremors, incoordination and sight problems. Spread of infection is usually via the urine or faeces of an infected cat and the virus can live in the environment for several years. Spread can also be via contaminated items - food and water bowls, bedding, clothing etc or passed from a mother to her unborn kittens.
Regular vaccination is the most important way of preventing infection.
Chlamydia (Feline Chlamydiosis)
This is quite a common bacterial infection that causes flu like signs including sneezing, clear nasal discharge and runny eyes/ conjunctivitis. It can also cause pneumonia and Fading Kitten syndrome. Spread is usually by close contact with an infected cat. Chlamydia can be treated with a course of appropriate antibiotics but can be very uncomfortable for your cat/ kitten while they are infected.
Feline Leukemia Virus (Felv)
This virus can cause immunodeficiency (a weak immune system) and number of cancers including leukemia. Infected cats may appear normal for a long period of time, not showing signs of illness for sometimes months to years.
FeLV can cause many different signs including weight loss, fever, increased incidence of other illnesses (chronic respiratory, mouth or skin disease), anemia, gastroenteritis, neurological problems, cancers and leukemias.
Spread of disease is mainly via nose to nose contact, cat to cat grooming, and sharing of food and water bowls. Other sources include contaminated litter trays, being bitten by an infected cat and spread from mother to kittens via the placenta or milk.
Multi cat households appear to have the greatest risk of infection.
Some cats can completely clear the infection after being exposed but around 30% become persistently infected. The vaccine is not 100% effective but is recommended, particularly if your cat has access to other cats, goes outside or is boarded.
We can do a quick blood test to check whether or not your cat may have Feline Leukemia Virus.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Fiv Or Feline Aids)
This virus attacks the immune system reducing the cat’s ability to fight off other infections and cancers, much like the human virus HIV. Humans are not at risk from the feline virus as it is species specific (only affects cats).
The virus is shed in the saliva so is usually spread from one cat to another via a bite wound, putting free roaming cats at higher risk of infection. Clinical signs of disease are diverse but can include; lethargy, loss of appetite, fevers, swollen glands and weight loss (as well as many other signs affecting specific parts of the body; oral infections, respiratory disease, gastroenteritis, anemia, neurological disease, various cancers). There is no ‘cure’ but infected cats can be given various treatments depending on their clinical signs.
We highly recommend FIV testing and vaccinating your cat if it is not 100% indoors and particularly if it has suffered a bite wound.
All of these diseases (with the exception of FIV) can be protected against by using an F5 vaccine (all in the one injection). For any cat with access to outdoors the FIV injection should also be given.
As a guide for the initial kitten vaccination course;
1st Vaccination: 8 weeks (F3)
2nd Vaccination: 9-11 weeks (F6)
3rd Vaccination: 12 -15 weeks (F3 or F6)
4th Vaccination: 16+ weeks (F3 or F6)
A final FIV injection may be required on its own for owners who have elected to cover for FIV.
Vaccines should be given 2 - 4 weeks apart during the initial course.
An F3 (indoor) or F6 (outdoor) vaccination is given again in 12 months time.
A very small number of animals may fail to respond to vaccination or have a vaccination reaction (reactions can be treated by your vet).
 "Great Western Animal Hospital")
