Many cats catch what seems to be a cold sometime during their lives, and most of these afflictions are caused by viruses.
Cats that have an upper respiratory infection have runny eyes and noses, are lethargic, sneeze, run fevers, and often do not want to eat or drink.
These infections are very contagious, and spreading this disease to other cats can be a big concern.
Young kittens or cats with other cat diseases, such as common those that weaken the immune system, are the most susceptible to these infections.
If your cat develops an upper respiratory infection, call ahead and let your veterinarian know that you are coming in.
You want to give him the chance to take special precautions to help prevent exposure of the infection to other cats in the waiting room when you arrive.
Just as with a cold in humans, so long as the fever does not get too high, (normal cat temperature is 100 to 102.
5 degrees F.
) and your cat continues to eat and drink, overnight or longer hospitalization can usually be avoided.
Keep your cat's eyes and nostrils free of "crust" by washing gently with a warm, moist cloth, will usually keep his appetite up.
If your cat stops eating or drinking completely, dehydration is a danger, and hospitalization or home veterinary care is needed.
Since upper respiratory infections can be complicated by bacteria, antibiotics will often be prescribed as well.
With the appropriate care, most cats will recover completely within a few days to a week.
However, some cases can last for more than two weeks.
If your cat has repeated bouts of upper respiratory infections, or if they are especially severe or persistent, your veterinarian will probably want to test for other diseases that weaken the immune system.