Pet Life Magazine, New Zealand Pet Life Magazine Issue 3 Winter 2017 | Page 10

HE
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CAT’
AT FLU.
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Cat flu, also more cutely
known as the “snuffles”, is seen quite
commonly in unvaccinated kittens and
cats. The majority of cases are caused
by feline herpesvirus or feline calivirus
or a combination of both.
The infection is picked up either from aerosols (virus particles
in the air from a sneezing cat) or from contact. Contact can be
directly with an infected cat, or indirectly from a bowl or toy
that an infected cat has touched. The incubation period is
about six days, so your cat or kitten will start to show clinical
signs of cat flu about a week after they get infected.
SYMPTOMS
Sneezing is generally the first sign, and sometimes the only
one. But more often than not this then develops into runny
eyes and nose, starting clear and then becoming more yellow
and purulent with secondary bacterial infections. Cats can
develop ulcers in their mouths, which can lead to excess
salivation.
By this stage cats often become depressed and have a high
temperature, which puts them off eating their food. In kittens,
especially, this can be dangerous if they get dehydrated and
malnourished very quickly.
In some cases cats can develop conjunctivitis and sometimes
even corneal ulcers. This can potentially cause long-lasting
damage if not attended to quickly by your vet.
Once cats become infected with cat flu viruses, they can quite
often become carrier cats for life. What this means is that
at intermittent times the virus can start shedding again. For
some cats this means they will show symptoms of the cat flu;
for others they may not show any symptoms but they will be
infective to other cats and kittens. This usually happens after
a period of stress, for example going to the vet clinic, going
into a cattery or some other traumatic event.
DIAGNOSIS
Your vet will usually make a presumptive diagnosis based
on clinical signs and vaccination status. Generally, further
tests are not required as the treatment is similar for most
cases. However, in some situations your vet may want to take
swabs for culture or virus isolation (especially with breeding
programmes).
TREATMENT
Treatment of cat flu usually involves a combination of
medications, nursing and nutritional support.
Antibiotics are not usually required unless secondary bacterial
infections have set in. These are usually broad-spectrum
antibiotics and given for a period of two to three weeks.
Ideally, a liquid or paste is given because swallowing can be
painful or difficult, especially if there are ulcers in the mouth.
Nutritional support is paramount. Good-quality food should be
given, and if eating is minimal then a concentrated veterinary
hospital food is recommended. Quite often cats lose their
sense of smell and have a sore throat, so mushie, strong-
smelling foods should be offered. Kittens that go off their food
and aren’t drinking should be hospitalised by your vet and
placed on intravenous fluids.
Vitamins and mineral supplements should be given. The
immune system during this time needs all the help it can get
and products such as vitamin C, L-lysine and a multi-vitamin is
advised.
Steam inhalations can be very helpful with congested nasal
passages. They help to loosen everything up and allow kittens
to breathe easier. The easiest way to do this is to place your
kitten or cat in the bathroom with the shower on hot and
the door open – this allows steam to circulate in the room.
Please take care to make sure your cat isn’t stressed by this
experience, and never do it without supervision.
It’s important to keep your cat warm and hydrated. Regular
wiping of eyes and nose with warm water helps prevent them
from crusting over and makes them more comfortable. Barrier
cream can be applied if there are any inflamed or ulcerated
surfaces. Eye cream or lubricants may be necessary for dry
eyes or conjunctivitis.
If yours is a multi-cat household then it is important to have an
isolation area and use strict hygienic protocols with gloves and
gowns when handling infected cats.
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
For most cats, vaccination is the best prevention and is strongly
recommended. In multi-cat households or communities
it’s also important to reduce overcrowding and ensure strict
hygiene, handling and quarantine protocols.
The current vaccination guidelines from the WSAVA (World
Small Animal Veterinary Association) recommend kittens get
vaccinated from 6-8 weeks of age, and then every two to four
weeks until 16 weeks of age or later. They then get a booster
vaccination at 6 or 12 months, and then the vaccination is given
every three years.
Rebecca Penman