January 26, 2007

Information about the Feline Flu

Cats get the flu just like their owners. The "feline flu" or feline upper respiratory infection (URI) is an umbrella term for different viruses, with two being the most common: feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus.

Feline URI is transferred between cats by fluid discharged from the mouths and noses of infected cats, similar to the transfer of flu virus between humans. Cats can shed the virus through the air by sneezing, coughing, or breathing; or by direct physical contact with cages, toys, food bowls, even the hands and clothing of people handling them.

Symptoms of feline URI include sneezing; fever; runny nose or red, watery eyes; nasal congestion (often seen as drooling or open-mouthed breathing); ulcers on tongue, gums, lips, nose, or roof of mouth; mild-to-severe depression; and lack of appetite or thirst.

These viruses are not transmissable to humans or dogs. They can be dangerous to kittens and cats with compromised immune systems, so it's important to take cats to the vet as soon as signs of infection appear.

Protect cats from feline 'flu'

1. Rrcgscnr said on July 14, 2009:

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2. Rrcgscnr said on July 14, 2009:

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3. Tyzztozv said on July 14, 2009:

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4. Willodean Vollmering said on January 25, 2010:

Hands down, IVF and ICSI fertility treatments win by a mile. It's a big undertaking with all types of responsibility vs a rather solitary life with many distractions, especially in the area of parenting, but I'm not sure I'd want to be a part of the future if this aspect is important to you. The in vitro procedure is a much better choice in that case.