Much like the common cold in humans, cat flu is a common disease in cats of all ages, but tends to be particularly severe in young kittens and old cats. It is caused by a number of infectious agents, but the majority of cases are caused by two specific viruses (FHV-1 and FCV for you smart ones.)

Clinical signs of cat flu are also similar to colds and flu in people. FHV-1 tends to cause more severe disease, with the major signs being inflammation of the lining around the eye and nose. This causes a clear discharge from the nose and eyes which thickens as the disease progresses due to secondary bacterial infection.

Cats tend to be dull and depressed with a raised temperature, sneezing and are reluctant to eat. Coughing is also a feature in some cases. On rare occasions, it has been known for the virus to cause skin lesions and invade the lungs causing pneumonia. Without treatment signs usually disappear within two to three weeks but some cats are left with a chronic, intermittent nasal discharge or eye disease.

FCV tends to cause less serious disease, but clinical signs are dependent on the strain of virus that is involved. Mouth ulcers can be a prominent feature of this disease. Ulcers may also sometimes occur on the tongue, nose and hard palate. Some strains of FCV cause a lameness and fever syndrome in young kittens. Deaths following respiratory virus infections are rare, usually only occurring in young kittens or old cats that have not been presented for treatment early enough.

Just as with the common colds with us humans, specific antiviral treatments are not generally available for cat flu. Treatment is aimed at controlling secondary bacterial infection, with antibiotics, and stimulating eating and drinking as dehydration will lead to a worsening of the disease.

Your cat can be encouraged to eat and drink using multivitamins and mucolytic drugs, which help dissolve secretions � but good nursing plays a crucial role. The eyes and nose should be kept clear of secretions by gently bathing the area with cotton wool and by �steaming�. Steaming needs to be undertaken carefully as the sound of running water may not bode well with the cat in question.

Basically, you can take your cat into the bathroom and run a very hot bath and just sit in the room and allow the cat to breathe in the steam. The steam acts to loosen secretions which will help the cat and a bit of caring and grooming should keep your cat calm. That said, if you can manage to get your cat to place its nose over a steamy bowl of water with a towel over its head, I�d appreciate a photo.

Severely ill cats may need additional care at your veterinarian�s hospital, which will be able to help with re-hydration and intravenous feeding of fluids. For most households with one or two cats, vaccination is generally sufficient. It will not usually prevent your cat becoming infected but will drastically reduce the severity of the disease, often to the point that all that is noticed is mild lethargy and loss of appetite for a few days. A variety of vaccines are available depending on the circumstances but you would need to consult with your veterinarian.

Should you have a large number of cats, vaccination alone may not be sufficient to control the problem. In these households isolation and quarantine may also be required. Disinfection, while an important part of disease control generally, is of limited value in respiratory virus control as most cats become infected by other cats sneezing or coughing � again, much like us catching a cold.

If one of your cats appears more severely ill, or if you suspect that one of your cats is infected, it may be prudent to isolate them from the others. Their food bowls and litter boxes should be disinfected and you should take care to wash your hands and face before handling other cats. If at all possible, separate clothing should be worn.

If you have any questions about your cat or your dog, feel free to email our vets then please email us at: paws@phuket-animal-welfare.com or got to www.phuket-animal-welfare.com/