by Victoria Tiegert

Created on: December 20, 2011   Last Updated: December 29, 2011

As the owner of a cat, it is your responsibility to ensure that your cat maintains a standard of health and happiness. One of the health issues that many cats come across during their lifetimes is the upper respiratory infection. This is especially true of cats that are rescued from shelters, the streets, or some other place where there are many cats living in the same area because these infections are easily passed from one cat to another.

Does your cat have an upper respiratory infection?

The most common and easy to recognize symptoms of an upper respiratory infection in a cat are sneezing along with discharge from the eyes and/or nose, causing them to be runny. The viruses that can lead to upper respiratory infections include feline rhinotracheitis, a herpes virus, feline calici virus, as well as others, according to Dr. Allen Schoen, and the infection will generally last for approximately 7 to 10 days if treated properly. Upper respiratory infections can also turn into a much more serious problem, though, just as most sickness can when left untreated.

What can you do at home to treat your cat’s upper respiratory infection?

Eye Drops for Cats - Because one of the primary troubles that upper respiratory infections cause in cats is that the eyes become pussy and irritated, it is a good idea to give your cat eye drops a couple of times per day to help clean and soothe the eyes. Eyebright eye drops are available at many holistic pet stores and veterinary offices and are one of the more effective solutions on the market today.

Food and Drink - Be sure that your cat is continuing to eat and drink throughout the sickness. This is very important. Because the cat’s sense of smell is decreased during this time, you may need to add something with a strong scent to the normal food that you feed your cat to increase his or her interest in eating. Strong chicken broth will often do the trick. It is also important that your cat remain hydrated, so if necessary, administer water with a dropper until the cat will drink on his or her own again.

Echinacea - Echinacea is an herbal supplement that supports immune health. People often use it and your cat can also experience the benefits of this natural product. The powder from the capsules can be put into the cat’s food or water, but be sure to measure out the dosage according to the cat’s weight. The pills are generally dosed out for a typical human size and this would certainly be far too much for your cat.

Vitamins A and E - Vitamin A can be found in cod liver oil, which your cat will probably take fine on its own or you can place it in the cat’s food. One-fourth of a teaspoon per day is the recommended dosage.  Vitamin E can be given in the liquid form at a dosage of 50 I.U. per day.

If there is little to no improvement seen in your cat within a few days, you should get the cat in to his or her veterinarian. The vet can perform testing to ensure that the trouble really is an upper respiratory infection and nothing more serious, as well as to make sure that further problems haven’t occurred due to the infection. A series of antibiotics can be prescribed for you to administer to your cat at home. Your cat’s health is important and an upper respiratory infection can affect your cat’s health both now and in the future, especially if left untreated, so be sure to begin treatments as soon as possible to give your cat the best chance for a full recovery.

Sources:

http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/upper-respiratory-i nfection-cats

Dr. Allen Schoen, veterinarian

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