One cat at the feeding spot starts sneezing. A week later, three of them have crusty eyes and runny noses. That’s cat flu, and where cats share bowls and sleeping spots, it travels fast.
Most grown cats get over it in a couple of weeks. For kittens and old or weak cats, it can be serious.
The short version
- Sneezing, runny eyes and nose, and not eating: that’s cat flu.
- It’s caused by viruses, so care is about comfort.
- Wipe eyes and nose clean, and tempt them with warm, smelly food.
- Kittens, cats who stop eating, or trouble breathing: see a vet.
- It isn’t human flu. You can’t catch it.
What it is
Cat flu isn’t one illness. It’s the name for infections of the nose and throat, and International Cat Care says more than 90% of cases are caused by one or both of two viruses: feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. A few cases are bacteria.
Both viruses are cat viruses. Despite the name, they have nothing to do with human flu, and people don’t catch them.
The signs
- Sneezing, often a lot.
- A runny nose, clear at first, then thick and yellow or green.
- Runny, red or half-closed eyes.
- Not eating. A cat who can’t smell its food often won’t touch it.
- Drooling, or sores on the tongue. These are more typical of calicivirus.
- Tired, hiding, and a high temperature.
How it spreads
Through sneezes and touching noses, and through shared bowls, bedding and hands. The viruses survive for up to 2 days (herpesvirus) or 10 days (calicivirus) on surfaces.
Almost every cat that catches herpesvirus carries it for life. Most of the time it sleeps, but stress, like a move, a fight or a trip to the vet, can wake it up again. That’s why a cat can seem to get cat flu again and again, and why a colony is never quite free of it.
Caring for a cat with flu
There’s no cure for the viruses themselves. Care is about keeping the cat comfortable, eating and drinking until its body fights it off.
- Clean the eyes and nose. Use cotton wool dipped in cooled boiled water, a fresh piece for each eye. Crusts block the nose and make eating harder.
- Warm, smelly food. Warm wet food a little, or offer sardines or tuna. If they can smell it, they’re more likely to eat.
- Steam. For a cat you can bring indoors, a few minutes in a steamy bathroom helps clear the nose.
- Keep them warm and dry. A sheltered box with a towel is enough.
- Separate bowls. Wash bowls and wash your hands between cats, and between colonies.
When it needs a vet
Don’t wait if you see any of these:
- A kitten with flu. They dehydrate and weaken in a day or two.
- A cat that hasn’t eaten for more than a day.
- Breathing through the mouth, or struggling to breathe.
- An eye that stays shut, looks cloudy, or seems to hurt.
- Very weak, or hiding and not getting up.
A vet can give fluids, treat eye ulcers, and give antibiotics if bacteria have joined in. More warning signs are in signs a cat is sick.
Prevention
Vaccination dramatically reduces the risk, though it can’t always stop infection. Ask the vet to vaccinate a street cat while it’s in for neutering. Neutering itself helps too: fewer fights, fewer kittens, and less stress in the colony.
Questions people ask
Can humans catch cat flu?
No. Cat flu is caused by cat viruses, mostly feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. They have nothing to do with human flu.
How long does cat flu last?
Most grown cats get better in one to three weeks. Many cats carry the herpesvirus for life, and stress can bring the signs back.
Why won’t a cat with flu eat?
A blocked nose means it can’t smell its food, and sores in the mouth can make eating hurt. Warm, strong-smelling food helps. A cat that hasn’t eaten for more than a day needs a vet.
Snap the cats at your feeding spot. Next time one looks unwell, you’ll know who it is and where it lives.
