Upper respiratory tract infections are very common in cats, particularly for those that socialise with other cats. Even indoor cats can suffer from cat flu as some of the pathogens that cause this disease complex can survive on our footwear and clothing and affect our indoor pets.
Cat flu is most commonly caused by Feline Calicivirus and Feline Herpesvirus. Other causes of cat flu include Mycoplasma and Bordetella species and Chlamydophila felis. Cats can be infected by other cats showing signs of disease, virus or bacteria in the environment or virus shed by asymptomatic long term carriers.
Signs of cat flu include:
Because cat flu is typically a viral infection, antibiotics are not often necessary. Your vet will examine your cat and give them medication to help with their fever and to improve their appetite and energy levels. This supports your cat in fighting off the infection themselves. Sometimes a secondary infection caused by bacteria can develop while your cat is unwell with a virus. If this is suspected when your vet examines your cat, they may prescribe antibiotics.
Some cats can become very unwell with cat flu and may need hospitalisation and intravenous fluids to help them to recover. This is more likely to happen to very young or old cats, cats with other conditions or cats infected with FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) or FeLV (Feline Leukaemia Virus).
Vaccination against feline herpesvirus and calicivirus, two of the viruses that cause serious cat flu, is very effective. We recommend vaccinating all cats, including indoor cats, annually to protect them. See our vaccinations page.
