As a cat lover, you know how much you care for your feline friends as if they are your own children. You feed, bathe, and caress them to show how much you love them. Cats may not be able to speak, but you can actually tell if they reciprocate your affection by being clingy and playful.

Hearing our feline pet acquiring cat flu can be worrying since it drastically changes your cat’s routine. Furthermore, cats with flu are prone to get another infection since their immune system is weaker.

Possible Causes of Cat Flu

The causative agents of cat flu are the feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus, and feline chlamydophila. Apparently, having either of the aforesaid strains must immediately be treated before it makes a cat susceptible to another infection. In addition, treating cats immediately prevents the spread of the strains.

Cats that are left untreated after acquiring a secondary infection are most likely to die due to their immune system unable to fight off both infections at the same time.

How Cats Get the Flu

The mode of transmission for cat flu is through saliva (biting, cleaning) and urine. Cats with the flu are considered as the carrier and are highly contagious, despite being asymptomatic.

How Cats Become a Carrier

1) From the Mother to Kittens

A pregnant cat positive for cat flu will most likely pass on the strain to her kittens. Unfortunately, kittens that can’t withstand the flu will eventually die.

2) Transmission from a Contagious Cat

Just like humans, cats also acquire flu from cat flu carriers. As mentioned earlier, uninfected cats exposed to the saliva or urine of infected cats will definitely acquire the flu.

Symptoms of Cats Positive for Cat Flu

If you see your cat with a runny nose, constant sneezing, and a sore mouth, you should bring him to your veterinarian. Cats with the aforesaid symptoms will lose interest in food, which in return, make them weak and depressed.

Apparently, it will be difficult, even impossible, for cats to recover without receiving food nutrients. Thus, they should not be neglected and must be conducted with blood tests for confirmation.


Make sure to separate the bowl of your infected cat and uninfected cat. Wash the bowl of the infected cat thoroughly and have the former quarantined for the meantime. Additionally, you should wash your hand immediately after handling your sick cat. Changing your clothes after getting close to your sick feline friend is also ideal to get rid of his new culture site.

Overall, cat flu should not be neglected in any way as it can weaken or even kill your cat if left untreated. Have your cat checked to the vet once suspected having the flu.

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