ACHOO! CAT COLD - HOW TO FIGHT IT?
Thursday, 25 April 2024
If a cat becomes ill, it will not be eager to play. In this situation, instead of seeking human contact, it will seek a secluded place where it will sleep most of the time.
The state of the cat's immune system has a big influence on whether it will get sick with a cold. Animals that are well fed, free of worms and regularly vaccinated are less prone to bacterial and viral infections. Worse situation is in the case of stray cats and those in shelters, because they are often starved and infested, which makes them more susceptible to various infections. In addition, their immunity is lowered by stress resulting from the lack of a guardian and living in large groups of animals, which also has an impact on the spread of pathogenic microorganisms.
It should be remembered, however, that well-groomed cats can also become ill. This is especially true for those animals that stay most of the time indoors, which affects that they become less resistant to weather fluctuations. It is important that the cat moves regularly and is not overeaten, because otherwise there is a risk that even a few minutes on the balcony can lead to a cold. It is recommended to let your purr at least twice a day in the fresh air. It is also advisable for him to be as active as possible, and frequent playing with him can be helpful in this. As for the room where the cat stays, it should be regularly aired and protected from overheating.
If someone notices that the cat has something wrong, he should go with it to the vet as soon as possible. In a cat there are similar symptoms of a cold as in a human. The basic symptoms of this disease can be: nasal discharge, sneezing, lack of appetite, increased body temperature, increased or decreased thirst and lethargy. Conjunctivitis may also occur. The infected pet is not willing to play, but seeks a quiet place to sleep.
Temperature measurement in the cat is done in the rectum. It is best done with veterinary or electronic thermometers equipped with a long and soft tip. It should be remembered that the cat has a different normal temperature than humans. In the case of a gloomy cat it is 38-39 degrees. Therefore, in him a fever occurs above 39.5 degrees. It is worth knowing that often in a cat with a fever you can observe such symptoms as: dry and hot nose, red and hot ears, chills and a whitish membrane located on the cornea of the eye.
It is important to be aware that there is a risk of mistaking a cold for a dangerous disease called cat scratch. This infection is associated with viruses (such as caliciviruses and herpesviruses) that are found in the respiratory system, mouth, nasal cavity and conjunctiva. These microorganisms lead to inflammation. Often, bacteria (such as mycoplasmas and chlamydiae) are also present in this ailment, which are the culprits of complications. The symptoms of this disease are usually: discharge coming out of the eyes and nose, sneezing, and apathy. This infection usually affects young individuals in large groups. Unfortunately, it often ends with the cat's death.
It should be remembered that the anatomy of the cat is different from that of humans. That's why, those methods of treatment which can help a human, for a cat may turn out to be extremely dangerous. In particular, it should be mentioned here, among others, the consumption of onions, garlic or drinking a cup of hot milk with honey.
It is a very bad idea to give your cat aspirin. It's because the metabolism of acetylsalicylic acid contained in this substance is extremely slow in case of a dusky cat, which makes it accumulate in its body and can lead to dangerous poisoning, e.g. leading to damage to internal organs. Other anti-inflammatory agents can also seriously harm. That's why one should beware of giving ibuprofen, naproxen, paracetamol or ketoprofen to cats. It's best to leave the treatment to specialists.
