Can Cats Catch Colds?

You bet. Your favorite feline companion can catch a cold just like you can. However, because of the differences in your body and your cat's body, you can't give or catch a cold from each other. Just as we primarily have illnesses that are exclusive to humans, cats get viruses that uniquely infect felines.

The symptoms will be the same. Runny nose, runny eyes, sneezing, low grade fever and just like humans, very young or older cats can have a cold that develops into a sinus or chest infection making a slight cold a very serious illness also referred to as a secondary infection.

If your cat shows cold symptoms, your best course of action is to err on the side of caution and take your pet to a vet to insure it is indeed just a cold and not a nasty upper respiratory infection or something else that is making your cat ill.

Care for your cat when she has a cold is the basics, keep her well hydrated and comfortable and let the cold run its course which will usually be from seven to ten days. Since cats are unable to blow their noses, frequent and gentle wiping will keep her able to breathe a lot easier since cats are nose breathers.

Many cats will refuse food as they will not eat what they can not smell. A good solution is to get some very strong wet food and see if that will tempt her tummy. Canned food is over 75% moisture and is also a great way to ensure your cat stays hydrated along with drinking water.
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