Kennel Cough in Cats

Have you ever thought about whether cats get colds? You already may know that dogs get them. The truth is that cats can also get colds, too. The common cold is something that most animals can get sick of. They are just termed differently for each type of animal.

Kennel cough is one of the most common diseases that dogs contract. The term gives a connotation that it is a disease that is mainly for dogs. But this is incorrect. Your cat may also catch the ailment.

The bacteria bordetella bronchiseptica is the cause of this disease. That is the reason why the disease in cats is called feline bordetella. But the bacteria that cause the disease in both types of pets are one and the same. It affects the respiratory tract. This causes coughing for both species.

Feline bordetella causes coughing and some mucus build-up in the upper respiratory system of the animal. And this should not be confused with a cat vomiting out a hairball. It vomits or spits out a long mass of what looks like fur or what is called a hairball. If you can identify this, then you can easily isolate if the hacking is caused by a hairball or by another infection.

There are several symptoms of kennel cough in cats. Its nose and eyes get runny. They also sneeze occasionally. A significant rise in their body temperature will also be noticed. These are very similar to when a person catches a cold. Other symptoms that indicate possible kennel cough in cats are loss of appetite, lack of energy and difficulty in breathing.
Feline bordetella is fatal to kittens as pneumonia develops quickly in their fragile bodies.

Feline bordetella is very sensitive to antibiotics. You can administer some of this to your pet. However, you have to make sure that it eats regularly. If they don’t eat the disease can develop into a more fatal one, feline hyperlipidosis. You may have to force feed it until it can eat on its own.