Cats with colds

[KatyMan]

Do cats get colds? 2 of our 3 cats recently spent a week in the cattery while we were in Rome (shameless brag), and now they're both wandering around coughing and sneezing, and basically sounding congested. One of them is snoring like I would snore if I had a cold, but they're both still eating, wandering around the house, doing normal cat things, just sleeping a bit more than usual. We had a cat in the past who was very ill, and he would hide under the bed and growl if you came near him, but these guys aren't acting that way. Should I give it another day or so to see if it clears up, and if not take them to the vet? I've been giving them an antibiotic the vet gave me earlier this year (unopened, still in date), so should I see if that fixes them?

Kurious in Kent

Edited to add: our previous cat that hid when he was sick turned out ok. We took him to the vet and he's still living with one of our kids back in the States.

Edited again to add: the cat is living with one of our kids, not the vet. Ambigious sentence there... :D

[Rambis]

1. Our cat

has been snorting/sneezing for a year or more we have taken her to the vet and they have not been able to do anything for her but they never fail to charge us. She does not do anything else but snort and sneeze so they said to leave it.

[SOteric]

2. Yep.

They can get 'cat flu' or as it's sometimes known, 'Kennel Cough,' as they tend to get it when they've been in close proximity to a lot of other kitties and dogs who might be sneezing and coughing.

As long as they're still eating, grooming and filling the litter box, all is well and they'll get over it soon enough. If any of that changes, consult your veterinarian post haste.

[KatyMan]

3. Thanks for the replies, SOteric & Rambis

They are still doing their usual cat things, so I guess I'll let it take it's course for a day or two and see how it turns out. Of course, it's always 2am while they're sleeping on your bed that the decide to start coughing... I'll update later in the week.

Thanks again folks!

[flvegan]

4. Have your vet check for URI

upper respiratory infection. Just to be safe.

[KatyMan]

5. Thanks

I'm thinking of taking them in anyway on Friday (when I'll be working from home), even if they're improving. Couldn't hurt, I suppose.

[Kerrytravelers]

6. Pitter-pat had URI when we brought him home from the pound.

He spent three days in Intensive Care and Isolation at the vet's, with an IV and everything. It was pitiful looking. I went in and held him during visiting hours. He was less than two pounds and heartbeat away from death.

He is now almost four years old and 15 pounds of love and fuzz.

I'd go to the vet just to be on the safe side.