Page 60 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

Respiratory disorders

The respiratory system extends from the nose and mouth to the lungs.
Disorders can vary from common ailments such as sneezing and a runny
nose to serious conditions that can interfere with your cat’s breathing.

Signs of a problem
■ Nasal discharge from one or
both nostrils: watery, white
or green, or blood
■ Sneezing
■ Cough (fluid and “chesty”
or dry and harsh)
■ Increased rate of breathing
58 ■ Breathing with mouth
open, panting
■ Noisy breathing or wheezing
■ Difficulty breathing—sitting
Your cat’s health ■ Anorexia, weight loss,
hunched with neck stretched out
dehydration
■ Lethargy

Cat flu
Cat flu can be spread easily by direct contact
Keep your cat isolated and wash
Most cases of cat flu are due steamy bathroom to ease breathing. △ Spreading flu between cats
between cats, or transmitted on hands, clothing,
to feline calicivirus (FCV) your hands after handling him, or objects such as feeding bowls.
or feline herpesvirus (FHV). to avoid spreading the infection.
Highly contagious, cat flu may Reducing exposure to allergens can
be transmitted both by sick Feline asthma help prevent attacks, and shedding
animals and by seemingly In asthma, inhaled allergens such excess weight can ease breathing.
unaffected carriers. as pollen, dust, or cigarette smoke
Signs include fever, sneezing, can irritate the tiny airways in the Pyothorax
runny eyes and nose, open- lungs, inflaming them so they This rare but life-threatening
mouthed breathing, or a very sore produce more mucus. The cat condition is caused by a bacterial
throat causing loss of appetite, may have persistent dry coughing, (or occasionally fungal) infection
dehydration, and lethargy. FCV can wheezing, and lethargy. A cat in the chest cavity, which leads to
cause mouth ulcers and gingivitis can also suffer asthma attacks, a build-up of pus and fluid around
(see p.54), resulting in drooling. in which the airways suddenly the lungs. The fluid compresses the
FHV can cause conjunctivitis contract. He will sit hunched up, lungs, causing the cat to breathe
and ulcers on the cornea. panting or gasping for breath. Gums shallowly or struggle for breath.
Cats should be vaccinated against and lips may turn blue. This needs The cat may have a fever, and the
FCV and FHV. If your cat does immediate veterinary attention. gums and lips may turn blue. This
develop signs of cat flu, call your The vet may give oxygen to needs urgent veterinary attention.
vet. For viral infections, the only relieve an attack. Your cat may be The vet will drain the fluid; this
treatment is to provide relief by prescribed corticosteroids to reduce may take several days. Your cat
keeping the nose and eyes clean inflammation and bronchodilator will also be prescribed a course
and perhaps placing the cat in a drugs to relax the airways. of antibiotics to clear the infection.

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