| Feline URI, "upper respiratory infection", is a very | | | | generates metabolism of the oxygen in you cats |
| contagious infection that can affect your cats or | | | | body and helps in the fight against toxins and |
| kittens sinuses or naval passages, and is passed by | | | | pollutants (such as smoking), but more importantly |
| cats by the direct contact of an infected cat, usually | | | | how it regenerates other antioxidants such as |
| through sneezing or coughing. | | | | Vitamin E. |
| It can kill cats that not vaccinated and weak kittens. | | | | Vitamin E will be extremely important in building and |
| It is very similar to the colds that we catch as | | | | maintaining your cats immune system as it helps in |
| humans, but it is important to note that the feline | | | | the stabilization of membranes that will be targeted |
| version of colds cannot be passed to humans, just as | | | | by this condition. This vitamin works better with |
| the human cold cannot be passed onto your cat. | | | | vitamin C than any other and stimulates the |
| This infection is so contagious that it can also be | | | | production of natural killer cells that seek out and |
| passed by your cat coming into contact with objects | | | | destroy germs and cancer cells as well. |
| that have been exposed to the infection, such as | | | | It also enhances the B cells, the actual immune cells |
| food and water dishes, a carrying device, blankets or | | | | that produce the antibodies that destroy bacteria. |
| bedding. | | | | There are several on going studies that have shown |
| Even if you cat has fully recovered from this | | | | that Vitamin E has had tremendous results in reducing |
| infection, it is still an active carrier of the infection and | | | | respiratory infections in elderly humans as well. |
| thus are referred to as silent carriers. | | | | Zinc is an essential trace element that is found in |
| The human cold has numerous and ever changing | | | | most tissues of your cats body, and plays a major |
| viruses that infect us, but most of the veterinarians | | | | role in the synthesis of protein and nucleic acid, which |
| would agree that there are only two known viruses | | | | controls the formulations of several proteins in the |
| to cats that can cause this infection; feline viral | | | | cells. |
| rhinotrachetitis, known as FVR, and feline calicivirus, | | | | Zinc has been found to be especially important in |
| which is known as FCV. | | | | helping to prevent cancer and respiratory illnesses in |
| However, there are several different strands of both | | | | animals, but especially cats. Copper is found in all of |
| of these viruses that can affect your cat with | | | | the tissues in your cats body, and assists in the |
| several very troubling and uncomfortable symptoms. | | | | production of hemoglobin and red blood cells, |
| These viruses can cause the infections in your cat to | | | | especially important in your felines immune system. |
| be chronic, intermittently chronic, or persistently | | | | This infection will first show up with the symptoms |
| chronic. | | | | of your cat having a running or red nose, nasal |
| Although there are several treatments that are | | | | congestion, and watery eyes; as well as ulcers on |
| available for your cat after they are infected, it is | | | | the tongue, gums, nose, and the roof of their mouth. |
| extremely important that as a cat owner you help | | | | Additional symptoms will be a fever, increased |
| your cat to build their immune system to be as | | | | drooling and or salivation, a loss of appetite, and than |
| strong as possible to fight off these and other forms | | | | dehydration. |
| of viruses and bacteria infections. | | | | Acute conditions of this infection will mean that these |
| Picture for just a moment what would happen if your | | | | symptoms will occur very suddenly, and once they |
| cat had no immune system to fight this infection or a | | | | are treated, the symptoms disappear. Intermittent |
| virtual litany of several types of organisms that exist | | | | chronic conditions imply that the symptoms will |
| in the environment, and all found your cat to be the | | | | reappear, usually when your cat is under stress or |
| perfect host, or body, to attack. | | | | their immune system is weak and persistent chronic |
| Your cats immune system is the first line of defense, | | | | conditions of this infection mean that the symptoms |
| and it is composed of a very complex network of | | | | never go away, and your cat always seems to be |
| cells, tissues, and organs, and when it functions | | | | sick. |
| properly it launches a vast array of defensive | | | | Your cat will improve with antibiotics, but as soon as |
| mechanisms to fight off viruses such as Feline URI as | | | | they stop, the symptoms reappear. |
| well as several other parasites, bacteria, and fungi | | | | This will require immediate veterinarian intervention as |
| that will attack you pet. | | | | there may definitely be something wrong with your |
| Building your pets immune system through vitamin | | | | pets immune system and or other infections your cat |
| supplements is the best way to ward off this | | | | is fighting. |
| infection and other such airborne viruses and bacteria. | | | | Cats that are the most at risk of getting this |
| You can save a lot of money by building the immune | | | | infection will be those that are exposed to poor |
| system first, instead of buying all of the products to | | | | nutrition, a lot of cold or heat, older cats, and kittens |
| help the condition after the infection has already | | | | that are not vaccinated. |
| taken hold. | | | | However, by far and away the biggest cause of |
| Two Vitamins C and E, as well as two minerals, zinc | | | | your cat catching this is a weak immune system, or |
| and copper, can be very inexpensive and extremely | | | | an immune system that is compromised by other |
| beneficial for your feline friend in this battle against | | | | infections. |
| this infection that an unhealthy cat is going to have a | | | | There are vaccines that are available for both the |
| lot of trouble with. | | | | rhinotrachetitis and the calicivirus viruses that cause |
| Although there will always be controversy if Vitamin | | | | this infection, but where ever possible, keep your cat |
| C has any affect at preventing colds in humans or | | | | away from stray cats or infected cats. |
| this infection in cats, there is no controversy that it is | | | | There are several very good quality companies and |
| a very effective antioxidant and only takes small | | | | brands that do offer other modes of protection, as |
| amounts to protect molecules in your cats body. | | | | well as vitamin supplements that can help to protect |
| The biggest factor with Vitamin C is how it | | | | your cat against this contagious disease. |