| Many cats catch what seems to be a cold sometime | | | | 100 to 102.5 degrees F.) and your cat continues to |
| during their lives, and most of these afflictions are | | | | eat and drink, overnight or longer hospitalization can |
| caused by viruses. Cats that have an upper | | | | usually be avoided. Keep your cat's eyes and nostrils |
| respiratory infection have runny eyes and noses, are | | | | free of "crust" by washing gently with a warm, moist |
| lethargic, sneeze, run fevers, and often do not want | | | | cloth, will usually keep his appetite up. If your cat |
| to eat or drink. These infections are very contagious, | | | | stops eating or drinking completely, dehydration is a |
| and spreading this disease to other cats can be a big | | | | danger, and hospitalization or home veterinary care is |
| concern. Young kittens or cats with other cat | | | | needed. Since upper respiratory infections can be |
| diseases, such as common those that weaken the | | | | complicated by bacteria, antibiotics will often be |
| immune system, are the most susceptible to these | | | | prescribed as well. |
| infections. | | | | With the appropriate care, most cats will recover |
| If your cat develops an upper respiratory infection, | | | | completely within a few days to a week. However, |
| call ahead and let your veterinarian know that you | | | | some cases can last for more than two weeks. If |
| are coming in. You want to give him the chance to | | | | your cat has repeated bouts of upper respiratory |
| take special precautions to help prevent exposure of | | | | infections, or if they are especially severe or |
| the infection to other cats in the waiting room when | | | | persistent, your veterinarian will probably want to |
| you arrive. | | | | test for other diseases that weaken the immune |
| Just as with a cold in humans, so long as the fever | | | | system. |
| does not get too high, (normal cat temperature is | | | | |