What is URI in Cats?
URI stands for “upper respiratory infection,” and it’s the common term for a respiratory infection in cats caused by one or more viral or bacterial agents. The most common culprits are the feline herpesvirus and the feline calicivirus (Feline Upper Respiratory Infection – VCA Animal Hospitals). URI is very similar to the common cold in humans.
Common symptoms of URI in cats include:
- Sneezing
- Nasal congestion and discharge
- Watery eyes
- Ulcers in the mouth
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Lethargy
URI spreads easily through direct contact and airborne droplets from sneezing and coughing. It’s especially common among cats in shelters or multi-cat households. The viruses can survive in the environment for several weeks.
Potential complications include pneumonia, corneal ulcers, and chronic sinusitis. Proper treatment and supportive care are important to prevent complications and relieve symptoms.
Get a Veterinary Diagnosis
If your cat is showing any signs of upper respiratory infection (URI), including sneezing, coughing, runny eyes or nose, it’s important to get a veterinary diagnosis as soon as possible. The vet will perform a physical exam to check for dehydration and listen to your cat’s breathing. They may also run some diagnostic tests to confirm URI and rule out other conditions like pneumonia or allergies.
Diagnostic tests the vet may perform include:
- Nasal swabs or cultures to identify the specific pathogen causing the URI
- Bloodwork to check for anemia or white blood cell abnormalities
- Chest x-rays to look for pneumonia or other lung issues
- Feline leukemia and FIV testing
It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis so your vet can prescribe the most effective treatment plan. Leaving URI untreated can allow it to progress into more serious secondary infections. Your vet will also want to rule out underlying conditions like asthma, heart disease, or cancer that could make your cat more vulnerable to URI.
With an early vet visit and proper treatment, most cats recover fully from URI within 2-4 weeks. Your vet will advise on the best at-home care and follow-up to help support your cat’s recovery.
Implement Supportive At-Home Care
Rest and reducing stress are key parts of at-home care for a cat with URI. Allow your cat to rest in a quiet, comfortable area without loud noises or other pets disturbing them. Reducing stress can help your cat conserve energy for healing. Monitor your cat’s symptoms and call the vet if they worsen. Make sure your cat has easy access to food, water, and litter so they don’t have to exert themselves unnecessarily.
Set up a safe, designated sick room for your cat with food, water, litter box, bed, toys, and hiding spots. Place food and water bowls close together so your cat can eat and drink while lying down if needed. Scoop litter frequently. Monitor your cat’s eating and drinking closely as URI can reduce appetite. Track symptoms like nasal discharge, eye drainage, coughing, sneezing, lethargy and report worsening to your vet (Source 1).
Adjust Your Cat’s Diet
Cats with URI often have decreased appetite and difficulty eating due to nasal congestion and a sore throat. However, it’s important to keep your cat eating during illness. Make some dietary adjustments to entice your cat and provide the nutrition they need to fight infection.
Feed soft, palatable foods like canned cat food, meat baby foods, or bone broths. Soft foods are easier to swallow if your cat has a sore throat. Cats usually prefer the smell and taste of canned food over dry. According to The Honest Kitchen, meat baby foods like chicken or turkey and gravy can tempt sick cats. These also work well if your cat has a sore throat as they are easy to lap up and swallow.3
Increase fluid intake by feeding canned foods with gravy and adding water to food. Dehydration commonly occurs with URI, so getting your cat to drink is critical. Feed wet food instead of dry and add extra water to canned food to increase moisture intake.
Ensure food contains important nutrients for immune support like omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. According to Zumalka, foods containing omega-3s like fatty fish can help lessen the risk of pulmonary disease in cats with URI. They also recommend feeding antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries to help fight oxidative damage and support healing.1
Help Your Cat Eat
Cats with URI often have congestion that makes it difficult for them to smell or taste their food. This can cause a lack of appetite. Try the following tips to encourage your cat to eat:
Warm up your cat’s food before serving, as the aroma may be more appealing when warmed. Microwave wet food for a few seconds or warm up canned food in a saucepan on the stove.
Hand feed your cat. The extra attention and enticement of food being offered may get your cat to take a few bites. Make sure to use care when hand feeding to avoid being accidentally bitten.
Offer multiple small meals throughout the day rather than one large meal. This requires less effort per feeding and keeps their strength up. Feed every 2-4 hours if your cat is not eating well.
Try particularly aromatic foods like tuna or salmon, as the smell may stimulate their appetite. You can also try kitten food, as it has a stronger aroma.
Syringe feeding may be necessary. Consult your vet for tips on proper syringe feeding technique and amount. Ensure you use a nutritional gel food when syringe feeding.
Avoid Contamination
To help prevent the spread of URI between cats, it’s important to avoid contaminating shared items like food bowls, water bowls, and litter boxes. Here are some tips:
- Use separate food and water bowls for the sick cat. Do not allow sharing of bowls with other household cats.
- Clean and disinfect food and water bowls thoroughly after each use. Use a mild bleach solution or veterinary-approved disinfectant and rinse well.
- Use separate scoops for litter boxes. Do not share litter scoops between sick and healthy cats.
- Disinfect litter scoops after each use.
- Limit shared spaces as much as possible. Keep the sick cat separated from other cats.
Following good hygiene practices like these can significantly reduce the spread of URI between cats within a home.
Provide Supportive Care
Providing supportive care can help ease your cat’s URI symptoms and aid in recovery. Some supportive care options include:
Saline nose drops – Saline nose drops can help loosen mucus and keep your cat’s nasal passages moist. Apply a few drops to each nostril 2-3 times per day. Be gentle and reward your cat with treats afterward (VCA Hospitals).
Humidifier – Running a cool mist humidifier near your cat’s resting areas adds moisture to the air, helping thin mucus and make breathing easier. Make sure to keep the humidifier clean to avoid spreading germs (PetMD).
Throat soothing remedies – Ask your vet about cat-safe throat sprays, lozenges, or other remedies that can provide soothing relief to your cat’s sore throat.
Rest and hydration are also key. Allow your cat to recover in a comfortable, quiet space and encourage drinking to avoid dehydration. Providing ample supportive care can make a URI much more tolerable for your cat.
Know When to Seek Emergency Care
While many cases of URI in cats can be managed at home, there are some emergency symptoms where you should seek immediate veterinary care. These include:
Difficulty breathing – Labored, open-mouth breathing, wheezing, or pale or blue gums are signs your cat is having trouble getting enough oxygen. This requires quick veterinary treatment as it can be life-threatening. According to UrgentVet, any increased difficulty breathing should be evaluated by a vet right away.
Not eating – A URI can cause nausea, sore throat, or loss of appetite. But if your cat stops eating entirely for 12 hours or more, it risks liver problems and needs medical care. Lack of appetite can also lead to malnutrition, dehydration and other issues.
Lethargy – While some laziness is normal with an URI, excessive lethargy, lack of interest in toys or people, or sleeping all day are red flags. Cats who seem weak, fatigued or collapse may have a serious infection and need prompt vet assistance.
Prevent the Spread of URI
There are several steps you can take to prevent the spread of URI among your cats:
Isolate Infected Cats: If you have multiple cats, keep any cats showing signs of URI separated from the others. The viruses and bacteria that cause URI spread easily between cats in close contact. Keep sick cats confined to one room, and wash your hands after touching them before interacting with other cats.[1]
Proper Hygiene: Practicing good hygiene is key to limiting the spread of URI. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching each cat. Avoid nose-to-nose contact between cats. Disinfect food bowls, litter boxes, bedding and any other surfaces the sick cat touches with a dilute bleach solution.[2]
Reduce Stressors: Stress weakens the immune system, making cats more vulnerable to URI. Try to minimize stressful events like adding new cats to the home or schedule changes when you have a cat recovering from URI. Reduce exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke that can worsen URI symptoms.[3]
[1] https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/respiratory/upper-respiratory-infection-cats
[2] https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feline-upper-respiratory-infection
[3] https://www.webmd.com/pets/cats/upper-respiratory-infection-cats
Support Your Cat’s Recovery
It’s important to support your cat through the full duration of recovery from URI.
Make sure to complete the full course of any medications prescribed by your veterinarian, even if your cat seems to be feeling better. Stopping antibiotics early can allow the infection to recur (https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feline-upper-respiratory-infection).
Follow up with your vet as recommended for follow-up exams and tests to ensure the infection has resolved completely. Your vet may want to recheck your cat 1-2 weeks after starting treatment (https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/respiratory/upper-respiratory-infection-cats).
Provide extra love and care while your cat recovers. Make sure your cat is eating enough and maintain its strength. Tempt your cat with tasty food and hand-feed if needed. Cuddle and pet your cat if it seems to enjoy that. This TLC helps cats heal.
Be patient, as it can take 1-3 weeks for cats to fully recover from URI. But with veterinary treatment and your care at home, your cat’s infection should clear and its health improve steadily during this time.