Cats can catch respiratory infections and viruses, but few are at risk because they have to catch them from an infected animal or their toys and dishes. Some cats contract a virus that causes a cold, while other colds are caused by bacterial infections. If colds are untreated, cats can develop pneumonia. Cat owners should keep their pets warm, dry, and hydrated and take them to the veterinarian if symptoms don't go away.
Sneezing
Sneezing is one of the most common symptoms of colds and pneumonia in cats. Cats sneeze out mucus, and that can cause a runny nose, sniffles, and make it hard to breathe through the nose. Nasal passages can become irritated and mucus may become bloody. Owners can help by using a bulb syringe to drain mucus from nasal passages and running a vaporizer to keep nasal passages moist.
Coughing
Cats with colds and pneumonia often cough to remove mucus from their systems. They may develop a hoarse voice, develop oral ulcers, and cough up mucus that has blood in it. If the cough lasts longer than a day or two and is accompanied by wheezing or loss of appetite, this may be a sign that infection, pneumonia, or another more serious illness has set in. Owners should take their cats to a veterinarian for a physical examination that may include a chest X-ray and testing of fluid samples from the lung.
Fever
A fever indicates that a cat with a cold has developed an infection or a more serious illness. Listlessness, depression, weakness, and loss of appetite often indicate a fever. If fever is accompanied by a blue tinge of color in the lips, gums and tongue, your cat should be tested by the veterinarian for pneumonia. You may be able to treat a feverish cat at home with medication such as antibiotics and diuretics, but your cat may have to be hospitalized and given oxygen treatments in addition to medication prescribed by the vet.
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