Can Human Cold Be Transmitted to Cats? A Guide to Feline Viral Infections, Prevention, and Treatment
Can Human Cold Be Transmitted to Cats? A Guide to Feline Viral Infections, Prevention, and Treatment
"I have a cold, will it spread to my cat?" In winter, when people are more susceptible to colds, some owners worry if the flu virus will also infect their cats. So, can human colds be transmitted to cats?
Can Human Flu Virus Be Transmitted to Cats?
Firstly, in the cold winter season, people are indeed easily infected with the flu virus. Influenza, also known as the flu, is usually caused by type A and type B influenza viruses. However, the flu virus mutates every year. Flu viruses are often transmitted through the following ways:
Direct contact, such as handshakes.
Droplets formed when sneezing or coughing
Contact with items contaminated with the flu patient's nasal or throat fluids.
Flu can cause fever, body aches, headache, dry cough, and sore throat. So, can flu be transmitted to other animals? Normally, there is no cross-infection of flu virus between humans and animals. Basically, the human seasonal influenza we humans are infected with only spreads among people and does not spread beyond animal species. There is no need to worry too much.
However, there have been reports abroad of cats being infected with human seasonal flu and avian flu. It's better to be safe than sorry, so if we are infected with the flu virus and have a cold, it's best to be careful:
If someone in your home has the flu, it is best to avoid frequent contact with your cat and avoid excessive contact with your pet, which is also good for your cat, especially for young and old cats.
What is the "Flu" in Cats?
What we often refer to as cats getting a cold may actually be an infection with feline herpesvirus or calicivirus. Cats infected with these two viruses will experience respiratory symptoms very similar to human flu.
Let's talk about calicivirus. Calicivirus is highly contagious and can survive in a dry environment for 3 to 4 weeks. It is more prevalent in the winter when the temperature is low. Kittens from one to three months old are more susceptible to calicivirus infection due to the waning of maternal antibodies. However, it's important to note that sometimes adult cats infected with calicivirus may only exhibit mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all, leading to latent infection. They may appear normal but actually become carriers of the virus.
How Do Cats Get Infected with Feline Calicivirus?
So, what are the reasons for feline calicivirus infection?
1. Contact infection
Infection through direct contact with cats infected with feline calicivirus.
Also, after the owner touches a cat infected with feline calicivirus, the virus will adhere to their hands and clothes. If they touch their own cat in this way, they may also become infected.
According to a study published in the UK in 2017, cats that have not been neutered or spayed have a higher risk of virus shedding, which can be 1.7 times higher. In addition, sex hormones can lead to sexual urges. If they are not kept indoors, they will increase the chances of contact with outside cats, increasing the risk of infection.
2. Airborne transmission
The main reason for feline calicivirus infection is contact infection and airborne transmission.
Cats infected with feline calicivirus can spread the virus through sneezing and other means.
Once a cat is infected with feline calicivirus, even if treated, the virus cannot be completely eliminated. About 80% to 90% of cats will be carriers and become carriers of the virus.
Studies have shown that in households with 2 to 3 cats, the risk of virus shedding is as high as 1.7 times, and in households with 4 to 10 cats, it is as high as 2.8 times. Therefore, if a cat in the household is infected with calicivirus, it may spread to other cats through direct contact such as licking fur, and indirect contact such as coughing and sneezing.
3. Indirect contact
When the owner touches other cats, they must wash their hands before touching their own cat and pay attention to changing clothes, otherwise it is also easy to indirectly transmit to their own cat.
In households with multiple cats, if one cat is infected with feline calicivirus, other cats are likely to be infected, so it is important to manage the physical condition of the cats.
What Are the Symptoms of Feline Calicivirus Infection?
What are the symptoms of feline calicivirus infection? The main initial symptoms of feline calicivirus infection are as follows:
Sneezing
Coughing
Runny nose
Photosensitivity
Drooling
Diarrhea
Fever
Loss of appetite
In addition, if infected with calicivirus, the following diseases may also occur:
Stomatitis, glossitis
Nasal ulcers
Ulcers around the nails
Conjunctivitis
If the symptoms worsen, they may sometimes become severe or chronic, and sometimes even lead to death.
How to Treat Feline Calicivirus Infection?
First of all, there is currently no specific drug that can directly attack and destroy feline calicivirus. Because cats can only be given drugs to suppress the symptoms, such as antibiotics, feline interferon, and other adjunctive treatments. After medication, in order to prevent dehydration, cats need to drink more water, such as eating wet food and giving cats water. During this time, it is necessary to observe the cat's appetite and mental state.
Now, since there is no treatment for feline coronavirus infection, it is necessary to create an environment where cats are less likely to be infected. Also, vaccination is important! What we often call the cat triple vaccine is to prevent feline panleukopenia, feline calicivirus, and feline herpesvirus. Anything can be saved, but the money for the vaccine cannot be saved.
Conclusion
1. Human flu virus usually does not spread to cats, but prevention is still important, especially if someone has the flu.
2. "Flu" in cats mainly refers to infections with feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus.
3. The main ways of transmission of feline calicivirus are contact infection, airborne transmission, and indirect contact.
4. Cats infected with feline calicivirus will show symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and runny nose.
5. There is currently no specific drug that can treat feline calicivirus infection, mainly through drugs to suppress symptoms and improve cat's resistance.
6. To prevent feline calicivirus infection, it is recommended to vaccinate cats regularly, maintain good hygiene habits, and avoid contact with infected cats.
"I have a cold, will it spread to my cat?" In winter, when people are more susceptible to colds, some owners worry if the flu virus will also infect their cats. So, can human colds be transmitted to cats?
Can Human Flu Virus Be Transmitted to Cats?
Firstly, in the cold winter season, people are indeed easily infected with the flu virus. Influenza, also known as the flu, is usually caused by type A and type B influenza viruses. However, the flu virus mutates every year. Flu viruses are often transmitted through the following ways:
Direct contact, such as handshakes.
Droplets formed when sneezing or coughing
Contact with items contaminated with the flu patient's nasal or throat fluids.
Flu can cause fever, body aches, headache, dry cough, and sore throat. So, can flu be transmitted to other animals? Normally, there is no cross-infection of flu virus between humans and animals. Basically, the human seasonal influenza we humans are infected with only spreads among people and does not spread beyond animal species. There is no need to worry too much.
However, there have been reports abroad of cats being infected with human seasonal flu and avian flu. It's better to be safe than sorry, so if we are infected with the flu virus and have a cold, it's best to be careful:
If someone in your home has the flu, it is best to avoid frequent contact with your cat and avoid excessive contact with your pet, which is also good for your cat, especially for young and old cats.
What is the "Flu" in Cats?
What we often refer to as cats getting a cold may actually be an infection with feline herpesvirus or calicivirus. Cats infected with these two viruses will experience respiratory symptoms very similar to human flu.
Let's talk about calicivirus. Calicivirus is highly contagious and can survive in a dry environment for 3 to 4 weeks. It is more prevalent in the winter when the temperature is low. Kittens from one to three months old are more susceptible to calicivirus infection due to the waning of maternal antibodies. However, it's important to note that sometimes adult cats infected with calicivirus may only exhibit mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all, leading to latent infection. They may appear normal but actually become carriers of the virus.
How Do Cats Get Infected with Feline Calicivirus?
So, what are the reasons for feline calicivirus infection?
1. Contact infection
Infection through direct contact with cats infected with feline calicivirus.
Also, after the owner touches a cat infected with feline calicivirus, the virus will adhere to their hands and clothes. If they touch their own cat in this way, they may also become infected.
According to a study published in the UK in 2017, cats that have not been neutered or spayed have a higher risk of virus shedding, which can be 1.7 times higher. In addition, sex hormones can lead to sexual urges. If they are not kept indoors, they will increase the chances of contact with outside cats, increasing the risk of infection.
2. Airborne transmission
The main reason for feline calicivirus infection is contact infection and airborne transmission.
Cats infected with feline calicivirus can spread the virus through sneezing and other means.
Once a cat is infected with feline calicivirus, even if treated, the virus cannot be completely eliminated. About 80% to 90% of cats will be carriers and become carriers of the virus.
Studies have shown that in households with 2 to 3 cats, the risk of virus shedding is as high as 1.7 times, and in households with 4 to 10 cats, it is as high as 2.8 times. Therefore, if a cat in the household is infected with calicivirus, it may spread to other cats through direct contact such as licking fur, and indirect contact such as coughing and sneezing.
3. Indirect contact
When the owner touches other cats, they must wash their hands before touching their own cat and pay attention to changing clothes, otherwise it is also easy to indirectly transmit to their own cat.
In households with multiple cats, if one cat is infected with feline calicivirus, other cats are likely to be infected, so it is important to manage the physical condition of the cats.
What Are the Symptoms of Feline Calicivirus Infection?
What are the symptoms of feline calicivirus infection? The main initial symptoms of feline calicivirus infection are as follows:
Sneezing
Coughing
Runny nose
Photosensitivity
Drooling
Diarrhea
Fever
Loss of appetite
In addition, if infected with calicivirus, the following diseases may also occur:
Stomatitis, glossitis
Nasal ulcers
Ulcers around the nails
Conjunctivitis
If the symptoms worsen, they may sometimes become severe or chronic, and sometimes even lead to death.
How to Treat Feline Calicivirus Infection?
First of all, there is currently no specific drug that can directly attack and destroy feline calicivirus. Because cats can only be given drugs to suppress the symptoms, such as antibiotics, feline interferon, and other adjunctive treatments. After medication, in order to prevent dehydration, cats need to drink more water, such as eating wet food and giving cats water. During this time, it is necessary to observe the cat's appetite and mental state.
Now, since there is no treatment for feline coronavirus infection, it is necessary to create an environment where cats are less likely to be infected. Also, vaccination is important! What we often call the cat triple vaccine is to prevent feline panleukopenia, feline calicivirus, and feline herpesvirus. Anything can be saved, but the money for the vaccine cannot be saved.
Conclusion
1. Human flu virus usually does not spread to cats, but prevention is still important, especially if someone has the flu.
2. "Flu" in cats mainly refers to infections with feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus.
3. The main ways of transmission of feline calicivirus are contact infection, airborne transmission, and indirect contact.
4. Cats infected with feline calicivirus will show symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and runny nose.
5. There is currently no specific drug that can treat feline calicivirus infection, mainly through drugs to suppress symptoms and improve cat's resistance.
6. To prevent feline calicivirus infection, it is recommended to vaccinate cats regularly, maintain good hygiene habits, and avoid contact with infected cats.
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