3 Reasons Your Cat’s URI Is Not Getting Better

There is a group of diseases causing “cat flu,” or Upper Respiratory Tract Disease. The organisms responsible include feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus and the bacterias Bordetella bronchiseptica, Chlamydophila felis, and Mycoplasma sp..(1) 

Feline upper respiratory viruses vary in their effect on a cat’s sinuses. Some cats experience extreme inflammation, ulceration of sinus mucous membranes, and even remodeling of the small bones inside the sinuses. These changes can lead to chronic upper respiratory symptoms even after the virus and bacteria are gone. With their new abnormal sinus anatomy, cats can develop recurrent bacterial infections, too.

Feline Herpes Virus (FHV) is one of the most common causes of URI in cats. Even after the initial symptoms clear, FHV can lie dormant in a cat’s system and become reactivated during times of stress. Reactivated viral infections can add to existing sinus problems.

Calicivirus is another common cause of feline URIs. The symptoms are similar to those seen with FHV but the eye symptoms are often less severe. Feline calicivirus may also cause painful ulceration of the lips or tongue. (2) 

After only a week of symptoms, Sammy still has a good chance to recover without long-term consequences. Start with another visit to your veterinarian to see if the situation has changed or if a new medicine should be considered.

Some things you can try at home for a sick cat with an upper respiratory infection that’s not getting better with standard treatment:

• Minimize stress. If you have other pets, make sure Sammy has a quiet, safe place to rest but don’t let him hide where you can’t monitor his condition.
• Feline facial pheromone products like Feliway diffusers help cats acclimate to new homes. These nifty plug-in diffusers help cats feel less stressed and can make a noticeable difference over time.
• Strong-smelling moist foods will encourage him to eat. The hunger drive of a cat depends on their sense of smell so when they have stuffy noses they tend to eat less.
• Saline nose drops applied into his nostrils two or three times a day can help break up thick mucus so he can breathe better. Only use a few drops and skip this step if it is too stressful for him.
• Use a humidifier in the area where he spends the most time. The mist can help moisten respiratory tissue and thin the mucous produced.
• Probiotic supplements may help him get well sooner. A study found that cats with FHV who took an Enterococcus faecium probiotic (try FortiFlora for cats) did not feel as sick as those who didn’t take probiotics (1)
• L-lysine nutritional supplements in the form of pastes or treats may help him fight off the virus more quickly. Skip this if it causes too much stress to get him to take it. Most cats I’ve come across will eat Enisyl-F Lysine Treats.

If symptoms are still present after three weeks of treatment, it’s time for some more aggressive intervention. You’ll definitely need your veterinarian’s input at this point.

Some of the next steps vets will take when cats with URIs are not getting better after several weeks include:

• Examination under sedation to look for polyps in the ears and pharynx
• Radiographs (x-rays) of the cat’s skull
• Bacterial culture and cytology of sinus fluids
• Biopsy of sinus tissue
• Sinus flushing while the cat is under sedation

I hope Sammy feels better soon!

Dr. Thompson

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