Can Cats Get the Flu? Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention of Cat Flu in the UK

It is a common question: can cats get the flu like humans do? The truth is that there is a condition commonly called cat flu, but it is not usually the same virus as influenza in humans.

Cat flu is the common term for feline upper respiratory infection (URI). Most cases are caused by feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV) and presents with similar symptoms to influenza in humans.

Cats can be vaccinated against these conditions. While the vaccine can reduce the severity of the illness, it doesn’t guarantee full protection. In this guide, we introduce the truth about cat flu and guide you through symptoms and treatment.

What Is Cat Flu?

The condition that we call cat flu is actually a highly contagious respiratory infection in cats. When a cat is infected, it will cause problems in the:

• Nose

• Throat

• Sinuses

• Eyes

As mentioned, the two primary viral causes are feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. However, there are some possible secondary contributors. It could be brought on by exposure to bordetella bronchiseptica or chlamydophila felis.

Cat flu is common in multi-cat environments like shelters, catteries and rescue centres. The felines that are the most vulnerable to it are kittens and unvaccinated cats - it’s one of the reasons most catteries don’t accept unvaccinated animals.

Cat flu is one of the most common infectious diseases in UK cats. It differs from a simple cold in its severity and possible complications. Symptoms may appear mild initially but can quickly escalate, and it can even lead to issues like eye ulcers and mouth ulcers.

Can Cats Catch Human Flu?

The typical cat flu viruses (FHV-1 and FCV) do not infect humans. This means that you cannot catch standard cat flu from your pet.

However, there have been rare exceptions to the normal cat flu causes. Cats have been infected with Influenza A (H1N1) during human outbreaks. Transmission is typically human-to-cat, not the other way around.

Note that cases like this are rare - most cat flu cases come from the usual sources. Rest assured there is no evidence of widespread cat-to-human influenza transmission.

Symptoms of Cat Flu

Your cat may have contracted cat flu if it is displaying the following common symptoms:

• Sneezing

• Runny nose (clear or coloured discharge)

• Watery or sticky eyes

• Conjunctivitis

• Fever

• Loss of appetite

• Lethargy

If the condition is caused by calicivirus, you may notice specific symptoms like mouth ulcers, drooling and even limping in some strains.

Severe symptoms of cat flu include difficulty breathing, pneumonia, dehydration and severe eye ulcers. These all require veterinary attention before they become severe. If you have a kitten that is not eating, struggling to breathe or exhibiting a thick green discharge, you may need to make an emergency vet appointment.

Mild cases of cat flu usually last for 5-10 days. In more severe cases, it has been known to last for weeks. Long-term, some cats can become lifelong carriers - this is the nature of herpesvirus. In this case, stress can trigger flare-ups of the condition.

How Do Cats Catch the Flu?

Cat flu is highly contagious, so there are various ways your cat could catch it. The most common routes are as follows:

• Direct cat-to-cat contact

• Sneezing droplets

• Shared bowls and litter trays

• Contaminated bedding

• Human hands and clothing

If a cat catches the flu in a multi-cat home, it usually spreads very quickly. Calicivirus can survive longer on surfaces than herpesvirus, so it is a good idea to keep on top of cleaning and disinfecting if a cat catches the disease.

There are certain cats that are at higher risk from the virus. If you have a kitten, and elderly cat, an immunocompromised cat or an unvaccinated cat, you are advised to take extra care to prevent your cat from being exposed.

Treatment: How Is Cat Flu Managed?

When a cat catches cat flu, the condition is usually managed through a combination of veterinary treatment and care at home. Let’s look at what these two things look like.

Veterinary Treatment

There is no cure for the viruses themselves. Treatment is supportive, aiming to help the cat get through the infection through its own immune system. However, there are interventions a vet can make:

• Antibiotics (to treat secondary bacterial infections)

• Anti-inflammatory medication

• Antiviral medication

• Eye drops

• Fluid therapy (if a cat is dehydrated)

• Appetite stimulants

If you suspect that your cat might have contracted cat flu, it is best to seek veterinary treatment quickly. Early intervention improves outcomes, so your cat can get better faster with a lower risk of complications.

Home Care Support

Once your cat has been given treatment by the vet, there are things you can do at home to help with its recovery. The first step is to keep it warm and comfortable so that it can convalesce properly.

Here are some other tips to help:

• Encourage eating by providing strong-smelling food gently warmed up.

• Gently clean that cat’s eyes and nose with cooled boiled water.

• Use steam to ease congestion. Steam from the shower can help.

• Ensure constant access to fresh water.

• Keep stress to a minimum as stress can trigger flare-ups.

Should You Vaccinate Against Cat Flu?

Core feline vaccinations in the UK include protection against feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. While this is great, it doesn’t completely prevent infection. Instead, it reduces severity, complications and viral shedding.

This isn’t an injection that your cat only gets once. Annual boosters are needed to maintain a good level of protection. We strongly recommend vaccination for:

• Outdoor cats

• Multi-cat households

• Cats in boarding or catteries

Can Cat Flu Be Prevented?

Vaccination is the primary prevention method for cat flu. But there are some other common sense steps you can take to try and help prevent infection:

• Clean bowls and litter trays regularly.

• Disinfect shared surfaces.

• Reduce overcrowding.

• Quarantine new cats before you introduce them.

If you have an infected cat, try to isolate it as soon as you see symptoms. Every time you handle a sick cat, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before you go near any other cats.

When Should You Call a Vet?

If you notice cold-like symptoms that last more than a few days, it is a good idea to book an appointment with your vet. Similarly, if a kitten starts showing any symptoms, it is best to get it looked at right away to prevent the risk of escalation.

There are some symptoms that should prompt an immediate call to your vet:

• Cat not eating for 24 hours

• Breathing difficulty

• Severe eye discharge or suspected eye ulcers

• Lethargy or collapse

Prognosis: Will My Cat Recover?

Most healthy adult cats make a full recovery from cat flu. Kittens, elderly cats and immunocompromised cats are at higher risk of complications from the condition.

Some cats may develop chronic rhinitis or suffer from recurrent flare-ups. Early treatment is important to maximise survival and reduce the potential for complications.

Final Thoughts

It is a fact that cats can get the flu, but they almost never catch it from humans. Instead, they are usually infected by feline-specific viruses. These conditions are highly contagious between cats, but vaccination dramatically reduces the severity of the illness.

We encourage you to keep an eye on your cat and monitor for symptoms. If you suspect that your cat may have contracted cat flu, seek veterinary advice right away so that you can start the right kind of care early.

Prevention is the best way to ensure your cat never suffers any complications relating to cat flu.