Yes, cats can get “colds,” though vets call them upper respiratory infections (URIs). Typical signs include sneezing, a runny nose, and watery eyes—most mild cases improve with supportive care. Still, some situations demand urgency.
Red flags include not eating for over 24 hours (sooner in kittens or older cats), labored breathing, thick green discharge, or eye ulcers. URIs aren’t contagious to people, but they spread easily between cats, especially in shelters or multi-cat homes.
The key is knowing when to watch, when to call your vet, and how to give comfort at home.
Do Cats Get Colds?
Importantly, you can’t catch a cat cold, though cats easily spread it to each other, especially in shelters or boarding facilities where stress and crowding are high. URIs are most often caused by feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) or calicivirus (FCV). Vaccination with FVRCP
(herpes/rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia) reduces the severity and spread of these infections, but it doesn’t prevent every case—think “shorter, milder colds,” not full immunity.
Most URIs are mild, but appetite loss, labored breathing, or thick discharge mean it’s time to call your vet.
Cat Cold Symptoms to Watch For
Cats with “colds” usually have upper respiratory infections (URIs), and the symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. Mild signs, such as sneezing, clear watery eyes, or a runny nose, often improve within 48–72 hours, with full recovery usually taking 7–14 days.
However, cat parents need to recognize the shift from harmless sniffles to potentially dangerous complications. Watch for:
- Usually mild: Sneezing, clear discharge, mild lethargy.
- Call within 24 hours: Thick yellow/green discharge, fever (≥39.2°C / 102.5°F if measured), drooling, oral or eye ulcers.
- Emergency now: Open-mouth breathing (panting), louder snoring-like sounds or belly heaving when breathing, blue/gray gums, more than 24 hours without eating (or sooner for kittens, seniors, or overweight cats), or collapse.
Not all sneezes mean crisis, but appetite loss or any breathing trouble always requires prompt action. Now that you know the common symptoms, here’s how infections spread and who’s most at risk.
How Do Cats Get Colds?
Cat colds are usually upper respiratory infections (URIs) caused by feline-specific viruses and bacteria, not by human colds. Understanding where they come from helps you protect your cat and know when to act.
The Main Pathogens
The two biggest culprits are feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) and calicivirus (FCV). Herpes often leads to sneezing, eye inflammation, and ulcers that can flare again with stress, while calicivirus is more likely to cause oral ulcers, drooling, and—rarely—severe systemic illness. Other agents like Chlamydophila felis or Bordetella sometimes play a role in crowded environments.
How These Bugs Spread
Transmission happens through direct contact, droplets from sneezing, or contaminated objects like bowls and bedding. FCV is particularly hardy, surviving longer on surfaces than herpesvirus. This means multi-cat homes, boarding facilities, and shelters are high-risk spaces unless strict hygiene and isolation measures are in place.
Who’s Most at Risk
Kittens, seniors, and cats with weak immune systems are more vulnerable, as are those under stress from moving, boarding, or changes in routine. Even vaccinated cats can get sick, though vaccines reduce the severity and contagiousness of the disease.
Importantly, herpesvirus can remain latent, so a cat may seem healthy but develop symptoms again during stressful periods.
How Vets Diagnose Cat Colds
Vets usually diagnose cat colds (URIs) through history and a focused physical exam—checking temperature, listening to the chest, and inspecting eyes, mouth, and nasal airflow. For mild cases, that’s often enough, and no tests are needed. If your vet skips tests on day one, that’s normal for a mild, first-time case.
Testing comes into play when signs are severe, persistent, or part of a multi-cat outbreak. Swabs for PCR or bacterial culture, bloodwork, x-rays, or (rarely) airway samples under sedation help guide targeted treatment.
Because most URIs are viral, antibiotics are used only if there’s clear evidence of bacterial involvement.
How to Treat a Cat With a Cold
Most cat colds (URIs) improve with supportive home care: keep your cat in a warm, quiet room, gently wipe away eye or nose discharge using sterile saline (fresh pad per eye), use a humidifier or brief, supervised bathroom steam sessions to ease breathing, and offer warmed food or unsalted chicken broth with no onion or garlic to tempt appetite.
Never give human cold medicines—avoid acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, decongestants, and essential oils. With attentive care, most cats recover safely, though your vet may prescribe antivirals, eye ointments, or pain relief if needed.
Recovery and Management of Cat Colds
Most cat colds (URIs) clear in 7–14 days, though kittens, seniors, and immune-compromised cats may take longer and need closer care.
Recovery is gradual—track meals eaten, water intake, urination, and energy in a quick log, and note changes in breathing or discharge. Offer warm wet food, run a humidifier, and gently clean the eyes and nose.
Stress and herpesvirus can trigger relapses, so keep routines calm with hiding spots and predictable feeding times, isolate sick cats until several days after symptoms improve, and disinfect bowls and bedding. Most cats turn the corner by day 3–4 with a little TLC.
You Might Also Like
FAQs
Do cats catch colds from humans?
No. Cats cannot catch human colds. Their viruses are species-specific.
Can vaccines prevent cat colds?
Vaccines reduce severity and spread (FVRCP protects against FHV-1 and calicivirus) but don’t guarantee immunity.
Are cat colds contagious?
Yes, among cats. FHV-1 spreads via direct contact, sneezes, or contaminated surfaces.
When do cats need antibiotics?
Only for suspected bacterial complications—your vet will decide.
What can I feed a congested cat?
Warm, smelly wet food; unsalted broth (no onion/garlic).
Final Thoughts
Feline “colds” are common but usually self-limiting. Vaccination, exposure control, and stress reduction form a three-layer defense that keeps most cats safe, especially kittens, seniors, and immunocompromised pets. Track appetite, breathing, and discharge daily, and provide warmth, humidity, and gentle care at home.
Call your vet promptly for red flags—labored breathing, persistent lethargy, or green/yellow discharge. Real-life lessons show that timely isolation and supportive care prevent complications, while early escalation saves lives.
Top 5 Actions:
- Confirm FVRCP vaccinations
- Quarantine new cats 7–14 days with separate bowls, litter box, and bedding
- Reduce stress & maintain routine
- Home comfort kit: saline, cotton pads, humidifier, unsalted broth, spare bowls, disinfectant
- Monitor for red flags → vet/ER
If your cat shows any red flags above, call your vet now—don’t wait. Snap a pic of your setup so it’s ready before you need it.
Founder of Cats Question, a veterinarian (DVM), and lifelong cat enthusiast with hands-on experience in feline care. Passionate about helping cat owners through expert-backed, compassionate advice inspired by years of living and learning alongside cats.
