Q: What does it mean if my cat has a cold? A: When I was in
veterinary school, I was taught to not call upper respiratory
infections in cats a “cold.” The argument was that it gives the
impression that they get the same disease we get. Throughout
years of practice, however, I have learned that the easiest way
to describe the upper respiratory complex to a client is to
indeed call it a “cold.” The cat cold is akin to most aspects of
feline living, though; cats are not humans in cat-suits and
truly make up their own rules. Feline upper respiratory disease
is made up of a complex network of bacteria and viruses that are
commonly found in the environment. Most, if not all cats, have
been exposed to these pathogens at birth. Feline herpes virus is
the biggest culprit for the development of chronic sinusitis and
conjunctivitis in cats, with acute outbreaks commonly occurring
during periods of developmental stress or transition (for
example, during the first week of being placed in a new home).
In this sense, the ca