Can a Cat Die from a Cold?

1 Which Colds Can Be Fatal

Generally, viral and bacterial colds are the ones that can kill a cat. The common viral cold is caused by herpesvirus—what we usually call cat flu. Stray cats that develop cat flu and go untreated for a long time can die; for house cats, the main approach is to take them to the vet for the right treatment.

2 Symptoms of a Viral Cat Cold

Early signs are a runny nose, sneezing, and eye discharge; some cats get diarrhea or bad breath. When mild, appetite is unaffected and the cat still eats, plays, and sleeps, so it’s easy to miss. Later, the nasal discharge turns purulent, the eyes water and cloud over, conjunctivitis or ulcerative keratitis appears, sneezing and coughing persist, appetite drops, and the cat becomes listless.

3 Preventing Viral Colds

The key is preventing herpesvirus; vaccination is the most effective method, though it does not guarantee protection—if a kitten meets the virus before vaccination, the shot may not work. To clear the virus from the environment: herpesvirus survives about 24 hours, so spray a 1:32 diluted bleach solution or 75% ethanol to kill it.

During cat-flu treatment, keep the cat warm—the virus replicates especially well at low temperatures, so a cat with low body heat is at much higher risk. Modern care makes cat flu quite treatable.