How to Tell If Your Cat Has Feline Rhinotracheitis (Cat Flu)
📝 Summary
Cat flu (feline rhinotracheitis, caused by herpesvirus) mimics a cold. Tell it apart by symptoms — subtle sneezing and runny eyes early, then fever near 40°C, coughing, and pus-like discharge — and confirm with a test strip or PCR read alongside signs. It spreads cat-to-cat via contact or droplets; prevent with vaccines, watch daily, and comfort the cat through treatment.
1 Watch the Symptoms
During the incubation period a cat may show only faint signs: occasional sneezing, a runny nose, tearing, reduced appetite, and no rise in temperature. Once the virus fully flares, the picture changes — body temperature climbs to around 40°C, coughing and sneezing become constant, and thick, pus-like discharge appears from the eyes and nose. The eyes may turn cloudy, with conjunctivitis and ulcerative keratitis, and the cat grows listless and stops eating well.
2 Confirm With a Test or PCR
A feline rhinotracheitis test strip, or a PCR test at the clinic, can detect the virus. A positive strip suggests infection; PCR goes further and reveals whether the disease is hidden or subclinical by measuring how active the virus is in nasal and eye secretions. A positive result alone is not proof, though — it must be combined with the cat’s clinical signs before a firm diagnosis is made.
3 Where the Virus Comes From
The cause is the feline herpesvirus, which passes only between cats. Once outside a cat’s body it does not survive long, so infection almost always means contact with a virus-carrying cat — and even without touching another cat, airborne droplets can spread it. Carriers are everywhere: a cat that has recovered, one still incubating, or one actively sick can all shed the virus.
4 Three Ways to Handle It
Prevent: vaccinate before bringing a kitten home and keep immunity strong; avoid places where many cats gather, such as unreliable pet shops or clinics. Notice: watch mood and body condition daily so illness is caught early, when treatment works best and the risk of lasting damage drops. Treat: during sickness, stay calm and keep your cat company — a supported, comforted cat cooperates with care and recovers faster. Most cats recover fully after treatment, so be patient through the messy phase.
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