Kennel Cough in Cats

Animals are just like humans, when it comes to diseases and illnesses that affects them. Most of us are animal lovers and love to keep a pet or two at our homes. One of the most common house pets after dogs are cats. Cats are gracious and aristocratic animals. Once you bring home a cat, be sure that your home does not belong to you anymore, but to your cat. They will come in as they wish, go out when they want. When you give it a long lecture on its responsibility as pets, it will just disdainfully look up and go back to its usual endeavors (I know, my cat always gives me a bored look when I ask him to behave!).

Today, most of the pet owners are working and need to travel for personal and professional meetings. Thus, many leave their pet cats in kennels and cattery. Your cat is exposed to many other felines and canines in the kennel or cattery. You can never say which animal is sick and suffering from kennel cough. Healthy cats can also contract this disease. It is also not necessary that the cat contracts this illness in kennels or cattery, but many other places as well.

What is Kennel Cough in Cats
It is caused due to a bacterial species called Bordetella bronchiseptica, that infects the back of the mouth and throat of the cat. This illness is an airborne disease and very contagious in nature. Kittens and cats with a weak immune system can develop very serious complications, which may even result in death.

Symptoms
There are many symptoms of kennel cough and of all these symptoms, the main symptom is a persistent, dry, hacking cough. It causes the upper respiratory infections and the symptoms include:

• Swollen lymph nodes
• Nasal discharge
• Sneezing
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Ocular discharge
• Sneezing
• Fever

Just as each individual cat is different, symptoms also differ from one cat to another. Some cats may exhibit some or all the symptoms of kennel cough or some may never exhibit any symptom. Kittens may exhibit moderate to severe symptoms. Kittens contracting the illness may die within 12 hours of development of symptoms. In adult cats, this cough though mostly not fatal, but it may lead to a secondary illness like pneumonia and lead to death. The weakened immune system also leads to leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus. The development and severity of symptoms depends totally on each individual cat's immune system.

Prevention
You can prevent this cough in cats by vaccination. You can vaccinate a kitten as young as about 4 weeks old. You should speak to the vet for more information on vaccination of you cat or kitten.

Treatment
The treatment involves antibiotics like Clavamox and Baytril that have minimal side effects. There are many other antibiotics as well. The vet may advise the antibiotic treatment for 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the cat's or kitten's condition. Kennel cough is generally not a very problematic illness, but if the cat shows discomfort or is suffering a lot, better speak to the vet.

You need to quarantine your cat or kitten from other animals for a few days, as this disease is highly contagious. Cats can contract this illness from any source, canine or feline. You need to provide good pet care and help your cat develop a strong immune system. Cat health should be a priority for all cat owners. After all these 'purry' felines although have a feisty attitude, easily fall prey to various illnesses.