Yes, cats can get the flu, but what is commonly called "cat flu" is different from human influenza. Cat flu refers primarily to upper respiratory infections in cats, most often caused by feline-specific viruses such as feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV).
Cat Flu Causes and Transmission
- Cat flu is generally caused by feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, and sometimes bacteria like Bordetella bronchiseptica and Chlamydia felis.
- It is highly contagious among cats and spreads through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated surfaces.
- Cats can rarely contract influenza A viruses (including avian or human flu) from people or birds, but these cases are uncommon.
Symptoms in Cats
- The symptoms include sneezing, a runny nose, coughing, lethargy, mouth or eye ulcers, loss of appetite, discharge from eyes, fever, and breathing difficulty.
- Severity varies based on age, immune status, and vaccination history. Young, old, and immunocompromised cats are more at risk for serious symptoms or complications.
Human and Cat Flu: Differences and Risks
- Cat flu is distinct from the human flu and is mainly caused by viruses specific to cats. Cats rarely get human flu, though isolated cases of transmission have been documented, such as with H1N1, but this is not a common risk.
- Humans cannot contract typical cat flu caused by feline herpesvirus or calicivirus.
Prevention and Treatment
- Vaccination helps reduce disease severity and risk for cats.
- Supportive care is the primary treatment, ranging from home care for mild cases to hospitalization for severe cases. Most healthy cats recover within 10–14 days, but severe cases can take longer or become life-threatening if untreated.
- Cats who recover from cat flu may become lifelong carriers and experience flare-ups during stress or immune suppression.
In summary, cats can get respiratory illnesses commonly referred to as "cat flu," which are usually caused by feline-specific viruses, and only rarely by human or avian influenza viruses.
