Feline Bordetella Symptoms and Treatments

This is a disease which affects the respiratory system and is caused by the bacterium bordetella bronchiseptica, and is sometimes difficult to distinguish from a upper respiratory infection.

Being a bacterium and not a virus it is therefore treatable with antibiotics and can be kept under control. Cats usually fall susceptible to the disease in overcrowded conditions such as cat shelters and catteries, and if there is an outbreak the cats should be kept in isolation from one another as much as possible so as to prevent cross-infection.

The bacterium can sometimes be identified in cats who acts as carriers although they may not exhibit any symptoms themselves and may have built up a resistance, but the infection will pass to others through sharing feeding bowls, mutual grooming and through saliva.

Cats are also likely to develop bordetella if their immune system is compromised by a viral infection such as feline herpesvirus or calcivirus, and it cannot be stressed enough that all cats should be vaccinated from as early an age as possible so as to reduce the incidence of any condition or disease that may affect their long term immunity.

Cats with bordetella will present with what may be mistaken for flu-like symptoms, with lethargy, weight loss, nasal discharge, dull and watering eyes and a resistance to eating anything at all. However, a cat refusing to eat must receive animal protein. Going for days without food can bring the onset of feline hyperlipidosis, a debilitating condition of the liver resulting from the cat being starved of protein and its body trying to draw on fat supplies for nutrition and energy. Your vet may be able to prescribe some prescription cat food geared towards the ill cat and which will tempt him into eating again, or may suggest that you try rubbing a little meat jelly onto his gums to stimulate appetite and salivation.

At the first signs of illness you should take the cat to the vet so that accurate diagnosis can be made, because leaving a cat to get through what many might believe to be a simple cold is likely to harm the animal by allowing time for more complications of his illness to develop.

You can ease your cat's symptoms by using some cotton wool dipped in warm water to gently wipe his eyes and nose to remove any mucus or exudates, and keep him in a quiet room while he recovers. Keep any other cats away and make sure that bedding, food bowls and litter trays are cleaned as much as possible. Wear gloves at times when handling him so that you don't inadvertently pass on any of the bacteria to others cats in the household.

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