Cat flu in cats – signs and vet treatment

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: PDSA, International Cat Care (iCatCare)

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your cat has this – it can become serious. Cat flu is an upper respiratory infection in cats.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet today
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see
Take a photo or short video to show the vet
Keep fresh water available
Let your cat rest somewhere calm

Don't

Do not give any human medicine
Do not wait if it gets worse

What it is

Cat flu is an upper respiratory infection in cats.^[2] It can vary considerably in severity and can on occasion be life-threatening.^[2]

Signs

Sneezing
Discharge from the nose
Discharge from the eyes
Redness of the eyes and frequent blinking
Lethargy or low energy
Loss or reduction of appetite
High temperature or fever
Painful eyes
Mouth ulcers
Trouble breathing

Causes and risk factors

Direct contact with an infected cat showing upper respiratory infection signs
Direct contact with a carrier cat shedding the virus
Contact with the virus carried on clothing, food bowls and other objects

How vets treat it

Antibiotics
Pain relief
Fluids or a drip
Hospitalisation
Diet change
Eye drops or ointment
Medication
Anti-inflammatories

What the experts say

“Sneezing and coughing ; Weepy eyes ; Painful eyes ; Eye ulcers ; Runny nose ; Mouth ulcers ; Drooling ; Lethargy (low energy) ; Reduced appetite ; Fever (high temperature) ; Trouble breathing ; Pneumonia (lung infection) ; Painful joints, limping and stiffness”
— PDSA [1]

“Sneezing ; Discharge from the nose ; Discharge from the eyes ; Redness of the eyes and blinking frequently ; Lethargy ; Loss of appetite ; High temperature ; FHV infection tends to be more severe ; FCV infection tends to be milder”
— International Cat Care (iCatCare) [2]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

What are the signs of cat flu?

Signs can include sneezing, discharge from the nose or eyes, lethargy, loss of appetite and a high temperature.^[2]

Can cat flu be serious?

Cat flu can vary considerably in severity and can on occasion be life-threatening.^[2]

How do vets treat cat flu?

Treatment tends to focus on keeping the cat comfortable rather than treating the viruses; severe cases may benefit from antiviral medications.^[2]

Sources

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages