Expert: Jessica - 11/7/2009

Question
 My cat Simba a Ragdoll cat has been sneezing around ten times in a row, he's been sniffling alot to and i don't know if he has a cold or... maybe a flu, and on top of that he has not been hungry, he's been so thirsty he will not drink out of its water bowl, but the toilet. So do you think Simba has a cold?

Answer
Hi Melissa.  It certainly sounds like Simba has an upper respiratory infection, sometimes called a kitty cold or cat flu.  There are a number of germs that can cause this.  As in people, upper respiratory infections often are caused by viruses.  In cats, the feline herpes virus is the most common cause, followed by calici virus.  These can’t be cured and must run their course.  However, these two diseases tend to have complications more often than the common cold does.  Bacterial infections usually come along with them, or sometimes the primary infection itself is bacterial.  And those require antibiotics to get rid of.  

You should get your kitty to the vet to determine if antibiotics are necessary.  If your kitty is running a fever or if he has any discolored eye or nasal discharge, one will certainly be warranted.  Some vets will give any cat with a sneeze antibiotics, since bacterial infections so commonly follow viral infections.

If the vet feels that your kitty only has a viral infection at this point, consider giving him a good pet multi-vitamin.  If herpes is suspected, like I imagine it is, you should give Simba a lysine supplement.  Lysine is an amino acid that prevents the replication of the herpes virus.  Every day, you can give him 1/2 of a 1000mg tablet bought from any pharmacy, ground up and mixed into food, or you can order a product made especially for cats.  Search the internet for Viralys or Enisyl-F.  These products come in oral gels, powders, pastes and even treats.  Use the products for at least 2 weeks after his symptoms have disappeared for the best results.

Good luck to you and Simba!

Jessica