Although pneumonia in cats isn’t a type of COVID-19, this disease can still be highly dangerous for them. Cat owners need to detect and treat it early; otherwise, the cat may die from pneumonia. Now, Dr. OxyPet will talk about the specific symptoms and treatment methods for feline pneumonia.
1. What are the common symptoms of feline pneumonia?
- High fever: Pneumonia in cats is usually triggered by colds, fevers, or bronchitis. So, in the early stages, cats will show cold-like symptoms such as a high temperature, feeling hot to the touch, runny nose, coughing, and lethargy. Their temperature can even go above 40°C. Also, initially, the sick cat may have a clear nasal discharge, but later it turns into grayish-white purulent snot.
- Rapid breathing: One of the most noticeable signs of pneumonia in cats is rapid or difficult breathing. The cat will breathe faster, with shallow chest movements during breaths, and may start using abdominal muscles to breathe. If the condition is serious, they might have very short coughs and start mouth-breathing. When listening with a stethoscope, you’ll hear not just normal breath sounds but other noises too.
- Loss of appetite: Besides a high temperature, coughing, and rapid breathing, cats with pneumonia will often become lethargic and lose their appetite, sometimes even refusing to eat entirely. They might also frequently stretch out their head and neck and lie down with their chest flat against the ground.
2. Treatment methods for feline pneumonia
Treating pneumonia in cats mainly involves using antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cough suppressants, and bronchodilators.
- Give the cat an intramuscular injection of 50,000 units of penicillin and 50,000 units of streptomycin.
- Give the cat sulfadiazine tablets, feeding 1/4 tablet twice a day—morning and evening—for 3 to 5 days.
- If your cat keeps coughing, you can try nebulization therapy to help loosen phlegm and stop the cough.
- If your cat shows symptoms of rapid or difficult breathing, you can give it an intramuscular injection of 0.05–0.1g of aminophylline.
- If your cat’s temperature goes over 40°C, you can give it a 2ml injection of compound aminopyrine once a day until its temperature returns to normal.
