Feline bordetella is a respiratory disease caused by a bacterium. Cats with this disease show some of the same symptoms caused by an upper respiratory infection. Also, bordetella often occurs in combination with other respiration infections. This can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation.

Transmission

The bacterium that causes feline bordetella is easily spread to other cats. It can be transmitted through saliva, grooming, and shared use of water and food bowls. Not all cats with feline bordetella will show symptoms of the disease. However, they can still pass the bacterium to other cats.

The bacterium easily infects cats with a viral infection such as feline calicivirus or feline herpes virus. This is due to the fact that the virus has compromised your cat’s immune system. Therefore, it won’t be able to fight off other infections as easily.

Symptoms

As mentioned earlier, cats with this illness will show symptoms of a mild cold. They include nasal discharge, lethargy, and watery eyes. It is also common for cats to lose their appetite and go a few days without eating. If you notice this, you need to take your cat to the veterinarian immediately, as this is a serious situation.

Treatment

Unlike some other respiratory infections, feline bordetella is caused by a bacterium. This means that it can easily be treated using antibiotics. These medications are usually taken for several weeks to make sure the bacterium is completely under control.

Prevention

This illness normally affects cats in shelters where there are plenty of cats. Since the bacterium can be spread easily, it’s necessary to keep affected cats in isolation. Unfortunately, some cats won’t show any symptoms, but can still spread the disease around. In this situation, it is common for a lot of fatalities to occur before the cause is found.