Don't Kiss your Kitties!
02/17/2011
As I sit here with a sick family this week, knowing there are some bad bugs going around, I just want to send out a reminder that, though it is still very rare, a few cats have contracted the H1N1 virus from sick owners. Just last week there were 2 cats infected in Wisconsin. This is one of those times when we are more concerned about what we can give them! Here are a few things you can do to hopefully keep your kitties safe:
Again, this is a very rare thing for cats to contract the flu, but we can do our best to prevent it.
- Maintain good hygiene – this is our best defense against these winter colds and flus – throw away dirty tissues, wash hands before petting your cats and unfortunately, at least while you're sick, don't kiss your cat! Try to keep them out of the "sick bed" though that's always where they want to be.
- Call a veterinarian at the first sign of illness in a cat– weepy eyes, sneezing, nasal discharge, lethargy (I know, hard to judge in a cat!), loss of appetite. Respiratory signs in adult, vaccinated cats are not normal. Early support with fluids and medications may help these cats.
Again, this is a very rare thing for cats to contract the flu, but we can do our best to prevent it.