5 Ways To Keep Your Kitties Safe From Cat Colds
Cat colds have become a normalized tale of winters but an accepted fact states that these can be equally painful for owners and pets both.
Winters & Respiratory Infections
December has started freezing all the creatures. Finally, as the gong of the holidays rings louder, many surprises of December wait for their unfolding. For us, it can be a farewell to the past year but for our cute feline creatures, December turns into a horrible monster. Most kitties all across the world become a victim of cat colds which not only troubled the cute creatures but put their owners into a continuous state of testing their patience and skills.
COVID-19 & Feline Population
All thanks to a prolonged phase of the pandemic that now the doubts instantly move toward the lethal Coronavirus as soon as the sound of a sneeze crosses our path. Now, if you might be thinking that cats are not the ones getting impacted but this monster, then it’s time to burst that bubble of yours. Start believing in an alternative reality.
According to the study conducted by PNAS in 2020, within Wuhan China, almost 14.7% had contracted the COVID-19 virus and this rate was far greater than its contraction in dogs. Not only was this a shocking tale, but the shedding day of cats, approximately 5 days, was marked by the apparent presence of symptoms in cats too. Most cats develop an upper respiratory infection during the initial phase. Later on, their lower respiratory tract gets immensely attacked by the virus, which decreases their overall antigens, reducing the level of that picture-perfect immunity.
Why keep your kitties safe?
Well, though the intensity of COVID-19 has lessened by the end of this year, the foreseeable future carries the risk of it especially during the cold climate when influenza viruses and different kinds of respiratory infections are commonly noticed in felines. So, it’s important to protect your little kitties from the unseen claws of the infectious cold brute.
Symptoms of Cat Colds
If you have ever gone through a painful experience with the flu, then you must be familiar with the symptoms which make you nothing but absolutely sour. These symptoms resemble the exact pattern more than those of the ones present in cats.
1. Intense sneezing
2. Coughing
3. Redness and watery eyes
4. Lethargy
5. Low-grade fever
6. Continuous sniffing
Ways to Protect
Usually, it takes two to three weeks for the ailed cat to heal on its own; provided a fine diet and lots of snuggly care. Yet, the first step is to avoid it completely and this can be done by:
1. Getting them layered
Winter makes our teeth rattle. So, if you believe that the cats will be protected against its harshness because of their pillowy soft fur, then you are partly true. Though it does a great task of insulating them from the extreme cold, this alone is insufficient to battle intense temperatures.
It’s very important to get some woolen sweaters for your kitty right before the winter begins. So that, with the first ray of the winter sun, they got nothing but absolute warmth. It also helps them stay warm throughout the chilly day and that keeps them playing with everything which they counter.
2. Taking special care of their bedding
Just as the winter winds knock at your door, you have to be extremely responsive to hear their call. Keeping your pet warm is the desire of every pet parent. Actually doing it brings out the real rest. You have to make some extremely significant time to arrange warm blankets and throw rugs for them alongside comfy pillows.
Nowadays, many companies are exclusively manufacturing warm bedding sets to keep the felines warm during the cruel winds of Winter. If the idea of making a bed seems too difficult for you, you can go on buying a customized and cozy bedding basket for your feline’s comfort.
3. Cuddling with your kitty
Though it may seem a bit strange to you, do you know that cats become highly cuddly and all snuggly in winter? One simple reason behind this is the science involved in cuddling. Imagine why we as human beings always crave warmth, especially in Winter or people love to sit close to each other during chilly days. It’s evident that our bodies generate a certain amount of heat which seems pleasant to us during the hours of frost.
That’s how it works for the cats. Though they will be snuggling to you throughout the year, they will actually start wanting your cuddles more on their own during winter because it gives them a sensation of warmth. This keeps them healthy and safe against the chilly demons of winter.
4. Keeping meds and testing kits at bay
Well throughout the winter season, you will notice innumerable changes in them. Sometimes, they will be playing normally while sometimes they will turn out anything but lethargic. The best solution is to consult an authentic pet and get all the necessary tips and tricks in association with some active medicines against the common flu.
Even if any unusual symptom results, relying upon the rapid testing kits can trace out the peculiarities within a matter of time. This further helps you to understand the true nature of the infection because sometimes finding out the root cause is the only solution to end the ailment.
5. Increasing protein supply
Proteins are an effective source for keeping your cats healthy during the winter season. Most cats love having a protein diet, but keeping a balance over that is also important.
However, most of the days when snow or chills welcome you outside your door, you need to learn that proteins can give them an active immunity against foreign microbes and varying infections. Besides, proteins have a wide role in giving characteristic warmth to the kitties. It helps in softening their furs and minimizing the process of shedding which keeps them safe from the folds of currents of winter.
Source: Amazon.com
Final Thoughts
No doubt holidays are the most memorable time of the year. When everyone’s around and free snuggles become a norm, then taking care of your cats becomes easy. It’s not difficult to avoid cat colds right near Christmas. All you need to keep in mind is the care patterns involved while dealing with your fur balls. Cats love warmth, so the best medicine is to cuddle with them and give most of your care to these innocent buddies during the snowy season.
