Can Cats Get Colds? Symptoms, Causes & When to Call a Vet

Your cat sneezes once. Then again.

A few hours later, their eyes look watery, their nose sounds congested, and they seem more interested in sleeping than chasing their favorite toy.

It is natural to wonder: can cats get colds?

Yes. Cats can develop respiratory infections that look a lot like a human cold, with sneezing, congestion, eye or nasal discharge, reduced appetite, and low energy.

However, what people casually call a “cat cold” is usually a feline upper respiratory infection rather than the same common cold that affects humans.

Some cases remain mild and improve with supportive care. Others—especially in kittens, senior cats, unvaccinated cats, or cats with existing health problems—can become more serious and require veterinary treatment.

What Is a “Cat Cold”?

“Cat cold” is an informal term. Veterinarians more commonly describe these illnesses as feline upper respiratory infections, or URIs.

The upper respiratory tract includes structures such as the nose, nasal passages, throat, and nearby tissues. Many respiratory infections also affect the eyes and mouth.

This is why a cat with a respiratory infection may have both sneezing and watery eyes—or congestion together with mouth discomfort.

Some infections are mild. Others can spread into the lower respiratory tract or become complicated by secondary infections, making veterinary assessment important when symptoms are significant or do not improve.

What Are the Symptoms of a Cold in Cats?

Symptoms vary according to the cause, the cat’s age, vaccination history, immune status, and whether more than one infectious organism is involved.

Common signs can include:

• Sneezing.
• Runny nose.
• Nasal congestion.
• Watery or sticky eye discharge.
• Red or irritated eyes.
• Squinting.
• Reduced sense of smell.
• Reduced appetite.
• Lethargy or sleeping more than usual.
• Fever.
• Drooling or mouth discomfort in some infections.
• Coughing or difficult breathing in more serious respiratory disease.

Warm ears or paws alone cannot confirm a respiratory infection or fever. For more on temperature-related signs, read the Acathat guide to warm cat ears and paws .

What Causes Colds in Cats?

Several infectious organisms can cause feline upper respiratory disease.

Feline Herpesvirus Type 1

Feline herpesvirus type 1, also called feline viral rhinotracheitis, is one of the major causes of upper respiratory disease in cats.

It commonly affects the nose and eyes and can cause sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, fever, and eye problems.

After infection, some cats carry the virus long term. Stressful events such as moving, boarding, illness, surgery, or major changes in the household can contribute to later flare-ups.

Feline Calicivirus

Feline calicivirus is another common and highly contagious cause of respiratory illness.

In addition to sneezing and eye or nasal discharge, some affected cats develop sores or ulcers inside the mouth. More serious cases can involve the lungs or other parts of the body.

Most ordinary cases are very different from the uncommon severe systemic forms of calicivirus.

Bacteria and Other Organisms

Bordetella bronchiseptica, Chlamydia felis, Mycoplasma species, and other organisms may also contribute to respiratory or eye disease.

This is one reason antibiotics should not be given automatically whenever a cat sneezes. Viral infections do not become treatable with antibiotics simply because the symptoms look like a cold. Your veterinarian determines whether antibacterial treatment is appropriate.

How Do Cats Catch Colds?

Many feline respiratory infections are contagious between cats.

Transmission can occur through:

• Direct nose-to-nose contact.
• Saliva.
• Nasal secretions.
• Eye discharge.
• Droplets produced during sneezing.
• Shared food and water bowls.
• Shared bedding.
• Shared toys or litter areas.
• Hands or objects contaminated by respiratory secretions.

Risk is generally higher in shelters, breeding environments, boarding facilities, rescue settings, and other places where many cats share relatively small spaces.

Can Cats Catch a Cold From Humans?

In most cases, the infection people describe as “cat flu” or a feline cold is caused by pathogens adapted to cats rather than the viruses responsible for an ordinary human cold.

Feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus are not the same as the human cold viruses circulating through families, schools, and workplaces.

However, respiratory disease across species is more complicated than simply saying that cats can never catch anything from people. Cats have occasionally been infected with certain influenza A viruses, and human-to-cat transmission has also been documented with SARS-CoV-2.

If you are sick:

• Wash your hands before and after handling your cat.
• Avoid coughing or sneezing directly toward your cat.
• Avoid close face-to-face contact while actively ill.
• Do not allow your cat to lick your face.
• Contact your veterinarian if your cat develops respiratory symptoms.

How Long Does a Cat Cold Last?

There is no exact timetable for every cat.

Uncomplicated upper respiratory infections often improve over a period of days to a couple of weeks, although symptoms can persist longer in some cats.

Age, immune health, vaccination status, the infectious organism involved, secondary bacterial infection, hydration, food intake, and stress can all affect recovery.

A cat whose symptoms are worsening rather than improving—or repeatedly returning—should be evaluated rather than simply being given more time.

How Can You Help a Cat With a Mild Cold at Home?

Home care is appropriate only when your cat is stable and your veterinarian is comfortable with home monitoring.

Keep the Nose and Eyes Clean

Gently wipe accumulated discharge with a clean, soft, damp cloth. Avoid rubbing irritated skin and use a separate clean area of the cloth for each eye.

Support Hydration

Keep fresh water easily accessible. Cats who are not drinking normally or appear dehydrated need veterinary advice rather than simply having another bowl placed nearby.

Encourage Eating

Congestion can reduce a cat’s ability to smell food, making meals less appealing.

Offer the cat’s familiar food in a quiet location. Slightly warming suitable wet food can make its aroma more noticeable. Do not force-feed a struggling or distressed cat unless a veterinarian has specifically instructed you to do so.

Add Gentle Humidity

Environmental humidity may help some congested cats feel more comfortable.

A clean humidifier can be used according to the manufacturer’s directions. Avoid essential oils, fragrance additives, menthol products, or other substances in the water.

Give Your Cat a Quiet Place to Rest

Reduce unnecessary handling, visitors, loud activity, and competition from other pets while your cat recovers.

A warm, clean, easy-to-access resting area can support comfort, but it is not a treatment for infection.

Never Give Human Cold Medicine to a Cat

Do not give your cat human cold, flu, fever, cough, or pain medication unless a veterinarian specifically prescribes a product and dose for that cat.

Human medications can contain ingredients that are unsafe or potentially fatal to cats.

Avoid experimenting with:

• Human pain relievers.
• Cold and flu tablets.
• Cough syrups.
• Human nasal sprays.
• Essential oils.
• Mentholated rubs.
• Leftover antibiotics.
• Medication prescribed for another pet.

What If You Have More Than One Cat?

Because many feline upper respiratory infections spread readily between cats, reducing close contact can help limit exposure.

When practical:

• Give the sick cat a separate resting area.
• Use separate food and water bowls.
• Use separate bedding.
• Clean shared surfaces regularly.
• Wash hands after handling nasal or eye discharge.
• Avoid moving toys and bowls between sick and healthy cats without cleaning them.
• Ask your veterinarian how long separation is appropriate for the suspected infection.

Kittens, elderly cats, unvaccinated cats, and cats with chronic illness may be more vulnerable to complications.

Can Vaccines Prevent Cat Colds?

Core feline vaccines include protection against feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus.

Vaccination does not guarantee that a cat will never become infected. Its major benefit is reducing the likelihood of severe disease and helping protect cat populations from more serious respiratory illness.

Ask your veterinarian which vaccines and booster schedule are appropriate for your cat’s age, lifestyle, health history, boarding exposure, and household environment.

When Should You Call the Vet About a Cat Cold?

Contact your veterinarian if your cat:

• Stops eating or eats substantially less than normal.
• Is not drinking normally.
• Becomes unusually weak or lethargic.
• Has thick, persistent, or worsening eye or nasal discharge.
• Keeps one or both eyes closed or squints persistently.
• Develops obvious mouth pain or ulcers.
• Coughs repeatedly.
• Has symptoms that are getting worse instead of better.
• Has repeated respiratory flare-ups.
• Is a very young kitten, senior cat, or has another medical condition.

Respiratory symptoms that persist or recur may require testing for infectious organisms or evaluation for other nasal, airway, dental, fungal, inflammatory, or structural problems.

Why Does My Cat Keep Getting “Colds”?

Repeated symptoms do not always mean your cat is catching a completely new infection every time.

Cats infected with feline herpesvirus may carry the virus long term. Periods of stress can contribute to recurrence of respiratory or eye symptoms.

Potential stressors can include:

• Moving house.
• Boarding.
• Introducing another cat.
• Major household changes.
• Other illnesses.
• Surgery or other stressful events.

Repeated sneezing or discharge should still be discussed with a veterinarian because chronic respiratory symptoms can have causes other than herpesvirus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can cats get colds?

Yes. Cats can develop upper respiratory infections that cause symptoms similar to a human cold, including sneezing, congestion, eye or nasal discharge, reduced appetite, and lethargy.

Can cats catch human colds?

Most feline “colds” are caused by cat-specific respiratory pathogens rather than ordinary human cold viruses. Certain other respiratory viruses, including some influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2, have occasionally passed from people to cats.

Can I catch my cat’s cold?

The major viruses responsible for typical feline respiratory infections are generally specific to cats and are not the same viruses responsible for human colds. Some less common respiratory organisms can have zoonotic relevance, so normal hygiene is still appropriate.

Why is my cat sneezing?

Respiratory infection is one possibility, but sneezing can also occur with irritation, foreign material, inflammation, dental disease, fungal infection, nasal growths, and other conditions. Persistent sneezing deserves evaluation.

Is one sneeze a sign that my cat is sick?

Not necessarily. An occasional isolated sneeze can occur without illness. Repeated sneezing or sneezing accompanied by discharge, appetite changes, lethargy, or eye problems is more concerning.

How long do cat colds last?

Many uncomplicated infections improve over days to a couple of weeks, but duration varies. Some cats experience longer illness or recurring symptoms.

What can I give my cat for a cold?

Do not give human cold medicine. Treatment depends on the cause and severity. Your veterinarian may recommend supportive care or prescribe medication when clinically appropriate.

Can I use a humidifier for a congested cat?

Gentle environmental humidification may help some congested cats. Keep the humidifier clean and use plain water rather than essential oils or fragrance additives.

Why is my cat not eating when they have a cold?

Nasal congestion can reduce the sense of smell that normally helps stimulate appetite. Mouth pain, fever, or feeling generally unwell can also reduce food intake.

Are cat colds contagious to other cats?

Many feline upper respiratory infections are highly contagious. Direct contact and contaminated bowls, bedding, toys, hands, and other objects can contribute to transmission.

Are kittens more vulnerable to cat colds?

Young kittens can become more seriously ill from respiratory infections than healthy vaccinated adults. Reduced appetite, dehydration, eye disease, or breathing problems in a kitten should be taken seriously.

Can vaccinated cats still get respiratory infections?

Yes. Vaccination does not prevent every infection, but vaccination against major respiratory viruses can reduce the risk of severe disease.

Why does my cat keep getting cold symptoms when stressed?

Cats carrying feline herpesvirus can experience recurrent signs during periods of stress. Repeated symptoms should still be discussed with a veterinarian to rule out other causes.

When is a cat cold an emergency?

Breathing difficulty, open-mouth breathing, collapse, blue or very pale gums, severe weakness, or another sign of significant respiratory distress requires urgent veterinary attention.

Final Thoughts

Cats can get illnesses that look remarkably similar to a human cold, but feline respiratory infections have their own causes, transmission patterns, and potential complications.

A few mild sneezes in an otherwise normal cat may only require observation. Sneezing combined with eye or nasal discharge, appetite loss, lethargy, mouth pain, or worsening congestion deserves closer attention.

Keep a sick cat comfortable, monitor eating and drinking, gently clean discharge, reduce stress, and limit exposure to other cats when infection is suspected.

Most importantly, do not let the familiar word “cold” make a serious respiratory problem seem harmless. When your cat has trouble breathing, stops eating, becomes significantly unwell, or simply does not seem to be recovering normally, contact your veterinarian.