Kennel cough (Bordetella bronchiseptica) is something our pups are vaccinated against. This rampant respiratory virus can take out an entire kennel in a few days. Kennel cough is not unlike our sickness, bronchitis, which can be viral or bacterial, whereas kennel cough is a fast-spreading viral infection. This means, though it might seem like it’s never going to go away once a dog is infected, it’s viral, meaning it will quickly run its course, then be out the door. Is this virus something cats can catch, too? If you have a dog and a cat, can your dog give your cat kennel cough?
What is Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough is not a primary virus; nobody will die from it. Thankfully, it is a real pain for the humans and very uncomfortable for the sick kitties involved. If you want to sound fancy, kennel cough or “infectious tracheobronchitis” is typically caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria. It causes a respiratory illness in some animals, like dogs. It isn’t just spread from animal to animal; it also affects humans and makes its grand entrance while dishing out the same symptoms as a regular “nothing-special” cold.
It’s not uncommon to hear of an animal shelter shutting down for a week once all of the kennel cough dogs are gone. Other animals may come across the infected’s feces, urine, or blood and be able to catch the virus that way. The virus can also be airborne, complicating matters even more for the animal shelter’s employees. There are cleaners specially formulated to help animal shelters recover from many stubborn and sometimes deadly viruses. The fate of the animals’ health in the kennel rests on the shoulders of the kennel employees.
Can Cats Get Kennel Cough?
It might come as a surprise, but cats CAN get kennel cough. Not only that, but they can pass it to dogs, and dogs can pass it back, so you can see why vaccinating your pets is of utmost importance. A vaccine will cost you gas for a round trip to the vet’s office, $20 – $50 for the bordetella vaccine, and the grief and complaints your cat is going to give you for the rest of the week. Don’t be surprised if your cat goes into hiding after receiving the vaccine. They will come out when they’re ready to be around others.
How to Prevent Kennel Cough
Cats are experts at hiding pain and sickness from us. A well-cared-for cat could be seriously ill and still jump up in a person’s lap and act as normal as always. That’s why it is important to pay attention to how frequently your cat wipes its face or puts its chin close to the ground to cough, and watch your cat during and after meals to see if it is having issues eating or using the bathroom.
Kennel cough is a nasty virus that is difficult to get rid of once it is inside a building. All surfaces must be wiped down with a heavy-duty cleaner like Rescue Disinfectant or any other covering a broad spectrum of viruses.
The Medical Process of Caring for a Cat with Kennel Cough
Cats who are kept in crowded places like shelters, boarding facilities, and rescues are susceptible to catching the virus that creates kennel cough, called Bordetella bronchiseptica, which is an infectious tracheobronchitis that is highly contagious and also known as kennel cough. The sickness isn’t very bad or long-lasting, although some kittens, elderly cats, and cats with compromised immune systems say otherwise. It isn’t common for a healthy, adult cat to catch kennel cough, but when overcrowding is present, a cat’s stress level rises as its immune system falls behind.
Cats that catch kennel cough and are healthy young adults should be able to get rid of the virus in a little longer than a week. Of course, checking with your vet regarding your cat’s illness is imperative. Unfortunately, not everything you read online is true, so getting advice straight from the mouth of your vet is always the best way to help your furry buddy.
Depending on the age and health status of the cat, they may or may not need medicine to fight the virus. However, if you have kittens showing signs of the virus, get them to a vet as soon as possible. If you see anyone struggling to breathe or having other difficulties caused by kennel cough, don’t wait to hear from your vet. Instead, it’s time to visit the emergency veterinarian clinic. They will be the only ones capable of helping a kitten in crisis after hours.
How to Keep Your Cat Kennel Cough Free
Keeping your cat kennel cough free isn’t hard if you never take your cat anywhere that will board them or keep them in overcrowded situations where stress is super high and the ability to attract illnesses is even higher. There can be fluke incidents where your cat comes in contact with something a kennel cough-positive dog or cat used. It only takes a tiny droplet of the highly contagious sickness to start the virus ball rolling and your vet bill climbing.
Instead of boarding your cat when you take trips, consider having a friend or family member check on it a couple of times a day. If that can’t happen, look up pet sitters in your area on Rover or another website designed to help you find the perfect pet sitter.
