Why do my multiple cats keep passing cat flu symptoms back and forth?

This is probably a chronic upper respiratory infection. it's very common in cats and is very contagious to other cats as well. It is treated withoral antibiotics for about 2+ weeks. if left untreated many cats will die from the disease. I advise going to your vet asap to start the treatment right away.

It sounds like they might have a viral upper respiratory infection. Initial symptoms appear 2-17 days after exposure and reach maximum severity about 10 days later. Typically, your cat will have severe bouts of sneezing lasting 1-2 days, followed by conjunctivitis, watery discharge from the eyes and nose, fever, apathy, and loss of appetite. Some cats may have only mild symptoms, while other cats can become quite ill. Most cats with an uncomplicated upper respiratory infection can be treated symptomatically at home. Home care includes keeping your cats warm and comfortable and making sure they are eating and drinking. Offer highly palatable foods with a strong smell, such as fish-flavored canned foods or strained chicken or turkey baby food. Clean secretions from the eyes, nose, and mouth with moist cotton balls as often as needed. Humidify the air with a vaporizer or humidifier. Seek prompt medical attention for any cat that has mucoid or purulent discharge from the eyes or nose as it may have a bacterial infection. Also seek veterinary attention if one of your cats is refusing to eat or drink, is losing weight, has a high fever, seems weak, develops vomiting or diarrhea, or is having trouble breathing.

It's highly possible that they're all experiencing a flare-up of feline herpesvirus, which tends to produce mild upper respiratory signs such as sneezing and ocular discharge. Most cats already have the virus in their bodies but don't have symptoms, but living in a stressful environment (shelters) or going through stressful events (having a new cat brought home) can trigger recurrence of the active infection. If it's been a week and a half they likely do need to see the vet, however most of them will improve with supplementation with the amino acid lysine and supportive care.

Cat flu is very common in young cats and is very contagious to other cats as well. It is treated with antibiotic eye drops/ointment and oral antibiotics for about 2 weeks. if left untreated many cats will end up blind or even die from the disease. I advise going to your vet asap to start the treatment right away.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cats. It is possible that they are experiencing an outbreak of calicivirus. It typically causes respiratory tract infections which can affect the eyes. Some kittens will become very painful due to it affecting the joints. Some cats will develop ulcers in the mouth as well. I hope this information helps!

Reducing stress is an important part of the treatment, because a major cause of upper respiratory infections like this is a Herpes virus that is brought out by stress. Try to identify any stressors in the household and do your best to eliminate them. You can also buy a cat pheromone product like Feliway at the pet store, which also helps to reduce stress. If they are very congested, then you can do a steam bath at home. Below is a link to an article that explains this and has helpful info about cat upper respiratory disease. http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Cat-Breathe-Easier Outbreaks like this are common amongst cat colonies. Make sure you continue treatment past the resolution of clinical signs (coughing, sneezing, discharge, etc.) and give the medication as prescribed. With good care, these outbreaks clear-up within the population over a month or so. I know it's tough to look at them like this, but stick with it and they should get better eventually. I hope that helps and all gets sorted soon.

Because it is a virus it can stay in the system for a long time and come and go. Depending on the immune system and strain of flu it could hang around for a few months. It may be worth having a feline aids test done if it doesn't get better soon in case Bubba has a compromised immune system.