While a warm blanket and a hot bowl of soup may give you relief when you’re coughing and sneezing due to a cold, have you ever wondered what you can do to comfort a cat that is suffering from a cold?
Here are some things you can do to make your feline friend feel better:
Clear the Nasal Passage
A cat with a blocked nose may often find it difficult to smell its food, causing a loss of appetite. Clean her nose with a damp cloth or cotton soaked in warm water to wipe away the nasal discharge gently. Do this several times a day to avoid the discharge becoming hard and crusty.
Loosen the Mucus
As we know, the worst part about colds is the difficulty of breathing due to congestion. Putting your cat in a hot shower or near a vaporizer/humidifier can help her soothe and open the nasal passages.
Warm up the Food
Most cats don’t like having their food when they’re coughing and sneezing. Warming their food slightly will increase its odor and entice them to eat it. Try offering her favorite foods like tuna, tuna juice, chicken broth and sardines a few times throughout the day.
Probiotics at the Rescue
Immunity is the only natural way to fight colds. Boost your cat’s immunity by improving her gut health. Since gut bacteria is a major factor that influences immunity, probiotics can help the immune system fight colds.
Create A Warm and Cosy Environment
What could be better than snuggling in a warm bed when you’re blue with a cold? The same goes for our felines! Offer an extra blanket or a heated bed to your cat so that she can curl up and rest comfortably.
Cats are prone to colds, but recognizing the symptoms and providing at-home relief can make your pet feel more at ease while it recovers.
When You Should Call A Vet?
If you have already tried the above remedies and your cat is still:
Sneezing and sniffling
Not eating
Not drinking
Breathing with difficulty
Then it’s about time to book an appointment with your vet. Your vet will prescribe appropriate medicines to alleviate your cat’s symptoms of a cold.
