Both domestic cats and kittens are susceptible to the common illness calicivirus. It is extremely contagious and spreads quickly, particularly in homes with multiple pets or shelters that house a large number of cats.
Some cats may only exhibit minor symptoms, but others may develop life-threatening illnesses. Mouth ulcers, nasal discharge, and sneezing are common symptoms. Cat owners can better protect their animals and treat the illness if it arises by being aware of how calicivirus functions.
The definition of calicivirus, its mode of transmission, warning signs, and preventative measures for your cat’s health are all covered in this article.
| Aspect | Description |
| What is Calicivirus? | A common virus that affects a cat"s respiratory system, causing symptoms like sneezing, nasal discharge, and mouth ulcers. |
| How is it transmitted? | It spreads through direct contact with an infected cat, shared food bowls, or contaminated surfaces. |
| Common symptoms | Runny nose, sneezing, drooling, ulcers in the mouth, fever, and lack of appetite. |
| Treatment options | There"s no direct cure, but supportive care such as hydration, pain relief, and antibiotics for secondary infections can help. |
| Prevention | Vaccination is the best way to prevent Calicivirus in cats. |
- How and to whom can calicivirus be transmitted from a cat?
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Saline solutions
- Diet therapy
- Other drugs and therapy
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How and to whom can calicivirus be transmitted from a cat?
How calicivirus is transmitted in cats and cats? The most susceptible kittens are 2-12 months old. Tiny and newborn whiskers are protected thanks to mother"s antibodies, which enter the body of the babies with milk (provided that the mother has been vaccinated against this disease). As soon as the pet gets sick, it becomes dangerous for surrounding cats, because it spreads the virus with saliva, urine and feces.
The virus persists for several months even after a full recovery. As a result, this area will be hazardous for a considerable amount of time if a cat in the neighborhood has calicivirus and it wanders outside or if the contents of the litter box are dumped into the street (stationarity of the disease). Cats are most likely to become ill during the winter and during the rainy season.
Both airborne droplets and gastrointestinal (with food and water) contact can cause infection. Nevertheless, a thorough investigation of the disease’s precise etiology is still lacking. Only the fact that the virus grows in the tissues of the mouth, conjunctiva, and respiratory organs has been proven.
Symptoms
After the incubation period, which lasts an average of 1-3 days (with a chronic course, the disease can last up to 19 days), cats begin to exhibit symptoms of calicivirus.
- The first signs of the disease are refusal to eat, lethargy.
- Respiratory organs also suffer. Coughing, sneezing (later pneumonia develops), swelling of the mucous membrane of the nose and mouth.
- The conjunctiva becomes red, inflamed, serous exudate accumulates in the corners of the eyes, and in more advanced cases, pus forms.
- The most "bright" symptom of calicivirus in cats is increased salivation (drooling). Small bubbles form on the bridge of the nose, the root of the tongue, the mucous membrane of the nasal and oral cavities, which then burst, and an erosive surface (ulcers) opens under them.
Cat pneumonia frequently results from the addition of secondary microflora to this illness, making it more difficult to treat. The body heats up. The illness typically lasts seven to eleven days.
Treatment
How can cats with calicivirus be treated? A proper diagnosis should come first when treating a cat. Calicivirus can, after all, be mistaken for herpes virus, chlamydia, and panleukopenia. Consequently, it is impossible to begin treatment without first confirming the diagnosis because every infectious disease has a unique pathogen that requires a unique treatment. Therefore, when treating cats for calicivirus, a particular hyperimmune serum containing pre-made antibodies to the pathogen must be administered.
You should administer a polyvalent (multicomponent) hyperimmune serum against panleukopenia, calicivirus, and infectious rhinotracheitis immediately if the doctor is unsure or does not have enough time to confirm the diagnosis—cultivating, or growing, the virus on a cell culture, takes time.
Important considerations for calicivirus treatment in cats are as follows:
Saline solutions
Droppers are inserted or saline solutions—which can be 0.9% sodium chloride solution, 5% glucose solution, or ready-made Ringer-Locke solution—are subcutaneously administered if the animal exhibits prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, or high body temperature. The dosage for these solutions is 20–50 ml every 6–12 hours. Recall that injecting more than 20 ml subcutaneously at once (in one location) is not advised.
It makes sense to switch up these fixes. For instance, inject glucose in the afternoon, saline solution once more, and sodium chloride in the morning. The truth is that while sodium chloride solution corrects the imbalance caused by dehydration, glucose completely eliminates intoxication and speeds up the removal of toxins. These kinds of changes aid in preventing cell death.
Diet therapy
Diet therapy is required following recovery, and probiotics—drugs that help you restore the good microflora in your intestines—are also added to the diet. Furthermore keep in mind that even after their full recovery, your pet is still vulnerable because the virus carrier survives for six months after immunity ends. Thus, keep in mind the need to prevent calicivirus.
Other drugs and therapy
Other medications for cats with calicivirus:
Vitamin therapy aids in the strengthening and recovery of the immune system. Group B and C vitamins (ascorbic acid, as it is commonly known) are beneficial. complex preparations, such as vitamins + minerals or multiple vitamins at once (tetravit, trivit, oligovit, multivit).
Cats of all ages are susceptible to the dangerous disease calicivirus. Early detection of symptoms like fever, mouth ulcers, or sneezing is crucial in order to promptly seek medical attention.
The best defense against calicivirus for your cat is vaccination. While total immunity cannot be guaranteed, the risk of serious illness is greatly decreased.
Keeping the environment clean and avoiding contaminated animals are two more crucial measures in stopping the virus’s spread. Frequent veterinary examinations can help guarantee your cat’s continued health and identify any possible problems early on.
Cats who have the highly contagious calicivirus virus typically have respiratory system symptoms such as eye discharge, mouth ulcers, and sneezing. In environments with multiple cats, it can spread quickly, so early detection and vaccination are essential. While some cats heal naturally, others might require supportive care to control their symptoms and avoid more serious issues.
