Zoey the Cool Cat has been under the weather this past week, beginning last Monday.
She was not eating, nor pooping, nor cleaning herself (which she loves to do!), nor in any mood to roughhouse with me or even let me pet her.
A lot of coughing and sneezing, and no interest at all in chasing her little red ring.
All she was doing was sleeping.
I think she lost a few pounds, too.
Today, she is back to normal. She's been eating in the office, jumping up to the window sill, relaxing on the printer cleaning herself, playing with her little red ring, and letting me hold her upside down and give her a tummy rub.
I've had a busy week and only just now got to an email from my mother-in-law about the cat in Iowa that was documented as having a case of the swine flu. Symptoms are coughing, sneezing, and lethargy. Dehydration results. Hmmmm.
Some diseases are capable of being spread from humans to dogs and cats, and from dogs and cats to humans, but it's uncommon for a flu virus to jump from humans to cats.
Veterinarians are concerned about the ability of the H1N1 flu to cross species, as well as a possibility of our pets becoming vector species.
If your pets show signs of sickness, get them to a veterinarian. I didn't. I might have gotten lucky.
21 Comments on Does your little kitty have the swine flu?
NOV
06
2009
Russell, I am so happy your kitty is fine. Our cat, Oreo, did the strangest thing today! He sprayed (neutered young, not supposed to know how to do this) on my dresser. He hasn't done that since his nemesis, Fitzhugh, died last summer. I put vinegar on it right away, fortunately it wasn't too bad. Any ideas on that one??? Fitz is gone, Oreo has the whole house to himself again. Come on, Dr. Russel, you must know :)
Russel, Wow -- I hadn't heard about this. Thanks for sharing this information with us. And my cat, Yazmine, really thanks you. Maybe I will have to reconsider and get the vaccination if and when it becomes available.
There were also two cases of Ferrets coming down with H1N1 and as someone who has a pet pig we get the question all the time if we can get the swine flu from the pig.
Russell, It sounds like a kitty cold to me. Our Elle came down with her second cold just as I was going out of town this last week. She kept me up all night sneezing. This is her second kitty cold and I thought I would search the Internet seeing if I could find home remedies. What I found over and over was to bring her to the vet at the first sign of a cold. That is what I did and they gave her this expensive miracle shot and my husband didn't even have to stuff medicine down her throat in my absence. I sure wish they had a shot like that for us. I'm glad Zoey got better without having to go through all that melodrama.
Hi Russel - Keep a close watch on Zoey. I've learned that cats will try to pretend they aren't sick when they can. She might need a trip to the doctor if she starts showing any signs at all of being ill. She's too important to take any chances.
Oh poor little kitty - I'm glad to hear she's doing better. I'll be noticing if our cat displays symptons like this. He's a little rascal and when he's down - he's down. He's starts wanting to be a lap cat - which he never is - that's when I now there is a problem with this one. I don't think our pets will be getting a H1N1 shot anytime soon so it's best to keep them as safe as possible.
Hi Russel ~ I gasped out loud at the thought of the cool cat with swine flu. Hope she's back in fighting form. I was really bummed out at the idea that we can pass on the flu to our cats. Who knew?!
I'm glad Zoe is feeling better, my husband was just telling me about a news report of animals getting H1N1 -- and poor things - they can't tall us when they feel bad. :-(
I am glad Zoey is ok... you love that cat and she has to stay close... we love them like our own children.... hope all is well with you and Zoey! She is Famous !!!
People don't realize that pets can get the same bouts of whatever is going around as people...Cosmo gets a cold once in a while in the fall...runny nose, sneezing.... some vets use "people medicine"....best to be over protective since sometimes cat language is hard to understand.
Hey, Sharon - If you saw all the cat books I have and am reading, you'd know that I'm not the expert on our fine, furry, four-legged friends. But it sure is fun to learn.
Hey, Vickie - She's back to full speed now.
Hey, Gary - I think the vaccine will get here when the flu pandemic is over with.
Hey, Todd - I saw that about the ferrets, but ferrets are illegal here in California. Wish they would change that, but it is what it is.
Hey, Marchel - As much as I love Zoey the Cool Cat, when it's her time to go, it's her time to go (same with me). When it is her time, I'll get another little kitty from the animal shelter. There are thousands, maybe even millions, waiting to be adopted.
Hey, Susan - See my comment above to Marchel.
Hey, Anna - Zoey the Cool Cat is just the opposite. When she's feeling good, she wants to be anywhere and everywhere. When she's sick, she hides as far away as possible.
Hey, Liz - She's back in full form, but I was surprised not that we can pass the flu to our cats, but that it doesn't seem to be well known.
Hey, Betina - She's back to sitting in the window sill, in front of the monitor and television, and laying on the computer, so she's back at full speed.
Hey, Mary - They can tell us as long as we will watch and listen!
Hey, Debra - Thanks for stopping by and commenting. See you soon at your place!
Hey, Rick - Let's hope that our dogs and cats don't have as many problems as we people seem to be having with H1N1.
Hey, Sally and David - My wise old grandmother told me to get lots of rest and drink lots of fluids when I was sick. That's exactly what Zoey the Cool Cat did when she was sick.
Hey, Susan - I'm surprised none of the animal sites that I frequent have been telling us about flu in our pets.
Hey, Sharon - Some diseases can be passed from pets to humans, but very few.
Hey, Brenda - I suspect our older pets will be a little more susceptible, just like in humans.
Hey, Michelle - Yep, she's back at full speed.
Hey, Carra - A lot of our problems come from our association with Mother and Father Nature's fauna and flora, so it's not really a surprise.
Hey, Sharon - You're welcome, and thanks for stopping by.
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Zoey the Cool Cat has been under the weather this past week, beginning last Monday.
Today, she is back to normal. She's been eating in the office, jumping up to the window sill, relaxing on the printer cleaning herself, playing with her little red ring, and letting me hold her upside down and give her a tummy rub.
;)
;)
Russell, I am so happy your kitty is fine. Our cat, Oreo, did the strangest thing today! He sprayed (neutered young, not supposed to know how to do this) on my dresser. He hasn't done that since his nemesis, Fitzhugh, died last summer. I put vinegar on it right away, fortunately it wasn't too bad. Any ideas on that one??? Fitz is gone, Oreo has the whole house to himself again. Come on, Dr. Russel, you must know :)