4 Causes of Pneumonia in Cats and their Symptoms

Not only humans, cats can also get pneumonia. Pneumonia in cats you need to be aware of, because it can endanger your cat's life if left untreated. Therefore, it is important to know the causes and symptoms.

Pneumonia is a condition when the lungs become inflamed due to infection, so the breathing process is disrupted. Animals can also get this disease, including cats. The causes can also vary, ranging from viral, bacterial, to fungal infections

4 Causes of Pneumonia in Cats and their Symptoms

When exposed to pneumonia, the cat will look lethargic and decreased appetite. If not treated immediately, a cat with pneumonia will become dehydrated and short of breath. This condition is dangerous because of the risk of causing death.

Various Causes of Pneumonia in Cats

There are several things that can cause pneumonia in cats, namely:

1. Bacterial or viral infection

The most common cause of pneumonia in cats is a viral or bacterial infection. Some of the viruses that cause it include Feline calicivirus, influenza virus, and Corona virus. Meanwhile, pneumonia in cats due to bacterial infection can be caused by bacteria Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, Bordetella, or Streptococcus.

2. Fungal infection

Pneumonia in cats can also be caused by a fungal infection. This can happen when a cat inhales mold spores in soil or feces, then the fungal spores grow inside the cat's body and infect its lungs.

Several types of fungi that can cause pneumonia in cats are Aspergillus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Histoplasma capsulatum.

3. Parasitic infection

Certain parasites, such as worms and amoebae, can also cause pneumonia in cats. Usually, cats can catch this parasite from contaminated food or drink.

Pneumonia due to parasitic infection is usually more common in feral cats or cats with weak immunity, such as kittens or cats that are not well cared for.

4. Aspiration pneumonia

If your cat has a severe cough and shortness of breath after he chokes on food or drink, he may have aspiration pneumonia. This pneumonia occurs when a cat accidentally inhales a foreign object, such as dirty water, his own vomit, or food.

There are several factors that can make a cat more susceptible to aspiration pneumonia, including difficulty swallowing or the side effects of anesthesia from certain procedures.

Symptoms of Pneumonia in Cats

A cat with pneumonia will appear sick and not as energetic as usual. The following are some of the symptoms of pneumonia in cats that you need to watch out for:

  • Shortness of breath or shallow and rapid breathing
  • Noisy breathing or whistling
  • Cough, sometimes coughing may be accompanied by pus or blood
  • Tired and lethargic
  • Liquid from the nose
  • A cat's mouth and gums appear bluish or purplish

If your cat experiences any of the symptoms above, especially if his condition doesn't improve, you should immediately take your cat to the doctor.

After doing an examination and confirming that your cat has pneumonia, the doctor will provide the appropriate treatment according to the cause.

To treat pneumonia in cats due to bacterial infection, the doctor will give antibiotics. Meanwhile, pneumonia due to fungal infections can be treated with antifungals

If the condition of the cat with pneumonia is severe enough, the doctor will also provide other treatment in the form of fluid therapy and injection drugs through infusion and oxygen therapy.

Most cases of pneumonia in cats get better after the cat gets medical treatment. Therefore, if your cat looks sick and shows symptoms of pneumonia, immediately take him to the doctor for treatment.

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