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What “URI” means in cats
Veterinarians use “upper respiratory infection” as a clinical label for infection of the nose, throat, sinuses, and eyes. You may also see the terms feline upper respiratory disease, respiratory disease complex, or the informal “cat cold.” Because the same signs can come from different pathogens, a veterinarian usually treats the cat’s severity and risk factors first and identifies the pathogen only when that changes the plan.
What causes it
Viral causes
The most common viral causes are feline herpesvirus type 1, also called feline viral rhinotracheitis, and feline calicivirus. The Cornell Feline Health Center’s respiratory infections guidance and the Merck Veterinary Manual both list these as principal agents. Symptoms alone do not reliably tell you which virus is involved.
Bacterial causes
Bacteria that contribute to URI include Bordetella bronchiseptica and Chlamydia felis. Merck also lists Mycoplasma felis among the principal components of the disease complex.
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Mixed and secondary infections
Infections are often mixed, with more than one virus or bacterium present at once. A bacterial infection can also follow a viral one. This is the main reason a veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic even though the initial trigger was viral.
How it spreads
Pathogens pass between cats through:
- Oral, nasal, and eye secretions from an infected cat
- Aerosol droplets in the air near a sneezing or coughing cat
- Close contact, such as grooming or sharing a sleeping space
- Contaminated objects, including food and water bowls, bedding, litter tools, carriers, and the hands and clothing of people who handle cats
Shelters, boarding facilities, catteries, and other dense populations give the pathogens more chances to move between cats. Stress can contribute to recurrent disease in cats that carry herpesvirus, which is covered in the next section.
At home, keep a sick cat apart from other cats when you can, and wash your hands after handling it. Clean shared bowls and bedding rather than sharing them between cats.
Signs and when they signal a serious problem
Common signs include:
- Sneezing and nasal congestion or discharge
- Eye discharge and conjunctivitis
- Fever
- Mouth ulcers
- Lethargy and reduced appetite
- Sometimes a cough
Severe cases can involve difficult or rapid breathing, pneumonia, dehydration, or an inability to eat in any meaningful amount. Difficult breathing is the sign that most clearly calls for urgent care.
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Diagnosis and how long illness lasts
A veterinarian often diagnoses URI from the cat’s history and examination. Testing, such as PCR or culture, is more likely to be recommended when knowing the pathogen would change treatment: for example, with recurrent, severe, or poorly responding illness, or with an outbreak in a multi-cat household or facility. Published guidance does not say that every uncomplicated case needs laboratory testing.
Course varies by pathogen and by how the cat is doing. The figures below come from the sources cited in each row.
| Aspect | What the guidance says | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Incubation period | 2–10 days | VCA Animal Hospitals, “Feline Upper Respiratory Infection,” last updated September 18, 2025 |
| Uncomplicated illness | Typically 7–14 days; signs sometimes persist up to 21 days | VCA Animal Hospitals, 2025 |
| Typical outlook | Infections are typically self-limiting | Merck Veterinary Manual, “Feline Respiratory Disease Complex,” last updated November 2024 |
| Feline herpesvirus | Can persist for life and recur | Cornell Feline Health Center, “Respiratory Infections” (page does not display a publication date) |
These are typical ranges, not a guaranteed recovery timeline. A cat that is not improving within the expected window should be re-examined.
Supportive care at home
Home care supports the cat while the infection runs its course. It does not replace veterinary treatment when a cat needs it. Ask your veterinarian before starting any of the following:
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- Keep food and water available. Maintaining nutrition and hydration is the core of supportive care.
- Clear discharge gently. Remove eye and nasal discharge with a soft, damp cloth, one gentle wipe at a time, and use a separate cloth for each eye.
- Add moisture to the air. VCA notes that environmental humidity, such as time in a steamy bathroom, may help congestion. Guidance does not recommend a particular humidifier.
- Offer strong-smelling food if appetite drops. VCA notes that highly palatable canned food may help a cat whose congestion is reducing its appetite.
- Ask about saline. Cornell and Merck describe saline nebulization or saline nose drops in appropriate cases. These are supportive options that a veterinarian should advise on, not cures.
Do not give human cold medicines, leftover antibiotics, or any medication that has not been prescribed for your cat. Published guidance does not establish these as safe home treatments for cats.
Medications a veterinarian may use
Treatment is chosen for the individual cat. The options include:
- Antibiotics for suspected or confirmed bacterial disease or secondary bacterial infection. They do not treat viral infection, so a cat with a purely viral cause will not benefit from them.
- Antivirals in selected cases.
- Eye medications when the eyes are significantly affected.
Merck summarizes the approach as: “Treatment is supportive, with antimicrobial treatment for secondary bacterial infection.” Hospital care is reserved for serious cases and may include intravenous fluids, oxygen, or assisted feeding.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to contact a veterinarian
Use this table to decide how quickly to act.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Difficult or rapid breathing | Seek veterinary care urgently. This is a potentially emergency sign. |
| Not eating, or appetite that stays low | Contact your veterinarian for guidance on feeding support. |
| Signs of dehydration | Contact your veterinarian promptly. Fluids may be needed. |
| Depression or marked lethargy | Contact your veterinarian promptly. |
| Mouth ulcers, fever, or eye discharge that is worsening | Contact your veterinarian for an examination. |
| Mild sneezing or discharge, while the cat is still eating, drinking, and alert | Use supportive care and watch closely. Call your veterinarian if the cat changes. |
Published guidance does not set one universal waiting period for every cat, so if you are unsure, call your veterinarian rather than waiting.
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Prevention
Core vaccines target feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. Cornell states: “Vaccination against feline herpes is recommended for all cats.” Vaccines reduce the severity of disease, but they do not fully prevent infection or viral shedding. Non-core vaccines may be considered in higher-risk settings or when infection is confirmed. Your veterinarian can advise on schedule and suitability. The Cornell Feline Health Center’s vaccine guidance covers the benefits and risks in more detail.
Vaccination works best alongside exposure control: limit contact with ill cats, avoid overcrowding, reduce stress, keep shared objects clean, and wash your hands after handling cats.
Key figures and what they measure
Prevalence figures vary widely by population. Each figure below is tied to the setting in which it was reported.
| Figure | Population or setting |
|---|---|
| Up to 97% of cats are exposed to feline herpesvirus in their lifetime | Cats generally, per Cornell Feline Health Center (page undated) |
| Lifelong infection in up to 80% of exposed cats | Cats after exposure to feline herpesvirus, per Cornell (undated) |
| Up to 45% of infected cats periodically shed virus, usually when stressed | Infected cats, per Cornell (undated) |
| About 10% of cats infected with feline calicivirus | Small groups of cats, per Cornell (undated) |
| Up to 90% of cats infected with feline calicivirus | Crowded settings such as shelters and breeding catteries, per Cornell (undated) |
| About 20% of cats with upper respiratory signs carry Chlamydia felis | Cats showing upper respiratory signs, per Cornell (undated) |
| About 3% of healthy-looking cats carry Chlamydia felis | Apparently healthy cats, per Cornell (undated) |
| Most uncomplicated Bordetella bronchiseptica infections recover within 10 days of starting antibiotic therapy | Uncomplicated cases treated with antibiotics, per Cornell (undated) |
The Cornell Feline Health Center page does not display a publication year. The figures above reflect the page as it was reviewed for this article.
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