Cat flu can be associated with the human version of the common cold. Two causes of cat flu are, feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR.) and feline calicivirus (FCV.) FVR. is highly contagious and causes severe respiratory disease causing sneezing, loss of appetite, fever and sore eyes. It can be fatal in kittens but not so in adults and death is usually due to severe dehydration and secondary bacterial infection. FCV. also causes severe respiratory infection but it also causes mouth and tongue ulcers. Direct contact with an infected cat is the most common method of transmission, as well as, sharing the same food and water bowl. Many cats that recover from cat flu may look perfectly healthy but they remain carriers and are capable of transmitting the disease to unvaccinated cats. Additionally, kittens separated from their mothers at an early age lack enough antibodies to fight off the virus and therefore more sussesable to become infected with the disease. Treatment should be done by regular vaccination. If your cat is a carrier, symptoms of the virus can occur at anytime and can make the cat uncomfortable. Wipe the cats eyes daily with salt water, dap Vaseline under the chin to make breathing easy. Appetite loss may occur, so try heating up strong smelling fish such as sardines. If the cat seems to be losing weight bring it to the animal clinic for intravenous fluid, the vet with also put it on a course of antibiotics. Try to make the cat as comfortable as possible, the flu usually lasts 7-10 days.