L-Lysine

Cat flu is a collective term for a complex of diseases affecting the respiratory tract, eyes and mucous membranes of cats. It is caused by various pathogens, with both viruses and bacteria playing a role.

The following pathogens are frequently involved in the cat flu complex: Herpes and caliciviruses, chlamydia, Bordetella and mycoplasma. Of these, the feline herpes virus in particular is considered to be one of the "main culprits".

If a cat falls ill, the nose, mouth and eyes are primarily affected. However, as the disease progresses, the lower respiratory tract (larynx, bronchi and lungs) can also be affected. Sick animals are often feverish and their noses and eyes are clogged with purulent discharge. The conjunctiva and nasal mucous membranes are swollen with inflammation and there is also painful inflammation of the oral mucosa and tongue. In addition, the animals' breathing is often severely impaired. As the cats can smell badly and have pain in their mouths, they often refuse to eat.

As only feline animals can become infected, there is no risk to humans or other animal species. However, the risk of infection between cats is extremely high (up to 100 %). So if many cats live in a confined space, all cats will usually fall ill. This is far less dangerous for adult cats than for kittens: While adult cats very rarely die from a cat flu infection, the disease is fatal in 30 % of kittens.

Vaccinations significantly reduce the risk of disease, but do not offer 100% protection. However, animals that fall ill despite vaccination generally show significantly less severe symptoms.

Even if cats appear healthy again after an illness, this does not mean that the animals have got rid of the herpes virus for good. Approximately 80 % of sick animals remain chronically infected, i.e. the herpes viruses merely retreat into the cat's nervous system and remain there in a kind of "dormant state". Such animals, which appear completely healthy, can still excrete herpes viruses in phases and thus infect other cats. Similar to herpes viruses in humans, feline herpes viruses can also be reactivated at any time under stress, causing the disease to break out again.

In addition to treating the symptoms, the bacteria involved can be combated with an antibiotic. Immunostimulants can also provide useful support for the cat. Viruses, such as the herpes virus, can only be combated directly on the eye with special eye ointments, otherwise there are no suitable medications available.

In order to protect the cat in the best possible way, a preventive vaccination is advisable. It is also advisable to supplement the cat's food with L-lysine. L-lysine and arginine are essential amino acids, i.e. they cannot be produced by the body itself and must therefore be taken in with the food. The feline herpes virus requires arginine in particular for its reproduction. If L-lysine is predominantly available instead of arginine, the virus tries to utilise it, but this inhibits its reproduction. If cats are provided with sufficient L-lysine, the symptoms of the disease will be milder and the cats will recover more quickly. If latently infected cats (cats that appear healthy but still harbour the virus) are supplied with L-lysine, they excrete fewer herpes viruses, thus reducing the risk of infection for other cats.

L-lysine should be administered twice a day. Adult animals receive 250 - 500 mg per dose, kittens require half the dose.