Upper respiratory infections can become quite serious and may require veterinary care. Here’s what you need to know.

By Ilene Springer

You’ve got the worst cold of your life. You’ve called in sick to work and now you’re lounging under the blankets, watching TV. Who comes to snuggle up with you? No one else but your warm and adorable feline. What could be better at a time like this?

Even mild infections can become dangerous if secondary bacterial infections occur in the nose, oral cavity or eyes.

But wait: Could you pass on your clogged sinuses and raspy cough to your cat? Rest assured — you cannot pass on a cold to your cat and you can’t catch one from her. “In general, cold viruses are species-specific, meaning that they infect only the host they are genetically ‘wired’ to infect,” says Jane Brunt, DVM, of the Cat Hospital At Towson…

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