Chlamydiosis refers to a bacteria based chronic respiratory infection, caused by the Chlamydia psittaci bacterium. Cats that have developed ...SkiptomaincontentHomeDiseasesA-ZSelectYourAnimalTopTools&GuidesUpperRespiratoryInfection(Chlamydia)inCatsChlamydiosisinCatsChlamydiosisreferstoabacteriabasedchronicrespiratoryinfection,causedbytheChlamydiapsittacibacterium.Catsthathavedevelopedthisinfectionwilloftenexhibittraditionalsignsofanupperrespiratoryinfection,suchaswateryeyes,runnynose,andsneezing.Withtreatment,theprognosisispositive.SymptomsandTypesChlamydiosisinfectionaffectstherespiratorysystem,theeyes,thegastrointestinalsystemandthereproductionsystemsofanimals.Catsexperiencestandardupperrespiratorytractsymptoms,including: SneezingWateryeyesDischargefromeyesCoughingDifficultybreathingRunnynoseLackofappetite(anorexia)FeverPneumonia,ifleftuntreatedCausesWhilethereisahigherprevalenceofthisinfectioninkittens,thisconditionispresentinallagesandbreeds.Catsthatarekeptincrowdedquarterswithotheranimals,asinakennel,areatanincreasedriskofinfection.Addedtotheriskistheeasewithwhichthisbacteriatravels.Transmissioncantakeplaceevenwithoutdirectcontactwithaninfectedanimal,asthemoleculesfromacoughorsneezecantravelacrossaroom,ahumancaretakercancarrythebacteriaandspreaditbytouch,orthecatmaycomeintocontactwithacontaminatedobject,suchasinabeddingorfeedingarea.DiagnosisYourveterinarianswilltakeasampleoftheeyedischarge,alsoreferredtoasaconjunctivalscrapingorswabbing,inordertohaveacultureofthefluiddonetodeterminewhatthesourceoftheillnessis.Ifitisbelievedthatpneumoniaispresent,anX-rayofyourcat'slungswillbeperformedtocheckforthepresenceoffluid.TreatmentTreatmentismostoftenperformedonanoutpatientbasis,startingwithantibioticsforcatssuchastetracyclineordoxycycline.Antibiotictreatmentsmaybegivenorallyorasanexternaldirectapplicationontotheeye.Theentiretreatmentprocessmaytakeuptosixweeks.LivingandManagementThecatshouldbekeptawayfromotheranimalsuntiltheinfectionheals,sinceitiscommunicable;itisalsoad