how mold affects cats

Can cats develop mold sickness? Oh, yes! Mold affects cats much like it affects humans, with two significant differences.

The first difference is that of size. The average cat is about one-fifteenth the size of the average adult human. A full-grown cat might weight about the same as newborn baby, or just a little bit more. A kitten is even smaller. We know that infants are much more susceptible to mold-related illness than healthy adults and that exposure to mold can even cause life-threatening bleeding in the lungs in small babies. While we could not find any research on the subject of pulmonary hemorrhage in cats, the effect of mold in cats and kittens may be similar.

The second important difference between cats and humans when it comes to mold-related illness is simply that humans can generally communicate the fact that they feel sick and they can seek medical care when needed. Cats, like other pets, can’t tell you when they feel ill. You may notice changes in your cat’s behavior, but cats are masters at disguising the fact that they aren’t feeling well. Veterinarians say this is an instinctual reaction left over from before cats were domesticated. In the wild, an animal that appears weak in any way becomes more attractive to predators. Therefore, your cat may not show signs of illness until he is very sick. For this reason, you should seek veterinary care right away if you think your cat may be suffering from mold-related illness.

How Mold Affects Cats

Cats get mold sickness the same way people do. They inhale mold spores, which are very tiny and very light and are easily inhaled. The mold spores cause health problems, in both cats and humans.

As in humans, the symptoms of mold sickness in cats can vary both in the specific symptoms seen and in the severity of those symptoms. Symptoms of mold sickness in cats may include:

Excessive sleeping
Hiding (so as not to be disturbed)
Decreased appetite
Scratching or licking himself
Hair loss or bald patches
Coughing or sneezing
Runny nose or eyes
Wheezing sound when breathing

You may notice other changes in your cat’s behavior. If your cat seems “off” or not quite right to you, contact your vet. Remember, cats often don’t show signs of illness until they are very sick, and a cat that seems a little ill might actually be seriously ill. Ask your vet for more information about how mold affects cats and what to look for.

Be sure to let your vet know if your cat has been exposed to mold or if you think your cat may be experiencing symptoms of mold-related illness.

Treating Mold Sickness in Cats

Now that you know how mold affects cats, you may be wondering how to treat the condition. The exact medical treatment needed will depend on your cat’s specific symptoms, but your cat may need antibiotics or other medications to treat his mold-related illness.

In order for your cat to recover, it will also be necessary to have the mold removed from your home. If your cat continues to be exposed to mold, he’ll continue to be ill and his condition may even worsen. Ask your vet if it is safe for your cat to remain in your home until you can have the mold removed. You may need to arrange for him to stay elsewhere in order to prevent his condition was worsening.

You will also need to fix whatever led to the development of household mold in the first place. Follow this link to learn more about what causes mold. Without correcting the problem, mold will simply return and your cat will get sick again.

For Help with Mold Removal

If you need help with mold removal, or just want to make sure you’ve found and removed all of the mold in your home, we recommend scheduling a free consultation with a mold remediation professional. An experienced professional will visit your home, inspect for mold (making sure you’ve found it all), and advise you about the mold removal process. There’s no cost and no obligation, so we encourage you to take advantage of some free expert advice. Ask about protecting your cat if he does remain in the home during the mold removal process. To find qualified mold remediation professionals offering free in-home consultations in your areas, just follow the link.

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Vetco: Mold Sickness in Cats