Colds are easily contracted from sudden changes of the weather, but if cats are strong and well fed an ordinary cold passes off without any serious developments, though in cases of weakly cats or kittens a cold is apt to turn to distemper, bronchitis or pneumonia, infecting other cats in the cattery. It is therefore wiser to be cautious and isolate any cat or kitten which starts to sneeze and water at the eyes, for in any case the ordinary head cold is just as catching as the more serious forms.

With kittens which are troubled with worms a head cold is a very troublesome ailment, as in their reduced state of health the cold often becomes chronic and never really clears up until the kittens are nearly full grown.

For head colds keep the patient in an even temperature, feed well on invalid diet, and keep the nose washed off with warm disinfectant and water, greasing with crude lanolin; after each washing keep the nostrils as clear as possible, also treat the eyes in the same manner, should they become affected.

The ordinary cold is usually only of a few days' duration, and the appetite quickly returns; one grain of quinine in pills given night and morning for a cat and half this dose for a kitten is a good tonic, and should be given for a week or two; quinine should not be used for cats "in kitten." If there is quick breathing and a rattling in the bronchial tube you may be sure the cat has developed bronchitis, in that case treat the same as for pneumonia. Should the cat cough and swallow a great deal, you will know it has a sore throat; this can generally be seen by opening the mouth, when the back of the throat will appear very red and inflamed. Smear a little vaseline two or three times a day on the tongue, or as often as the cat has a bad coughing spell.