Other symptoms include sneezing and nasal discharge. Since Mycoplasma spp. Mode of transmission Direct, close contact is the major mode of transmission for all respiratory pathogens in cats. Handlers are important fomites, since our hands are covered with a salty moisture film which favors survival of microorganisms. Food and water bowls are also potential means for transmitting respiratory pathogens.
Kittens are much more suceptible then adult cats to all respiratory diseases.
Unlike other respiratory diseases in cats, there is no information on maternally derived immunity to Chlamydia or Mycoplasma. Because a sick cat frequently hides, owners may be unaware of the prescence or extent of their pet's respiratory difficulty untill the disease process is advanced. If your cat aquires an acute cough or sneeze it is not necessarily a respiratory disease. C oughing and sneezing can come as a result of a new smoker in the household, or from changes in the cats diet. However, whether syptoms are acute or persistent, a veterinarian should always be consulted.