PetAn upper respiratory infection — sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, sometimes mouth ulcers or a fever — is one of the most common reasons a cat ends up at the vet, especially kittens and cats from shelters or multi-cat homes. Most cases are viral (feline herpesvirus or calicivirus), some are bacterial, and a few are fungal. The bill tracks severity closely, and this is a condition where prevention — vaccination — genuinely lowers both the odds and the severity if it happens anyway.
What it costs in Canada
| Scenario | Typical cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Vet exam | ~$50–$100 |
| Mild case — exam + supportive medication | ~$100–$300 |
| Moderate case — antibiotics for secondary infection, eye/nose meds | ~$150–$500 |
| Severe case — fluids, extended treatment, possible hospitalization | ~$500–$1,000+ |
| Diagnostic testing (PCR panel, if cause unclear or recurrent) | ~$150–$300 |
| Core vaccine (FVRCP, includes herpesvirus/calicivirus) | ~$50–$100/dose |
These figures are estimates for general guidance only, not quotes, compiled from publicly available veterinary pricing. Most cases resolve with supportive care alone; the cost climbs for kittens, senior cats, and unvaccinated cats who tend to get sicker and need more intensive treatment, and for the minority of cases that turn out to be bacterial or fungal and need longer antibiotic or antifungal courses. See How we estimated these costs.
With insurance vs paying out of pocket
| Scenario | You pay | Insurer pays |
|---|---|---|
| No insurance, mild case | Full $100–$300 — usually below any deductible | $0 |
| No insurance, severe case | Full $500–$1,000+ | $0 |
| Comprehensive policy (in force before symptoms started) | Deductible + co-insurance share on covered costs | Exam, medication, and hospitalization if needed, up to limits |
| Accident-only policy | Full cost — an infection is an illness, not an accident | $0 |
Why it spreads so easily
Feline upper respiratory infections are highly contagious through direct contact, sneezing droplets, and shared bowls or bedding — which is why outbreaks are common in shelters, catteries, and multi-cat households, and why a newly adopted cat sneezing in its first week home is one of the most common calls a vet gets. Most cases trace back to feline herpesvirus or calicivirus, both viral, both incurable but both usually self-limiting with supportive care.
What drives a mild case vs. a costly one
A healthy adult cat with a mild case often just needs an exam, maybe an antibiotic to head off a secondary bacterial infection, and time — the infection typically runs its course in 7–10 days. The bill grows when a cat stops eating or drinking (needing fluids and appetite support), develops eye complications like corneal ulcers from herpesvirus, or is a kitten, senior, or otherwise immune-compromised cat who gets hit harder and needs closer monitoring or hospitalization.
Why some cats get it again and again
Cats infected with feline herpesvirus carry the virus for life, similar to how human cold sores work — it can flare up again during stress (a move, a new pet, a vet visit) even years later. This is different from most conditions on this site: it's not a one-time illness but a lifelong tendency toward recurrence, usually milder each time in an otherwise healthy cat, but still a real recurring cost for some.
Does upper respiratory infection cost vary by city?
Not much for a routine case — this is a common outpatient visit priced fairly consistently at general-practice clinics nationwide. A severe case needing hospitalization or ophthalmology referral for eye complications leans on the same major-metro concentration of specialist and 24-hour care as everything else on this site.
How vaccination and insurance both fit
The core FVRCP vaccine, standard in every kitten's vaccine series, protects against the two most common viral causes and meaningfully reduces both the odds of infection and its severity if a vaccinated cat does get sick anyway — it's cheap prevention against a condition that, left unchecked in an at-risk cat, can run into the four figures. Comprehensive pet insurance covers diagnosis and treatment as an illness, provided the policy was in force before symptoms started; because herpesvirus can recur for life, an insured cat has ongoing protection against future flares, while an uninsured cat's recurring "cold" becomes a recurring out-of-pocket cost.
How we estimated these costs
The dollar figures here are estimates for general guidance, not quotes, compiled from publicly available veterinary pricing. Real costs vary by clinic, province, severity, and cause — confirm with your own vet. Sources we drew on:
- Feline URI cost ranges: Wag Walking — Upper respiratory infection in cats and Small Door Veterinary — Feline upper respiratory infections.
- Complication and vaccine context from our own corneal ulcer and kitten vaccinations cost guides.
Considering insurance?
A mild case costs $100–$300; a severe one can top $1,000 — and herpesvirus can flare up again for life. Vaccination lowers the odds; comprehensive coverage handles the recurring cost when it happens anyway. Compare Canadian plans that cover illness care.