Speck has pneumonia

Last night Speck just wasn't himself. He slept rather than played and barely touched his food. I could just look at him and tell he wasn't feeling good. He was completely listless. Took him to the vet this a.m. and he had a high fever with raspy lung sounds. (Would have taken him to the emergency animal hospital last p.m. if we had realized just how sick he was.) After labs and x-rays, it turns out he has pneumonia. Does anyone have any experience with pneumonia in cats? I wonder what could have caused it and how we can prevent it in the future? He is very short-haired and cold natured, but strictly an inside cat. Unfortunately, the vet will have left the office by the time we pick him up so we won't get to talk to him. Would appreciate any advice you can give as we are both worried sick.

Coco had it about three years ago with severe asthma.
She would cough so much she would throw up.
The meds worked and she was fine after about three weeks.
How old is your cat?
I hope your cat feels better.

Thank you. I appreciate your well wishes. He is just over 2 years old. He hasn't been coughing or anything and this came on very sudden.

Was he ever tested for Feline Lukemia or FIV? Or is it possible he asperated (SP?) a piece of food or some liquid? Those are the first things that come to mind, but I would ask a vet. Our emergancy vet has a 24-hour 1-800 information line that people can call, does your e-vet have that?

Have you turned your heat on yet?
Coco got it after we turned or heat on and all the dust came out.
She also had a bad cold that turned into pneumonia.
Do they have any idea how he got it?
My Manx had it but she died but she had other problems also.
i hope he will get better fast.

Hannah had borderline pneumonia when we got her. It was a long road to recovery since it was aggravated by some other complications, mainly her herpes. Basically, you treat it like you do in humans, antibiotics, a vaporizer to help with any congestion, temperature checks regularly (I do it in the ear with a digital thermometer), lots of good, mushy, smelly food, and lots of TLC. If possible, confine to one room, esp. if you're using a vaporizer. If you don't have a vaporizer, you can do the "kitty spa treatment". Get the bathroom nice and steamy, bring kitty into the bathroom with you and stay until the steam dissipates.

Stephanie