coughing/ hacking kittens

Hi there,

We have two kittens born in April, they are sisters. We adopted them from a pet shelter in town about three weeks ago. We noticed soon after that the bigger of the two had discharge out of her eye and they were both making a coughing/hacking noise. It wasn't very often the sound. We mentioned this to the vet when we took them in a few days after adopting them as they needed final set of shots.  He was not worried saying a bit of upper respirator infection and gave us medicated drops for one with the runny eye.Well the last few days it's been a lot more with both of them. The runny eye in the bigger one of the two is gone now as we did the 10 days of drops as required.  My hubby thinks it's just hair ball and he could be right but should I be concerned. They are acting themselves and eating fine from what I have noticed.

It could be the herpes virus which is very common in shelter environments. You could try giving them lysine for it. NOW brand lysine is pretty common at health food stores and Whole Foods I think, (also online of course).

Hi there, I wrote a day or two ago about coughing in my kittens. Well the cough seems to be in just one of them. Along with that but in both I have heard sneezing a few to several times a day. They were diagnosed with upper respatory but only one was given drops for a runny eye. We did the 10 days of drops in her eye and that has gone away. They are both eating, playing normally and love lots of attention and acting normal. I just notice the sneezing.  We were given nothing for the upper respatory. This is when we first brought them in. We have not brought them in since the sneezing. As I am writing this the littlest one has sneezed four times. When should I insist we take them in. I am more lets take them in, my hubby says wait as they are acting and eating normal and no discharge. 

Okay now 6 times since starting this post! Allergies perhaps to something inside. They are indoor cats. 

Thanks for any advice and I do realize that you are not vets but you all have cats.

Hi again, 

l-lysine is often used to treat both URI and feline herpes which your kitties may have. Here is a thread on dosing (http://www.thecatsite.com/t/244188/l-lysine-how-much).

If they are congested bringing them into the bathroom while you run a hot shower is also helpful. 

While I am not sure just sneezing is a reason to bring them in to the vet it is always a good idea to call your vet and update them on their condition and they can let you know if they need to be brought in. 

How old are they?  Is there any colored discharge or is it clear?  If the discharge is clear then it's most likely airborne allergies.  If it's discolored (yellow or green) then they have some kind of infection and need to go to the vet.  Steaming them in the bathroom will help, but keep an eye on the discharge.  Also, if you notice a change in eating, playing, or litter box habits, then they should go to the vet.  The Lysine won't cure their URI, but it will help their immune system better fight off any infection.  Unfortunately, sometimes you have to wait it out and let it run its course.
 

They were born in April, sisters. The one that had the discharge in her eyes got drops from vet and we have to give them three times a day for 10 days. I was just about to say it was gone as it was after the 10 days but now I see it back as I just looked again. It's slight in the corner of her eyes and looks clear. There isn't much but a tiny bit it might just be normal stuff this time like you and I get in the corners of our eyes but I am taking a wild guess. She is sneezing a but but it's really the other one that has been about 10 times that I have noticed today but wasn't home all day.

HI,Every now and again Freckles gets the same thing, I give her some powdered vit C.Cats bodies don't produce any, I give only a tiny tiny tiny bit. I use a fork, I put 1/8 of an inch of powder on one fork prong and mix it with her food. It helps the eyes and the sneezing. As soon as she starts sneezing I start to give her some. Hopes this helps, even as a reference to someone.

Hi and thanks. I don't feel confident in giving them anything unless a vet tells me. They are very happy kittens but the sneezing is many times a day and the coughing once to a few times a day. Just curious at what point do you guys think I should take them to the vets. My hubby thinks they are probably fine as they have tons of energy playing a lot and eating fine. I just don't know!