Kitten with a cold?

Hi there!   We got a new addition to the family last week...Maisy who is a sweet little black and white kitten, 15 weeks old and has settled in great. 

Her appetite has been good and she has been quite perky since she arrived but yesterday I noticed she developed a teary eye and was sneezing now and then.  Today she had a kitten check at the vet and her first vaccination...the vet thought she was well enough to have the vaccination but said that she did have a spot of conjunctivitis and signs of a bit of a cold as her glands were up a little.

I have been told to monitor her to see if she goes off her food or worsens in anyway as she may need antibiotics if it is cat flu...and to wipe her eyes with cotton balls dipped in boiled cool water

I am a bit worried although the vet seemed quite calm about it.  Maisy seems a bit quiet and sleepy tonight.  She has eaten a little. 

Are colds in cats common?  I am wondering what can I do to help....I suppose I should go read up about cat flu....

A humidifier could be helpful. Make sure she's eating and staying hydrated. And isolate her from other kitties in the house (if any) so as to prevent them from catching it. 

If her glands are swollen, the vet really should have waited to vaccinate her.  It's probably not the cat flu but more than likely an Upper Respiratory Infection which are pretty common in kittens especially newly adopted ones.  I would talk to your vet on Monday about antibiotics.  You may need topical for the eye and oral for the respiratory infection.  If she is congested at all you can use either a vaporizer or putting her in the bathroom with the door shut and the shower on hot to steam (stay in there with her so she doesn't get injured).  Lysine can help with respiratory infections.  Kitten dose is 250mg twice daily.

Thank you for your replies. Do I get lysine from the vet? Or is this something I can source from elsewhere? Do I need my vet to confirm that I can give her lysine?

minximom said:

Thank you for your replies. Do I get lysine from the vet? Or is this something I can source from elsewhere? Do I need my vet to confirm that I can give her lysine?

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Lysine is a natural supplement so no you do not need your vet to authorize you giving it.  You can get it at the health food store or order it online.  I use a product specific to animals called Viralys Powder.  Some vets carry it. 

The lying dose could be larger, our kitten had 650mg twice daily when he had it. Bathroom steaming is a good idea.

cprcheetah said:

If her glands are swollen, the vet really should have waited to vaccinate her.  It's probably not the cat flu but more than likely an Upper Respiratory Infection which are pretty common in kittens especially newly adopted ones.  I would talk to your vet on Monday about antibiotics.  You may need topical for the eye and oral for the respiratory infection.  If she is congested at all you can use either a vaporizer or putting her in the bathroom with the door shut and the shower on hot to steam (stay in there with her so she doesn't get injured).  Lysine can help with respiratory infections.  Kitten dose is 250mg twice daily.

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Again thank you! I got some lysine and maisy has eaten it mixed with her food. Fingers crossed. I will give the lysine for a few days and see how she goes. I will try the bathroom steaming too. :-)

I forgot to post at the time but the lysine worked a treat. Thank you for your advice.