Caring for Kitten with Cold Like Symptoms

NewYork1303

NewYork1303

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First of all, I am going to try to get the kitten into the vet at some point today. I need help until an appointment. 

Our now 13 week old kitten started sneezing sometime last week and was coughing as well. This seemed to clear up a lot on Thursday night so we thought it was probably getting better. Over the weekend now she has been sneezing a lot and her nose definitely seems to be clogged up. She was eating great until today and now she only eats a few bites and then starts sneezing and sniffling. It seems like eating is difficult since breathing out of her nose is too hard. She has been sleeping a lot but still seems to want to play, just can't really because running and playing makes her sneeze. When she sleeps, she snores.

I have been keeping her nose clear of anything that drips out. Her eyes are a tiny bit runny and the fluid from her nose is clear. She has been sneezing thick white clumps today. I'm assuming this is some kind of respiratory infection, but we'll try to see a vet asap to see if this is the case? What do I do in the meantime to help her get over it and start to feel better? Is there a way to safely clear out her nose?
 
Columbine

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She might find a hot, steamy room helpful for the congestion. Just get your bathroom all steamed up and take her in there for a bit.

I hope it's nothing serious, and that she feels better soon :vibes:
 
stephenq

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NewYork1303 said:
 
First of all, I am going to try to get the kitten into the vet at some point today. I need help until an appointment. 

Our now 13 week old kitten started sneezing sometime last week and was coughing as well. This seemed to clear up a lot on Thursday night so we thought it was probably getting better. Over the weekend now she has been sneezing a lot and her nose definitely seems to be clogged up. She was eating great until today and now she only eats a few bites and then starts sneezing and sniffling. It seems like eating is difficult since breathing out of her nose is too hard. She has been sleeping a lot but still seems to want to play, just can't really because running and playing makes her sneeze. When she sleeps, she snores.

I have been keeping her nose clear of anything that drips out. Her eyes are a tiny bit runny and the fluid from her nose is clear. She has been sneezing thick white clumps today. I'm assuming this is some kind of respiratory infection, but we'll try to see a vet asap to see if this is the case? What do I do in the meantime to help her get over it and start to feel better? Is there a way to safely clear out her nose?
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When can you get to the vet?  She needs medications.
 
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NewYork1303

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I probably won't be able to get to the vet until this evening (He usually schedules same day appointments at 6pm, but I don't know yet since the office opens late).  I tried putting the kitten in a steamy bathroom with me while I took a shower, but it didn't seem to really do much for congestion. That always works for me when I'm sick, but I guess it didn't work well for her. I tried making her cat food mixed with chicken broth to see if I could tempt her to eat it. She wouldn't eat that at all. She'll just eat a few bites of her normal food when she goes to the bowl but stops eating when she starts sneezing.
 
stephenq

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NewYork1303 said:
 
I probably won't be able to get to the vet until this evening (He usually schedules same day appointments at 6pm, but I don't know yet since the office opens late).  I tried putting the kitten in a steamy bathroom with me while I took a shower, but it didn't seem to really do much for congestion. That always works for me when I'm sick, but I guess it didn't work well for her. I tried making her cat food mixed with chicken broth to see if I could tempt her to eat it. She wouldn't eat that at all. She'll just eat a few bites of her normal food when she goes to the bowl but stops eating when she starts sneezing.
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Cats with congestion have trouble smelling their food and that contributes to appetite loss.  usually then we offer them smellier food or top it with dried fish flakes from the pet store.

Also for congestion, you can get non-medicated saline drops (often called Little Noses) at a drug store and give her a couple squirts in each nostril twice a day.  The shower should help but it may take time.

That's great you have a vet appointment so soon.
 
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NewYork1303

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Ok. We considered using some kind of saline wash, but my fiance was worried that she might breath them into her lungs. I'll definitely try to buy some.
 
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NewYork1303

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I have an appointment set for 4:45 today for the vet. So she'll be able to get in a little sooner.
 
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NewYork1303

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I'm actually located in Washington State near to Seattle. New York is a nickname from high school. Sorry for the confusion
. I really hope that she is okay and its something that she'll heal from quickly.
 
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NewYork1303

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Verdict is in. She has a respiratory infection, worms, and ear mites
. The worms are making it so that she isn't getting enough food so she is underweight.  She has antibiotics for the next ten days and some treatment for everything else for a few days from now. Also eating special kitten food five times a day. Prognosis is very good though so yay. 
 
Columbine

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So glad her problems are easily treatable. Hope she makes a speedy recovery - she'll certainly feel tons better once you've got rid of all her little 'freeloaders' :nod:
 
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NewYork1303

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With just a few treatments of antibiotics and the shots the vet gave her she has started acting so much more like herself.
 
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