Poor baby has a cold

Hi all. I brought my 3 month old kitten home on Friday. Everything went well and he seems very happy however now I think he has a cold. He's sneezing constantly especially yesterday, last night and this morning and has been sick twice. I'm worried and not quite sure what the best thing to do is. He doesn't appear to have a temperature and he's still doing all the other things kittens do. Any advice would be greatfully received

In my experience, a lot of cats catch a bug when they first come to a new home. I'm assuming since it's a new kitty you'll be taking her to the vet anyway for shots and stuff, so you can ask the vet also. I had one cat who would get sick every time I moved, and then he would get better on his own.

Sophie

The sneezing got worse so I took him to the vet. She gave him a steroid injection but he's still sneezing. She doesn't think he has a cold or a bug as there is no discharge and his temperature is normal. I'm so worried

Shem said:

The sneezing got worse so I took him to the vet. She gave him a steroid injection but he's still sneezing. She doesn't think he has a cold or a bug as there is no discharge and his temperature is normal. I'm so worried

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Your vet may not have a lot of experience with rescued cats.  A 3 month old cat who just came home from a multi cat environment (shelter, breeder, etc) is at high risk  of developing a cold.  Just because there isn't discharge or a fever doesn't mean the cat doesn't have a cold, and a cold has to start with some symptom before the others kick in.  There is no other plausible reason why a cat would be sneezing right after it came home.

A steroid injection is not  standard treatment for an upper respiratory infection.  Standard and accepted practice is to begin antibiotic therapy orally (by mouth) to prevent more serious infections, eye medications (drops or ointment) if the cold goes into the eyes, supportive therapies like steam baths if the noses are very clogged, and appetite enhancements (like stinkier food) if the cat has trouble smelling the food and/or is eating less.

Having said all this, there is no need to panic.  I think your vet is probably wrong, but time will tell and it might be a very mild cold and never progress to worse symptoms.  But if you notice any of the following, then its time to go back to the vet and insist on treatment, or find a new vet:

- discharge from the nose or eyes

- Clogged nose

- coughing or wheezing

- decreased appetite

- Lethargy or depression

- any obvious behavioral change like not coming to the food bowl when called, hiding, not being as affectionate, etc.

The poor thing. I hope he starts to feel better soon. :heart2:

He's tired now and has started to hide but I think it's probably because he's tired as the constant sneezing is preventing him from sleeping. His mouth is open most of the time. He's not a rescue cat, I got him from a breeder.

Shem said:

He's tired now and has started to hide but I think it's probably because he's tired as the constant sneezing is preventing him from sleeping. His mouth is open most of the time. He's not a rescue cat, I got him from a breeder.

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OK open mouth breathing is a serious sign, not good at all.  He needs to go back to the vet and start medication.  This is no longer trivial.  Do not assume he is hiding because he's "tired" from sneezing, he is actively sick at this point, and you now run the risk of complications, including loss of appetite which can become very serious if not addressed, as non-eating cats are prone to a life threatening liver condition (see http://www.thecatsite.com/t/300514/help-kitty-just-got-a-feeding-tube)

My kitten just got over a URI. Open mouth breathing definitely suggests something like this. I would go back to the vet for antibiotics right away. If infections like this progress they can become pneumonia which is very serious and can do permanent damage to a kitten's lungs.

StephenQ said:

OK open mouth breathing is a serious sign, not good at all.  He needs to go back to the vet and start medication.  This is no longer trivial.  Do not assume he is hiding because he's "tired" from sneezing, he is actively sick at this point, and you now run the risk of complications, including loss of appetite which can become very serious if not addressed, as non-eating cats are prone to a life threatening liver condition (see http://www.thecatsite.com/t/300514/help-kitty-just-got-a-feeding-tube)

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I didn't mean he's hiding because he's tired from sneezing I meant it as a separate thing altogether

Update. I took him back to the vets and they're keeping him in overnight. I feel sick with worry. Temperature is still normal and stillstill no discharge.

What are they keeping him overnight for? To observe symptoms?

I hope the vets are able to figure out what is wrong and help make him feel better! I know how hard it is having your baby away from you. I worry whenever I have to be away from mine when they are ill, even if I know they're being cared for by a vet.

Yes for observations and be there if he goes any further down hill. The steroid injection was to reduce any possible inflammation but it didn't help

Ok panic over. It's a cold the vets has just called. He had slight discharge from one of his eyes and his temperature went up slightly so they've give him an antibiotic and he should be fine. Thank you everyone for your help xx

Yay! Good to hear that antibiotics are all that is needed. My kitten felt better almost right away after she started her antibiotics so I'm sure yours will be acting like himself in no time.

NewYork1303 said:

Yay! Good to hear that antibiotics are all that is needed. My kitten felt better almost right away after she started her antibiotics so I'm sure yours will be acting like himself in no time.

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Thank you lovey. It doesn't help that I'm a natural worrier and this just tipped me over the edge! I'm glad they caught it soon enough

How is he doing today? :cross:

He's much better today. Still not 100% but much better. Still had the odd sneeze but nothing like he was. We have eye drops for him for morning and night. If he does still sneeze he may need to an operation to see if he has a blockage but they really don't think it is that so fingers crossed he'll be back to normal soon. He's been eating and drinking lots so that's also a good sign

So good to hear that he is feeling better.

Another update [emoji]9786[/emoji].

So I phoned the breeder again today and he had some crazy news! Dukes brother apparently started to do the exact same thing so his new family took him to their vets. Their vet examined him thoroughly and diagnosed HAYFEVER of all things!! So now I believe Duke has this and not a cold / virus / flu / blockage at all! [emoji]128516[/emoji]

Duke seems much better today. Still sneezing a little but nothing like before and he's not holding his mouth open at all anymore. I think he actually list his sense of smell because he stopped sniffing things but today he's right back to being a very nosey little man and sniffing things again [emoji]9786[/emoji]. He's still drinking well, using his litter tray and eating (which he never stopped doing at all to be fair) and has played and scratched a bit too. I think he's still a little tired from lack of sleep but much better than he was. Still doing the eye drops too