Are meds necessary for URI?

So my kitten has been sneezing the last few days. Watery sneezes (he's hit me in the face a few times...) Pretty sure it's URI. We have a foster kitten who showed mild URI symptoms of yellow eye boogers. (The shelter did not want to put him on meds though unless the eye symptoms got worse or he started having other symptoms, which never happened.) Guess I didn't do a good enough job of quarantining.. =/ Anyways, there seems to be some discrepancy on the effectivness of antibiotics in URI, from what I've read. Seems like URI is a virus and they really only give antibiotics to prevent a secondary infection. Which quite honestly doesn't make sense to me, where are the germs coming from for this second infection? He doesn't seem to be having any other symptoms. Maybe a watery nose, hence the wet sneezes. I'm just wondering if it's worth subjecting him to a vet visit. I'd rather not put him through that and medicine that might not be necessary. Is it possible it's not a URI? Maybe allergies or some other irritant?

Should I take him to the vet? If it's not necessary, what should I look for to know if he does need to go? How long will it take for him to get over the cold?

I would say to watch him.  If he continues to eat, play, and use the box normally then you won't need to take him in.  Also, if the discharge stays clear you're okay.  However if any of that changes, he needs to see the vet immediately.  You may have done a great job quarantining the foster, but the stress of the newbie in the house may be the trigger causing your resident kitty the symptoms.

Okay, thanks for the advice. I was kind of thinking the same thing. Thanks for pointing out the thing about the clear discharge. That makes sense. 

He seems to be sneezing a bit less today. Here's hoping he can fight this off himself.

Jahzara said:

 
Okay, thanks for the advice. I was kind of thinking the same thing. Thanks for pointing out the thing about the clear discharge. That makes sense. 

He seems to be sneezing a bit less today. Here's hoping he can fight this off himself.

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I agree with Stephanie.  When I adopted Casey as a kitten from a rescue he had a URI but it took a week for most of the symptoms to show up.  He was doing the once in a while sneezing but other wise acting like a normal kitten.  He shared his URI with my other 3 cats before the obvious symptoms showed up.  Casey and Starbuck had to be treated at the vet.  His sneezing got worse and he got an eye infection.  Starbuck started coughing in addition to sneezing.  Both Starbuck and Casey never stopped eating, drinking or going to the bathroom.  Apollo and Sonny just had the once in a while wet sneezes and slept a little more than normal.  With Sonny and Apollo I did the steam treatment for a few days. They also never stopped drinking eating or going to the bathroom.  I turned on my shower as hot as I could and steamed up my bathroom.  I sat in the steamy bathroom with them for 15-20 minutes 2-3x day.  I did this for all four of my cats and it definitely helped ease the symptoms. I took less than a week for Sonny and Apollo to get over their URI's.  I think it took about two weeks for Casey and Starbuck. They both had to be on antibiotics and Casey had to have ointment for his eye infection.

Perhaps the steam treatment might be helpful to try on your kitten.

He seems to be managing alright, but if it gets worse, that's good advice and I'll have to try it.

This is day 3 now for him, so here's hoping he can fight it without antibiotics and a vet visit.

Jahzara said:

He seems to be managing alright, but if it gets worse, that's good advice and I'll have to try it.
This is day 3 now for him, so here's hoping he can fight it without antibiotics and a vet visit.

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With respect to my fellow members and colleagues I have a different opinion. Unless the cold is very minor (not what you described) then I think meds are indicated and in my particular shelter medicine environments it would be standard practice to give meds because if it fact it does go bacterial your cat is then in real trouble. There are also anti viral eye drops that can be helpful if the eyes are very watery (as opposed to gooey).

Ultimately all the advice here is general in nature and only a vet by examining your cat can make the best recommendation and that's what I think you need, a professional onsite opinion by a vet who puts his/her hands on your cat, temps him and give you advice.
:edit: typos

If he's not doing any better by Monday I'll give them a call to see if they think he should be seen. You work at a shelter vet office? Do they give meds no matter what the symptom? 

The practice I've seen with our shelter is they do seem to always opt to give meds to URI cats, but I -have- seen a few cats listed on the URI foster list where they say they are not on meds. (Whereas, with FIV+ kitties, they put them on meds for two weeks and take no chances because of their compromised immune system.)

My foster kitten showed signs of URI; he had some gooey, yellow eye boogers. I spoke with them about it and they said if he started having other symptoms, like sneezing or nasal discharge, or if the discharge turned cloudy, they would want him on meds. But they seemed to feel his body could fight the cold and he did! No new symptoms arose and his eye boogers are gone.

Jahzara said:

 
If he's not doing any better by Monday I'll give them a call to see if they think he should be seen. You work at a shelter vet office? Do they give meds no matter what the symptom? 

The practice I've seen with our shelter is they do seem to always opt to give meds to URI cats, but I -have- seen a few cats listed on the URI foster list where they say they are not on meds. (Whereas, with FIV+ kitties, they put them on meds for two weeks and take no chances because of their compromised immune system.)

My foster kitten showed signs of URI; he had some gooey, yellow eye boogers. I spoke with them about it and they said if he started having other symptoms, like sneezing or nasal discharge, or if the discharge turned cloudy, they would want him on meds. But they seemed to feel his body could fight the cold and he did! No new symptoms arose and his eye boogers are gone.

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Great!

UPDATE:

Cobalt thankfully didn't need a vet visit & is almost over his cold. Just little sneezes on occasion and his energy is back in full kitty swing!

Thank you all for your advice.