URI in new kitten

Hello!
I'm the proud owner of a brand spanking new 5 month black and white DSH named Chester.
I knew picking him up from the Humane society that he had been there about a week and that URI's had been running pretty rampant (as is expected in shelters). He was sniffiling a bit, but the ladies let me have him regardless, and I thought "geez, I'd rather him only get this once and pay to get the meds in him and get rid of it then having them hold him back and watch him go through round after round of antibiotics" as I've seen in many shelter cases while I've been searching for the right kitty. The next day his sniffles had turned to sneezes and I knew I had a upper respitory infection on my hands.
I come from a house with 3 senior cats presently, and we had to put my precious Natasha down this summer. None of our cats have ever had a URI to my knowledge. Chester went immediately on an antibiotic after a quick trip to the vet...pretty much the guy said (to my boyfriend *groan*) give him half a pill twice a day for 14 days and keep him away from the other cats. So I have been.
I brought him home yesterday, today is day 4 of his antibiotics, he's been staying at my boyfriends house with me for a few days. He's eating and drinking well and seems happy albeit sniffily.
I was reading today that because he has this it means he'll have it forever and it's severly contagious. Should I be really really worried about this? Is he going to be in misery and make all of the other cats that I have while he's alive in misery forever? Because that's the way that the pages are making it sound. I've been washing my hands after handling him, he's seperated, as is all of his dishes and litter, etc. The other cats are going in for their boosters tomorrow to give them some prevention, and get the muchly needed rabies boosters. Is there anything else we should do?
Any information that you can give me would be helpful, I've done some reading, but it all feels fatalistic.
Thank you for any help you can give.
Jessica

Originally Posted by Sylorna

I was reading today that because he has this it means he'll have it forever and it's severly contagious. Should I be really really worried about this? Is he going to be in misery and make all of the other cats that I have while he's alive in misery forever? Because that's the way that the pages are making it sound. I've been washing my hands after handling him, he's seperated, as is all of his dishes and litter, etc. The other cats are going in for their boosters tomorrow to give them some prevention, and get the muchly needed rabies boosters. Is there anything else we should do?
Any information that you can give me would be helpful, I've done some reading, but it all feels fatalistic.
Thank you for any help you can give.
Jessica

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forever?? where were you reading that?!?!.... when i first joined it was because my cat had a uri and i was told, it is very contagious, but a URI in a cat is just like a cold in a human... it can be really bad, or it can be mild, but they dont have it forever... when i first brought sara home from the shelter she had just been declawed and spayed/neutered(whichever) and was seriously sick, she was less than 8 weeks old... my vet told me she probably wont make it, but i disagreed... it took about 2 weeks, give or take a few days till she was up and running around and she has had no sign of any kind of sickness since then... your furbaby will be just fine, give him his meds and lots of love and he should be okay...
wishing well for chester and the rest of your furbabies!!

I agree with meagan. It won't last forever but in some cases it does run for weeks. You are doing the right thing now. Just remember that URI is a localized disease and it is viral. Antibiotics don't even cure it. It is prescribed as precautionary measure.

There are some types of URI that can be chronic. Herpes infections can be, as well as calicivirus. But not necessarily. You should keep them separated until the kitten has recovered. He will recover best if well fed, watered and rested. Wash hands and if he is sneezing on you I would change your shirt, too, when you leave him. Your other cats are adults and have stronger immune systems than a kitten, so they may not become ill if exposed to him, but why take the chance. I hope your kitten has tested negative for FELV and FIV. If he has those viruses, he will have a harder time getting rid of the URI, as well as other problems. Becky

I haven't had him tested, although I intend to as soon as this clears up, and before I expose him to the other cats for sure. He sure is feeling better though, playing much much more and the congested sound has decreased. Only 10 more antibiotic days left!