Sneezing kitty

waddle

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When do I need to get worried? Jack (one of my 9 week old kittens) has been sneezing...this is the first day I noticed it. He's still running around like a madman wrestling with his brother, eating and drinking and using the litterbox normally as far as I can tell. I've had them for a week and he's had very minor crustiness under his eyes since I first got them (just a small spot under each eye). How do I know if it's something serious?
 

coaster

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If it keeps getting worse day by day. If there's colored drainage coming from his nose, or crusty build-up. If he can't breath through his nose. If he's lethargic. If he loses his appetite. If he has a fever. If it's not over with in 10 days.

Did I miss any?

Very small brown eye boogers are not a problem. But if the eye looks inflamed, if it's partially shut, if you can see the "third eyelid", if there's colored discharge or crusty build-up (other than brown), those are signs of conjunctivitis.

Again, did I miss any?
 

dancemuse

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Tim, that sounds right to me. The only thing I have to add is that if the kitten does start exhibiting those symptoms, it means he's got a URI (Upper Respiratory Infection). I'd say that since he's pretty young, if he doesn't seem better in 5 days, I'd take him to the vet. But, I don't have experience with kittens, so hopefully the experts will step in soon...
 

coaster

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Yeah, you're right to be concerned that it's a kitten. The immune system isn't fully developed yet. Keep an extra-close eye for sudden deterioration. The main thing with these URIs is that they can open the door to a secondary bacterial infection.
 

renny

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Originally Posted by coaster

If it keeps getting worse day by day. If there's colored drainage coming from his nose, or crusty build-up. If he can't breath through his nose. If he's lethargic. If he loses his appetite. If he has a fever. If it's not over with in 10 days.
You mention crusty build-up in the nose. My Lucky has dark build up in her nose. It doesn't seem to affect her breathing and i clean it whenever i can corral her to do so. Is this something I should be worried about? She sneezes very rarely, and has her usually amount of energy.
 

mzjazz2u

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If it's an occassional sneeze and not every day then I wouldn't be AS concerned. Otherwise, he needs to go to the vet. Kittens are so small and can be affected harder by things.
 

slitty_kittay

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Also remember kittens are small and can get into all sorts of low places that you may not have de-dusted as regularly(under beds, behind appliances, under other furniture)... I'm not saying you are a bad cleaner, but its good to remember that they are small, low animals and they breath in not far off floor level. I dont know what is wrong with your kitty, but this might be a good first step to check.
I hope hes well and its just dust bunnies hes been catching!
(okay, bad humor
)
 
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