symptoms of URI

What are some of the symptoms of a URI? More specificly, if your cat's had one, what where their symptoms?

Symptoms of a URI vary depending on the type/virus but usually include snuffed up noses (you'll seem them breathing through their mouth, or fluid in their noses), runny eyes, sneezing. You might also notice a lack of appetite (usually because they can't smell the food). The may also be lethargic, walk show signs of muscle soreness/stiffness.

I am interested in this too. My vet said my new cat, Mattie has URI and her only symptoms are runny eyes. He gave me eye ointment to clear it up. Anyone have any ideas how long this takes.

My kitten has a URI, too. Her symptoms are sneezing, a lot of whitish/greenish eye goop, and a bit of lethargy. Her appetite is fine, though.

The instructions on her eye ointment say to use for a week or until the symptoms go away. It seems to have helped her a great deal. Today is day 7 on the treatment and the eye crud is nearly gone.

The vet also gave us a tube of l-lysine gel to support her immune system.http://www.vetamerica.com/browseprod...-Gel-5-oz.html

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Bugaboo1

I am interested in this too. My vet said my new cat, Mattie has URI and her only symptoms are runny eyes. He gave me eye ointment to clear it up. Anyone have any ideas how long this takes.

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What colour was the eye discharge? With only that symptom i wouldn't be convinced it was a URI per se. But an antibiotic eye ointment will also clear up an eye infection.

Renfield's URI consisted of one sneeze.

Rochester's URI consisted of conjunctivitis with a clear discharge and an extreme degree of sinus congestion. He was nebulized daily for a week, given pediatric decongestant drops, and I still sat up with him several nights in a row convinced that he would die in my arms. He squeaked with every pitiful breath.

Loomis' URI consisted of sneezing, some congestion with clear to gray nasal discharge, and what appeared to be a very sore throat which caused him to stop eating entirely. He was hospitalized twice, once for over a week with a stomach tube, and he very nearly died.

They all came from the same shelter, and were all sick together, but it manifested in totally different ways. Every cat is different.

Question- antibiotics should clear up a URI right?

My kitties have been a little sneezy- maybe 2 sneezes that I've noticed in a day. Little to no eye goop. I have heard one of them cough a couple of times when she wakes up from a nap. They have been on antibiotics for some other type of infection, so I just figured if they had a URI the antibiotics would clear that up too. But it doesn't seem to be working. I'm also wondering if maybe it's just allergies to the new place we just moved to.

Antibiotics are to treat/prevent opportunistic bacterial infections that often develop within a URI.
But the causitive agent of most URI's is viral, so no- antibiotics don't treat that.

If it's viral, antibiotics will not help much. Ask your vet if you should give your cat l-lysine. Rocky had viral herpes very, very bad as a kitten. He coughed, was sneeziey, runny eyes and a runny nose. He also developed a corneal ulcer which affects his vision. He was the last of his litter to be adopted because of his eye. Unfortunately I got him with it, and the virus left some permanent damage to his lungs and general condition. He will start coughing and occ throwing up. Usually a trip to the vet for a steriod shot stops it right away. Normal for him is runny eyes and a runny nose. I wouldn't trade him for the world though, he is my sweet baby.