My cat has Calicivirus and is struggling to breathe. Is it pneumonia?

I am sorry to hear about Cali's current state. With her being a two month old cat, the most likely cause of her current symptoms by far is an upper respiratory infection. These are usually bacterial and/or viral in origin. Typically they require antibiotics, ophthalmic medications, and immunoboosters to resolve the issue. If she is having trouble breathing, the infection could be advanced and she might benefit from supplemental oxygen. While I can't physically see her right now, I would not recommend waiting until morning if you are truly seeing episodes of labored breathing. Cats have a way of exciting themselves more and more when they have difficulty breathing and can have disastrous consequences quickly if it goes untreated. Give a call to your local emergency hospital and describe to them what you are seeing. Once you tell them there is a respiratory element to the issue, I believe they will offer you the same advise.

If you think Juliette still has a fever and is having difficulty breathing I would recommend going to the ER to be safe. It is possible that the trouble breathing is due to congestion and complete blockage of her nostrils, but occasionally cats can develop pneumonia secondary to a respiratory infection and chest x-rays might be recommended. Trouble breathing is always a serious sign in a cat! I hope she's feeling better soon.

There could be fluids in the lung indeed but it could also be just the upper respiratory tract that is blocked, as it's been 2 weeks the type of antibiotics probably needs changing, i would recommend switching to an antibiotic called Zithromax which is usually the best option for this type of infection.

It is possible for calici to cause lameness in kittens but it is not a very common symptom. Usually they are showing respiratory signs, very lethargic and not eating. Has Burrikh been vaccinated against calici? That is a core vaccine for cats. She should have received a vaccine at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. If she is fully vaccinated I find it hard to believe that she would catch calici. Cats typically acquire feline calcivirus (FCV) after coming into contact with other infected cats, such as in a shelter, cattery, or boarding facility. Has she been exposed to any of these situations? If not, again, I find it unlikely that she would acquire this disease. I suggest you take Burrikh to your vet for some testing although I am not sure what testing you have available in Indonesia for this virus. The most reliable diagnostic test involves identifying a buildup of FCV antibodies. These antibody tests can be used to detect and measure the levels of feline calcivirus antigen and/or antibodies corresponding to the viral antigen (feline calcivirus). A more advanced test that may be used involves growing the isolated viruses under controlled conditions using a technique called cell culture. If she does have calici you cannot treat this at home. If she just has an injury then it will likely resolve on it's own over time. Cats often get injured and we don't know how they did it so it is possible that it is an injury. If you are worried about her then you need to take her to your vet for an exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I hate to hear that Pussy is sick. I would be worried that the virus is allowing a secondary bacterial infection to set up. Your previous vet is correct that she may have problems from time to time. Not all of them will be serious but like you pointed out, she's never presented like this. I would recommend to get her into the vet ASAP to have her lungs checked out for signs of pneumonia (which is serious). Which is always the concern for deep chest sounds. I hope she starts feeling better!

Hello, thank you for your question about Cairo. Based on the symptoms that you are describing it sounds like Cairo is suffering from a bad upper respiratory infection. Viral upper respiratory infections (secondary to herpesvirus, calicivirus, etc) are not uncommon in cats adopted from a shelter. Flare ups of these infections are usually brought on by stressful situations, such as a recent environment change/shelter life, etc. If the infections become serious they often lead to secondary bacterial infections and possibly pneumonia. If it has not been done already I would recommend having chest x-rays to look for evidence of pneumonia. Additionally, I would recommend discussing a different antibiotic with your veterinarian. Convenia, is not routinely used for upper respiratory infections/pneumonia, and could be contributing to the progression of the symptoms. Hope this helps, good luck!

The distemper vaccine is against feline rhinotrachetis and calicivirus (feline herpes virus type I) which are responsible for 80-90% of infectious feline upper respiratory tract diseases. But that means there are still 10-20% of upper respiratory infections that can be caused by other things such as bacteria and viruses. It may be Alani has a respiratory infection from one of those. I would have her seen by a vet. The vet can confirm if she has a respiratory infection, and can prescribe medication to help her. I can give you some things to try at home as well, but they should not take the place of seeing the vet. First, you can try starting her on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If she's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing her into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections. I hope this helps!