My cat has a cold, won't eat, and is getting thin. What should I do?

It sounds like an upper respiratory infection. They are common in cats and can be incredibly contagious to other cats. Make sure to wash your hands and change your clothes after dealing with Tom. Many of these infection are viral and simply have to run their course. Occasionally antibiotics are used to treat secondary bacterial infections. Cats don't like to eat if they can't smell, so if you can give him smellier foods, like tuna or some varieties of wet food, he may eat a little.

Poro Mau Mau! It could be that he is suffering from a respiratory infection causing his runny nose and bleary eyes, but it could also be allergies. Without seeing him in person, I can't say for certain. But the runny nose could be the cause of his decrease in appetite. When cats can't smell their food, they won't eat. I recommend gently warming really smelly wet food such as sardine or fish based to tempt him to eat. You can also try using a humidifier or bringing him 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. Without knowing the cause of his systems, I do not recommend giving him any supplements as they may be the improper treatment for him. Have him seen by a vet first thing Monday. I hope this helps!

Coughing, congestion, sneezing, lack of appetite, discharge from the eyes and nose, and lethargy can be signs of a respiratory infection in cats. When cats can't smell their food, they won't eat, and that may be why he is losing weight. Gently warm really smelly wet food such as sardine or fish based. I would also take him into a vet now to get checked out, as he sounds really sick to me. Best of luck.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description and the pictures, I suspect that he has an upper respiratory infection. Many times upper respiratory infections can be contributed to the herpes virus in cats. I would recommend taking Catty in to be seen by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. An antibiotic will likely be prescribed / administered to help with any secondary bacterial infections. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction and that Catty feels better soon. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

He may have an upper respiratory infection, which is quite common in cats. It is hard to say for sure without examining him myself. You can try using a humidifier to break up any mucous. As an alternative you can place him in the bathroom with the shower running for 5-10 minutes 2 x daily. However he ultimately will likely need antibiotics to clear up any bacterial infection that may be present. I would also recommend getting him on antiviral medication (I.e. lysine powder or gel from your local pet store or vet clinic) to treat for a suspected underlying viral infection. I hope your kitty feels better soon. Best wishes and take care.

The lack of appetite is probably due to the stuffed nose (he can't smell his food), this obviously needs to be treated medically but until tomorrow the only thing you can try to do is to offer him foods with very strong smell such as sardines for example.

It sounds like your vet diagnosed her with an upper respiratory infection. Depending on the virus that causes this, the signs can appear in the eyes, nose or mouth. There is a virus called calicivirus that can cause sneezing and ulcers in the mouth. These can be quite painful and make the cat not want to eat. I typically recommend feeding a canned diet so she can lap it up rather than chew it. A/D is a good diet for this. It is made by Hill's and is available by prescription through a veterinarian. I also will sometimes prescribe pain medication to keep them comfortable and eating while they have ulcers in their mouths. I would recommend calling your veterinarian in the morning to discuss these things. We don't want her to go too long without eating.