My indoor-outdoor cat is sick with cold symptoms. Should I see a vet?

He could have an upper respiratory infection, dental problem, or other medical issue. It is impossible to know the cause without doing an examination. If he has an upper respiratory infection, it could be contagious to the other outside cats. Make sure you wash your hands and change clothing after handling him before touching your indoor cats. If possible, catch him and take him to a vet for an examine and treatment.

To be safe, an exam with your veterinarian would be recommended. If it is a respiratory infection, Sam will need antibiotics to resolve it. Left untreated, it can progress to pneumonia. It may also be allergies which is not as serious a condition but is just as easily managed or treated. Chest x-rays may be required.

Sunshine probably has an upper respiratory infection, or cold. As this is a viral infection It will run its course in a week or so. As long as she's just quiet and resting, eating a drinking some then you do not need to bring her in. If she should stop eating, the eye and nose discharge turns green and she becomes very lethargic then she may have a secondary bacterial infection that would need to be treated by your veterinarian. Sunshine is an older cat so if she's not recovering well then don't wait too long to bring her for an exam. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sunshine.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hello, sorry to hear about Kitty. I would definitely have him evaluated in case his cold is secondary from aspirating his vomit which could be causing him a pneumonia now. If he does have pneumonia now, he will need antibiotics and likewise if he has an upper respiratory infections. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Sometimes colds don't go away on their own, and I would have him seen by a vet. He may need medications to treat his symptoms, and the vet can prescribe that. It also sounds like he has an eye infection, and those are considered quite serious because leaving them untreated can lead to vision loss. That requires an immediate trip to the vet, and if you don't want to assume financial responsibility for him, you can take him to the SPCA. They can treat his symptoms, and can find a home for him. If you do want to take him to the vet, I would have him seen ASAP. There is few things you can do at home for him that will work well in conjunction with medications from the vet. First, you can try starting him 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 he's congested, 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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. If her symptoms persist today, she develops eye or nose or she stops eating, then she will need to see her veterinarian. Sneezing is a sign of a respiratory tract infection. I hope this information helps!