My cat has a cold. When is it serious enough to take her to the vet?

I would recommend having Miss Gray seen by a vet to be prescribed medication if she is miserable. It's not really fair to leave her untreated in that condition, and if she is miserable, I would say she is seriously ill enough to need medication. The problem with congestion is that cats can stop eating if they can't smell their food, and if a cat stops eating, they become prone to developing a fatty liver. A fatty liver is fatal without treatment, so it's best to avoid that. I would take Miss Gray into a vet immediately for an exam and medication. I can give you some things you can do at home that will work well in conjunction with medications from the vet. Please keep in mind they cannot be used as a substitution for 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. Since 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.

your kitty needs to be seen by a veterinarian for an exam and treatment. Once your cat is healthy again you should have her vaccinated so she does not catch such respiratory diseases again. She also needs to be vaccinated against rabies, especially since she is an indoor/outdoor cat.

I am sorry to hear about Luna. Since she is lethargic and has a decreased appetite, I would recommend she have an examination by her vet. She may have an upper respiratory infection that requires treatment, and reasons we recommend veterinary care include lethargy, decreased appetite, trouble breathing, coughing. She is exhibiting some of these symptoms now. You can read more about respiratory infections at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951489

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.

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.

Hi, It sounds like possible upper respiratory infection , "cat flu" . I would recommend to be mindful with weeping eyes which can quickly become more severe and may develop corneal ulcer. Also since it has been a week I would suggest to take her to the vet who can offer some supportive treatment to speed up her recovery (such as antibiotic adainst secondary infection , antiviral meds systemic or tropical ocular amd Pain relief ). Keep offering her soft, highly aromatic foods (as you are doing) that are gently warmed will help to tempt an inappetent cat and make sure she is hydrated and drinking. Cat flu is not usually serious in adult cats, although they can be quite ill so help by a vet would be advised at this point.

My best guess based on what you have described would be that he may have feline asthma or a nasal polyp. I do think you should take him to the vet for an examination. I don't think it's an emergency unless he is really having trouble breathing but try to get him in as soon as you can. Here is a link to an article about asthma a well as polyps in cats. Hope this helps. ( https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-asthma-what-you-need-know ) ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/nasal-polyps-in-cats )