Why is my cat coughing, sneezing, and has eye discharge and weak meow?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Tigger! I am concerned too!! How old is Tigger? Possible cause of his white gums are anemia (leukemia, blood loss from fleas, immune mediated disease, not making red blood cells due to bone marrow disease), severe dehydration causing poor blood pressure and shock or hypothermia. Anemia causes weakness and overall sick feeling which causes a poor appetite. His eye may or may not be related. He could have a corneal ulcer, conjunctivitis, or uveitis. Tigger should see a Vet today for an exam. I hope this helps and I wish Tigger the best!

It sounds like Tigger may have an upper respiratory infection - this is a common cause of sneezing in cats, and may also cause them to breathe with an open mouth for short periods because their nose is congested. I would recommend having him examined by a vet when you are able to - he may need antibiotics to treat the infection. You could also try supplementing him with an L-lysine product such as Viralys - these supplements are available over the counter and can help respiratory infections resolve more quickly in cats.

Hello. Bear has an upper respiratory infection most commonly caused by a virus. If Bear is eating well, & acting fine, his symptoms will hopefully pass in a week or so. Most cats do not need antibiotics. But if he develops any significant conjunctivitis, severe sneezing, nasal discharge, lethargy or loss of appetite, please see your veterinarian for appropriate treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sneezing in cats may be due to an upper respiratory infection (URI), rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages), a foreign body stuck in the nostril(s), or even something like a tumor or mass in the nasal cavity. Common URI's in cats include herpesvirus and calicivirus, which are often treated supportively with either anti-viral medications and/or antibiotics in case a secondary bacterial infection is present. Sometimes, steroids such as prednisolone are recommended when cats are sneezing to see if they can help reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. Iggie may benefit from steam therapy, which is as simple as keeping him in the bathroom with the door closed when you shower, to allow the steamy air to help moisten his nasal passages. If he continues to sneeze for more than a day or so, I recommend having him seen by your veterinarian, who can perform an exam and treat accordingly. If you can, try to get a video of his sneezing episodes to show your veterinarian when you go. I hope this is helpful - best of luck with Iggie!

Poor Tigger. Bile from the stomach is very acidic and can irritate any tissue, but the tissue in the nose is very sensitive to such an irritating substance, so I'm not surprised that Tigger started sneezing and gagging if that happened. I would expect it to take a little a while to resolve, but it should continue to slowly improve over the next few hours or by tomorrow. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and Tigger feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. I would say you are exactly right, that Simba has an upper respiratory infection, essentially a cold. If he is eating & drinking fairly normally, then you probably do not need to rush him to the vet as colds often just need to run their course. As to why your female seems fine? Well, there is a good possibility she could start sneezing in the next week or so. Again, if the symptoms are mild, you may not need to do anything, but if either kitty quits eating or the ocular nasal discharge becomes thick or green, or you detect any problems breathing, then you will need to have them treated by your veterinarian. If your kitties have not had a full series of kitten vaccinations, which include the most commonly encountered upper respiratory infections a cat can contract, please make sure you complete the series as soon as everyone is feeling better. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I suspect Echo has got cat flu that is complicated by bacterial infection. A visit at your local vets is strongly recommended to confirm the diagnosis and to start treatment for Echo. He will likely need a course of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agent and a decongestant medication.