My cat flu carrier is sneezing and purring chesty. Should I worry?

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.

I am sorry you are worried! The behavior you are describing does sound like he doesn't feel well- (sorry it says both Sampson and Lilly so I am not sure which cat you are referring to). Unfortunately it is a subtle, vague behavior that can be linked to many things (good thing you picked up on it!). Since he was around a cat with a respiratory infection that would be my first concern- he may be trying to fight it off, or possibly having early signs of it. Since he isn't using the box much I would be worried he might becoming dehydrated or have a fever- which both could be secondary to an upper respiratory virus or secondary infection. I think you are right to take him in, in case he needs further testing or therapy to feel better! I hope his helps!

Sneezing is a very vague sign in the sense it only means there is irritation to the nasal passages. So you are completely right in not jumping to the conclusion of an infection. It is more likely due to an irritant such as dust or pollen, or even cold air annoying the sensitive tissue. Do keep an eye as it could be the start of a touch of cat flu, but these things tend to be viral anyway.

It is very unlikely that your nurse kitty Prof. Hopkins was infected by you. Sneezing can be caused by dry air, dust or a viral infection/bacterial infection. I suggest you watch your kitty for a purulent (yellow or green) nasal discharge. If there is a purulent discharge, then your cat does have a bacterial upper respiratory infection and he will need antibiotics from your vet. I hope you feel better soon (and I hope you were seen by your GP, as there is a very nasty flu epidemic in the UK)

Most of the time Calicivirus causes symptoms only in the upper respiratory tract: the nose and the mouth and back of the throat (it can affect the eyes as well). Even though it sounds like Daisy may have a congested chest this may be referred noise from her upper respiratory tract. Since she seems worse it is also possible that her secondary bacterial infection has traveled into her chest causing pneumonia, which is a rare complication. If you feel she is having labored breathing not related to a clogged nose, or if she has been very lethargic or uninterested in food it might be a good idea to see a veterinarian on an emergency basis to rule out pneumonia.

As long as he is still eating and able to sleep comfortably then i would not be overly concerned. Bathing his nose with saline and cotton wool can help free any mucus and make breathing a little easier. If symptoms worsen or he starts breathing with his mouth open I would seek an emergency appointment

Sorry to hear Smoky isn't acting normally. If your current veterinarian hasn't performed diagnostics to back up his statements, I would consider taking him elsewhere in order to do a little more investigation since there have been persistent clinical signs. Abnormal breathing and increased nasal discharge could be an indicator of an upper respiratory infection, feline asthma, cardiopulmonary/cardiovascular disease, or a primary respiratory condition. X-rays of the chest would be the first and foremost diagnostic test to perform in order to rule some of these in/out. There are medical therapies as well that can be attempted instead of diagnostics, but if you would like to get down to the crux of the issue, the diagnostics would be preferable. Hope this makes sense.