Why is my cat gulping, sneezing, and congested? Is it a URI?

Poor Cece, it does sound like she has an Upper respiratory tract infection. This could be viral and therefore there is not a lot we tend to prescribe in terms of medications, as the body will fight the infection in 7-10 days. You just need to make sure she is kept indoors and clean her nose/eyes regularly if getting crusty, encourage her to eat with strong smelling food, like fish for example, if she is not eating her normal diet. Hope this helps !

Poor Gus! He sure looks cute curled up with his buddy! I would recommend taking him in to get a exam by a veterinarian. They will check to make sure that his eyes are ok- some cats get ulcers with an upper respiratory infection. They will check for a secondary bacterial infection that would need antibiotics. Sometimes- they will prescribe a nebulization solution which is to be used in a nebulizer to help open up his airways. It is important to make sure that he keeps eating. Cats can get a secondary liver problem if they stop eating. Hope Gus feels better soon! Please keep an eye on buddy too because the upper respiratory viruses are contagious. Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This is likely due to an upper respiratory infection. These are often due to a virus that is usually self-limiting (will go away on its own - much like a cold with people). These can become worse and complicated with bacterial infections and it sounds like Kubusz has a rather severe infection. It's definitely good that the vet is coming to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. For now, make sure he is comfortable and free of any stressful situations. These infections often happen in times of stress, so if there are new stressors in the environment, then try your best to remove them. You can help relieve congestion by giving a steam bath at home. Below is a link to an article that explains this and has helpful info about cat upper respiratory disease. http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Cat-Breathe-Easier I hope that helps and Kubusz gets better soon.

Cats commonly suffer from infectious upper respiratory tract infections and as long as they are bright and alert, eating at least half their normal food and symptoms last no longer than 10-14days I would not be overly concerned. Antibiotics are generally not required unless a severe secondary bacterial infection develops in which case they would appear unwell, green/yellow nasal or eye discharge and sneezing would be expected to develop

The bloat is probably non related to the URI, this could be due to intestinal worms for example. URI can last 2 weeks in kittens, sometimes even more, i wouldn't be too worried about the sneezing, finish the antibiotic course, if he is not better by then take him back to your vet.

When a cat has its tongue sticking out it is generally a sign that they are not breathing well at all. And upper respiratory tract infection, if untreated correctly, can lead to pneumonia or severe bronchitis. I urge you to contact your regular veterinarian and make an appointment for them to do a full physical examination on your cat as soon as possible. Your vet will be able to put you on the correct regimen of drugs such as antibiotics, steroids, bronchodilators, nebulizers, etc. that will help eliminate your disease and help the cat breathe better. I appreciate you reaching out to our service and taking a proactive approach to your cats healthcare.

I'm sorry to hear Sniffles is feeling under the weather. Upper respiratory infections in cats frequently have a viral origin, which is lifelong and cannot be cured but does not usually decrease lifespan expectancy. When the virus has a flare up, it allows secondary bacterial infections, which result in eye and nasal discharge that requires treatment with antibiotics. I would recommend that she be seen by her regular veterinarian to determine if she dies have an upper respiratory infection again or if there is something else (heart issue, allergies, etc.) going on and come up with an appropriate treatment plan if needed. Good luck!