My cat has a raspy meow, is gagging, and has a fever. Is it a URI?

I typically don't recommend treating the fever specifically as fevers are a normal reaction to fight infection in the body. Like a cold in people, upper respiratory infections in cats can take several days to resolve. As long as she's eating and drinking normally, that is a good sign. If she stops eating and drinking or gets very congested and is breathing through her mouth, I would recommend taking her back to the vet. Occasionally upper respiratory infections get so severe that cats need to be hospitalized for IV fluids and syringe feeding until the symptoms improve.

It may take 7-10 days for the condition to resolve. As long as he is still eating, breathing normal, and has normal energy then continue the medications as directed and monitor his condition. If he has a viral infection then it will need to just run it's course as the antibiotics will only treat a bacterial infection. If he stops eating, becomes lethargic, or has any breathing issues then he should be rechecked by a vet.

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 !

Since there are still symptoms of the infection then he needs to be rechecked for further treatment. Some cats need pulse therapy medicine to help keep it under control. Also a lot of upper respiratory infections in cats are viral induced and take time to fully resolve. They do make anti virals you can add to the food to help clear the infection also

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Turbo! If the Vet suspected a URI they are usually viral in nature and the antibiotics are used to prevent secondary bacterial infections. I wouldn't expect a viral infection to resolve in 12 hours sadly. If Turbo still has a fever he may benefit from being hospitalized on IV fluids. If they didn't run blood work I would request full blood work including urine and Feline leukemia and FIV testing (even if previously tested as a kitten). If Turbo hasn't developed any signs of a URI he needs a work up for a fever of unknown origin, which requires blood work, feline retroviral testing, X-rays and possibly an ultrasound. These tests are trying to find a cause for the fever (infection, inflammation, cancer). I am hoping it is just viral and he needs more time. But sometimes that time needs to be spent in the hospital on fluids. I hope this helps and I wish Turbo a speedy recovery!

I'm very sorry your kitty is sick. Respiratory infections are very common in kitties and almost all are caused by a virus, not a bacterial infection. Therefore, we do not recommend antibiotics if we are dealing with an upper respiratory infection. There are several things you can do at home though. To help with nasal and sinus congestion symptoms, I recommend using the shower to fill your bathroom with as much warm steamed air as possible and then place your kitty in the room for 10-15 minutes at a time. You can do this several times a day, the goal is to help humidify the air and allow your kitty's nasal passages to drain and clear some. You can also purchase over-the-counter treats or a gel formula containing the amino acid supplement L-lysine made for cats. These can sometimes help clear a viral infection. Follow the label instructions to know how much and how often to give to your kitty. If your kitty stops eating or drinking, you will need to have it examined by your veterinarian to avoid complications such as dehydration.

URI can be caused by a host of bacteria and mycoplasma. Theres a possibility that theres still infection and your best chance of success would come from running a culture and sensitivity. Theres also a possibility that there's been some permanent damage/changes to your kitten's respiratory passage way and sinuses. This may results in permanent noise and some cats will have discharge forever. It would be hard to say if this is present without an advanced diagnostic such as a CT/MRI. Adding in Lysine may help as well. Best of luck with the kitten!