My adopted cat is sneezing and coughing. Does he need antibiotics?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would actually be more concerned about an upper respiratory infection. This is common in young cats and in most cases it responds to antibiotics. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment. They would be able to check for this and start therapy accordingly. Good luck and have a good night!

what the staff at the shelter told you is true about the possibility of forming respiratory issues due to stress. the symptoms that you are describing are indeed symptoms of a respiratory infection and antibiotics are needed. The coughing you are hearing likely has no connection to a hairball issue and is likely the infection progressing. My best recommendation to you would be to have them seen by your veterinarian at your earliest convenience to have them treated before their illness progresses into something worse than the "simple kitty cold"

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would agree with you that this could be something like kennel cough. This is something that most dogs when supported can get through. I would recommend you have Khali evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this possibility and treat accordingly. Antibiotics are usually prescribed as part of the treatment protocol. Good luck and have a great day!

Coso is probably recovering from an upper respiratory infection or cold, or kennel cough. This may take another week or two to fully resolve. As long as he's eating and acting normal it's nothing to be overly concerned about. Should he stop eating, be lethargic or the sneezing doesn't clear up in a week or so then a veterinary exam is in order. Puppies often get sick when together especially in a shelter or rescue situation and heal quickly once in a home with better care and nutrition. Please continue the vaccination and deworming program that was recommended. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Coso.

Hello. It sounds like Samson has an upper respiratory virus that he was incubating, & the stress of moving into a new home with unfamiliar sights, sounds & people has impacted his immune system resulting in clinical signs. I cannot say if this is a watch & see situation. Often the symptoms of a mild upper respiratory infection will go away in a few weeks. But if he is not eating nor acting well, he may need medications to get over this. If you are concerned, it is always best to have Samson evaluated before he gets into a more difficult situation. I do hope he is feeling better soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes, URI's (upper respiratory infections) are very common in kittens and cats that have been living in shelters. They typically are caused by viruses and most of them resolve without treatment, but they turn into bacterial infections that make the cat feel pretty awful, and need antibiotics. I would recommend calling the shelter from which you adopted the kitten and see if maybe he was treated for a URI while he was there. If so, perhaps it's resolving normally. If not, he may just now be showing the signs and he may need to be checked out (by the shelter or a private vet) before things get worse.

Poor Gus certainly sounds quite ill! The signs you describe make me concerned that Gus has a significant upper respiratory infection that is also related to underlying viruses, such as herpesvirus or calicivirus. There is a chance that any bacteria occurring may be resistant to Clavamox or if the entire infection may be viral in origin, in which case any antibiotic will be ineffective. If it hasn't already be done, Gus should be tested for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and FeLV (feline leukemia). These are highly contagious viral conditions that he could have acquired from his mother or from another cat prior to adoption. Both of these viruses significantly weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to other infectious diseases. At home, you can try using an amino acid supplement, L-lysine (Viralys is one example) and taking Gus into the bathroom when you shower to allow the humidity from the steam to help ease some nasal congestion. These at home strategies alone will not be sufficient to resolve all of his signs and he will need to go back to his vet. Gus' vet will be able to examine him and perform this test, as well as discussing trials with other antibiotics or antiviral medications. I hope that he's feeling better soon!