My cat is sneezing but still energetic. Should I take him to the vet?

I'd be a bit worried about Pringels. I can give you some things you can do for him at home. First, you can try starting him on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If he's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing him into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections. If his symptoms get worse or continue, have him seen by a vet.

This may be just an upper respiratory infection which can be viral and last a good two weeks. If B isn't eating or isn't acting right then I would recommend going back to the veterinarian. When you shower you can take him in the bathroom and have the steam help with the congestion. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm glad to hear that Kiara is still eating and drinking well despite her sneezing. Cats can sneeze from time to time as a normal response to clear irritants out of the nasal passages, just as we do. More persistent sneezing can be caused by upper respiratory infections, allergic causes, or nasal polyps, among others. As long as Kiara continues to eat, drink, and act normally in the absence of any nasal discharge, it is ok to continue monitoring her at home. At 2.5 months old, I imagine that she is still going to her vet frequently for booster vaccines, so it is worth mentioning the sneezing at her next appointment. However, if she develops any nasal discharge or changes in her appetite or energy level, she should go to the vet more urgently. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Judging from your description, it sounds as if he is fighting an upper respiratory infection. Many of these are a result of a viral infection. I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. He likely needs an antibiotic for a secondary bacterial infection potentially and a lysine supplement to help reduce the severity / duration of the viral infection. There are multiple lysine supplements that you can find online or at your local PetCo for cats. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Frisbee's sneezing and watery eyes could be due to viral infections (such as calicivirus or herpesvirus - not contagious to humans), bacterial upper respiratory infections, or topical irritation/mild allergies. I'm glad to hear that he's still eating well and active! Fortunately, none of these possible issues are contagious to humans and viruses are most commonly specific to a single species. You can try an over the counter L-lysine amino acid supplement (Viralys is one example) to attempt to help with any shedding from some of the viruses mentioned. Ideally your vet should examine Frisbee to assure that he does not have a bacterial upper respiratory infection that may require antibiotics for treatment. Your vet may also discuss antihistamine options for Frisbee. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

Sneezing and eye tearing in cats is often the result of a viral upper respiratory infection. Symptoms may include sneezing, eye or nasal discharge, nasal congestion, eye squinting, lethargy, and inappetence. Common causative agents include herpesvirus and calicivirus. The fact that he is eating and drinking normally is a good sign. However, because he is an older kitty, it will definitely require close monitoring to ensure his signs are not worsening. An exam with your veterinarian is recommended to make sure that his vital signs are normal, including a normal temperature. If he'll let you check his temperature at home, you can. I suggest lubricating a thermometer and checking his temperature rectally. Normal temperatures for can range between 100.5 to 102.5. If his temperature is 103 or higher you should consider bringing him in to your vet. Additionally, if you see yellow/green discharge from the eyes or nose, increased frequency of sneezing, lethargy, loss of appetite, or open-mouth breathing I suggest bringing him to your vet right away. Viral infections, just like in people, can weaken the immune system allowing bacterial infections to occur, which requires veterinary prescribed antibiotics. If there are any other cats in the house, I recommend temporarily isolating them from your sneezy cat until his signs resolve. Minimizing environmental stress is also recommended for his recovery. If you have any other concerns or are interested in additional information I'm happy to follow-up with an online consultation.

It's highly possible that they're all experiencing a flare-up of feline herpesvirus, which tends to produce mild upper respiratory signs such as sneezing and ocular discharge. Most cats already have the virus in their bodies but don't have symptoms, but living in a stressful environment (shelters) or going through stressful events (having a new cat brought home) can trigger recurrence of the active infection. If it's been a week and a half they likely do need to see the vet, however most of them will improve with supplementation with the amino acid lysine and supportive care.