My 5-year-old cat is sneezing a lot and has a red eye. What's going on?

It looks like Kitty might have an upper respiratory infection causing conjunctivitis. A viral infection is most common, although secondary bacterial infections can also occur. A scratch on the surface of the eye could also cause redness and discharge but would not cause sneezing. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian for an exam. They can check for a scratch on the cornea or prescribe medications to treat a respiratory infection.

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 sounds like they might have a viral upper respiratory infection. Initial symptoms appear 2-17 days after exposure and reach maximum severity about 10 days later. Typically, your cat will have severe bouts of sneezing lasting 1-2 days, followed by conjunctivitis, watery discharge from the eyes and nose, fever, apathy, and loss of appetite. Some cats may have only mild symptoms, while other cats can become quite ill. Most cats with an uncomplicated upper respiratory infection can be treated symptomatically at home. Home care includes keeping your cats warm and comfortable and making sure they are eating and drinking. Offer highly palatable foods with a strong smell, such as fish-flavored canned foods or strained chicken or turkey baby food. Clean secretions from the eyes, nose, and mouth with moist cotton balls as often as needed. Humidify the air with a vaporizer or humidifier. Seek prompt medical attention for any cat that has mucoid or purulent discharge from the eyes or nose as it may have a bacterial infection. Also seek veterinary attention if one of your cats is refusing to eat or drink, is losing weight, has a high fever, seems weak, develops vomiting or diarrhea, or is having trouble breathing.

Kitten needs to be examined by the veterinarian today. Many cats will get viral infections that cause sneezing and upper respiratory symptoms. Some of these kittens will get viral infections that also affect the eye and can cause painful ulcers which can progress and dive deeper into the eye (which is not good). Lysine supplements for cats may help with viral infections in general but your kitten still needs to be examined today. The doctor needs to check the eye for an ulcer, scratch or perhaps a foreign object trapped under the eye lid. You must also protect the eye from any scratching with an elizabethan collar. I hope this helps and best of luck.

If your pet has tested negative and has been vaccinated for feline leukemia and feline aids, you shouldn't have to worry about those. This could simply be an upper respiratory infection (if sneezing or nasal drainage have been seen), allergies are common this time of year, feline herpes (if you've seen an ulcer or bump), or maybe even something going on with just the eye. You'll want to visit your local Veterinarian for an exam. He/she may prescribe an antibiotic depending on Zoey's condition.

Sneezing is most commonly a sign of an upper respiratory infection. Viral respiratory infections can cause sneezing, ocular discharge or squinting, and clear nasal discharge. They usually do not require specific treatment unless a secondary bacterial infection forms so if Luna has any thick or colored discharge from her eyes or nose, if her eyes look red, or if her appetite is decreased you should see a veterinarian. She may be rubbing her face because her nose is itchy or irritated. Of course there are a few other things that can cause sneezing - sometimes foreign material or even parasites can get in the nose, or kittens can sometimes develop polyps in the nose and throat. If her sneezing is not improving in the next 3-5 days you should make an appointment to see your veterinarian.

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.