My cat has a URI. Is she still contagious after finishing antibiotics?

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.

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

Yes this should be fine as long as she is feeling better. Also, you may consider putting her on a daily immune boosting vitamin like viralys or vetriscience lysine treats. It doesn’t treat the virus but it may help to boost her immune system. I hope this helps!

Poor guy. I would have him re-evaluated in this case. It sounds like he may need another round of antibiotics or the same antibiotic given for a slightly longer period of time. It is tough sometimes with kitties with URI's, because without culture we are hoping that our broad spectrum antibiotic will clear up the infection entirely. You also have the option of asking for your vet to do a culture, so that we know exactly which antibiotic will clear things up for Cairo. Your other cats immune system is likely better than Cario's, which is why he/she isn't affected. I would also consider keeping Cairo on anti-viral supplements (Lysine powder) long term to help boost his immune system to hopefully decrease the amount of infections in the future. You can find Lysine at any pet store or online retailer. Best wishes with your pet Cario and I hope that he feels better soon! Take care.

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.

Hi Laila, I'm glad to help you! Depending on how long the virus takes to clear her system, it can be a few weeks before she is feeling better. The vet can check her over with a physical exam if she's still showing signs of a URI, and can discuss if there are any medications that may help with her symptoms. Best of luck :-)

I'm so sorry that Sally is having this problem. We commonly see viral infections in young cats that have secondary bacterial infection that respond to antibiotics, but it is less common that older cats will develop viral upper respiratory infections unless they are exposed to other cats. I have attached more information on upper respiratory infections in cats below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=613 There are other antibiotics that we will sometimes try for some of the other upper respiratory infections we see, as well as anti-viral or Lysine treatment for Herpes virus. I would recommend discussing with your veterinarian if there are any other testing or treatment options that they would recommend for Sally since she does not seem to be responding to Clavamox. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.