Can I give antibiotics to a feral cat with breathing issues at home?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Unfortunately, there are no oral medications (prescription or non) that will help him. The eye probably needs topical medications so you will have to catch him to even try. I would recommend offering him canned cat food so he can eat without much discomfort. If he eats the canned food, maybe you can use it to lure him into the trap. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Bud appears to be suffering from an upper respiratory infection (nasal discharge, sneezing, eye discharge), then there is an injectable antibiotic injection (convenia) that lasts for two weeks and frequently is helpful for these infections in cats that are difficult to give oral medications to. It would require him to be seen by a veterinarian and have an accurate weight. If possible, I would have him evaluated by a veterinarian and discuss convenia as a possible treatment option. Good luck!

Unfortunately, you would need confirmation of the infection from a vet, as well as a prescription from them for the antibiotic. Both respiratory and viral infections can cause problems like this. If she can't be transported to the vet, you may see if you can humanely trap her and have the vet sedate her for care while there, or if there is a local animal control/society that can help catch her to provide care.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Trixie. You would need to see a vet to get antibiotics, but they likely won't work as most respiratory infections in cats are caused by viruses. There are a few things you can try at home for her. First, you can try starting her 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 she's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing her 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. I hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If you think Cotton Ball is in need of an antibiotic for a infection, I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate antibiotic can be recommended. Antibiotics such as Convenia and Doxycycline are good choices for antibiotics when treating respiratory infections. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

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 there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend making sure he does not have an underlying disease that may be predisposing him to these infections. Test him for feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) at your veterinarian's clinic to rule these possible causes out. Some cats will have chronic viral infections their entire life and we just treat these as they come. If you are not giving lysine supplementation and not giving Purine Fortiflora, I would definitely recommend doing so as both of these have been shown to lessen the severity and duration of the herpes virus flare ups. I would also consider an upper respiratory culture to make sure that there are no other bacterial causes that may be resistant to the antibiotics currently being given. 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.