Why is my 3-month kitten breathing heavy, sluggish, and not eating?

Poor Mochko. With symptoms of decreased appetite and "hard breathe" which I assume means she is having a hard time breathing, it is possible Mochka has pneumonia or an upper respiratory infection. I would highly recommend getting her seen by your vet again or another vet for a second opinion. They need to listen to her chest (auscultation) to check the lungs for certain sounds. If certain sounds in the chest are detected and Mochko also has a fever (greater than 102.5 degrees F rectal temp), then pneumonia is suspected. Chest x-rays would then be needed to confirm. If the chest is free of any abnormal sounds on expiration, then an upper respiratory infection is suspected, which is a better prognosis for kitty. At that time a short course of antibiotics and anti-viral meds (i.e. Lysine) can be prescribed to treat her condition. At any rate Mochko needs to be re-evaluated and the underlying condition properly identified so that we know exactly what she needs to get better.

Unfortunately kittens are susceptible to many viruses that infect the respiratory tract and can cause noise, running eyes and noses and general ill health. There is little to do for a virus aside from administering antinflammatories which you would need to have prescribed by a vet. However I would recommend taking the kitten in for an exam as the viruses can make way for bacterial infection and the vet can give antibiotics if needed. In the mean time keep the kitten in stress and draught free environment.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Charlie. Based on your description, I recommend that you seek emergency veterinary care for him tonight. It is worrisome that he is experiencing heavy breathing. Based on his examination, he will likely need bloodwork and x-rays of his chest to determine the source of his problem. I hope this information helps and you are able to get him some help. Good luck!

He may have an upper respiratory infection, which is quite common in cats. It is hard to say for sure without examining him myself. You can try using a humidifier to break up any mucous. As an alternative you can place him in the bathroom with the shower running for 5-10 minutes 2 x daily. However he ultimately will likely need antibiotics to clear up any bacterial infection that may be present. I would also recommend getting him on antiviral medication (I.e. lysine powder or gel from your local pet store or vet clinic) to treat for a suspected underlying viral infection. I hope your kitty feels better soon. Best wishes and take care.

Yes, you should be worried about his breath i'm afraid, upper respiratory infections are very common in young kittens and can be fatal if left untreated. his breathing rate is way to high and he is most likely suffering from an infection, you need to take him to the vet ASAP in order to get him an antibiotic course.

From your description, it sounds like Ivory isn't feeling well at the moment, and his symptoms could be indicating a possible respiratory infection. Make sure he is eating and drinking, keep him warm, and bring him into the bathroom with you when you take a shower, The steam may help with his breathing and clear up any congestion. Take him into the vet first thing in the morning. Now if he won't eat or drink, he appears to be in respiratory distress (difficulty breathing), and/or becomes very lethargic, I would take him into an ER vet immediately. Best of luck!

Any animal, particularly this young and presumably not fully vaccinated, with respiratory signs, should be seen my a veterinarian. If your Kitkat appears to be in true respiratory distress, this should be considered and emergency and should be seen right away. Signs of true respiratory distress in a cat would be open mouth breathing, pale white to blue mucous membranes (open mouth and look at gums), fainting episodes, or resting respiration of more than 30-40.