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My 4-month-old kitten has runny nose and eyes. What can I do for him?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My 4month old kitten has the flu..what should i give him..he has runny nose and eyes

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on September 27th, 2017

Hi there. It is very rare for cats to truly get influenza, but they can certainly get several types of upper respiratory viruses. You can take him into the bathroom when you shower to get him nice and humidified. You can use nasal saline drops to keep the secretions nice and thin. It's always a good idea to have an examination by a veterinarian to make sure he doesn't need any antibiotics . I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on April 3rd, 2018
Cats can commonly be afflicted by upper respiratory viruses that can cause sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers. These viruses can be latent in a cat's system and then in times of stress (like moving in to a new environment or anything that suppresses the immune system) they can cause illness. This is what I suspect is going on with your cat.

Oftentimes cats can overcome a viral flare up on their own but sometimes they need antiviral drugs, eye medications, and possibly antibiotics to help them get over the virus. If the illness lasts more than 3-5 days, or if he stops eating then I would take him in to be examined by a veterinarian.

Since he is still eating continento encourage this as best you can. Adding water to the food is a great way to help keep him hydrated. You can also try to clean the discharge from his eyes a couple times a day with a warm, damp cloth.

I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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