Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My 2-month-old kitten has a runny nose. Is it kitten flu? What to do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 1 month and 26 days old

My 2 month old kitten has something like human flu. In the litter of four, it's the one with a runny nose. Where i live doesn't have very serious vets. I need help. How do I help my kitten to get better? Any medical treatment for kitten flu?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 2nd, 2016

I am sorry to hear that your pet Bronze seems to have upper respiratory infection symptoms. Cat flu is usually quite serious and involves the lower airway causing wheezing and serious breathing problems, so it is more likely Bronze just has an upper airway infection secondary to a viral infection. Viral infections can be helped with over the counter lysine supplements. However if there is green or yellow discharge then you will have to get a vet to prescribe him oral or an injectable antibiotic to treat this successfully. Any vet, serious or not, should be able to diagnose a simple URI and prescribe a short course of antibiotics no problem.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Kittens don't get the flu like humans do, but they do very commonly get other types of upper respiratory infections - so this is likely what you are seeing with Bronze :) Ideally, it would be best for him to be seen by a vet since many of these infections will require prescription antibiotics to treat effectively. If this isn't possible, you can try giving a daily L-lysine supplement such as Enisyl or Viralys - these are available over the counter without a prescription, and can help the kitten's immune system to fight the infection more effectively. If he is congested and has a runny nose, you can also try bringing him into the bathroom with you with the door closed while you take a hot shower. The steam and humidity can help to loosen congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

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

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My kitten has flu with thick green yellow nose mucus. Is it serious?

The thick green discharge indicates that the infection is getting worse and that there may be some bacteria invaders. I normally treat these infections with antibiotics. It's best if you can get Babu to a vet within the next day or two. The vet would be able to prescribe the necessary treatment to make her feel better and keep the infection from getting worse. You can help the congestion by giving him a steam bath. The link below has good information about how to do this and other helpful tips for this condition. http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Your-Cat-Breathe-Easier I hope this helps and Babu feels better soon.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My 18-week-old kitten is sleepy with runny nose and eyes. What's wrong?

Max may have an upper respiratory infection. If he is really lethargic, has a decreased appetite, or the nasal discharge is yellow or green, he should get checked out by a vet. As with all viruses, they need to run their course. But there are some medications that may help with the symptoms, as well as supplements like L-lyisine that can make the symptoms go away a little sooner.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My kitten has runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing. What to do until vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to an upper respiratory infection though something else like bilateral corneal ulcers or even dry eye are possible. This is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops and oral antibiotics and cats usually respond well to therapy. I recommend that you have Deimos evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If they agree that based on an examination, that seems to be the issue, they will likely prescribe medications to make him feel better. In the meantime, you may try to decrease his activity and rest him up which may help. Good luck and best wishes!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My kitten has watery eyes, stuffy nose, sneezing. Should I see a vet?

Hi, It sounds like possible upper respiratory infection , "cat flu" . I would recommend to be mindful with weeping eyes which can quickly become more severe and may develop corneal ulcer. Also since it has been a week I would suggest to take her to the vet who can offer some supportive treatment to speed up her recovery (such as antibiotic adainst secondary infection , antiviral meds systemic or tropical ocular amd Pain relief ). Keep offering her soft, highly aromatic foods (as you are doing) that are gently warmed will help to tempt an inappetent cat and make sure she is hydrated and drinking. Cat flu is not usually serious in adult cats, although they can be quite ill so help by a vet would be advised at this point.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My 4-month-old cat snorts, has runny nose & eye boogers. What to do?

It could be that Brodie is suffering from a chronic respiratory virus such as feline herpes. There are a few things you can try at home. First, you can try starting him 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 he's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing him 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. Finally, I'd take him into the vet. There may be medications that can help with his symptoms. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my kitten sneezing, snorting, and lethargic with a wet nose?

Hi, It could be cat flu if he hasn’t been vaccinated. If not he could have inhaled something irritant. Is there anything new in the environment ? It is difficult to advise without checking him over. Cat flu is extremely infectious but other conditions could be foreign body inhalation, allergy, nasal polyps or bacterial/fungal infections. If he is lethargic I would suggest to have him checked over.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share