Why is my 5-month-old kitten still sneezing blood after a URI?

Poor cat. Over 90% of cats with acute sneezing discharge are infected with herpesvirus and calicivirus. These viruses are usually exposed to cats when they are young and cats seems to recover from them but they continuously cause irritation, erosions, and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (nasal passages) over time which can lead to mild nose bleeds. However there is also a possibility that your kitty could have a coagulation problems that is causing the bleeding as well. Therefore it is best to get kitty seen by your veterinarian for a coagulation profile in case kitty needs more extensive treatment to resolve this. If kitty is negative for any bleeding disorders or any other potential causes of nose bleeding (i.e. fungal, allergic, etc), then the extent of treatment will most likely be 1) Anti-viral medication (Lysine-availlabe over the counter at your local pet store or at your vet clinic), 2)Antibiotics- to treat any secondary infections present, 3)Steroid or NSAID therapy to help ease inflammation of the nasal turbinates. I would recommend scheduling an appointment with your cat's veterinarian soon to get the proper testing and treatment your cat needs for his care.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If Mimi is still fighting a respiratory infection, the blood coming from the nose could be due to what we call rhinitis (inflammation of the sinuses / mucous membranes of the nose). This is common in unresolved upper respiratory infections. If you are only seeing a small amount and the blood is not profuse, you should be ok to wait until this week to have Mimi seen. If she is showing more blood and the amount if profuse, she needs to be seen immediately by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. 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.

URI can be caused by a host of bacteria and mycoplasma. Theres a possibility that theres still infection and your best chance of success would come from running a culture and sensitivity. Theres also a possibility that there's been some permanent damage/changes to your kitten's respiratory passage way and sinuses. This may results in permanent noise and some cats will have discharge forever. It would be hard to say if this is present without an advanced diagnostic such as a CT/MRI. Adding in Lysine may help as well. Best of luck with the kitten!

Poor Jewels! Yes, he could be sneezing so forcefully that his nose could be bleeding. He needs to see a vet for this problem. Given that he's feral, you may have trouble getting him to a vet. I would see if there is a mobile vet in your area. They could come to your house to see him, and give him a long acting antibiotic shot (if required) to treat his symptoms. I would find a mobile vet in your area for him. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Linkin is sneezing so much. It is not uncommon for kittens to be infected with feline herpesvirus, which causes upper respiratory signs such as sneezing, nasal and ocular discharge. Most flare ups of herpes are self-limiting, meaning cats will get over the infection on their own. However some cats benefit from nebulization, meaning you can keep Linkin the bathroom while the shower is running to see if the steam will help clear his sinuses. You can also consider purchasing L-lysine from chewy.com which is a supplement to help boost the immune system and help Linkin fight the infection. If his clinical signs become severe, he may require a visit to your veterinarian for antibiotics. I hope this is helpful!

It sounds as though Ash may have rhinitis (inflammation of the nose) and it may be secondary to a respiratory infection. I would recommend having Ash examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. 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.

Monitor him as see if it happens again. If it continues than he should be examined by a vet as he may have developed a sinus infection and need an antibiotic to treat. The fact that he is eating and drinking now is a good sign but if it continues than he should be examined by your vet.