Why is my adopted kitten sneezing, not eating, with watery eyes?

Sneezing is common in cats and can be a sign of mild allergies. I wouldn't be too terribly concerned, unless you start seeing nasal discharge, decreased appetite, or wheezing. Let it run its course and if things don't improve or seem to worsen after about 3-4 days, then you should get Dale seen by your vet for some allergy medication and other treatments (i.e. antibiotics) if needed. Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Take care.

Yes, URI's (upper respiratory infections) are very common in kittens and cats that have been living in shelters. They typically are caused by viruses and most of them resolve without treatment, but they turn into bacterial infections that make the cat feel pretty awful, and need antibiotics. I would recommend calling the shelter from which you adopted the kitten and see if maybe he was treated for a URI while he was there. If so, perhaps it's resolving normally. If not, he may just now be showing the signs and he may need to be checked out (by the shelter or a private vet) before things get worse.

I agree with your vet! Herpes virus is a very common cause of sneezing (and that sneezing can be pretty noticeable!). The fact that she is eating and playing is great! This will likely go away on its own with time but if Asia does stop eating, becomes lethargic, or gets squinting eyes, head back to the vet as these could be signs of a secondary bacterial infection or other co-infection. Congrats on the new kitten!

It's highly possible that they're all experiencing a flare-up of feline herpesvirus, which tends to produce mild upper respiratory signs such as sneezing and ocular discharge. Most cats already have the virus in their bodies but don't have symptoms, but living in a stressful environment (shelters) or going through stressful events (having a new cat brought home) can trigger recurrence of the active infection. If it's been a week and a half they likely do need to see the vet, however most of them will improve with supplementation with the amino acid lysine and supportive care.

It may be a sign of sickness such as respiratory infection since he is sneezing. This is common in kittens especially from a shelter. However if there is no congestion or runny eyes I would monitor for further changes before getting worried. Since he is eating well, he may just be a calm cat or just getting used to his new home and may be a little scared still. Often times they become more active and have more personality after being adjusted.

Hello. It sounds like Samson has an upper respiratory virus that he was incubating, & the stress of moving into a new home with unfamiliar sights, sounds & people has impacted his immune system resulting in clinical signs. I cannot say if this is a watch & see situation. Often the symptoms of a mild upper respiratory infection will go away in a few weeks. But if he is not eating nor acting well, he may need medications to get over this. If you are concerned, it is always best to have Samson evaluated before he gets into a more difficult situation. I do hope he is feeling better soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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 or a weakened immune system (like in a kitten) they can cause illness. This is what I suspect is going on with your cat. Oftentimes cats can overcome a viral respiratory infection on their own but sometimes they need antiviral drugs, eye medications, and possibly antibiotics to help them get over the virus. If the illness continues to last more than 3-5 days, of if Mushu stops eating or the sneezing becomes excessive then I would take him back to the vet for a recheck. Most times these cats just need supportive care to get through the illness.