My new 12-week-old shelter kitten sleeps, eats, sneezes. Is he okay?

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.

A lot of cats have viral infections such as influenza, herpes and calici, that come and go. They hide in the system and recur usually in times of stress. The move has likely caused a virus to reemerge. It should clear up by itself but if she becomes very unwell it would be worth a vet visit. The initial viral stage has likely caused a high temperature which could be putting her off food.

I'd be a bit worried about Pringels. I can give you some things you can do for him 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. If his symptoms get worse or continue, have him seen by a vet.

Congratulations on adding Kobe to your family. I would be most suspicious of an upper respiratory infection. They are very common in shelter cats, especially at the time of transition to a new home: https://www.petcoach.co/article/sneezing-and-feline-upper-respiratory-disease/ If he sounds nasally I recommend to have him examined tomorrow. He may need antibiotics. Sometimes lysine for cats can help as well. Ideally feed him what he was eating at the shelter for now so that you don;t upset his tummy. The food I recommend is Royal Canin. It's highly digestible and has a good fiber blend so constipation issues are rare and the stool has less odor (for most cats). I hope this helps.

Aw poor Socks! It's pretty common to have a rescue kitten develop upper respiratory infections. I'm glad to hear he's acting normally otherwise. You can try to run a hot shower and steam up the bathroom while Socks is in the room. Sometimes this will help break up congestion. Make sure he continues to eat and drink normally. Warming some canned food up will often encourage a cat to eat more as they will eat more if they can smell the food. If Socks continues to be congested or at any point he stops eating, develops an eye issue, or becomes lethargic he should be examined by a veterinarian. It's best not to wait too long as kittens can develop pneumonia or labored breathing if the respiratory infection progresses. If necessary antibiotics can be prescribed or a supplement like lysine can be used. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Wishing Socks a speedy recovery!

She might have an upper respiratory infection causing the sneezing and discharge. Since she is eating and playing normal, you can monitor her and see if the problem resolves. If she stops eating, becomes lethargic, has a fever, and/or the discharge increases or becomes discolored then she needs to be examined by a vet for treatment.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your new kitten. I recommend that you seek veterinary care. The kitten appears quite thin. If he is not eating and drinking properly, this can be a sign of illness. It is worrisome that he is inactive as well. Kittens should be very playful. Infections (respiratory or gastrointestinal intestinal) are common causes of illness in kittens. Once the cause of his problems can be identified, treatment can be started. I hope this information helps!