Why is my 6-month-old kitten sneezing? When should I see a vet?

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!

Kitten needs to be examined by the veterinarian today. Many cats will get viral infections that cause sneezing and upper respiratory symptoms. Some of these kittens will get viral infections that also affect the eye and can cause painful ulcers which can progress and dive deeper into the eye (which is not good). Lysine supplements for cats may help with viral infections in general but your kitten still needs to be examined today. The doctor needs to check the eye for an ulcer, scratch or perhaps a foreign object trapped under the eye lid. You must also protect the eye from any scratching with an elizabethan collar. I hope this helps and best of luck.

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.

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.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bunny. Sounds like she is suffering from a mild upper respiratory infection. Not sure how old she is but both kittens and adult cats suffer from these infections. Kittens get infected from their mothers who start shedding the viruses thus infecting the kittens. Many cats live their whole lives carrying these viruses. They will occasionally develop signs of upper respiratory infections during times of stress at any point in time. We vaccinate for a few of these upper respiratory viruses but we still see many many cases. The vaccines should provide some protection and usually adult cats develop very mild signs. Signs range from sneezing, runny eyes, runny nose, coughing, fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, decreased water intake, etc. Treating these infections can range from very simple to very complex cases that take weeks to months to improve. If signs remain mild, monitoring is sometimes appropriate. If the signs progress to not eating, lethargic, thick discharge from the nose and/or eyes, then you should get her evaluated by your veterinarian. They can gather a history, perform an exam, and advise you on possible diagnostics and treatment. Treatment can involve antibiotics to protect or treat secondary bacterial infections, antiviral medicines, a good deworming program, and vaccination program, eye drops/eye ointments if the eyes are involved, nose drops, a nutritional supplement called L-lysine added to his food may help, and probiotics are all things to try. Sometimes kittens have a nasopharyngeal polyp which can present as chronic upper respiratory disease which doesn't respond well to treatment. This is a polyp in the nasal passageway and back of the throat. These can be found by using sedation/anesthesia and evaluating the back of the throat and thus removed if found. Good luck.

I'm glad to hear that Kiara is still eating and drinking well despite her sneezing. Cats can sneeze from time to time as a normal response to clear irritants out of the nasal passages, just as we do. More persistent sneezing can be caused by upper respiratory infections, allergic causes, or nasal polyps, among others. As long as Kiara continues to eat, drink, and act normally in the absence of any nasal discharge, it is ok to continue monitoring her at home. At 2.5 months old, I imagine that she is still going to her vet frequently for booster vaccines, so it is worth mentioning the sneezing at her next appointment. However, if she develops any nasal discharge or changes in her appetite or energy level, she should go to the vet more urgently. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Sneezing is most commonly a sign of an upper respiratory infection. Viral respiratory infections can cause sneezing, ocular discharge or squinting, and clear nasal discharge. They usually do not require specific treatment unless a secondary bacterial infection forms so if Luna has any thick or colored discharge from her eyes or nose, if her eyes look red, or if her appetite is decreased you should see a veterinarian. She may be rubbing her face because her nose is itchy or irritated. Of course there are a few other things that can cause sneezing - sometimes foreign material or even parasites can get in the nose, or kittens can sometimes develop polyps in the nose and throat. If her sneezing is not improving in the next 3-5 days you should make an appointment to see your veterinarian.