Why is my new adopted cat sneezing, drooling, and acting sick?

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.

How lovely of you to take in Winifred, but I'm sorry she is sick! She could be suffering from a respiratory infection, which can be common in shelters due to the large number of cats residing there. She should see a vet for it on Monday, and I can give you some things to try at home that would work well with any medication prescribed by the vet for her symptoms. Do not use these home remedies instead of going to the vet, she should definitely be checked out. First, you can try starting her 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 she's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing her 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. Sometimes a cat's appetite will decrease when they have a respiratory infection because they can't smell their food. Cats won't eat if they can't smell their food. Should you notice a decrease in Winifred's appetite, I recommend gently warming really smelly wet food, such as sardine or fish based. This will encourage her to eat. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like Lex probably does have an upper respiratory infection. Very common in cats that come from a shelter setting even if they are vaccinated. I suggest you take him to a vet and do not go by what the shelter lady is telling you. He most likely does need antibiotics. Coughing is not really normal even if they have an upper respiratory infection so that is a bit concerning and it's best to have him checked out. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Poor Gus certainly sounds quite ill! The signs you describe make me concerned that Gus has a significant upper respiratory infection that is also related to underlying viruses, such as herpesvirus or calicivirus. There is a chance that any bacteria occurring may be resistant to Clavamox or if the entire infection may be viral in origin, in which case any antibiotic will be ineffective. If it hasn't already be done, Gus should be tested for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and FeLV (feline leukemia). These are highly contagious viral conditions that he could have acquired from his mother or from another cat prior to adoption. Both of these viruses significantly weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to other infectious diseases. At home, you can try using an amino acid supplement, L-lysine (Viralys is one example) and taking Gus into the bathroom when you shower to allow the humidity from the steam to help ease some nasal congestion. These at home strategies alone will not be sufficient to resolve all of his signs and he will need to go back to his vet. Gus' vet will be able to examine him and perform this test, as well as discussing trials with other antibiotics or antiviral medications. I hope that he's feeling better soon!

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.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Upper respiratory infection in cats is often a chronic disease, it can flare up for example because of stress or concurrent disease process. As long as Scooter is bright, has good appetite and does not have any breathing problems, you should monitor him at home. You should clean the discharge from the nose (and the eyes if necessary) with baby wipes. Offer him warm, tasty food as with runny nose cats can not smell very well. Typically, uncomplicated cat flu symptoms go away after 7-10 days However, if Scooter starts breathing heavily, goes off his food or the discharge from the nose turn green or yellow, you should take him to your local vets for an appointment.