Why is my recently adopted kitten sneezing but still playful?

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would actually be more concerned about an upper respiratory infection. This is common in young cats and in most cases it responds to antibiotics. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment. They would be able to check for this and start therapy accordingly. Good luck and have a good night!

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.

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mickey. Cats can develop allergies that result in respiratory symptoms. However, with his history of coming from a shelter, it is more likely that he has an upper respiratory tract infection. If his symptoms persist, he will need to see a veterinarian as he may require a medication. In the meantime, encourage him to eat and drink. I hope this information helps and congratulations on your new cat!

It could be normal for her since often times when they groom they are getting allergens off their fur. If she does not have discharge from her nose and she is only doing it when grooming, I would just monitor it. However, if you are noticing discharge, or it becomes more frequent, I would take Love Bug to see her veterinarian as it could be allergies or and upper respiratory infection. Hope this helps!

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.