Can my nursing cat safely take flu medicine while feeding kittens?

I would have your other cat looked at just to make sure it is safe to give those particular meds. Without seeing the patient I cannot say for sure whether or not it is safe. Your vet prescribes certain meds depending on the health of each individual animal and what is going on with them. Also, depending on the meds prescribe, some are only good for 10-14 days and are no longer effective afterwards.

Cats don't usually sneeze when it is cold outside. I think an upper respiratory infection is more likely. They are common in cats. Most are viral and must run their course. Sometimes they can get a bacterial infection that causes poor appetite, thick nasal or eye discharge, coughing, etc. These need antibiotics. Other possible causes for sneezing include something stuck in the nose (like a blade of grass) or a nasopharyngeal polyp. If the sneezing seems to bother Habla, then I would recommend that you have her examined by a vet. You can put mama and babies in a small box or cat kennel for the trip so they can stay together.

i do not recommend giving her any medications unless directed by your vet, especially since she is pregnant. Some medications can not be used in pregnant animals. If she has an infection and needs an antibiotic than you could ask your vet if he/she has Convenia which is an injectable antibiotic that lasts 2 weeks so you would not have to give it orally.

This is the write-up on Meloxicam (same as Meloxoral) from Plumb's Veterinary Drug handbook: Reproductive/Nursing Safety Safe use has not been established in dogs or cats used for breeding, or in pregnant or lactating animals. In humans, the FDA categorizes this drug as category C for use during pregnancy (Animal studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus, but there are no adequate studies in humans; or there are no animal reproduction studies and no adequate studies in humans.) Most NSAIDs are excreted in milk; use cautiously. ************* In general, I would want to avoid using this drug in a lactating queen. It will make her feel better and possibly resolve the mastitis faster, so likely the better approach would be to bottle feed the kittens while she's getting the meloxicam and then return them to her at least 48 hours after the last dose. I would call your vet and discuss your concerns.

It depends if Lilly is still feeding the kittens. When prescribing antibiotics to a pregnant or lactating cat it is very important to be aware of the potential side- effect that the antibiotic may have on the kittens. Metronidazole is transmitted into mum's milk therefore is generally not recommended for lacating cats. However, there are some occasions when the benefit for the mum is higher then the risk for the kittens. Please, get in touch with your vet to discuss why Lilly was prescibed this antibiotic. If Lilly is not feeding the kittens anymore, obviously she will be ok to take a course of metronidazole.

Both of these products contain an antihistamine called chlorphenarimine which does come in feline formulations. There are also several other options for controlling allergies including prescription medications and over the counter medications.

Chloramphenicol does have some serious side effects in humans, so it is recommend that humans wear gloves when administering the medication to animals. There are lots of other options on antibiotics, but that should be discussed with your vet based on their diagnosis. We can't make specific recommendations on drugs or dosages as it is illegal for us to do so over the internet in the US.