My senior cat is congested. Can I wait if he's still eating?

Hello. Yes, a watch & wait may be prudent as long as Sundee is not in any respiratory distress, and her activity & appetite are normal. Definitely have her seen if her resting respiratory rate exceeds 30-40 breaths per minute when sleeping, the cough becomes more frequent, or she stops eating, becomes lethargic or anything else concerns you. Hopefully this is a mild upper respiratory infection & it will clear in the next few days. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Sunshine probably has an upper respiratory infection, or cold. As this is a viral infection It will run its course in a week or so. As long as she's just quiet and resting, eating a drinking some then you do not need to bring her in. If she should stop eating, the eye and nose discharge turns green and she becomes very lethargic then she may have a secondary bacterial infection that would need to be treated by your veterinarian. Sunshine is an older cat so if she's not recovering well then don't wait too long to bring her for an exam. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Sunshine.

Shelby most likely has an upper respiratory infection or viral cold. This can cause nasal congestion and poor appetite. I recommended you take a warm cloth and clean her nose as the nasal discharge can clog up the nostrils causing the mouth breathing. Also if you warm up wet food, fish is best, it will make it more appetizing as the heat will enhance the aroma of the food. That should help to,stimulate her appetite. If Shelby isn't better soon please take her in for treatment. As she's tiny I don't want her to be sick long as she doesn't have much body reserves. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Shelby.

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!

Poor Gus! He sure looks cute curled up with his buddy! I would recommend taking him in to get a exam by a veterinarian. They will check to make sure that his eyes are ok- some cats get ulcers with an upper respiratory infection. They will check for a secondary bacterial infection that would need antibiotics. Sometimes- they will prescribe a nebulization solution which is to be used in a nebulizer to help open up his airways. It is important to make sure that he keeps eating. Cats can get a secondary liver problem if they stop eating. Hope Gus feels better soon! Please keep an eye on buddy too because the upper respiratory viruses are contagious. Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I would recommend having Miss Gray seen by a vet to be prescribed medication if she is miserable. It's not really fair to leave her untreated in that condition, and if she is miserable, I would say she is seriously ill enough to need medication. The problem with congestion is that cats can stop eating if they can't smell their food, and if a cat stops eating, they become prone to developing a fatty liver. A fatty liver is fatal without treatment, so it's best to avoid that. I would take Miss Gray into a vet immediately for an exam and medication. I can give you some things you can do at home that will work well in conjunction with medications from the vet. Please keep in mind they cannot be used as a substitution for seeing the vet. 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. Since 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.

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.