Dear Simba,
I have a 5 month old kitten that has started sneezing a lot lately. He is on Biomox from the vet but just seems to keep sneezing. He was put on the Biomox for an upper respiratory infection. Will the Biomox help his sneezing also? Is it possible that he could be allergic to his litter? Seems that he sneezes a lot after using his litter box. His nose is also running when he sneezes, but it is clear. The flu went through the house, do you think he may have it now? Help!!! Hate to see Squeaker sick. Sheila

Dear Sheila,
The Cat Flu is a whole different creature than that which affects people. It comes from either a viral or a bacterial infection that is particular to cats (click here for more on the causes), so you should not worry or feel guilty that you passed on your flu to Squeaker. Be sure to check out the letters below for information on his runny nose and sneezing. You can test whether Squeaker is allergic to his litter by switching litter types, although it is more likely that Squeaker has the Cat Flu. Keep me posted. Simba

Dear Simba,
I got a kitten from a local shelter about 4 weeks ago, she is now 12 weeks old. When we got her she had some mild sneezing and no real discharge. But, the shelter staff thought it important that she get her shots that same day. They gave her the shots and we brought her home. That night, "spider" played like normal, but she started sneezing more. The next day, Spider did not eat or drink and although she tried to go to the litter box, she could not pass anything. I was concerned enough to take her to the vet who diagnosed her as having kitty flu. She was placed on antibiotics for 14 days, and I force-fed her food and water at home for a week until she started eating on her own. Twice or three times a day we would put her in the bathroom with the shower running and steam her to loosen the mucus in her nose, and we kept her face as clean as we could.

I had hoped that she would get better fast. While she is eating and playing more, the mucus coming from her nose is more greenish in color, and there is more of it. She continues to sneeze and can't breathe through her nose very well. She has started this retching cough which looks like she is trying to lose a hairball, and her eyes are starting to weep more than before. What do you think? Her nose and cough have me worried. Jeremy

Dear Jeremy,
It looks like Spider may have the viral form of the Cat Flu. Unlike bacteria, viruses do not respond to antibiotics. You can ease Spider’s breathing by using a syringe or eye-droper to remove the mucus from her nostrils (like they do for babies with colds). Take her to the vet again and see if he might offer some additional antibiotics on the off chance that the prior batch were not strong enough and she has the bacterial form of the flu. Best thing to do is to strengthen up her immune system through good nutrition and play.

The Cat Flu is not fatal. There will be good periods and ones with a lot of sneezing and coughing. However, cats can live long happy lives with it. Let me know how she does. Read below for more on the cat flu. Your Pal, Simba

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Hi Simba-
I recently rescued a kitten (on the side of the road). He has been with us since October. He was completely flea-infested, so I gave him a bath with flea shampoo. I also got him a kitten flea collar. He has been eating like there's no tomorrow, but he is using the litter box regularly and seems to have no problems. For the past couple of days, he has been coughing, and, while he normally wanted to be around me, he has been sleeping under the bed, in the closet etc.

This is my first time with a kitten and I'm kind of nervous - he is about 7 weeks old. Someone told me that when cats don’t feel well they tend to isolate themselves. Could he be allergic to the flea collar, does he have a cold? Help! Jennifer

Dear Jennifer,
Thank goodness for nice people like you. It sounds like the kitten is adjusting well. I would venture to guess that your kitten is sleeping in places where he feels comfortable. Be sure to put a blanket or kitty bed for him so he can nap and feel warm.

At 7 weeks of age kittens are still very delicate so be sure that your home is no colder than 70 degrees. Also, make sure that the collar you use is kitten safe. Many types of collars, powders and shampoos for dogs can be harmful to kitties.

As for his coughing, these symptoms are brought on by lower respiratory track problems and can be caused by everything to his inhaling of irritants like gasses or dirt, to bronchitis to the Cat Flu. The cause can be a viral, a bacterial, or a parasitic worm infection, or just an allergic reaction. Because he has been coughing the last couple of days you are best off taking him to the vet to get him treated soon. The sooner you take care of any respiratory track infections the less likely that he will have permanent damage and future problems in that area. Keep me posted. Simba

Dear Simba,
Our 4 month old kitten, Parkway, arrived 5 days ago. She started sneezing yesterday, a lot. It is messy and gross, but not at all connected with a runny nose, or other signs of sickness. She has a great appetite, is playful and sleeps well. She can go for long periods without sneezing, and does not sneeze when she eats or sleeps. She has had a lot of new things introduced to her recently - could she be allergic? She eats canned IAM's food (she used to eat dry food and didn't sneeze then); we also switched her litter from the all-organic to Fresh Step. Do cats get allergies? - Caring for a Kleenex Kitten

Dear Caring for a Kleenex Kitten,
Cats rarely get allergies. A common cause of sneezing and nasal discharge are viruses known as the Cat Flu. These can be chronic or latent and symptoms can return in times of stress. Cats live long and happy lives with the viruses, so don't be alarmed! The actual sneezing is caused by bacterial infections in the mucus membranes damaged by the flu. Her condition can be treated but rarely does a treatment provide a long term cure for these viruses. Take Parkway to her vet to get a good treatment plan.

consider returning Parkway to dry food (IAM's has good dry kitten food). I believe that dry is a bit better for your cat's dental health, and as you know good dental health = good cat health. Make any future transitions gradual in nature (this applies to her litter as well). Who knows this may help alleviate any stress she feels although she may not be kleenex-free! - Your Pal, Simba

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Hi Simba,
Some trick-or-treaters brought us our little stray Spooky this Halloween. The vet says he is 18 weeks old, and has him on an antibiotic for kitty cold, plus eyes cream for conjunctivitis, ear mite drops, and flea retardant. Spooky is the sweetest and most affectionate kitten around! The problem is that we can tell he has not eaten since he's been with us. He will drink water, and uses the litter box well. The vet said that with his nose stuffed up, he wouldn't eat a lot. How long should we wait for him? He meows pitifully, as if he is hungry, but he refuses canned and dry kitten food (and even chicken scraps). - Spooky's Mom

Dear Spooky’s Mom,
I hope that Spooky is back eating ok. If he is not, I suggest putting out some tuna. See if the irresistible smell does not bring back his ‘appetito.’ If this does not work, I suggest that you begin feeding him by hand (use a beaker to feed him liquefied food). Your vet is right in his saying that Spooky will eat when he is ready. I would just like to ensure that we are not putting undue pressure on his liver with his not eating. Also, be careful feeding him chicken scraps. Kittens have very sensitive tummies and any sort of spicy chicken can cause an upset stomach. Your Pal, Simba

Hi Simba,
My name is Pippin and my mommy's concerned about my sneezing. A week and a half ago I got my first dose of my viral rhinotracheitis vaccination. My brother, Merry also got the shots and he is perfectly fine. I've been sneezing only occasionally and Mommy thinks my breath is a little stinky. She also noticed me wiping my nose with my paw and licking it. I'm perfectly fine otherwise. I play with Merry all the time and I still eat a lot of food! My favorite's tuna, which is a treat!

Could the vaccine be causing my mild symptoms? Do you think this will go away on its own? Mommy's going to take me to the vet if they think it's serious (I hope not, my last vet trip was traumatizing enough!)

Dear Pippin,
Sorry to hear of your sneezing. It is not uncommon for the viral rhinotracheitis vaccine to cause mild sypmtoms. Don't worry, these usually last just a few days. Make sure your mommy keeps an eye on you and if these symptoms continue make sure she takes you to the vet. Your Pal, Simba

Hi Simba
Our 3-month old male kitten has developed a severe case of conjunctivitis, which did not respond to antibiotic creams. He is now sneezing and has a lot of green eye discharge. I am bringing him to the cat- eye doctor tomorrow as one eye is really bad and almost all covered by the inner eye. Should he be on antibiotics if his discharge is green? Our vet suspects the cat herpes. He also still needs his third shot and we were told to wait?

We got another kitten from the SPCA the week before who had a bad URI. We treated her for that and she is much better but she still sneezes. She needs to be spayed…should we wait for the sneezing to halt? Is she the carrier of the virus that gave our other kitten the sore eyes? This one never had bad eye problems but was treated with eye ointment. Thanks for your advise -very worried mom and dad! Sandy & Dave

Dear Sandy & Dave,
Your vet is right in having you put off your 3-month old's shot. Injections for virus immunization contain weakened or dead virus elements that the patient's body can easily overcome thus enabling immunity to the virus. As for whether the green discharge should be treated with antibiotics, I cannot tell. If your little one's immune system is weakened, the shot will have little or no effect and may cause problems.

As for the female's spaying you should put off any surgery if her immune system is depressed. This may or may not be the case with the female. Again, trust your vet's opinion, as only he/she can make a good assessment. It is possible that the new cat is the carrier of the virus. Check out the Life Changes section for tips on future cat introductions. Keep me posted. Simba

Dear Simba,
My friend found a kitten 1 week ago and the little thing has been sneezing and has a cloudiness in his eyes. He also has a little trouble breathing, almost like he is gasping for air. He plays and acts as if he isn't sick. I want the kitten to be brought to the vet, but I want to know if this is a serious problem. I also wanted to know if this is going to be something that can be helped or will it be reoccurring. - Friend of Little One

Dear Friend of Little One,
It looks like the little guy might have something known as the Cat Flu. The Cat Flu, is often caused by a viral (Feline Calicivirus and Feline Rhinotracheitis aka, Feline Herpes Virus) or a bacterial infection (Chlamydia). Many times, the flu causes sneezing, coughing, runny noses, and respiratory problems and Conjunctivitis, among other symptoms. Conjunctivitis is a discharge/cloudiness around the membrane of the eye. The good news is that major symptoms can usually be treated and the little guy can be on a path to better health!
However, recurrence may be limited to a runny or stuffed nose and is dependant on the cause. Best thing to do, is to make sure the little guy is isolated from any other pets in the home (until his doc visit) and quickly taken to the vet for a checkup and some treatment. Only your vet can make an assessment of the little guy's condition and of course, only he can recommend a treatment plan. -Your Pal, Simba

Dear Simba,
I found a kitten on my doorstep and decided to give her a loving home. She appears to be about 10 weeks old, and pretty healthy. I don't know how long she has been outside. She has a discharge coming out of one eye. Not a lot, it is a very light yellow. Should I keep cleaning it with a warm washcloth until I can get her in to the vet? Her eyes don't appear to be cloudy or anything just the one has some discharge. I want to make her as comfy as possible until the vet can see her. Misty

Dear Misty,
I suspect that your friend is showing signs of Conjunctivitis. Do not be alarmed. This condition is usually brought on by the Cat Flu (see other letters). Your vet will be able to make a diagnosis and give you a treatment plan. In the meantime continue cleaning gently with the warm wash cloth. You are a kind soul for rescuing the little creature. - Your Pal, Simba

Dear Simba,
I've been online reading the stories about kitty flu. I'm finding a lot of similarities, with one exception. "Sunny" my 3 1/2 month-old kitten has the one runny eye, coughing, bad congestion (sounds like he is breathing through a coffee stir), sneezing with discharge- here is where my concern is, the discharge is bloody sometimes more blood than not. I took him to the vet for his shots and told the doctor of his symptoms. He gave him antibiotics. After 3 days of it he was no better. The doctor changed his prescription to Clavomox, 10 days later he still coughs, has bad congestion and sneezes a bloody discharge. My vet has said for me to get a second opinion because he is not sure what it could be other than the kitty flu. I am alarmed at his continued symptoms! Not so sunny days

P.S.
He is still eating, drinking, going potty,playing as though he was fine.

Dear Not so sunny days,
Your kitten not responding to antibiotics may imply that he has the viral form of the kitty flu (either the Feline Calicivirus or the Feline Rhinotracheitis). As you know, viruses do not respond to antibiotics. Best way to make sure is to see a vet that specializes in Cats (check out the American Association of Feline Professionals). There are a couple of tests that a vet can perform to figure out what is at the root of this. These include radiographs (x-rays) of the skull. These allow you to see the nasal cavity and frontal sinuses and can help you determine what, if any damage the virus and/or infections have done to his nasal passages. Another test is a nasal flush. This diagnostic procedure is used to collect matter from the nasal cavity for study or culture. It will help you sort out what, if any bacteria are affecting kitty. Kitties are very resilient creatures and it looks like your little one is holding his own. Take him to a cat doctor and let me know how you two do. Simba

Dear Simba
My sister just adopted a kitten. It came home sneezing and drooling. The vet says that drooling can be normal and the kitten sounds fine, but put her on an antibiotic in case. She is drooling a lot more. Can this be serious? The vet also said she could have kennel cough. What do you think? signed Maggie's aunt

Dear Maggie's Aunt,
The drooling is could be the result of stress (cats can salivate when nervous) or an oral ulcer brought upon by the The Cat Flu (calici virus type) or by Kennel Cough.

Kennel Cough in cats (feline bordetella) is caused by bordetella bronchiseptica, a highly contagious bacteria. It causes many of the same symptoms seen in the Cat Flu. Fortunately, Kennel Cough can be treated with antibiotics, cough suppressants & humidifiers. If kitty does not eat, he may need some nutritional support in the form of intravenous/subcutaneous fluids or easily eaten and digested supplements. Your vet can diagnose Kennel Cough with a swab from the throat/ tonsil area. Keep me posted. Simba

Follow-up
Just wanted to let you know that Maggie is doing much better. She had an upper respiratory infection. The vet gave her drops for her eye infection…she was allergic to it and her eye swelled shut. But she is as lively as ever! We love your site, keep up the good work and thank you! Maggie's Aunt ----Thanks for the note. I am happy Maggie is doing better. Simba

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Hi, Simba,
I have two kittens 'on hold' at the SPCA until they're old enough to leave their mom. The whole litter has come down with a respiratory infection and are being treated with antibiotic injections. They have improved, but I'm concerned that they may now have a chronic condition due to secondary bacterial infections of the damaged nasal passages and fine bones within the nose.

Hi,
You are very astute in your observations. It is possible that your kittens may either have a case of Kennel Cough or perhaps the Cat Flu. Kennel Cough is treated with antibiotics. As for th Cat Flu, it can sometimes be a chronic condition. However, cats can live long and happy lives with it and their love for you will be undiminished. While they could come out fine (it seems they are getting good treatment) they may have some lingering side effects. Don’t worry, and congratulations on your kittens! Simba

Hi Simba,
We are fostering a 4-week old kitten from our local humane society. Bailey came to us with a little sneeze, but the vet said he was fine. It's been 6 days, and he has begun to breathe noisily, sneeze with a discharge, which is fairly clear and meow more often. His eyes are fine, he eats & drinks no problem, weighs about 350 grams, he uses his litter box, and is relatively active. We are concerned because he seems to be somewhat distressed, and has difficulty breathing. We want to keep him at home, because returning him to the humane society usually just exposes him to other serious diseases. Should we keep him at home, or is there something the vet could do to help Bailey? Carole

Dear Carole,
It might be worthwhile to take Bailey to the vet, since he could very well have the bacterial form of the Cat Flu (see Sneezing for more background). In the meantime, continue keeping him well fed & comfy. You may want to try sitting with him in the bathroom with hot water on in the shower (you & Bailey not in the shower!) so that his sinuses might clear up with the steam. Keep me posted. Simba

Dear Simba,
I recently adopted 3 four week old kittens and they are all doing great. I am now sick with fever and the flu. Could I possibly pass any germs on to the kittens? Are there any precautions that I need to take to ensure the wellbeing of my sweeties? Thanks, Kaila

Dear Kaila,
I do not think you need to be worried about the little ones. The kitty flu is the result of a viral or bacterial infection, both of which are far different from the human cold or flu virus. Get better. Simba