What do I do with my kitten that has a stuffy nose?

Question

Since I got her, which was like a month ago, shes been sneezing alot and now its to the point that it looks like its getting harder for her to breath threw fer nose, just almost just like a stuffy nose but its hard to tell and i feel bad just waiting to see if it will clear up on its own but I dont want to see her suffer. I want to take her to the vet but i dont have that kinda of money but if i have to then i will. I really dont know what to do....Please help me!

Answer 1

You need to bring her to the vet. It sounds like she has a sinus infection and like in a human, it won't go away on it's own without medicine. I understand that you might not have a lot of money, but that's part of pet ownership. Have you brought the kitten in for the other things she needs? Shots? To be fixed? If you don't have the money to take proper care of your animals, you should find a new home for it. I'm sorry to be so harsh, but I hate to see animals suffer. (By the way, the vet will work with you on payments if your money is tight.)

Answer 2

A vet is the only answer here. The kitten may have infected sinus. It may also have cat flu or an allergy to its own fur or some thing in your home environment. Plants, chemicals etc. So get a vets opinion. Some vets give information on the phone, but most will want to see the cat. If you really care for the cat money should be no object, the health and comfort of your pet should be paramount.

Answer 3

This is a very common problem in kittens, especially those separated from their mother this young. If nature had taken its course, the kitten would still be nursing and receiving antibodies against most of the illnesses through breast milk. Those antibodies may last for a couple weeks after nursing has finished. Unfortunately, more and more evidence suggests that if the kitten is vaccinated at 8 weeks or before, the vaccine actually negates the effect of the maternal antibodies and leaves the kitten completely unprotected against all these viral illnesses.

Back to the subject at hand - I certainly couldn't diagnose a kitten, but it sounds likely to me that your kitten has contracted one (or both) of the viruses nearly upwards of 90% of kittens get - feline herpes and feline calici. There's a vaccination for these two, but it doesn't prevent the disease. It lessens the severity.

These two are whoppers. The one that usually causes the thick nasal discharge is feline herpes. It often causes eye discharge, too. And it can cause sores in the nose, mouth and eyes. Rotten-smelling breath usually comes with this virus, too. As the kitten's immune system is compromised fighting this virus, bacterial infections usually set in. So kittens suffering from herpes need antibiotics most of the time.

Calici typically causes extremely serious ulcers in the mouth, throat, sometimes even the lungs. It causes a ton of sneezing fits. But usually, there is little nasal or eye discharge, and it's clear. Calici causes fishy breath. Again, bacterial infections usually accompany calici, and antibiotics must be prescribed.

There's a bacterial infection called bordatella that can causes these symptoms, too. Most kittens can't fight the infection off on their own - they need antibiotics to recover.

My advice to you would be to get this baby to the vet, as a prescription for antibiotics is almost a certainty. Additionally, a kitty who has a stuffy nose is likely to lose appetite at some point, since cats eat mostly by smell.

If herpes or calici is diagnosed, your kitten will probably carry the disease for quite some time. Herpes is usually carried for life. Calici can be carried for weeks or months and sometimes even becomes a permanent resident. The infections can flare up and cause symptoms at any time. Those who suffer chronic flare ups are sometimes helped by giving the cat 250mg-500mg a day of l-lysine. It prevents virus particles from replicating.

Answer 4

This sounds like the Rhino virus. Or cat flu. I help out at the local shelter a lot and I see this all the time. Take her to the vet, she's not likely going to get better on her own. It's not an expensive thing, and you don't need a whole lot of medication, usually the cat gets better within 2-10 days depending on how severe it is, and how strong the cats immune system is. Good luck.

Answer 5

Vet bills are a part of owning a pet, if you are going to keep your cat you need to be prepared for a vet bill once in a while. That said, antibiotics are one of the less costly medications. Take your cat to the vet, it won't be a big hit as far as vet bills go.

In the future, make a habit of taking your spare change and put it in a jar every day. The next time your cat gets sick, the chage jar should be able to pay for it.

Answer 6

She probably has an upper respiratory infection. You will have to take her to a veterinarian eventually to have her vaccinated and spayed anyway. They should be able to give you antibiotics to clear up this infection. The vaccines are to protect your kitten from these so they are worth it. A few bucks at the vet will make your kitty much more comfortable!

Answer 7

sounds like your cat may need anti biotics, the cat flu dosnt just go away, cats need to be treated, i understand the cost of the vet can be dawnting, but your cat is sick, think of what it is like when you have the flu, you feel miserable & grumpy which usually affects the whole family, your cat just wants to feel well again & it is your responsibility as its owner to get it medicine, can you borrow the money at all, or maybe ring the nearest shelter? ask for help!

Answer 8

A month is too long for that to go on. She really needs a vet's attention and I don't think you should take any further chances with her health.

Answer 9

Many years ago when my two sons were young we all came down with the flue, even our two cats got it. The older cat had to take antibiotic pills and the kitten had the pink liquid like my sons had when they were babies. We went to our family Dr. and the cats went to the Vet.So in answer to your question please take your kitten to the Vet.

Answer 10

i don't know, do they ever have a stuffed nose. I never heard of it