Why is my cat suddenly always getting URI's??

Question

I've had her for a year now and everytime she gets stressed, she gets an URI. I adopted another cat about a month and a half ago and she had an URI and gave it to the other one! They both took antibiotics and last week, they were both fine! The new cat is very hyper and never leaves the other one alone! She runs after her all the time and makes her get very nervous! Last night, she started sneezing again! She only sneezes about 3 or 4 times a day but I'm afraid it'll get worse! Is she getting sick because she is stressed with the new cat?? I don't know what to do! I want to keep the new cat but I don't want my other cat to always be sick because of her! I've tried the water bottle when she doesn't leave her alone but she still comes back, she wants to play but the other one gets stressed out! What am I going to do, I am really worried?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated???

Answer 1

sounds like your first cat has feline herpes, there's a chance of it getting passed on to the other one. go to walmart and go to the vitamin isle and get some l-lysine and give each of them 500mg of l-lysine every day. it will help keep the herpes virus from replicating. and when they get flare ups take them to the vet and ask the vet for azithromiacin (sp?) it does wonders on this.

try and keep them separated some till the one starts feeling better, when you are sick do you really want someone jumping all over you wanting to play.

I have 2 cats that have feline herpes, one gets flare ups a couple times a year, they are brothers in every sence of the word and the healthier one will always know when the other one isn't feeling good and will cuddle up with him till he gets feeling better.

if you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.

Answer 2

See vet webpage here:

http://www.vetinfo4cats.com/caturinary.html#Lower%20urinary%20tract%20inflammation%20in%20cats%20and%20its%20treatment

Chronic UTIs can be due to genetics, diet and bathroom habits, as well as cross contamination between cats or even an underlying kidney or other organ disease.

Stress can drop a cat's immunity to disease and leave them more open to infections going around--just like in people.

1st question: is the cat being harassed so much, she's refusing to go the bathroom as often as she should, to avoid meeting up with the other one there, or to avoid being surprised/scared while using the litter?

2nd question: is the litter box still being kept spotless, being scooped out once per day, so that both cats will use it when they need to? The one cat may avoid going where the other kitty relieves herself. They each may need their own litter box.

3rd question: are you feeding table scraps and people food to the cat regularly or feeding too much food and too little water daily? Cats need a constant supply of fresh, clean water every day. Each cat may need their own water bowl to ensure this.

Good luck.

Answer 3

You might need to change her cat food. A lot of the commercialized dry cat food has additives and fillers in it that for some reason is a constant variable in UTI's. If you stick with canned food you might have better luck.