I took my 16 week old boy to the vet on Friday with sneezing and decreased appetite complains. The vet thinks he has URI. He got his shots so I am surprised about it, I thought the vaccine would protect him. He was treated for intestinal parasite last week after 2 weeks of diarrhea. I took him back to the vet yesterday since he wasn't eating much,she gave me some liquid high calorie drink to give him and an immune booster shot. Today, he has runny nose and eyes, didn't want to eat at all. I called the vet today, she wants to see him again tomorrow morning since he is drinking that liquid food with a syringe. I am so worried and upset about the situation. It breaks my heart to see my little guy suffering. Do you have any suggestions?

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The little monsters 3

Thanks Brianj12, Thank you so so much, I didn't know it was common even with vaccination. He just ate a few bites of samon and made me so happy. My vet can see me even weekends but she told me as long as he drinks that liquid food every 2-3 hours it is safe to wait until morning, otherwise she wanted me to call her again. Your response game a relief, I hope my little guy will start to feel better soon.

Sometimes it takes a few days for things to start improving. URI's do not clear up overnight. It will probably take at least a week. They are very common in catteries and shelters. Know, too, that vaccines take time to work their magic .... as long as your baby is eating (even with syringing) and drinking, he's getting nutrients. Your vet is your best information source! I'm sure they've run additional tests on your baby to eliminate other issues. I know your baby doesn't like being sick and medications are always difficult to get into cats. Keep us informed on how he's doing.

Thanks Sherri, Today is day 5. Yesterday we went to follow up. He got another shot to boost his immune system and a shot of antibiotics to prevent pneumonia(his lungs are clear and no fever but he is so stuffed up and cant clear it up) I wish cats knew how to blow their noses or I had a way to suction the junk out. I am trying steam bath and saline drops in his nose, it seems to help a little but not much. He seem to improve somehow but still very tired and almost minimum to none appetite. I am giving him the liquid food the vet gave me. I am taking him again tomorrow for follow up. I didn't realize URI is so hard on them. I have been a dog owner only and I never had to deal with this kind of sickness so this really makes me worried. Thank you so much.

Know that respiratory issues in humans are very difficult on the body. And your baby is just a kitten. There are ways to suction out a cat's nose -- just like they do an infant. Saline drops may help. I had to give my kitty nose drops when she had one. You're doing the best you can do, which is making sure your vet is monitoring the situation. It will get better.

Thank you Sherry,
My little guy is still sick. The vet gave me Hill's science A/D can food on Wednesday since he pretty much stopped taking any food even with the syringe at that point. He got some fluid/electrolyte infusion. They tried the Hill's science at the office to see if he was going to eat it and he didn't fight much and acted like he liked it. I went to the vet again the next day for a follow up and he was doing somewhat better, I think mainly because he had some food in his system. He is not as stuffy now but still shows no interest in food. I am still syringe feeding him. He still sleeps most of the time. He has some watery blood around his nose, the vet thinks it is because his nose is irritated. Did you experience anything like that when your baby was sick? It just breaks my heart to see him like this and I so want my playful cuddly baby.

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The little monsters 3

My kitty was 3 years old when we adopted her -- not a kitten! There could be some other issues going on here. After this amount of time, you should see some improvement and your kitty should be eating on his own again. While an URI zaps a cat's energy, usually they will still eat once they get on medication and start feeling better (48 to 72 hours). Your vet should have some other answers for you. Did they do blood work? Did they check urine and feces? Or did they just examine the cat and come up with a URI. I'm guessing they did an exam and felt for any masses or anything unusual.

It sounds to me as if the medications may not be working or there is something else going on with your kitty. I would definitely be concerned. Is he using the litter box okay?

Know that we on this forum are not vets or vet techs and have no medical training whatsoever -- but we do have cats. Google URI's and read up on some things to gather up some questions you can ask the vet. Your little guy is still not feeling well and he should be feeling a little better at this point. If you feel you can't get any satisfaction from this vet and your kitty isn't feeling better, I'd be off to another vet for another opinion.

I am so sorry your baby still isn't doing so well.